By Peter J. O’Dwyer, MD (left)
and Mitchell D. Schnall, MD, PhD

In the last issue of this newsletter, we reported that the Notice of Award for our National Clinical Trials Network grant was expected shortly. We are delighted to share that it was received in mid-July. As mentioned previously, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has requested that we implement certain changes to our governance structures and organizational processes, and we are collaborating with them on both short- and long-term solutions. The bottom line is that the proposed changes are primarily administrative and do not affect the science we conduct; we expect to continue pursuing the same breadth and rigor of scientific research that has long defined our group.

That commitment to scientific excellence continues to be reflected in the impactful research being conducted across our network. Practice-changing results from the E1A11 trial, led by Dr. Shaji Kumar (Mayo Clinic), were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine on July 15. This study provides the first randomized evidence on the optimal duration of lenalidomide maintenance therapy for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who did not undergo stem cell transplantation. The results showed increased toxicity with no survival benefit when lenalidomide was continued until disease progression compared with stopping treatment after two years. This study exemplifies the unique ability of cooperative group research to answer clinically important questions beyond the development of new treatments, and is another step in our goal of de-intensifying cancer treatment where possible. You’ll remember that it was in the Myeloma Committee (at the urging of patient and research advocate Michael Katz) that replacement of high-dose with much lower dose and less toxic dexamethasone was ECOG-ACRIN's first foray in this arena.

At the same time, our investigators continue to evaluate novel therapies that may further improve outcomes for patients. Another study featured in this issue, PrE0510, is evaluating a novel bispecific antibody called ivonescimab. Designed to simultaneously target PD-1–mediated immune checkpoint signaling and VEGF-driven angiogenesis, ivonescimab has shown promising activity in early studies. A phase 2 trial conducted in China demonstrated encouraging efficacy and a favorable safety profile when ivonescimab was combined with carboplatin and etoposide in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. PrE0510 is designed to determine the optimal dose of ivonescimab in combination with carboplatin and etoposide for a more diverse Western patient population. Given the poor outcomes for patients with extensive-stage SCLC, this frontline study builds on promising early data and a familiar chemotherapy backbone to enable rapid site activation, efficient enrollment, and meaningful dose-selection research.

The Comis Translational Science Symposium, which opened the Spring Group Meeting in Baltimore, provided much perspective on a specialized field with clear applicability to the development of novel trials in our committees. The focus was metabolism, particularly on aspects relevant to specific clinical scenarios. After an initial overview by Dr. Keith Flaherty (Massachusetts General Hospital), Dr. Garrett FitzGerald (University of Pennsylvania) outlined the role of oxylipins in inflammatory signaling and their potential for intervention. Dr. Minyang Song (Massachusetts General Hospital) highlighted metabolic risk factors that might help identify high-risk populations for colon cancer, while Dr. Walter Witschey (University of Pennsylvania) presented a CT-based biomarker for fatty liver disease to define a population at risk for liver cancer. Dr. Elizabeth McDonald (University of Pennsylvania) then outlined a proposed trial of inflammation inhibition in women at high risk for breast cancer, followed by a panel discussion led by Dr. David Mankoff (University of Pennsylvania) focused on immediately relevant targets and populations. These symposia have been impactful in idea generation and options for trial development. They are “must see” for early-career investigators especially and offer multiple approaches to biomarker implementation and translational research. Planning for the Fall Comis Symposium is well-advanced, and we will announce the theme shortly in an upcoming issue of this newsletter.

Read the August 2026 issue here.