Sacituzumab tirumotecan improved survival in triple-negative breast cancer

In a trial of 263 people with previously treated advanced triple-negative breast cancer, sacituzumab tirumotecan led to median survival of 14.7 months, versus 9.9 months with chemotherapy.

“These final overall survival data after extended follow-up demonstrate a clinically meaningful and sustained overall survival benefit of sac-TMT versus chemotherapy and further reinforce its role as a treatment option for previously treated advanced triple-negative breast cancer.”

What this means. A large, final-stage trial in breast cancer. This is the kind of result regulators use when deciding whether to approve a treatment.

Pancreatic cancer precursors have a different surrounding environment

Researchers mapped pancreatic precancerous lesions and cancer in donated organs. The surrounding tissue changed sharply as lesions became cancer, while the lesion cells showed a gradual shift; this may help explain why most precursors do not progress.

“Overall, these findings establish atebimetinib as a dual-MEKi with the potential to provide mutation-agnostic inhibition of the MAPK pathway while leveraging DCI, designed to avoid toxicities associated with existing MEKis.”

What this means. A large, final-stage trial in several cancer types. This is the kind of result regulators use when deciding whether to approve a treatment.

Tarlatamab helped people with small-cell lung cancer live longer

In a phase 3 trial of people whose small-cell lung cancer had worsened after platinum-based chemotherapy, those given tarlatamab lived a median of 13.6 months, compared with 8.4 months for those given chemotherapy.

“With extended follow-up, tarlatamab continues to demonstrate sustained and durable clinical benefit and a favorable long-term tolerability profile versus chemotherapy, in patients with small cell lung cancer after first-line (the first treatment given) platinum-based chemotherapy, supporting its use as the standard of care in this setting.”

What this means. A large, final-stage trial in lung cancer. This is the kind of result regulators use when deciding whether to approve a treatment.

Two drugs improved survival in stomach cancer

In two phase III trials, people with stomach or gastroesophageal cancer received sonesitatug vedotin or arcotatug tavatecan as third- or later-line treatment; both helped people live longer.

“Results from two phase 3 (large late-stage) trials, CLARITY-Gastric01 and G-HOPE-001, indicate that the investigational CLDN18.2-targeting antibody-drug conjugates sonesitatug vedotin and arcotatug tavatecan could be effective third- or later-line treatments for patients with CLDN18.2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal carcinomas.”

What this means. A large, final-stage trial in stomach cancer. This is the kind of result regulators use when deciding whether to approve a treatment.

Ivonescimab combination improves survival in advanced biliary tract cancer

In an interim phase 3 trial, people with advanced biliary tract cancer lived longer with ivonescimab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin than with durvalumab plus the same chemotherapy.

“The regimen may represent a new standard of care for first-line (the first treatment given) advanced biliary tract cancer, though questions regarding patient selection and applicability beyond Chinese populations remain.”

What this means. A large, final-stage trial in cancer. This is the kind of result regulators use when deciding whether to approve a treatment.

Radiation improved disease control in non-small cell lung cancer

In a phase II trial of 140 people with non-small cell lung cancer, adding radiation to first-line drug treatment improved local control and lengthened the time before cancer grew, but did not help people live longer.

What this means. A mid-stage trial in lung cancer. Good results at this stage usually still need a larger trial before approval.

Durvalumab and olaparib prolonged survival in advanced endometrial cancer

In a phase III trial, people given durvalumab with chemotherapy, then durvalumab and olaparib, lived a median 51.1 months, 11.5 months longer than people given chemotherapy alone.

“The findings were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026 by principal investigator Shannon Westin, MD , Professor of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at MD Anderson ( Abstract LBA37 ). "These results demonstrate that combining immunotherapy with a PARP inhibitor can deliver durable survival benefits for patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer," Dr. Westin said. "The findings are particularly noteworthy for patients with mismatch repair–proficient (pMMR) tumors, who represent the majority of cases and have traditionally had fewer effective treatment options." The trial randomly assigned 718 patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer to receive one of three treatment regimens: one group received chemotherapy alone followed by placebo in the maintenance phase; the other two groups received chemotherapy with durvalumab followed by durvalumab with or without olaparib in the maintenance phase.”

What this means. A large, final-stage trial in womb cancer. This is the kind of result regulators use when deciding whether to approve a treatment.