The latest results from a number of brain metastasis clinical trials led by physician-investigators at Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health, are being presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), May 31-June 4, in Chicago.

“We could not be more exhilarated about the research in the area of brain tumors led by investigators from Miami Cancer Institute,” said Manmeet Ahluwalia, M.D., MBA, FASCO, chief of medical oncology, chief scientific officer and deputy director of Miami Cancer Institute and Fernandez Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Cancer Research. “We are excited to present our findings, because many of these are landmark studies that are transforming care, extending lives and improving quality of life.”

Among the presentations are:

• Results from METIS (EF-25), an International Multicenter Phase III Randomized Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) Therapy in NSCLC Patients with Brain Metastases – Minesh Mehta, M.D.
• A Multicenter Phase 1 Trial of Tucatinib, Trastuzumab, and Capecitabin with Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Patients with Brain Metastases from HER-2 Positive Breast Cancer (TUTOR) – Manmeet Ahluwalia, M.D.
• A Phase I/II Study to Assess Safety and Preliminary Evidence of a Therapeutic Effect of Azeliragon Combined with Stereotactic Radiation Therapy in Patients with Brain Metastases (ADORATION) – Rupesh Kotecha, M.D.
• Comparative Survival Analysis of Patients with HER2-low and HER2-positive Metastatic Breast Cancer with or without Brain Metastases Treated with Trastuzumab Deruxtecan – Vivek Podder, MBBS

“The impact of our work is broad, in that it encompasses subjects such as the use of novel tissue-agnostic therapeutics and combinatorial regimens using new medications and stereotactic radiosurgery,” Dr. Ahluwalia said. “At the same time, it emphasizes the collaboration of our physicians with experts worldwide and the convergence of cancer types that benefit from shared research and results.”

In the glioblastoma arena, ASCO presentations by the Institute include:

• A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Phase 2b Trial of Survivin Vaccine SurVaxM Plus Adjuvant Temozolomide for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma (SURVIVE) – Manmeet Ahluwalia, M.D.
• A Prospective, Multicenter Trial of Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU) for Blood-brain Barrier Disruption for Liquid Biopsy in Glioblastoma (LIBERATE) – Manmeet Ahluwalia, M.D.
• A Randomized, Controlled, Phase 2 Trial of Nivolumab Plus Standard-dose or Low-dose Bevacizumab for Recurrent Glioblastoma (NAVAL) – Manmeet Ahluwalia, M.D.

Other presentations at ASCO led by Miami Cancer Institute physician-investigators and other experts include sessions on breast cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer and HPV-related head and neck cancers.