A vaccine targeting KRAS mutations was safe and stimulated durable immune responses in high-risk individuals. After a median follow-up of 16.5 months, none of the participants developed pancreatic cancer, and some precancerous lesions shrank or stopped growing.
A recent study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found that men were more likely to be diagnosed with regional and distant stages of 20 nonreproductive solid cancer types in the United States. Men were significantly more likely than women to be diagnosed with regional tongue cancer, salivary gland cancer, oropha...
Matthew Vander Heiden, MD, PhD, has been appointed as the new editor-in-chief of Cancer Discovery, succeeding Luis A. Diaz, Jr., MD, FAACR. Vander Heiden is a renowned physician-scientist with expertise in cancer research and metabolism.
The AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2026 highlights the progress being made against cancer disparities while also raising awareness of the disproportionate toll that cancer continues to exact on certain populations. The report calls for continued federal support for cancer disparities research to ensure that advances against ca...
A lower CA19-9 cutoff of 7 units/mL can identify patients with pancreatic cancer who have high-risk disease despite low biomarker levels. This dual-threshold model helps distinguish between true low tumor burden and Lewis antigen-negative status, improving prognostic assessment.
A study found that long-term exposure to wildfire smoke was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing lung, colorectal, breast, bladder, and blood cancer. The risk increased with every additional microgram per cubic meter of fine particulate matter in the air.
A study found that early myocarditis onset after immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy significantly increases the risk of death from treatment-related causes. Patients who developed co-occurring myositis and myasthenia gravis were also at a higher risk, with some cases leading to fatal outcomes.
Researchers found that intralesional nivolumab reduced lesion size by an average of 60% and achieved complete pathologic response in 6 patients. The treatment also showed promise in treating high-grade and low-grade dysplasia, with 82.13% of treated lesions remaining cancer-free after 12 months.
The study found a concerning trend towards trial consolidation at top-performing sites in the US, with more limited access to clinical trials for lower-volume locations. This may be due to factors such as increased complexity of phase I trials and regulatory burdens.
A phase II clinical trial found that ciltacabtagene autoleucel, a CAR T-cell therapy, achieved a 100% minimal residual disease (MRD)-negativity rate in patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma. The treatment also showed low-grade cytokine release syndrome and transient hematologic toxicities.
Researchers developed a machine learning model using DNA methylation patterns to predict cancer origin in patients with unknown primary. The model correctly identified the cancer type in about 95% of cases, suggesting it could support personalized treatment decisions.
Researchers developed a pathomics framework using a deep learning survival prediction model that analyzes pathology slide images and study patterns to predict patient outcomes. The model correctly stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups with significantly different outcomes.
Researchers found a promising response rate of 52% and disease control rate of 93% in patients treated with zoldonrasib. The study also showed favorable safety and tolerability profiles, with no grade 4 treatment-related adverse events observed.
A phase I clinical trial found that QLS5132 demonstrated an objective response rate of 50% and a disease control rate of 94.4% in patients with late-stage, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The study also showed a favorable safety profile for the treatment.
A new study found that elisrasib, a next-generation KRAS-G12C inhibitor, demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile. In patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), elisrasib showed promising response rates of 58.8% and disease control rate of 98.5%. The treatment also improved outcomes...
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has recognized exceptional cancer journalists with the 2026 June L. Biedler Prize. The prize winners showcased remarkable ability to communicate complex scientific concepts in clear language. Their stories enhanced public understanding of cancer, science, and advocacy.
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is recognizing Senator Susan Collins and Jill Feldman with the 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award and Distinguished Patient Advocacy and Engagement Award, respectively. Collins received the award for her strong support of medical research funding through the National Institutes o...
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has recognized three researchers with the 2026 Scientific Achievement Award: James Allison, for his pioneering work on CTLA-4; John DiPersio, for his advances in leukemia and stem cell biology; and Jane Arrowsmith, for her contributions to chemical biology and cancer epigenetics. The ...
Dr. Kenneth M. Murphy is being recognized for his groundbreaking research on dendritic cell subsets, which regulate adaptive immune responses and have advanced the understanding of antigen presentation and immune system regulation. His work has informed strategies to enhance antitumor immunity and cancer immunotherapy.
Researchers developed a machine learning model that analyzes patient demographics, electronic health record data, and blood test results to predict hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk. The model achieved high accuracy and outperformed existing liver cancer risk prediction models, offering potential for widespread use in resource-limite...
Research suggests that consuming high amounts of ultraprocessed foods is linked to a significantly increased risk of death in cancer survivors. The study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, found that individuals who consumed more ultraprocessed foods had higher rates of all-cause and cancer-specific mortality.
A four-biomarker blood panel including aminopeptidase N, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, and thrombospondin-2 has been shown to enhance the detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma compared to CA19-9 alone. The panel correctly detected 91.9% of pancreatic cancers across all stages.
Researchers found that patients with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) positive after neoadjuvant therapy had a higher risk of disease recurrence, regardless of pathologic complete response. Patients who cleared ctDNA after treatment experienced improved recurrence-free survival.
A mobile health intervention, Young, Empowered & Strong (YES), improved quality of life and symptoms in adolescent and young adult breast cancer survivors. The study found significant reductions in general and cancer-specific quality of life scores after six months.
Breast cancer survivors experienced significant improvement in perceived cognitive impairment with real acupuncture, outperforming sham acupuncture and usual care. Real acupuncture also showed benefits in objective cognitive function, particularly when compared to sham acupuncture.
A matched prospective analysis of 676 women found that menopausal hormone therapy was not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in those with BRCA mutations. This suggests a personalized approach to menopause management for these women, balancing the risks and benefits of MHT use.
