Researchers found that combining CDK2 inhibitors with immunotherapy eradicated colorectal and breast cancers in animal models. CDK2 activity restricts immune-related gene expression, enabling tumors to resist immune checkpoint inhibitors. The strategy may be widely applicable to a range of cancers.
Daraxonrasib, the first approved RAS-targeted therapy, nearly doubles median overall survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients, with a 60% reduced risk of death. The phase 3 RASolute 302 trial showed substantial improvement in overall survival and cancer progression compared to chemotherapy.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have developed a protein degrader discovery platform that identifies molecular glues that can target disease-related proteins for elimination. The team discovered the first molecular glue degrader, M12, which is metabolically activated and can degrade multiple cancer-related proteins.
A collaborative team led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has developed 665 next-generation patient-derived cancer models across 27 common and rare forms of cancer. The models are available as a resource to researchers worldwide, accelerating cancer advances with reliable and faithful replicas of original samples.
The US FDA has approved a new therapy regimen for patients with 'double-positive' metastatic breast cancer based on the PATINA study. The addition of palbociclib to standard therapy resulted in a more than 15-month improvement in progression-free survival.
Results of a phase 2 clinical trial show manageable side effects and clinically meaningful efficacy in patients with advanced NRG1-positive cholangiocarcinoma, doubling progression-free survival compared to standard chemotherapy. Zenocutuzumab was well-tolerated and significantly improved quality of life.
Casdatifan, a next-generation HIF-2α inhibitor, demonstrates effectiveness in treating metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma with manageable side effects and promising signs of efficacy.
The phase 2 ImmunoPRISM trial shows teclistamab significantly improves outcomes for patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma. The BCMA-targeted bispecific antibody outperformed lenalidomide plus dexamethasone, pointing to the potential value of using immune-based therapy earlier in the course of the disease.
A two-year fixed-duration triplet therapy of pirtobrutinib, venetoclax, and rituximab improves progression free survival for patients with relapsed/refractory CLL compared to standard therapy. Peripheral blood undetectable minimal residual disease rates are higher in patients receiving the triplet therapy.
The FDA has approved pembrolizumab and belzutifan as an adjuvant treatment for adult patients with renal cell carcinoma at intermediate-high or high risk of recurrence following nephrectomy. The combination resulted in a 28% decrease in risk of recurrence, metastasis or death, and 81% of participants remained cancer-free after 24 months.
A phase 3 clinical trial found that apalutamide plus hormone therapy before and after surgery reduced the risk of metastasis or death by 20% compared to hormone therapy alone. Patients treated with this regimen had a higher pathologic response rate and experienced delayed subsequent therapy.
A phase 3 trial shows daraxonrasib, an oral RAS(ON) multi-selective inhibitor, improves overall and progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The treatment also demonstrated substantial tumor shrinkage or disappearance in patients with a known RAS G12 mutation.
Researchers will present multiple studies with practice-changing results in various cancers, including pancreatic, prostate, breast, and multiple myeloma. The findings include new treatment strategies and the potential impact of lifestyle factors.
A phase 1/2 trial of daraxonrasib, a RAS(ON) multi-selective inhibitor, demonstrated safety and broad activity against RAS-mutant metastatic pancreatic cancer. The drug showed promising signs of activity, with approximately 30% of patients experiencing an objective response and 90% experiencing disease control.
A recent study found an association between early-onset colorectal cancer and exposure to certain pesticides, particularly picloram. However, experts warn that further investigations are needed to confirm causality and establish a biological mechanism.
A phase 2 trial found that all patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma became MRD-negative within two months of CAR T-cell therapy, with sustained MRD-negativity at a median follow-up of 15.3 months. No severe side effects were observed.
A phase 1 study found a tolerable dosing schedule with promising activity, with anti-cancer activity seen across various dosing schedules and tumor types. The regimen was selected for further evaluation, offering hope for expanded treatment options for patients with HER2-expressing advanced solid tumors.
A new predictive tool, PANGEA-SMM, more accurately determines when smoldering multiple myeloma is progressing and requires treatment. The free online tool uses dynamic biomarkers to track patient progression and identifies patients at high risk of developing active cancer.
A phase 3 study found that combining belzutifan with pembrolizumab after surgery significantly improved disease-free survival for high-risk kidney cancer patients. The regimen reduced recurrence by 28% and kept 81% of participants cancer-free.
CAR T-cell therapy is now available for eligible primary CNS lymphoma patients, thanks to Dana-Farber-led research. The FDA label update removes a prior exclusion and may expand treatment options for relapsed or refractory patients.
Researchers found that interferon-gamma signaling in myeloid cells corresponds with resistance to immunotherapy in advanced renal cell carcinoma. This study could help identify biomarkers for predicting response to immunotherapy and inform the development of new therapies.
A blood test that detects circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can help guide post-surgical immunotherapy for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The test identified a benefit in patients with positive ctDNA, who experienced reduced disease recurrence and death risk compared to those without.
A new antibody drug conjugate (ADC) sacituzumab govitecan has been shown to improve progression-free survival in patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer who are ineligible for immune checkpoint inhibitors. The ADC targets the protein Trop2 on TNBC cells and delivers a potent chemotherapy drug directly to tumor sites.
A phase 3 study found that giredestrant plus everolimus significantly improved progression-free survival in patients with ER-positive, HER-2-negative advanced breast cancer. The treatment combination reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 63% in patients with ESR1 mutations.
The phase 3 FLAURA2 study shows that adding platinum-pemetrexed to osimertinib improves overall survival in patients with newly diagnosed EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC. Median overall survival was 47.5 months, compared to 37.6 months with osimertinib alone.
