A topical BRAF-inhibiting gel, LUT014, improved acneiform rash in 69% of patients with grade 2 or 3 rash and received an EGFR-targeted antibody. The treatment also showed a 33% success rate for the placebo arm, but was associated with similar adverse events.
Researchers found that pretrained foundation models outperformed a standard baseline model in identifying nonmelanoma skin cancer from digital images. The models achieved accuracies of up to 92.5% in distinguishing between NMSC and normal tissue, significantly improving upon an older architecture.
A new AI-driven biomarker model analyzes imaging and clinical data to predict cancer cachexia with high accuracy, improving detection rates by up to 85% compared to standard methods. The model's skeletal muscle quantification function was trained using annotated CT scans and validated on a separate set of images.
A new CAR NK cell therapy has shown promising results in treating relapsed or refractory blood cancers, particularly AML. The therapy, SENTI-202, employs logic gating to improve specificity and reduce toxicity, and has been associated with complete remissions in seven of nine patients.
A phase III clinical trial found that adding pembrolizumab before and after surgery improved responses and survival in patients with previously untreated, locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Patients treated with pembrolizumab were at least 27% less likely to have experienced recurrence.
A phase I clinical trial found that zoldonrasib elicited objective responses and disease control in patients with KRAS G12D-mutated NSCLC. The study demonstrated the efficacy and tolerability of the oral agent, which selectively targets the active conformation of KRAS.
The AACR Trailblazer Cancer Research Grant Program awards $1 million grants to early-stage and mid-career investigators over three years. The program aims to advance cancer biology, drive translational science, and improve patient outcomes.
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) announces its 2025 Scientific Achievement Award recipients, honoring outstanding contributions to cancer research. This year's awardees include Rakesh K. Jain, PhD, FAACR, and Han Liang, PhD, recognized for their groundbreaking work on tumor microenvironment and cancer bioinformatics,...
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) will honor Senator Tammy Baldwin and Senator Shelley Moore Capito for their national leadership in advancing cancer prevention and treatment. The organization also recognizes Larry Saltzman, MD, a cancer survivor who has surpassed his expected lifespan due to NIH funding.
Dr. Richard Pazdur, MD, receives the 2025 AACR Enduring Impact Award for his quarter century of service in cancer science and medicine. He has led an era of progress at the FDA, improving outcomes for patients with cancer through expedited development of novel therapeutics.
A subset of patients with non-small cell lung cancer who discontinued immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy due to immune-related adverse events continued to experience long-term disease control. The median post-discontinuation progression-free survival was 12.7 months, and the median post-discontinuation overall survival was 43.7 months.
The American Association for Cancer Research announces the recipients of the 2025 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism, recognizing exceptional journalists who produce accurate and informative stories about cancer and cancer research. The winners will be honored at the AACR Annual Meeting 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Crystal L. Mackall is being honored for her work on CAR T-cell therapy and its impact on pediatric cancer patients. Her research has led to the development of novel strategies to enhance durability of clinical responses and broaden the impact of CAR T-cells beyond hematological malignancies.
Hait recognized for pioneering work on signal transduction in cancer biology and development of targeted therapies. He has led the creation of innovative cancer treatments and programs, impacting millions of patients.
Jain's pioneering work on vascular normalization has transformed the use of antiangiogenic therapy, advancing drug delivery and immunotherapy strategies. His tireless mentorship and leadership have inspired countless scientists and clinicians.
Researchers found that FGFR2 expression was higher in KRAS-mutated precancerous lesions and some KRAS-mutated PDAC tumors. Inactivation of FGFR2 delayed KRAS-mutated PDAC development in mice, suggesting a potential role for FGFR2 in driving cancer progression.
Keith T. Flaherty, MD, FAACR, has been elected as the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) President-Elect for 2025-2026. As AACR President-Elect, Flaherty will work to bridge cutting-edge discovery science with clinical translation and address the needs of underserved populations.
Hanahan's fundamental discoveries have had a far-reaching translational impact on cancer research, defining multistep tumorigenesis and uncovering molecular mechanisms required to drive cancer growth. His work has also led to critical insights into therapeutic strategies for targeting tumor angiogenesis.
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has elected 33 new Fellows of the AACR Academy, honoring their transformative contributions to cancer research. The newly elected fellows are recognized for their pioneering work in various fields, including immunology, nucleic acid research, and epigenetics.
Researchers identified co-occurring genetic alterations in colorectal and pancreatic cancers that contribute to resistance to KRAS G12C inhibitors. These mutations can lead to poor prognosis and chemotherapy resistance.
Researchers found that radiation combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors durvalumab and tremelimumab resulted in durable responses allowing for bladder preservation in localized MIBC patients. The study showed a high efficacy rate of 93% complete response rate, with 84% overall survival rate after two years.
A therapeutic HPV vaccine targeting HPV16 could potentially eliminate precancerous cervical lesions, according to a phase II clinical trial. The vaccine showed significant regression and reduced lesion size in patients with HPV16-positive high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
The ZEST trial found that patients with detectable circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) were more likely to have aggressive disease characteristics. To improve outcomes, researchers recommend starting ctDNA testing during treatment rather than waiting for completion, and targeting high-risk patients with tailored therapies.
A study found that adding anthracyclines to taxane-based chemotherapy improved survival outcomes for HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer patients with high risk of recurrence. The OncotypeDX genomic test helped identify which patients could benefit from the addition.
A multimodal machine learning model outperformed clinical and genomic models in predicting outcomes for HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer patients receiving CDK4/6 inhibitor combinations. The model integrated clinical and genomic factors to identify high-risk patients with a 6.5-fold difference in hazard ratio.
