ASCO·Overture: Focus on Plenary Session and Oral Presentation Session, Colorectal Cancer Academic Wave Coming

As an international grand event in the field of oncology, the ASCO Annual Meeting attracts top scholars, clinical experts, and research teams from around the world every year to share the latest research results, discuss innovative therapies, and look forward to future trends.

At this ASCO Annual Meeting, multiple studies in the field of colorectal cancer will release their latest results. This article specially compiles research information on LBA1 and oral presentation sessions, along with venue guidance maps and session times, to help readers experience the upcoming academic wave in advance!

Plenary Session

In this meeting, the ATOMIC study in colorectal cancer will be orally presented by Professor Frank A. Sinicrope from Mayo Clinic at the highly anticipated plenary session. The abstract number is LBA1.

The ATOMIC study (NCT02912559) enrolls patients with dMMR/MSI-H stage III resectable colon cancer. It aims to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant atezolizumab combined with FOLFOX versus FOLFOX alone. As one of the five LBA studies selected for the plenary session, its groundbreaking results are expected to bring new changes to clinical practice for MMR/MSI-H type stage III colon cancer.

Oral Presentation Session

In the colorectal cancer oral presentation session, eight studies will discuss first-line treatment, ctDNA, perioperative treatment, and KRAS G12C inhibitors. Among them, Professor Ding Kefeng from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine will present the latest results of the ANCHOR study.

LBA3500 | BREAKWATER: Exploration of First-line Treatment for BRAF V600E-mutated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

The BREAKWATER study aims to evaluate the efficacy of encorafenib combined with cetuximab and chemotherapy versus standard chemotherapy in previously untreated BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer patients. At the 2024 ESMO oral presentation session, preliminary results showed that the ORR improved from approximately 40.0% in the control group to about 60.9%, with significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

3501 | CheckMate 8HW: Exploration of First-line Treatment for MSI-H/dMMR Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

The CheckMate 8HW study evaluates the efficacy of nivolumab combined with ipilimumab versus chemotherapy or nivolumab monotherapy in MSI-H/dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer. Preliminary results showed that the combination therapy group had a significant PFS benefit compared with chemotherapy (HR=0.21), and also significant benefit compared with nivolumab alone (HR=0.62). The ORR in the combination group increased by up to 71%.

LBA3502 | ANCHOR: Evaluation of Anlotinib in First-line Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

As the only Chinese study selected for the colorectal cancer oral presentation session, the ANCHOR study explores the efficacy of anlotinib versus bevacizumab combined with first-line standard chemotherapy in RAS/BRAF wild-type, unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer. This is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, phase III clinical trial, and the latest data will be presented by Professor Ding Kefeng.

3503 & 3504 | ctDNA-guided Adjuvant Treatment Choices for Stage III Colon Cancer

The dynamic study is the first randomized controlled study in colorectal cancer to explore ctDNA results guiding personalized treatment strategies. This study has been featured multiple times at ASCO, ESMO, and ASCO GI conferences and topped NEJM in 2022. Preliminary results indicate ctDNA can provide more precise molecular stratification, helping patients avoid overtreatment and identifying high-risk patients for intensified therapy. At this meeting, the AGITG dynamic-III study will present preliminary analysis for the ctDNA-positive cohort, abstract number 3503.

Similarly, the Alliance N0147 study also explores ctDNA's guiding role in adjuvant treatment choices for stage III colon cancer. As one of the largest studies in this field, it suggests ctDNA positivity is significantly associated with worse recurrence time, DFS, and OS. This meeting will report updated results, abstract number 3504.

3505 | CAIRO6: Exploration of Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) in Resectable Colorectal Cancer with Peritoneal Metastasis

The CAIRO6 study targets patients with resectable colorectal cancer with peritoneal metastasis but no extraperitoneal metastasis, aiming to assess the efficacy of cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC versus perioperative systemic therapy. Current data show that perioperative systemic therapy does not bring higher OS benefit compared to CRS-HIPEC.

3506, 3507 & 3508 | The Grand Sonata of KRAS G12C Inhibitors

The KRAS G12C mutation has been one of the hottest targets in colorectal cancer recently. Three studies in this field are included in the colorectal cancer oral presentation session: CodeBreaK 101, LOXO-RAS-20001 (NCT04956640), and KANDLELIT-001. The explored regimens are sotorasib combined with panitumumab and chemotherapy, olutasidenib combined with cetuximab, and MK-1084 combined with cetuximab and chemotherapy, respectively. It is clear that KRAS G12C inhibitors combined with EGFR monoclonal antibodies and chemotherapy have become preliminary recognized treatment regimens by researchers. We look forward to seeing their final efficacy.