ilyas sahin, MD (@ilyassahinMD) ranks #35 among US lung cancer KOLs, #20 among US gi cancer KOLs on X in 2026, by engagement from fellow physicians. 12 physicians shared, quoted or replied to their posts this year. Most-discussed trials in 2026: DeLLphi-305, COMPANION002, HERIZON-GEA-01. CMS Open Payments lists no 2025 general payments.
At a Glance
- 16 posts naming a trial in 2026
- 14 trials discussed by name
- Lung Cancer: US #35 · 10 physicians engaged
- GI Cancer: US #20 · 12 physicians engaged
- Leading physician voice: #3 of 6 physicians on REFOCUS
- CMS Open Payments lists no 2025 general payments.
This Month
What ilyas sahin, MD has posted in the last 30 days. Updated November 10, 2026.
Important #ESMO26 study, published in @Annals_Oncology ! In the phase 3 PERSEE trial adding chemotherapy to pembrolizumab in advanced lung cancer with PD-L1 ≥50% improved median progression-free survival from 6.9 to 16.1 months (HR 0.56). Median overall survival was 50.2 vs 29.9 months (HR 0.77), although the difference was not statistically significant. Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events increased (54% vs 19%). An important finding for first-line treatment decisions in PD-L1-high lung cancer.
Lots of exciting developments at #ESMO26! Several important studies were also published simultaneously in major medical journals. A few highlights: 1. Small-cell lung cancer (NEJM): Adding tarlatamab to first-line durvalumab maintenance improved median overall survival from 12.7 to 21.1 months in the phase 3 DeLLphi-305 trial. 2. HER2-positive breast cancer (NEJM): Anbenitamab, a HER2-targeted bispecific antibody, plus HB1801 improved 24-month progression-free survival to 58.5% vs 34.4% with standard therapy (HR 0.46). 3. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NEJM): Perioperative durvalumab plus neoadjuvant enfortumab vedotin improved 24-month event-free survival to 63.5% vs 45.1% with surgery alone. 4. HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer (Lancet): The EGFR/HER3-targeted bispecific antibody-drug conjugate izalontamab brengitecan doubled median progression-free survival versus chemotherapy (8.2 vs 4.0 months; HR 0.41) in the phase 3 PANKU-Breast01 trial. 5. Melanoma (Nature Medicine): Five-year RELATIVITY-047 results showed sustained overall survival benefit with nivolumab + relatlimab vs nivolumab alone (HR 0.78). Full publications below 👇
Excited to see our COMPANION-002 trial published in JCO and presented at #ESMO26! Treatment options remain limited for advanced biliary tract cancer after first-line therapy, especially without targetable mutations. Tovecimig + paclitaxel vs paclitaxel alone: • Tumor response (ORR): 18% vs 5.3% • Time without progression (median PFS): 4.7 vs 2.6 months (HR 0.44) Proud to have contributed to this multicenter trial!
Excited to see our COMPANION-002 trial published in JCO and presented at #ESMO26! In advanced biliary tract cancer, tovecimig + paclitaxel vs paclitaxel alone: • Tumor shrinkage (objective response rate): 18% vs 5.3% • Time without cancer progression (median PFS): 4.7 vs 2.6 months (HR 0.44) Proud to have contributed to this multicenter trial!
Who Amplifies ilyas sahin, MD
Physicians who reposted ilyas sahin, MD’s trial posts most often in 2026.
