Multiple Oncology Trials Report Positive Results at ASCO 2026 and in Journals

Several recent oncology clinical trials have reported results, including data on cabozantinib plus nivolumab in non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma, savolitinib in gastric cancer, and induction nivolumab before chemoradiation in HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer.

A phase 2 trial of cabozantinib plus nivolumab in patients with non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (nccRCC) showed antitumor activity regardless of treatment history. The study, presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting 2026, enrolled 53 patients with papillary, fumarate hydratase–deficient, unclassified, or translocation-associated nccRCC. Patients received 40 mg cabozantinib daily plus 240 mg intravenous nivolumab every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks. Cabozantinib plus nivolumab induced tumor reduction in 81% of patients, with a partial or complete response rate of 43%, including one complete response. The median overall survival was 28 months, with survival rates of 77% at 12 months and 55% at 24 months. Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in all patients, with 68% experiencing grade 3 or 4 events. Research was supported by Exelixis and BMS.

Results from a pivotal phase II registration study of savolitinib in gastric cancer or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma patients with MET amplification in China will be presented at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting. The study met its primary endpoint of objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST 1.1. As of the data cut-off of October 8, 2025, the independent review committee–assessed ORR was 32.3% (95% CI: 21.2%, 45.1%), exceeding the pre-specified efficacy threshold. Secondary endpoints included a disease control rate of 63.1%, median time to response of 1.4 months, median duration of response of 9.7 months, and median progression-free survival of 4.0 months. The data supported a New Drug Application submission to the China National Medical Products Administration, which was accepted and granted priority review in December 2025.

In a French phase II trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, induction nivolumab before chemoradiation (CRT) did not meet the predefined feasibility endpoint in patients with high-risk HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer. The multicenter trial included 61 evaluable patients randomly assigned to receive two nivolumab infusions followed by CRT (experimental arm, n=41) or CRT alone (n=20). The primary endpoint was the rate of patients receiving full treatment in due time, which was not met because four patients in the experimental arm received less than 200 mg/m² cisplatin. The 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 7.3% in the experimental arm versus 15.0% in the control group. Grade 4 or 5 adverse events were observed only in the experimental arm, occurring in seven patients. The study was supported by the French National Cancer Institute.