#ASCO26 The Primary Surgery vs NACT Debate

Today I will share information from the #ASCO26  session Let's Debate: Surgery Versus NACT in Advanced Ovarian Cancer , May 31, 2026 with  Dr Mahner- Surgery  and Dr Olawaiye NACT and Dr Bixel distilling the information. 

I posted this to X the day I viewed the session.   

On Demand #ASCO26 Let's Debate: Surgery Versus NACT in Adv OC 5/31
Dr Mahner- Surgery Dr Olawaiye NACT
I wish I was in the room for this debate! Dr Bixel did an excellent job highlighting patient qualities when making the decision whether to use Surg or NACT. #gyncsm pic.twitter.com/DnP5rr2T9Q

— Dee Sparacio (@womenofteal) June 1, 2026

 

Let me share a few other slides from the debate. 

 Dr Mahner shared information about the TRUST and other trials and then looked at real world data regarding surgery and NACT to reach his conclusion that primary surgery is preferred when certain conditions exist. 

Then Dr Olawaiye spoke about NACT - neoadjuvant chemotherapy in late stage ovarian cancer and reached this conclusion to support his position. 

 

Dr Bixel distilled  the data presented during the debate. She spoke of the use of different scoring methods to predict whether surgery was appropriate or not ( Peritoneal Cancer Index and Fagotti Score / Predictive Index Value) and then drew her conclusions. 

 

(There is an article by Dr Bixel in the ASCO Education Book  - https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/EDBK-26-520652   - give a read for more details. )

The Key take away for me was:  

Shared decision making is key! Patient Factors ( frailty, co-morbidities etc)  and amount and location of disease must be discussed with patients. This way each patient is receiving the best treatment for their circumstances.  

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing! 

Looking Forward to #ASCO26

This year's ASCO Annual Meeting runs from May 29 - June 2, 2026 in Chicago. The theme this year is "The Science and Practice of Translation:Improving Cancer Outcomes Worldwide". 

I will be attending virtually, so I know I will experience FOMO when I see the postings by other cancer advocates on social media. I will not miss the long walks to get to sessions in the various buildings at McCormick. But I will miss meeting up with other cancer advocates in the ASCO Advocate Lounge and interacting with gyn cancer researchers who through the years have become friends. 

There are a few new ASCO Voices that I look forward to following this year on X including @DrBarbiOnc, @NazliDizman ,  @Ramila, @YGaritaonaindia  and @DrSAHAddad. I recommend you follow them too, 

I recently planned my attendance to focus on ovarian cancer session. 

Friday May 29  

Gyn Cancer Oral Abstracts 3:45-4:45 (ET)  Livestream 

Sat May 30 

Gyn Cancer Rapid Oral abstract Session 9am (ET)

Opening Session  Livestream 

ctDNA in Clinical Practice 9am Livestream

Rare Gyn Cancers 5:45 

Antibody Drug Conjugates 5:45 Livestream 

Sun May 31 

Let's Debate: Upfront Surgery Versus Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Advanced Ovarian Cancer

State of the Art: Therapeutic Strategies on the Horizon for Gynecologic Malignancies

Monday June 1 

New Horizons for Hereditary Cancer Syndromes  

Gyn Cancer Poster session  ( posters available day of session) 

 

I'm ready to listen and learn. 

If you are attending in person please use the #gyncsm hashtag in your social media posts. I'll be posting highlights from the meeting following ASCO. 

 

Dee Sparacio

Every Day is a Blessing!