The interest in Yale science was exciting at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in June. Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital faculty noted impressive takeaways from the meeting, and important time spent with colleagues and friends. Director of Yale Cancer Center and Physician-in-Chief of Smilow Cancer Hospital, Eric Winer, MD, served as the 2022-2023 ASCO President, and presented the opening address on his meeting theme, Partnering with Patients: The Cornerstone of Cancer Care. Dr. Winer shared his own personal story and urged clinicians to use their life experiences in their daily interactions with patients.
“Our own narratives can help us form better partnerships, and patient partnerships are crucial. I actually think that patients get better care and are happier with their care if, in fact, they feel they’re part of their team.” Dr. Winer left the audience with five key principles:
• Relationship with the healthcare team is paramount
• Science really matters
• We all face challenges
• Responses to illness vary across individuals
• Stigma can be crushing
During a plenary session, Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD, Deputy Director of Yale Cancer Center and Assistant Dean for Translational Research at Yale School of Medicine, presented groundbreaking findings from the ADAURA trial, which showed improved survival and reduced risk of recurrence in patients with EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer taking osimertinib following surgery. “In this trial, we took advantage of the efficacy of osimertinib, used it earlier, and it resulted in a really phenomenal impact on survival. That’s practice-changing, and it helps people live longer with lung cancer.”
Oral and poster presentations highlighted advances from Yale laboratories and clinics throughout the meeting from faculty, trainees, and collaborators, showcasing one of Dr. Winer’s takeaways, ‘science really matters.’