SWOG at ASCO, 2025

As part of the meeting’s opening session, Dr. Dawn Hershman, SWOG's group co-chair-elect, will present the 2025 Karnofsky Science of Oncology Award Lecture (Saturday, May 31, 11 am CT, Hall B1 and livestreamed). The Karnofsky Award, which is ASCO’s highest scientific honor, recognizes oncologists who have made outstanding contributions in cancer research, diagnosis, and/or treatment.

Interviewed by the ASCO Daily News, Dr. Hershman noted she’ll discuss the latest insights into advancing cancer outcomes for all patients, and she'll highlight the importance of collaboration and creativity in cancer research.

SWOG researchers will also present six oral abstracts in Chicago . Two of the six are late-breaking, which means their contents remain embargoed until the morning of the actual presentation. I can list their titles here, but I can’t provide details of what lies beneath (until a later Front Line, that is).

• “A randomized phase 2 trial of encorafenib + binimetinib + nivolumab vs ipilimumab + nivolumab in BRAFV600-mutant melanoma brain metastases: SWOG S2000 (NCT04511013)” 
  Abstract LBA9507
  Tuesday, June 3, 11:57 am – 12:09 pm CT
  Presenter: Zeynep Eroglu, MD
   
• “Pragmatica-Lung (SWOG S2302): A prospective pragmatic randomized study of ramucirumab plus pembrolizumab versus standard of care for participants previously treated with immunotherapy for stage IV or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer” 
  Abstract LBA8671
  Monday, June 2, 9:18 – 9:24 am CT
  Presenter: Konstantin H. Dragnev, MD

I can, though, briefly highlight the design/general content of what will be presented in our other oral presentations. 

SWOG S1416 found that adding the PARP inhibitor veliparib to cisplatin chemotherapy extended progression-free survival in patients with triple-negative breast cancer that lacked a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation but had a “BRCA-like” – or homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) – phenotype. As part of this year’s Dr. Bernard Fisher Clinical Science Symposium on ctDNA for Breast Cancer Research, Shane Stecklein, MD, PhD, will present results of S1416 follow-up work, looking at the concordance between tissue-based assessment of HRD (used in the primary results) and circulating tumor DNA- (ctDNA)-based assessment of HRD. He’ll also report on whether ctDNA-based HRD was similarly associated with benefit from veliparib in S1416 patients.

• “Assessment of ctDNA somatic homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) from SWOG S1416 trial” 
  Abstract 1012

S1900E enrolled patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with a KRAS G12C mutation and treated them with the KRAS G12C inhibitor sotorasib. This Lung-MAP sub-study, led by Sukhmani K. Padda, MD, looked at what impact specific co-mutations in tumor-suppressor genes had on the efficacy of sotorasib in these patients. In Chicago,  Dr. Padda will present results from the patient cohorts with TP53 and STK11 co-mutations. 

• “S1900E: A phase II study examining impact of co-mutations on sotorasib for previously treated stage IV/recurrent KRAS G12C mutated (MUT) non-squamous (Non-sq) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (ECOG-ACRIN led Lung-MAP Sub-study)” 
  Abstract 8518

Megan E. Daly, MD, will present primary results from the SWOG/NRG S1914 study she chaired. This phase III trial randomized patients with high-risk early stage non-small cell lung cancer to stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with or without atezolizumab, with more than 400 patients randomized. Dr. Daly will report on early results and on what work is ongoing or pending, including additional subgroup analyses.

• “SWOG/NRG S1914: Randomized phase III trial of induction/consolidation atezolizumab + SBRT versus SBRT alone in high risk, early-stage NSCLC” 
  Abstract 8003

Karen L. Reckamp, MD, study chair of S2302 Pragmatica-Lung, will report on the impact of the study’s lowered participation barriers and reduced burdens on clinical staff, which were key pragmatic components of that study. She will discuss their effects in relationship to the S1800A experience, the Lung-MAP sub-study that was Pragmatica-Lung’s phase II precursor.

• “SWOG S2302, PRAGMATICA-LUNG: A pragmatic trial designed to increase participant representation” 
  Abstract 11016

Oral presentations get the big attention, but much of the research results that make their way to ASCO’s annual meeting is presented in posters, and in the conversations those posters spawn. Here’s the list of SWOG research posters you’ll want to visit. For full information on dates, times, and rooms for these and other SWOG-led or co-led abstracts, see our full list of ASCO 2025 work.

• “Longitudinal changes in credit status for newly diagnosed metastatic colorectal cancer patients (SWOG S1417)
  Abstract 11076
  Presenter: C. Natasha Kwendakwema, MD
   
• “Efficacy and toxicity of nivolumab and ipilimumab in rare cancer brain metastases: A multi-center basket trial analysis (NCI/SWOG S1609)” 
  Abstract 2619
  Presenter: Manmeet S. Ahluwalia, MD, MBA
   
• “Practice patterns related to ovarian function suppression in the SWOG S2010 clinical trial of young women with breast cancer”
  Abstract 522
  Presenter: Norah Lynn Henry, MD, PhD
   
• “Baseline autoimmune diseases and characteristics of solid tumor patients on immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy enrolled in a prospective study of immune-related adverse events (irAEs): SWOG S2013 (I-CHECKIT)"
  Abstract 2600
  Presenter: Krishna S. Gunturu, MD
   
• “Successful accrual of a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing an educationally enhanced genomic tumor board (EGTB) intervention to usual practice (S2108CD, NCT# 05455606)"
  Abstract 1544
  Presenter: Meghna S. Trivedi, MD, MS
   
• “Depression in patients with advanced prostate cancer in SWOG advanced cancer clinical trials
  Abstract 12090
  Presenter: Dawn L. Hershman, MD, MS
   
• “Validation and refinement of Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) definitions for PD-(L)1 resistance: An analysis of more than 1,300 participants from SWOG” 
  Abstract 2656
  Presenter: Megan Othus, PhD

Also keep an eye out for Trials in Progress posters on two studies SWOG is co-leading with other cooperative groups:

• “Comparing impact of treatment before or after surgery in patients with stage II-IIIb resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; Alliance A082304-SWOG S2402)” [PROSPECT-Lung] 
  Abstract TPS8113
  Presenter: Raid Aljumaily, MD
   
• “TRIPLE-SWITCH (SWOG/CCTG-PR26): A randomized phase III clinical trial for the addition of docetaxel to androgen receptor pathway inhibitors in patients with metastatic castration sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) and suboptimal PSA response (NCT06592924) ” 
  Abstract TPS5129
  Presenter: Michael Ong, MD

If you miss any of the presentations or posters above, we’ll have an encore performance of a select few in our next installment of the wildly popular Best of SWOG at ASCO, tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 9th. Mark the date! Details and an invitation to register will be in your inbox soon.

Until then, I hope to see you in Chicago!