2. Clinical Cancer Advances 2012
ASCO’s eighth annual Clinical Cancer Advances report identifies this year’s most significant clinical cancer advances
Highlights 17 most important advances, along with 70 other notable advances in prevention and screening, treatment, and survivorship
Overseen by 21-member editorial board of oncologists
Complete 2012 CCA report is available:
Interactive PDF at
Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology,

3. Top Advances of 2012
Two new therapies delay progression of advanced breast cancer
Pre-operative chemotherapy and radiation improves survival for patients with esophageal cancer
Screening with flexible sigmoidoscopy reduces colorectal cancer incidence and death rates
FDA approved a new targeted treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer

4. Top 17 Advances
Lenalinomide Maintenance Therapy Delays Multiple Myeloma Relapse after Stem-Cell Transplantation
Two placebo-controlled phase III trials showed that lenalidomide (REVLIMID®)may be able to delay multiple myeloma relapses
On average, patients relapsed after months with lenalidomide therapy versus months with placebo

5. Top 17 Advances
New Armed Antibody Improves Survival in HER2 positive Metastatic Breast Cancer
A randomized phase III trial found that an experimental drug called T-DM1 outperforms the current standard therapy for metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer that is resistant to trastuzumab, increasing survival rates at 2 years from 47% to 65%
T-DM1 is a “smart bomb” consisting of trastuzumab antibody linked to the chemotherapy drug DM1
In November 2012, FDA granted priority review for T-DM1

6. Top 17 Advances
3. Trial Finds Two HER2-Targeted Drugs Are Better than One in First-Line Therapy
A phase III study showed that combining trastuzumab (Herceptin®) and docetaxel (Taxotere®) with pertuzumab (PERJETATM) may overcome or delay resistance to trastuzumab therapy in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer
FDA approved pertuzumab in combination with pertuzumab and docetaxel in June 2012 as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer

7. Top 17 Advances
4. Adding Targeted Therapy to Aromatase Inhibitor Delays Disease Progression in Postmenopausal Hormone Receptor-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer
Phase III study found aromatase inhibitor exemestane (Aromasin®) plus everolimus (Afinitor®) delayed disease progression by six months compared with exemestane plus placebo
FDA approved everolimus in July 2012 to treat certain women with advanced breast cancer

8. Top 17 Advances
Preoperative Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Double Overall Survival for Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Junction Cancers
Phase III trial showed that preoperative treatment with carboplatin (Paraplatin) and paclitaxel (Taxol) therapy and radiation therapy followed by surgery extended median overall survival from 24 to 49 months compared with surgery alone
These findings will likely change the standard of care for most patients with esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancers

9. Top 17 Advances
Regorafenib Prolongs Overall Survival in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Phase III trial showed that multitargeted drug regorafenib (Stivarga®) may extend overall survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer whose disease progressed after all standard therapies
FDA approved regorafenib in Septemeber 2012 for this population of patients

10. Top 17 Advances
7. Enzalutamide Improves Survival and Becomes New Standard Treatment Option for Men with Chemotherapy-Treated Prostate Cancer
Phase III trial of the androgen inhibitor enzalutamide (Xtandi®) in men with prostate cancer previously treated with docetaxel chemotherapy
Median overall survival with enzalutamide was 18.4 months compared with 13.6 months with placebo
The FDA approved enzalutamide in August 2012 for certain men with metastatic prostate cancer

11. Top 17 Advances
8. Chemotherapy Plus Bevacizumab Is More Effective than Chemotherapy Alone in Platinum-Resistant Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
A Phase III trials found that adding bevacizumab (Avastin®) to standard chemotherapy delays disease progression for women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer
This is one of the first studies showing improved outcomes with targeted therapy and chemotherapy combinations in this patient population

12. Top 17 Advances
9. Cabozantinib Significantly Delays Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Progression
A randomized Phase III trial of the new multitargeted drug cabozantinib showed tumor shrinkage in 28 percent of patients treated with the drug
Cabozantinib delayed disease progression by 7 months compared with placebo
FDA approval of cabozantinib for patetients with advanced, inoperable medullary thyroid carcinoma is pending