Dana-Farber researchers present promising phase 3 trial results for breast, lung, and bladder cancers, including improved quality of life for metastatic breast cancer patients. The trials also explore new approaches to kidney cancer treatment and real-world data analysis for metastatic breast cancer.
Researchers developed a groundbreaking diagnostic tool called MARLIN to classify acute leukemia with speed and accuracy using DNA methylation patterns and machine learning. The tool demonstrates high accuracy for disease classification in under two hours from the time of biopsy, providing rapid insights into leukemia subtypes.
A recent study published in JAMA Oncology reports that breast cancer patients who participated in a remote weight loss intervention program lost an average of 4.7% of their baseline body weight after one year, while those in the education-only control group gained an average of 1%. The findings suggest that weight loss following breast...
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have developed a non-invasive blood test, SWIFT-seq, to profile circulating tumor cells in the blood. The test offers a detailed genetic profile, identifying key genetic changes crucial for understanding multiple myeloma.
A new precision genomics initiative is launching to improve pediatric cancer diagnostics and research. The BrightSeq platform aims to deliver actionable genomic findings to care teams while accelerating research through robust sample acquisition.
Researchers found that standard DNA testing does not detect NUT carcinoma fusion genes in over 75% of patients. Additional tests like NUT immunohistochemistry and RNA fusion testing can reliably identify gene fusions, leading to more accurate diagnoses and potentially life-saving treatments.
Early-onset gastrointestinal cancers are rising globally, particularly among younger adults. Colorectal cancer is the most common early-onset GI cancer, accounting for over half of cases, and its incidence is increasing faster than any other type of early-onset cancer.
A novel formulation and delivery approach for the NeoVax personalized cancer vaccine improved immune responses in patients with melanoma. The updated vaccine demonstrated strong vaccine-specific immune responses and cytotoxic responses by special T cells called CD-8+ T cells.
A phase 3 trial of patients with surgically resected stage 3 dMMR colon cancer found that adding an immune checkpoint inhibitor (atezolizumab) to standard chemotherapy improved disease-free survival by 50% compared to chemotherapy alone. The study results provide new evidence for a treatment approach in this high-risk patient population.
A Dana-Farber study found that patients with stage III colon cancer who consumed an anti-inflammatory diet had longer overall survival post-treatment compared to those on a proinflammatory diet. Engaging in higher levels of physical activity also amplified the positive influence on survival.
The ASCENT-04/KEYNOTE-D19 study shows that sacituzumab govitecan plus pembrolizumab improves progression-free survival and response rates compared to chemotherapy. Nearly 60% of patients responded, with durable responses lasting up to 16.6 months.
A new study has launched a novel blood test to identify people of Asian and Hispanic/Latinx descent who are at high risk of lung cancer but have never used tobacco. The trial aims to evaluate the feasibility of screening these individuals for free using CT scans, with the goal of detecting lung cancer at an early stage.
Dana-Farber researchers have identified several promising interventions for breast and colorectal cancer, including a potential new treatment approach for stage III deficient DNA mismatch repair colon cancer and improved strategies for treating rare and aggressive forms of brain lymphoma. The findings will be presented at the 2025 Annu...
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard uncovered critical insights into the biology of embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes (ETMR), a rare and aggressive brain tumor affecting young children. Targeting FGFR and NOTCH receptors may represent a critical vulnerability in ETMR.
Researchers developed a genomic risk assessment score to predict disease progression in patients with precursor conditions for multiple myeloma. The score assesses the severity of disease and risk of progression, allowing for more personalized care and early intervention strategies.
A phase 3 clinical trial showed that pembrolizumab before and after standard-of-care surgery significantly extends event-free survival and substantially shrinks tumors in head and neck cancer patients. This regimen has improved outcomes without delays in surgery, marking a potential new standard of care for this patient population.
Researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are presenting findings across various cancers, including head and neck cancer, metastatic breast cancer, and lung cancer. A combination therapy showed promise in phase 1 results for patients with metastatic breast cancer.
At the 2025 Oncology Nursing Society Congress, Dana-Farber nurse scientists and clinicians presented key studies on hypersensitivity reaction simulation, bispecific antibody therapy, primary nursing, and non-pharmacologic interventions for anxiety and pain reduction. These research initiatives aim to enhance patient care, education, an...
Researchers developed a novel approach to understanding how transcription factors determine genetic programs in cells. They used CRISPR to knock out individual transcription factor functions across many blood cells at once and identified key genes and regions responsible for blood cell development.
The FDA has approved cabozantinib as a standard of care treatment for patients with previously treated advanced neuroendocrine tumors. The drug showed improved efficacy in reducing tumor growth and improving patient survival compared to placebo.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have identified a potential targeted therapy, avapritinib, for pediatric high-grade gliomas. The treatment resulted in tumor reduction and clinical improvement in 3 out of 7 patients with this currently incurable form of brain cancer.
Kimberly Stegmaier appointed as Chair of Pediatric Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Associate Chief of Division of Hematology/Oncology at Boston Children's Hospital. She will focus on acute leukemias and pediatric solid tumors, pioneering genomic approaches to identify new therapies for childhood cancer.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that combining navtemadlin with DNA-damaging chemotherapy can increase efficacy in treating glioblastoma. Navtemadlin activates the p53 pathway, killing glioblastoma cells more effectively than other treatments.
Researchers will present findings on Treatment Outcomes By Duffy Genotype in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma, highlighting longer progression-free survival for those receiving Lenalidomide, Bortezomib, and Dexamethasone alone or with autologous stem cell transplantation. Another study found that immune reactions leading ...
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute present studies on novel treatments for prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers. The team introduces a novel HIF-2α inhibitor called casdatifan, which shows promising early clinical activity in heavily pretreated patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.