A recent study found that omitting sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in clinically node-negative, HR-positive, HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer patients did not compromise regional control or survival after a median five years of follow-up. The recurrence of the cancer in the lymph nodes surrounding the primary tumor was observe...
A phase II clinical trial found that preoperative radiation improved T-cell infiltration and treatment responses in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer patients. Radiation doses of 24 Gy showed the greatest increase in TCI and tumor clearance, suggesting a potential new strategy for immunotherapy.
A recent study found that preoperative breast MRI did not significantly impact five-year recurrence rates or overall survival in patients with stage 1 or 2, hormone receptor-negative breast cancer. The trial involved 319 patients and showed similar results between those who underwent MRI and those who did not.
A new AI model has been developed to improve the accuracy of recurrence risk stratification in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. The model, called ICM+, uses a combination of clinical, molecular, and histopathological data to provide better prognostic information about cancer recurrence risk out to 15 years.
The phase III lidERA trial found that giredestrant improved invasive disease-free survival compared to standard-of-care endocrine therapy. Patients who received giredestrant were 30% less likely to develop invasive disease progression and had a clinically meaningful superiority to currently established endocrine agents.
For patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancers who have received endocrine therapy, sacituzumab govitecan-hziy offers comparable progression-free survival rates as standard chemotherapy. The study also found higher response rates and longer response durations for patients treated with sacituzumab govitecan-hziy.
The addition of tucatinib to first-line maintenance therapy with trastuzumab and pertuzumab delayed disease progression in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients, particularly those with brain metastasis. This delay allowed for prolonged time off chemotherapy and maintained disease control.
A combination treatment of ibrutinib and ianalumab allowed some patients with CLL to discontinue daily therapy and potentially improve their quality of life. The study found that 43.6% of patients had undetectable measurable residual disease, and 17 patients were able to stop ibrutinib and remain off therapy for 12 to 24 months.
A new combination therapy combining epigenetic therapy with anti-PD-1 antibody showed promising results in patients with relapsed or refractory natural killer/T-cell lymphoma. The treatment triggered viral mimicry, restoring immune sensitivity and improving survival rates.
A recent study published in Cancer Discovery found that Medicaid expansion is associated with improved five-year cause-specific and overall survival rates among cancer patients. The research showed significant improvements in survival rates for patients living in rural areas, high-poverty areas, and those with higher-mortality cancers.
A polygenic risk score (PRS) can predict future breast cancer incidents in women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). PRS scores were associated with an increased risk of ipsilateral breast cancer, particularly in patients with a family history of breast cancer.
The AACR Cancer Progress Report highlights the impact of federal investments on cancer research, with FDA approval of 20 new cancer drugs and improved survival rates. However, challenges such as early-onset cancers and instability at NIH threaten ongoing progress.
A retrospective study found teclistamab-cqyv to be effective in patients with high-risk, heavily pretreated multiple myeloma who would have been ineligible for the MajesTEC-1 trial. The bispecific antibody reduced disease burden by at least half in 53% of evaluable patients, and 45% achieved a 'very good partial response'. Despite a hi...
The study projects a significant increase in uterine cancer incidence and mortality rates in the US by 2050, with incidence-based mortality nearly three times higher in Black women compared to white women. The model also shows that obesity and hysterectomy rates will contribute to increased risks.
The study found increasing incidence rates for five cancer types without corresponding increases in late-onset age groups. The greatest increases were seen in female breast cancer, colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, and uterine cancer.
The ROME trial found that patients with concordant biopsy findings experienced improved survival outcomes when receiving tailored therapy based on genomic alterations detected in both tissue and liquid biopsies. This approach led to better overall survival, progression-free survival, and objective response rates compared to standard-of...
A study found that female cancer survivors were 69% more likely to experience cancer-related fatigue and 58% more likely to experience depression than male survivors. This can lead to a decrease in recreational physical activities and overall quality of life.
Incidence-based mortality declined by 83.5% from 9.70/100,000 to 1.47/100,000 among women ages 20-49 between 2010 and 2020. Luminal A had the most pronounced decline in all subtypes.
A liquid biopsy-based assay detected signs of recurrence prior to imaging and provided prognostic value in patients with resectable colorectal cancer. The study found that ctDNA levels could predict clinical relapse, and earlier detection may help avoid unnecessary chemotherapy.
The phase Ia/Ib Beamion LUNG-1 trial found that zongertinib elicited durable responses in patients with advanced, previously treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring a HER2 mutation. The disease control rate was high across cohorts, with median progression-free survival ranging from 12.4 to 6.8 months.
A new gene expression atlas from single-cell RNA sequencing data reveals normal hematopoietic cell differentiation patterns and identifies novel AML cell states. Researchers cataloged multiple ways aberrant differentiation leads to AML, with potential biomarkers and drug targets emerging.
Researchers have developed an AI-driven model that can accurately diagnose various subtypes of pediatric sarcoma using only routine pathology images. The model correctly distinguished between nine sarcoma subtypes, demonstrating its potential to provide quick and accurate cancer diagnoses in under-resourced settings.
A phase II trial found that pembrolizumab significantly reduced recurrence in patients with DNA mismatch repair-deficient early-stage solid cancers who had detectable circulating tumor DNA after surgery. The study suggests that using ctDNA to guide immunotherapy may help prevent relapse in high-risk patients.
A phase II trial found that PD-1 blockade with dostarlimab induced complete tumor clearance and resolved the need for surgery in patients with early-stage mismatch repair-deficient cancers. This approach showed promise for preserving organs, improving quality of life, and potentially increasing survival.