The BIG 2-04 MRC SUPREMO clinical trial found no significant difference in overall survival between patients who received chest wall irradiation (CWI) and those who did not. CWI's impact was also shown to be clinically insignificant in reducing chest wall recurrence.
For patients with 'good-risk' ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) who underwent breast-conserving surgery and did not receive radiotherapy, tamoxifen significantly decreased the risk of recurrence in the same breast. The estimated 15-year risk of ipsilateral recurrence was 11.4% for patients treated with tamoxifen.
Patients with low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) who underwent active monitoring reported comparable physical, emotional, and psychological outcomes to those who received upfront treatment. The study found no significant differences in health-related quality of life between the two groups over time.
The COMET trial found that active monitoring is a viable option for some patients with low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), with similar two-year invasive ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence rates compared to usual care. Active monitoring involves close patient monitoring with surgery reserved for those who develop cancer.
The EMBER-3 clinical trial showed that imlunestrant improved progression-free survival in patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, particularly those with ESR1 mutations. The combination of imlunestrant and abemaciclib also demonstrated a significant reduction in risk of progression or death.
The OlympiA trial found that olaparib significantly improves survival outcomes in patients with high-risk, BRCA-positive breast cancer. After a median follow-up of 6.1 years, patients treated with olaparib showed better rates of invasive and distant disease-free survival compared to those who received placebo.
Patients with germline BRCA mutations who underwent bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy and/or salpingo-oophorectomy had lower rates of recurrence, secondary malignancies, and death. Risk-reducing surgeries improved survival outcomes among young BRCA-mutation carriers with a prior history of early-onset breast cancer.
A phase II clinical trial showed that combining radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy can shrink tumors and allow surgery, resulting in significantly improved outcomes. The study found that patients who underwent surgery had a 82% reduction in risk of death at one year follow-up.
A study across 292 species found that neoplasia (uncontrolled growth) rates decrease with longer gestation times, while malignancy rates increase with higher adult masses. This contradicts Peto's paradox and suggests complex interactions between life history traits.
A study found that Black women with breast cancer are more likely to experience vaginal dryness, reduced libido, and painful intercourse, leading to lower mental quality of life. These symptoms were associated with decreased adherence to treatment in these patients.
A recent study found that Black patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) received immunotherapy at significantly lower rates than white patients. However, when they did receive immunotherapy, their overall survival rate was similar to that of white patients. The study suggests that socioeconomic factors may be the main barrie...
The Affordable Care Act has led to increased guideline-concordant care for non-white patients, rural residents, and those from the most deprived neighborhoods in Pennsylvania. This improvement is associated with better cancer outcomes, including survival rates.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that CAR T-cell therapy patients developed second primary malignancies at a similar rate as those receiving standard-of-care therapies. Studies with patients who received more prior lines of treatment showed higher SPM rates, while longer follow-up times may indicate survivorship bias.
Patients with high-risk liver cancer who received neoadjuvant immunotherapy before surgery had comparable outcomes to those who received surgery upfront. Successful resection rates were higher among those treated with immunotherapy, leading to improved median recurrence-free survival.
A study found that patients with treatment-refractory cancers who received protocol exemptions to participate in a large basket/umbrella oncology trial experienced similar rates of clinical benefit and adverse events as patients who participated in the trial without waivers. The results suggest that broadening eligibility criteria for ...
LGBTQ+ cancer survivors experience more chronic health conditions, disabilities, and other physical and cognitive limitations than non-LGBTQ+ survivors. Transgender or gender non-conforming individuals have the highest prevalence of most conditions.
A phase II clinical trial found trametinib effective in treating pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), with seven of ten patients alive after two years. The treatment showed antitumor activity and downregulated inflammatory signaling, offering hope for JMML patients and their families.
A study found that the risk of detecting cervical precancer eight years after a negative HPV screening was similar to the risk after three years after a negative cytology screening. Longer intervals between HPV screens showed lower risk of cervical precancer after six and eight years.
A study found that proteogenomic signatures in prostate cancer tissue from patients with African and European ancestries were associated with a higher risk of metastasis and/or recurrence. The study identified mutation signatures and recurrent copy number alterations that correlated with disease progression.
A phase I trial demonstrated AZD1390's manageable safety profile and preliminary efficacy in recurrent and newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients. The study showed improved overall survival, with a median of 12.7 months in patients who received higher doses of AZD1390.
A personalized vaccine, TG4050, has been shown to induce tumor-specific immune responses and delay disease relapse in patients with surgically resected HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell cancer. The vaccine uses a nonpathogenic form of poxvirus to deliver unique neoantigens that activate and expand antitumor T cells.
A new machine learning assay combines cell-free DNA fragment patterns and protein biomarkers to differentiate patients with ovarian cancer from healthy controls. The approach has shown high accuracy in detecting the disease, outperforming current biomarkers.
The study, presented at AACR Annual Meeting 2024, found the combination therapy to be effective with an objective response rate of 34% and a disease control rate of 85.1%. The regimen performed favorably compared to historical data for similar cohorts, indicating potential as a new standard of care.
Saruparib, a selective PARP1 inhibitor, demonstrates clinical benefit in patients with HRR-deficient breast cancers. The objective response rate was 48.4%, and progression-free survival was 9.1 months. The drug's favorable safety profile enables patients to stay on treatment for longer durations.
A novel exosome-based liquid biopsy approach has been developed to detect pancreatic cancer at early stages. The method combines eight microRNAs uniquely found in exosomes shed from pancreatic cancers with five cell-free DNA markers, achieving a 97% detection rate for stage 1-2 cases.