Sixteen Florida Cancer Specialists Researchers Share Discoveries at 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) is making significant strides in cancer research. Physicians from FCS will be presenting their findings at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago. The conference will showcase results from trials conducted at FCS's three Phase 1 Drug Development Units as well as late-phase studies throughout Florida. This international event, running over five days, will host oncology professionals from around the world.

In total, FCS's contributions to the 2024 ASCO meeting include 37 presentations and publications, highlighting the impact of their research. Sixteen FCS researchers will be featured, reflecting the institute's dedication to advancing cancer treatment. Dr. Lucio N. Gordan, FCS President & Managing Physician, expressed pride in the growing global understanding of cancer driven by FCS's patient-centric research. He emphasized the importance of each discovery for targeting treatments more effectively.

Dr. Manish Patel, FCS Director of Drug Development, highlighted the focus on targeted treatments and biological combinations in their research. According to Dr. Patel, Phase 1/2 trials at FCS provide patients with early access to promising therapies, often leading to faster FDA approvals and broader availability.

Among the notable presentations, Dr. Patel will present preliminary results from a Phase 1 study of AC699, aimed at advanced or metastatic breast cancer treatment. He will also discuss the safety and efficacy of EIK1001 combined with atezolizumab in advanced solid tumors. Dr. Patel is a co-author on eight other presentations.

Dr. Judy Wang, FCS Associate Director of Drug Development, will present interim results from a Phase 1/2 study of NGM707, an ILT2/ILT4 dual antagonist antibody for advanced solid tumors. She is also the lead author of an abstract on the oral microtubule inhibitor utidelone, with Dr. Patel as a co-author. Dr. Wang is involved in six additional presentations.

Other significant contributions include Dr. Maen Hussein's update on the NALIRIFOX regime for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and Dr. Cesar Augusto Perez's session on antibody drug conjugates for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Dr. Perez, along with Dr. Amir Harandi, will also present findings on petosemtamab combined with pembrolizumab for recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer.

Additional FCS researchers will present on a variety of topics:
- Dr. Kapisthalam Kumar will discuss NIH grants for early-career oncology investigators.
- Dr. Vipul Patel will present primary results from the EVOKE-01 study, comparing sacituzumab govitecan to docetaxel for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

FCS medical director of late-phase clinical research, Dr. Bradley Monk, will contribute to four presentations, including the OUTBACK trial focused on racial disparities and survival outcomes in cervical cancer.

In summary, the FCS team will present 37 abstracts at the ASCO meeting, showcasing research across various cancer types and treatment approaches. This robust participation underscores FCS’s commitment to oncology research and improving patient outcomes worldwide.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology, representing nearly 50,000 oncology professionals from 150 countries, aims to conquer cancer through research, education, and high-quality patient care. The 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting will be a platform for FCS to share its cutting-edge research and contribute to global advancements in cancer treatment.