13. Top 17 Advances
Combination Chemotherapy Extends Survival in Certain Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
Phase III trial showed that combination of pemetrexed (ALIMTA®) and carboplatin (Paraplatin) therapy may extend survival for patients with NSCLC who have performance score of 2
The median overall survival was 5.1 months for patients treated with pemetrexed and 9.6 months for those treated with combination therapy

14. Top 17 Advances
Blocking the Hedgehog Pathway Stops Growth of Basal-Cell Carcinomas
Phase II trial showed hedgehog inhibitor vismodegib (ErivedgeTM) is effective in both preventing and treating basal-cell carcinomas in patients with a rare, treatment-resistant, condition known as basal-cell nevus syndrome
FDA approved vismodegib in January 2012 for patients with locally advanced basal-cell carcinoma who are not candidates for surgery or radiation therapy and for patients whose cancer has metastasized

15. Top 17 Advances
Pazopanib Delays Cancer Progression in Patients with Chemotherapy-Resistant Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Phase III study in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma that progressed despite standard chemotherapy showed that targeted drug pazopanib (Votrient) may be beneficial
On average, the disease progressed after 4.6 months for patients treated with pazopanib vs. 1.6 months for those treated with placebo; median overall survival was similar in the two groups

16. Top 17 Advances
Screening with Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Reduces Deaths Resulting from Certain Colorectal Cancers
A study involving more than 150,000 participants found that screening with flexible sigmoidoscopy reduces both colorectal cancer incidence and mortality
As compared to usual care, screening with flexible sigmoidoscopy led to a 21% reduction in colorectal cancer incidence 26% reduction in deaths from the disease

17. Top 17 Advances
14. Study Shows Antipsychotic Drug Olanzapine May Control Breakthrough Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Phase III trial showed that olanzapine (Zyprexa) is significantly more effective than the standard anti-nausea drug metoclopramide (Reglan) in controlling breakthrough chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
The findings address an unmet need for patients who experience such adverse effects despite routine preventive treatment

18. Top 17 Advances
15. Antidepressant Drug Duloxetine Relieves Pain from Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Phase III trial showed that duloxetine (Cymbalta®) is more effective than placebo for the treatment of painful peripheral neuropathy related to taxane- or platinum-based chemotherapy.
Findings suggest that duloxetine may be a useful new treatment options for patients with cancer who suffer from this adverse effect

19. Top 17 Advances
16. Study Identifies Factors Affecting Whether Elderly Patients Can Safely Undergo Chemotherapy
A study identified measures that are critical for helping physicians select appropriate treatments for elderly patients with cancer
The findings suggest that pre-treatment mobility and nutritional assessment scores are particularly important in determining whether patients older than 70 years will benefit from chemotherapy

20. Top 17 Advances
17. Prospective Trial Reveals Factors that Predict Risk for Chemotherapy Side Effects in Older Adults
Prospective study proposes a scoring system and risk stratification model that identifies adults at low, intermediate, and high risk of chemotherapy side effects
The study provides a sorely needed tool to inform chemotherapy decision making for elderly patients with any type or stage of cancer

21. 2012 Cancer Policy Developments
Funding for Clinical Cancer Research
ASCO’s initiative to build a rapid learning system for oncology
ASCO’s recommendations to tackle drug shortages
Recommendations for improving quality and value in cancer care

22. ASCO Resources ASCO Guidelines Cancer.Net Conquer Cancer Foundation
Cancer.Net
Conquer Cancer Foundation
ASCO Connection

23. ASCO Resources Cancer Progress
The cancerprogress.net site provides a dynamic and interactive history of progress against cancer, with stories of cancer survivors, advocates and physicians, and expert perspective on challenges we face to continue making progress.

24. susie.tappouni@asco.org 571-483-1355
ASCO’s Annual Report on Progress Against Cancer
For additional information, contact Susie Tappouni in ASCO’s Communications Department: