Lung Cancer Experts Highlight the Most Anticipated Abstracts at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting

Joshua K. Sabari, MD

With the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting on the horizon, experts from the lung cancer space sat down with OncLive® to discuss the research they’re looking forward to learning more about at the meeting.

Exclusive insights were gathered from:

• Joshua K. Sabari, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and director of High Reliability Organization Initiatives at Perlmutter Cancer Center, both in New York
• Parth A. Desai, MD, MBBS, assistant professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Angel Qin, MD, clinical associate professor at Rogel Cancer Center at the University of Michigan Health in Brighton, Michigan
• Sandip P. Patel, MD, FASCO, professor of medicine in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego Health
• Susan C. Scott, MD, assistant professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland

As the lung cancer landscape continues to see vast improvements, here are the top 7 trials and abstracts experts anticipate seeing at the meeting:

Abstract LBA8008: Tarlatamab versus chemotherapy (CTx) as second-line (2L) treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC): Primary analysis of Ph3 DeLLphi-304.

Session time: June 2, 5:24-5:36 pm CDT

Parth A. Desai, MD, MBBS

Desai: This abstract is one of the most promising studies for me this year. According to a recent press release, tarlatamab-dlle [Imdelltra] demonstrated a superior overall survival [OS] benefit compared with standard chemotherapy in patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer [SCLC].1 This pivotal phase 3 DeLLphi-304 study [NCT05740566] builds on the accelerated FDA approval of tarlatamab in May 2024,2 which was granted based on the results of the phase 2 DeLLphi-301 trial [NCT05060016] that were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Given the almost universal relapse rates and high mortality in SCLC, these results could be transformative. If the final data validate the initial findings, tarlatamab may establish itself as a new standard second-line therapy for SCLC, offering a long-awaited breakthrough for a notoriously challenging cancer type.

Angel Qin, MD

Qin: If I had to pick 1 abstract [I’m anticipating the most], it would be the DeLLphi-304 study comparing tarlatamab with standard of care chemotherapy. Depending on the results, it can really change the SCLC treatment landscape.

Sandip P. Patel, MD, FASCO

Patel: [I’m excited to see the] advances in SCLC, with DeLLphi-304 survival updates and the phase 3 IMforte trial [NCT05091567].

Abstract 8006: Lurbinectedin (lurbi) + atezolizumab (atezo) as first-line (1L) maintenance treatment (tx) in patients (pts) with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC): Primary results of the phase 3 IMforte trial.

Session time: June 2, 5:00-5:12 pm CDT

Desai: The IMforte trial is another notable advancement in SCLC management. As reported by Jazz Pharmaceuticals, the combination of lurbinectedin [Zepzelca] and atezolizumab [Tecentriq] demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in OS compared with atezolizumab monotherapy as maintenance therapy following induction chemoimmunotherapy in extensive-stage SCLC.3 The magnitude of this survival benefit, its consistency across different risk groups, and the safety profile of the combination will be critical factors to assess. Lurbinectedin, a DNA-damaging chemotherapy agent, [was] FDA approved [in June 2020] for relapsed SCLC, where other approved options are topotecan and tarlatamab. If the IMforte trial confirms the survival benefit, it would bring lurbinectedin up the ladder as a maintenance strategy addition to immunotherapy alone—the current standard—in the extensive stage SCLC treatment landscape.

Abstract LBA8000: Overall survival with neoadjuvant nivolumab (NIVO) + chemotherapy (chemo) in patients with resectable NSCLC in CheckMate 816.

Session time: June 2, 3:00-3:12 pm CDT

Patel: I’m excited to see the progress being made across thoracic malignancies, including the use of immunotherapy and targeted therapy in the neoadjuvant non–small cell lung cancer [NSCLC] setting, particularly regarding OS in the phase 3 CheckMate 816 trial [NCT02998528]. I also look forward to [hearing more about] the development of novel agents targeting molecular aberrations in HER2, KRAS, and others.