2026 Rankings
| List | US rank | Global rank | Physicians engaged | Physician engagements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lung Cancer | #35 | — | 10 | 10 | Full ranking |
| GI Cancer | #20 | — | 12 | 12 |
Trials ilyas sahin, MD Discussed in 2026
| Trial | Posts | Rank among physicians posting | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeLLphi-305 | 2 | #26 of 86 | Oct 24, 2026 |
| COMPANION002 | 2 | #4 of 4 | Oct 24, 2026 |
| HERIZON-GEA-01 | 2 | #13 of 34 | Aug 25, 2026 |
| PERSEE (GFPC 01-2020) | 1 | #32 of 34 | Oct 25, 2026 |
| PANKU-Breast01 | 1 | #4 of 23 | Oct 24, 2026 |
| HER2CLIMB-05 | 1 | #16 of 19 | Oct 7, 2026 |
| REFOCUS | 1 | #3 of 6 | Sep 23, 2026 |
| TAISHAN-302 | 1 | #12 of 26 | Sep 13, 2026 |
| HARMONi-2 | 1 | #14 of 19 | Sep 13, 2026 |
| SERENA-6 | 1 | #39 of 39 | Sep 4, 2026 |
| TALAPRO-3 | 1 | #31 of 39 | May 30, 2026 |
| WU-KONG28 | 1 | #24 of 29 | May 29, 2026 |
| POTOMAC | 1 | #17 of 17 | May 28, 2026 |
| IMvigor011 | 1 | #18 of 20 | May 15, 2026 |
ilyas sahin, MD on DeLLphi-305
Lots of exciting developments at #ESMO26! Several important studies were also published simultaneously in major medical journals. A few highlights: 1. Small-cell lung cancer (NEJM): Adding tarlatamab to first-line durvalumab maintenance improved median overall survival from 12.7 to 21.1 months in the phase 3 DeLLphi-305 trial. 2. HER2-positive breast cancer (NEJM): Anbenitamab, a HER2-targeted bispecific antibody, plus HB1801 improved 24-month progression-free survival to 58.5% vs 34.4% with standard therapy (HR 0.46). 3. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NEJM): Perioperative durvalumab plus neoadjuvant enfortumab vedotin improved 24-month event-free survival to 63.5% vs 45.1% with surgery alone. 4. HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer (Lancet): The EGFR/HER3-targeted bispecific antibody-drug conjugate izalontamab brengitecan doubled median progression-free survival versus chemotherapy (8.2 vs 4.0 months; HR 0.41) in the phase 3 PANKU-Breast01 trial. 5. Melanoma (Nature Medicine): Five-year RELATIVITY-047 results showed sustained overall survival benefit with nivolumab + relatlimab vs nivolumab alone (HR 0.78). Full publications below 👇
Potentially practice-changing phase III news in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. * In DeLLphi-305, adding the DLL3xCD3 T-cell engager tarlatamab to durvalumab maintenance after platinum/etoposide + durvalumab significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival versus durvalumab alone. Interesting to see T-cell engagers moving earlier in treatment, rather than being reserved for relapse. For now, these are topline results from a company announcement, so the actual hazard ratios, survival curves, and detailed safety data will matter. Looking forward to seeing the full results.
ilyas sahin, MD on COMPANION002
Excited to see our COMPANION-002 trial published in JCO and presented at #ESMO26! Treatment options remain limited for advanced biliary tract cancer after first-line therapy, especially without targetable mutations. Tovecimig + paclitaxel vs paclitaxel alone: • Tumor response (ORR): 18% vs 5.3% • Time without progression (median PFS): 4.7 vs 2.6 months (HR 0.44) Proud to have contributed to this multicenter trial!
Excited to see our COMPANION-002 trial published in JCO and presented at #ESMO26! In advanced biliary tract cancer, tovecimig + paclitaxel vs paclitaxel alone: • Tumor shrinkage (objective response rate): 18% vs 5.3% • Time without cancer progression (median PFS): 4.7 vs 2.6 months (HR 0.44) Proud to have contributed to this multicenter trial!
ilyas sahin, MD on HERIZON-GEA-01
Important FDA approval for HER2+ advanced gastric, GEJ, or esophageal adenocarcinoma: • Zanidatamab + chemo + tislelizumab: IHC 3+ or IHC 2+/ISH+ • Zanidatamab + chemo: IHC 3+ only In phase 3 HERIZON-GEA-01, the triplet improved progession gree survival (12.4 vs 8.1 mo) and overall survival (26.4 vs 19.2 mo; HR 0.72) vs trastuzumab + chemo. Zanidatamab is now a frontline HER2 backbone. Caveat: the comparator was trastuzumab + chemo, not a pembrolizumab-containing regimen. https://t.co/i1TbUEyobA
New phase 3 in @NEJM* for HER2+ gastroesophageal cancer (HERIZON-GEA-01). 914 patients, first-line. Zanidatamab (dual HER2 antibody) plus chemo, with or without tislelizumab (immunotherapy), vs. trastuzumab plus chemo (current standard). Progression-free survival: 12.4 months https://t.co/H78BSwZbMj
ilyas sahin, MD on PERSEE (GFPC 01-2020)
Important #ESMO26 study, published in @Annals_Oncology ! In the phase 3 PERSEE trial adding chemotherapy to pembrolizumab in advanced lung cancer with PD-L1 ≥50% improved median progression-free survival from 6.9 to 16.1 months (HR 0.56). Median overall survival was 50.2 vs 29.9 months (HR 0.77), although the difference was not statistically significant. Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events increased (54% vs 19%). An important finding for first-line treatment decisions in PD-L1-high lung cancer.
