WCLC 2024
Lecture Board: Maximilian Hochmair, MD
Medical Writer: Judith Moser, MD
Publishing Editor: Anna Fenzl, PhD
Preface – WCLC 2024
It is our pleasure to present highlights from the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer, held from September 7th to 10th in San Diego, USA. Our first chapter focuses on the evolving landscape of concurrent MET/EGFR inhibition and novel third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).
Concurrent MET/EGFR inhibition and third-generation EGFR TKIs
The EGFR-MET bispecific antibody amivantamab in addition to the third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) lazertinib has shown favorable results as first-line treatment compared to osimertinib in the ongoing randomized, double-blind, phase III MARIPOSA trial. A total of 1,074 patients from 27 countries with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and activating EGFR mutations were enrolled in the study.
HER2 aberrations and other oncogenic drivers
HER2 mutations are rare as they occur in approximately 2–4 % of NSCLC cases, although they are associated with poor prognosis and increased incidence of brain metastases [1, 2]. As HER2-mutant NSCLC is relatively insensitive to chemotherapy, there is a substantial unmet need for targeted options [3, 4].
Innovative treatment approaches: non–EGFR-directed bispecific antibodies and ADCs
In the management of patients with advanced PD-L1–positive non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the use of bispecific antibodies is gaining ground. Ivonescimab (AK112) is a first-in-class bispecific antibody directed against PD-1 and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) type A. As VEGF and PD-(L)1 inhibitors were found to have synergistic activity, it was postulated that their simultaneous use might enhance treatment efficacy compared with the co-administration of separate anti–PD-(L)1 and anti-VEGF agents [1-3].
Refining treatment approaches in early-stage lung cancer
At WCLC 2024, Cascone et al. reported preliminary efficacy and safety data for several novel perioperative combinations in patients with stage IIA-IIIB resectable non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) included in Arms 1, 2 and 4 of the open-label, phase II NeoCOAST-2 platform study [1].
EXPERT VIDEOS
All video interviews from WCLC 2024
Andrea R. Filippi talks about optimizing radiation and chemotherapy or immunotherapy combinations to improve efficacy and reduce side effects in locally advanced lung cancer. He addresses biomarkers guiding treatment, the importance of timing and sequencing, and differences between chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies, while highlighting promising trials and advancements for aimed at improving survival rates and quality of life for patients.
Pascale Tomasini discusses the most promising strategies currently being investigated to overcome resistance to PD-(L)1 inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, highlights the results of the PIONeeR trial while addressing the ongoing challenges in developing and implementing precision immuno-oncology treatments for PD-(L)1-resistant NSCLC patients.
Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero provides insights into bispecific antibody treatments, an emerging class of therapeutics for small-cell lung cancer and neuroendocrine tumors of the lung. He highlights trials involving BiTEs in combination with other agents and offers an outlook on new treatment options for small-cell lung cancer expected to emerge in the coming years.
Gerrina Ruiter dives into the exciting world of HER2, exploring why it poses a tricky challenge in treating NSCLC, highlights the promising findings of the HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor zongertinib and shares insights on other notable innovations on the horizon in the field of HER2 inhibition.