Abstract 8504: SOHO-01: Safety and efficacy of BAY 2927088 in patients with advanced HER2-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were pretreated but naïve to HER2-targeted therapy or had not received any treatment for advanced disease.

Session time: June 1, 9:12-9:24 am CDT

Sabari: In particular, with the HER2 space, a lot of exciting data are emerging, particularly in the TKI space, with the use of therapeutics that are more specific to HER2. One study we’ll see data for at ASCO is the phase 1/2 SOHO-01 trial [NCT05099172]. We’ll see an updated analysis there. Historically, we’ve seen objective response rates in the 70% range, but what’s different between zongertinib and the BAY 2927088 asset is that BAY 2927088 is an EGFR and HER2 inhibitor. You do have EGFR wild-type inhibition for BAY 2927088, whereas zongertinib is really HER2 selective, so the toxicity profile for the BAY 2927088 asset has slightly higher rates of gastrointestinal toxicity, including diarrhea and rash.

Abstract 8012: The preliminary results of a randomized phase II trial evaluating induction toripalimab plus chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy and consolidation toripalimab in bulky unresectable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (InTRist).

Session time: June 1, 5:00-5:06 pm CDT

Desai: The phase 2 InTRist trial [NCT05888402] is a compelling study to watch, as it explores a novel approach in locally advanced, unresectable stage III NSCLC. The rationale behind induction chemotherapy plus immunotherapy in this setting is derived from the success of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in resectable NSCLC and other solid tumors, including melanoma and bladder cancer. For patients with bulky N2 or higher disease who are not surgical candidates, this trial examines whether an induction approach with the PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor toripalimab-tpzi [Loqtorzi] and chemotherapy, followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy and consolidation toripalimab, can outperform the current standard of concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by consolidation immunotherapy, as established by the phase 3 PACIFIC trial [NCT02125461] in 2017. The outcomes of this trial could reshape treatment paradigms for a significant subset of NSCLC patients.

Abstract 8506: Patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd) in resistant EGFR-mutated (EGFRm) advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after a third-generation EGFR TKI: The phase 3 HERTHENA-Lung02 study.

Session time: June 1, 10:00-10:12 am CDT

Susan C. Scott, MD

Scott: I’m excited to see the data for the phase 3 HERTHENA-Lung02 [NCT05338970] study presented by Tony Mok, MD, FRCPC, FASCO. If [HER3-DXd can] improve progression-free survival, this could offer a new alternative for EGFR-mutated NSCLC after resistance to first-line therapy with a TKI, saving chemotherapy for later lines, and could also be extrapolated for patients who have received combination regimens in the frontline setting.

Abstract 8515: Plasma-guided adaptive first-line chemoimmunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Session time: June 2, 8:30-8:36 am CDT

Scott: I’m also excited to see data from Julia Rotow, MD, on plasma-guided adaptive first-line chemoimmunotherapy for NSCLC. This type of novel, adaptive biomarker strategy is the future of precision oncology and the direction we need to be moving the field for our patients. I look forward to seeing if there are monitoring tools available now that can be applied and used for a more personalized treatment approach.

References

1. Imdelltra demonstrated superior overall survival in small cell lung cancer. News release. Amgen. April 11, 2025. Accessed May 14, 2025. https://www.amgen.com/newsroom/press-releases/2025/04/imdelltra-demonstrated-superior-overall-survival-in-small-cell-lung-cancer
2. FDA grants accelerated approval to tarlatamab-dlle for extensive stage small cell lung cancer. FDA. May 16, 2024. Accessed May 14, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-grants-accelerated-approval-tarlatamab-dlle-extensive-stage-small-cell-lung-cancer
3. Jazz Pharmaceuticals announces statistically significant overall survival and progression-free survival results for Zepzelca (lurbinectedin) and atezolizumab combination in first-line maintenance therapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. News release. Jazz Pharmaceuticals. October 15, 2024. Accessed May 14, 2025. https://investor.jazzpharma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/jazz-pharmaceuticals-announces-statistically-significant-overall