CHICAGO—The outgoing president of ASCO, Dr Michael Link from Stanford University School of Medicine in California, answers questions from Peter Goodwin about the progress achieved in cancer clinical s
Michael Link
CHICAGO—The outgoing president of ASCO, DrMichael Linkfrom Stanford University School of Medicine in California, answers questions from Peter Goodwin about the progress achieved in cancer clinical science during his year in office. He talks specifically about new research on using involved field radiation in patients with high-risk Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and about three of the key presentations given at the ASCO Plenary Session:
– Emtansine: a new immuno-conjugate is proof of principle and a new option for HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer
– A new tyrosine kinase inhibitor, regorafenib, is a life giving option for patients with imatinib resistant GIST
– A drug developed in the old East Germany, bendamustine, was found to be more effective and less toxic than CHOP in patients with indolent lymphomas.
Related Episodes
David R Spigel MD; ASCO 2026: Bispecific PD-1/VEGF Antibody Ivonescimab Extends Life in Patients with Untreated Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: Phase 3 HARMONi-6 trial
CHICAGO, USA—The bispecific antibody ivonescimab (that targets the PD-1 and VEGF molecules) has extended overall survival in patients with untreated advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer in the latest data from the HARMONi-6 trial reported at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology by Chen Zhiwei from Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, China. Peter Goodwin discusses the findings with ASCO expert David R Spigel MD, President & Chief Medical Officer at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Vanita Noronha MD; ASCO 2026: Ultra-Low Dose Immunotherapy Extends Life with Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer at Low Cost for Patients in Low and Middle Income Countries
CHICAGO, USA—Although recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers respond well to palliative chemotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibition, this approach may be un-affordable in low and middle income countries. But a randomized phase three trial from India reported a pragmatic solution at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Ultra-low doses of pembrolizumab immunotherapy along with “triple oral metronomic chemotherapy” were found to bring good palliation and longer survival according to Vanita Noronha MD, Professor of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India, as she explained to Peter Goodwin.
John Mascarenhas MD; ASCO 2026: New Janus Kinase Inhibitor Improves Myelofibrosis Outcomes When Added to Ruxolitinib Initial Therapy
CHICAGO, USA—Outcomes were improved for patients with myelofibrosis in the phase 3 SENTRY trial who were randomized to have the new Janus kinase inhibitor selinexor added to their ruxolitinib initial therapy.Findings were reported at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.Peter Goodwin got the details from first author John Mascarenhas MD, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center of Excellence for Blood Cancers and Myeloid Disorders at the Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine, in Mount Sinai, New York, NY.