ilyas sahin, MD on PANKU-Breast01
Lots of exciting developments at #ESMO26! Several important studies were also published simultaneously in major medical journals. A few highlights: 1. Small-cell lung cancer (NEJM): Adding tarlatamab to first-line durvalumab maintenance improved median overall survival from 12.7 to 21.1 months in the phase 3 DeLLphi-305 trial. 2. HER2-positive breast cancer (NEJM): Anbenitamab, a HER2-targeted bispecific antibody, plus HB1801 improved 24-month progression-free survival to 58.5% vs 34.4% with standard therapy (HR 0.46). 3. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NEJM): Perioperative durvalumab plus neoadjuvant enfortumab vedotin improved 24-month event-free survival to 63.5% vs 45.1% with surgery alone. 4. HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer (Lancet): The EGFR/HER3-targeted bispecific antibody-drug conjugate izalontamab brengitecan doubled median progression-free survival versus chemotherapy (8.2 vs 4.0 months; HR 0.41) in the phase 3 PANKU-Breast01 trial. 5. Melanoma (Nature Medicine): Five-year RELATIVITY-047 results showed sustained overall survival benefit with nivolumab + relatlimab vs nivolumab alone (HR 0.78). Full publications below 👇
ilyas sahin, MD on HER2CLIMB-05
FDA approves tucatinib + trastuzumab/pertuzumab as maintenance therapy for HER2+ advanced breast cancer after induction. HER2CLIMB-05: median PFS 24.9 vs 16.3 months; HR 0.64. OS remains immature. https://t.co/khwdsYo2Pt
ilyas sahin, MD on REFOCUS
New FDA approval for bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma).✅ Lirafugratinib is now approved for previously treated advanced disease with an FGFR2 gene fusion or rearrangement. In the REFOCUS trial, 46% of patients had their tumors shrink (objective response), and responses
ilyas sahin, MD on TAISHAN-302
Small-cell lung cancer is an aggressive cancer that often comes back after initial treatment. In phase 3 TAISHAN-302, tambotatug pelitecan (Tam-Peli) beat the standard chemotherapy topotecan: • Survival: 13.3 vs 9.4 months • PFS: 7.4 vs 2.8 months • Response: 59% vs 10% • Grade ≥3 side effects: 55% vs 78% Longer survival, much higher response, and less severe toxicity ; a striking result in relapsed SCLC. N=451. Interim analysis.
ilyas sahin, MD’s Most-Engaged Posts in 2026
Their own 2026 posts that fellow physicians reposted most, quoted word for word.
Could some rectal cancer patients skip chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery? The FDA has granted priority review to dostarlimab (a PD-1 immunotherapy) for untreated stage II–III dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced rectal cancer, with a decision expected by February 2027. The application is based on the global Phase 2 AZUR-1 study (n=154), where 6 months of dostarlimab alone met the primary endpoint of sustained clinical complete response at ≥12 months (cCR12). This builds on the landmark MSK NEJM experience showing striking complete-response rates in this biomarker-defined group. As a reminder, dMMR/MSI-H accounts for only about 5–10% of rectal cancers. AZUR-1 is single-arm, and priority review is not approval. Still, biomarker-driven organ preservation moving toward a regulatory label is a major milestone. ✅
FDA approves belzutifan + lenvatinib for advanced clear-cell kidney cancer (RCC) after prior immunotherapy. Compared with cabozantinib, the combination: -Delayed cancer progression (progression-free survival): 14.6 vs 10.6 months -Shrunk tumors more often (objective response rate): 53% vs 40% https://t.co/cHMSJ9y08n
Early onset colorectal cancer is rising and we still do not fully know why A new @NatureMedicine * study suggests -Tumor signatures linked to environmental exposures -A signal involving a common herbicide (picloram) -Consistent findings across cohorts Association, not causation
Two more #ESMO26 papers in @NEJM today: In EGFR-mutated, MET-altered NSCLC progressing on osimertinib, adding savolitinib improved PFS (HR 0.55) and OS (HR 0.68) vs platinum-pemetrexed. 12-month OS was 70% vs 53%. In previously treated KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC, divarasib improved median PFS (9.8 vs 5.7 months; HR 0.58) and OS (17.7 vs 12.0 months; HR 0.56) vs sotorasib or adagrasib.
Two oncology studies in @NEJM today, both worth knowing about. 1. RAS, once considered “undruggable.” One week after daraxonrasib was approved for pancreatic cancer, early data in lung cancer carrying a RAS mutation show a 42% response rate at 160 to 220 mg daily and a median progression-free survival of 8.3 months. Toxicity was meaningful, and phase 3 testing is underway. 2. Sometimes less is more… In fit patients with acute myeloid leukemia, the MGH-led PARADIGM trial found that azacitidine plus venetoclax more than doubled median event-free survival compared with intensive chemotherapy: 14.5 versus 6.2 months. It also produced more remissions, helped more patients reach transplant, and reduced hospital stays.
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