CONFERENCE
News from the 2026 International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) Annual Global Meeting
Brought to you by Anne Mette Buhl, PhD, OCRA’s Senior Director of Treatment Access and Scientific Education
The 2026 Annual Global Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) took place in Montreal, Canada, from October 1–3, 2026. The meeting brought together researchers, healthcare professionals, and patient advocates from around the world to share advances in the prevention and treatment of gynecologic cancers. Here are five important research updates presented at the meeting.
Ubamatamab: Encouraging results with a new immunotherapy in recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer
Researchers presented promising early results with ubamatamab, a new type of immunotherapy being studied in patients with recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC). Ubamatamab is a bispecific antibody designed to bring the body's immune cells into direct contact with cancer cells to help the immune system recognize and attack the cancer. Among 11 patients who had received several previous treatments, about 3 out of 4 experienced significant benefit from the treatment. Although these results are based on a very small group of patients, they are encouraging because LGSOC often responds poorly to traditional chemotherapy, and additional treatment options are needed. A larger study is ongoing to further evaluate this treatment in LGSOC.
GARNET trial: Six-year follow up shows that immunotherapy can provide long-lasting benefit in endometrial cancer with dMMR
New long-term results from the GARNET trial continue to show the benefits of dostarlimab (Jemperli), an immunotherapy already approved for certain patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. The study included patients whose tumors have a feature called deficient mismatch repair (dMMR), making them particularly sensitive to immunotherapy, and whose cancer had progressed after prior platinum-based chemotherapy. The benefit of the treatment was remarkably long-lasting. After six years of follow-up, many patients who responded to dostarlimab continued to benefit, despite having completed treatment years earlier. These findings highlight the potential for immunotherapy to provide durable disease control and long-term survival for some patients with dMMR endometrial cancer.
RAINFOL-01 trial: Rinatabart Sesutecan (Rina-S) shows promising activity in platinum resistant ovarian cancer
Results from the Phase 2 RAINFOL-01 trial showed encouraging activity with rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S), an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that targets folate receptor alpha (FRα), a protein found on many ovarian cancer cells. Rina-S targets the same protein as the approved ADC mirvetuximab soravtansine (Elahere) but delivers a different type of chemotherapy to cancer cells. Unlike Elahere, which requires high FRα levels, Rina-S is being studied regardless of the tumor's FRα level. About half of the patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in the study experienced significant tumor shrinkage. Responses were seen across different FRα levels, including in some patients previously treated with Elahere. These findings suggest that Rina-S could offer a new treatment option for patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, regardless of their tumor's FRα level, and may also benefit some patients who have previously received Elahere.
CUSP06: A new cadherin-6-targeted antibody-drug conjugate with encouraging activity in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer
Researchers also presented encouraging early results with CUSP06, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that targets cadherin-6 (CDH6), a protein found on many ovarian cancer cells. In the Phase 1 study of patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, about half experienced significant tumor shrinkage, and CUSP06 showed a manageable safety profile. Encouraging responses were also seen in patients previously treated with mirvetuximab soravtansine (Elahere). These findings support further development of CUSP06 as a potential new treatment for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. By targeting a different protein and delivering a different type of chemotherapy than Elahere, CUSP06 may also benefit patients who have previously received Elahere.
PYNNACLE trial: Rezatapopt, an oral, targeted therapy for ovarian and endometrial cancer with a TP53 Y220C mutation
Results from the Phase 2 PYNNACLE trial highlighted a promising new oral targeted treatment called rezatapopt, designed to restore the function of a protein altered by a specific genetic mutation called TP53 Y220C. In the study, close to half of the patients with ovarian cancer carrying this mutation experienced significant tumor shrinkage. Encouraging activity was also seen in a small group of patients with endometrial cancer carrying the same mutation. These findings are particularly interesting because treatments targeting TP53 mutations have been difficult to develop. Importantly, rezatapopt is designed specifically for tumors carrying the TP53 Y220C mutation, which is found in approximately 2.8% of ovarian cancers and 1.1% of endometrial cancers, and is not expected to work against other TP53 mutations. The PYNNACLE trial is ongoing.
For more updates, sign up for OCRA's webinar: Latest Gynecologic Treatment Advances from IGCS and ESMO, Fall 2026 on November 18th, 2026.
What You Can Do
- Ask about biomarker testing: Some of the treatments presented at IGCS target specific features of cancer cells, such as dMMR, or the TP53 Y220C mutation. Ask your doctor whether your tumor has been tested for biomarkers that may help identify treatment options.
- Explore clinical trials: Several promising new treatments, including bispecific antibodies, ADCs, and targeted therapies, are being studied in clinical trials. Ask your healthcare team whether there may be an appropriate study for you.
- Learn about different treatment approaches: New treatments work in different ways, from helping the immune system recognize cancer cells to delivering chemotherapy directly to tumors or targeting specific genetic changes. Understanding these approaches can help you have more informed conversations with your healthcare team. OCRA hosts monthly Staying Current sessions to provide the latest information about gynecologic cancer treatment options.