NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center Researchers Present at ASCO 2024

Researchers from NYU Langone Health's Perlmutter Cancer Center recently presented significant findings at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Conference, held from May 31 to June 4 at Chicago's McCormick Place. The presentations underscored advancements in the treatment of metastatic melanoma, advanced endometrial cancer, and recurrent glioblastoma.

One of the major presentations was a three-year update on the long-term efficacy of an mRNA vaccine for patients with metastatic melanoma. This presentation, delivered by Dr. Jeffrey S. Weber, deputy director of Perlmutter Cancer Center, revisited the clinical trial that combined the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab with an investigational mRNA vaccine, V940. The trial focused on individuals with high-risk, surgically removed melanoma, assessing the risk of recurrence and development of distant metastases. The three-year data showed that patients receiving both the vaccine and pembrolizumab had a significantly higher rate of recurrence-free survival (74.8 percent) compared to those who received only pembrolizumab (55.6 percent). Additionally, overall survival rates improved to 96.0 percent for the combination treatment versus 90.2 percent for pembrolizumab alone. Dr. Weber highlighted that these findings reinforce the potential of combining V940 with pembrolizumab, and further results are anticipated from a larger phase 3 trial involving over a thousand patients.

Another important study presented was a retrospective analysis of treatment patterns and outcomes in patients with advanced endometrial cancer. Led by Dr. Bhavana Pothuri, director of gynecologic oncology research at Perlmutter Cancer Center, this study analyzed a cohort of 1,441 patients who began therapy between January 2018 and June 2023. The research focused on the utilization of molecular profiling for mismatch repair/microsatellite instability (MMR/MSI), which plays a crucial role in determining treatment strategies. Despite the introduction of newer therapies over the past decade, the study found that less than half of the patients received these new treatments, indicating possible barriers to adoption. Dr. Pothuri emphasized the need for further studies and education to enhance the use and awareness of FDA-approved treatments for advanced endometrial cancer.

Lastly, Dr. Dimitris G. Placantonakis presented findings on the safety and efficacy of a noninvasive treatment for recurrent glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain tumor with limited effective treatment options. The study focused on sonodynamic therapy, which combines the drug aminolevulinic acid HCL (SONALA-001) with the Exablate 4000 Type 2.0 device to deliver focused ultrasound to tumor cells. This approach has shown promise in previous studies by inducing tumor cell death and improving survival rates in animal models. The ongoing phase 1/2 trial is assessing different dosage levels to establish the maximum tolerable dose and evaluating the overall safety and efficacy of the treatment. Dr. Placantonakis expressed optimism about this innovative therapy, noting its noninvasive nature and potential to offer new hope for patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

These presentations not only highlight the dedication of the Perlmutter Cancer Center to advancing cancer treatment but also emphasize the potential of new therapies that could significantly improve patient outcomes in various forms of cancer.