The recent approval of the oral menin inhibitor revumenib brought much-needed treatment to patients with a challenging subset of disease: adults and children with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia harboring a lysine methyltransferase 2A gene (KMT2A) translocation or rearrangement. Approval was...
The phase III HYPO-RT-PC trial has shown that a 2-week course of radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer—also known as ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy—may be just as safe and effective as the traditional 8-week schedule—even 10 years after treatment. The findings were presented at the 2025...
Five pivotal studies presented at ESTRO 2025 showcase how radiotherapy is reshaping the landscape for anal and rectal cancers. From reduced-dose treatments to cutting-edge combinations with immunotherapy and chemotherapy, these innovations offer safer, more effective, and organ-preserving...
Cancer-related studies were among the nearly 6,000 abstracts presented at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2025, including research on artificial intelligence (AI) in patient communication, polyp detection, and colonoscopy prep. Use of AI in Patient Communication AI outperformed physicians in...
Stomach cancers are increasingly being diagnosed at less advanced, more treatable stages—a shift that marks major progress in detecting one of the deadliest forms of cancer, according to a study presented at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2025 (Abstract Sa1374). “These trends suggest that...
Anal cancer has been steadily increasing in the United States, with the biggest jumps among older women, especially White and Hispanic women, a new study presented at Digestive Disease Week 2025 (Abstract 76) found. According to the investigators, this shift challenges assumptions about high-risk...
The Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute established a Financial Toxicity Tumor Board in 2019. The board is the first known institutional-level intervention of its kind and functions like a traditional disease-focused multidisciplinary tumor board—with a singular focus on financial distress. Now,...
Sequential molecular measurable residual disease (MRD) testing and monitoring led to a survival benefit among younger patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and NPM1 and FLT3-ITD mutations, according to the results of a study published in The Lancet Haematology. Patients with both mutations...
In the phase IIb ADAGIO trial, reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Liu et al found that the Wee1 inhibitor adavosertib showed some activity in patients with recurrent or persistent uterine serous carcinoma. However, its use was associated with high toxicity rates. Study Details In the...
“Knowledge is like a lion; it cannot be gently embraced.” –South African Proverb Long-term efficacy and safety confirm that a hypomethylating agent and venetoclax is an improvement in the standard of care for patients with AML who are not eligible for intensive chemotherapy because of advanced age...
Compared with a placebo gel, an investigational topical BRAF inhibitor (LUT014) was found to improve the symptoms of acneiform rash in patients with colorectal cancer. These phase II clinical trial results were presented by Anisha B. Patel, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Deputy Chair of...
Use of a multimodal deep learning–based model led to more accurate and earlier identifications of cancer cachexia than standard clinical and radiological observations, according to findings presented at the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting (Abstract 1143)....
During the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, Richard Pazdur, MD, Director of the Oncology Center of Excellence at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), accepted the 2025 AACR Enduring Impact Award for Transformative Service to Cancer Science and Medicine...
Statin use during targeted therapy treatment led to a 61% improvement in the risk of dying of cancer for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), according to the results of a study published in Blood Advances. The investigators sought to determine the...
Following a comprehensive national search, W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, FASCO, former Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), has accepted the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J....
Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) investigators were informed on April 21 that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will terminate WHI Regional Center (RC) contracts at the end of the current fiscal year (September 2025). The WHI Clinical Coordinating Center (CCC) will continue...
The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) announced the appointment of Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, PhD, as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). A visionary leader in oncology, health-care delivery, scientific innovation, and strategic transformation, Dr. Knudsen joins PICI at a pivotal time ...
Ongoing efforts to rein in government spending have been described as a “chainsaw for bureaucracy.” It’s an apt metaphor for the haphazard budget cuts that many federal agencies are still experiencing. On February 7, 2025, the chainsaw made its way to facilities and administrative (F&A)...
Hope S. Rugo, MD, FASCO, recently joined the staff of City of Hope as the new Director of the Women’s Cancers Program, Division Chief of Breast Medical Oncology, and Professor in the Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research. In her role, she will lead and enhance City of Hope’s...
Investigators have identified a key component inhibiting responses to lenalidomide in patients with multiple myeloma, according to the results of a study recently published in Blood. They identified adenosine deaminase acting on RNA1 (ADAR1) as a novel driver of acquired resistance to lenalidomide...
The incidence rates of colorectal and pancreatic adenocarcinomas have risen the most among young adults over the past 2 decades, suggesting the need for heightened awareness among clinicians for these diseases in this patient population, according to a report published by Bussetty et al in JAMA...
In the API-CAT trial—results of which were reported in The New England Journal of Medicine—Mahé et al found that use of reduced-dose apixaban was noninferior to full-dose apixaban in preventing recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with active cancer. Study Details In the double-blind...
Neoantigen-specific tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in combination with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab led to responses among patients with metastatic gastrointestinal cancers, according to the results of a study from researchers at the National Institutes of Health published in Nature...
The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) announced the launch of a nationwide search to find the organizations’ next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In November, the ACS Board of Directors appointed Wayne A.I. Frederick, MD, MBA, to serve as...
In a Japanese trial (JCOG0905) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Hiraga et al found no disease-free survival benefit with the addition of a higher dose of ifosfamide to methotrexate, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (MAP) in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade osteosarcoma with poor...
In a U.K. trial (TRANSLATE) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Bryant et al found that local anesthetic transperineal (LATP) prostate biopsy detected more Gleason Grade Group (GGG) ≥ 2 prostate cancer compared with transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy in previously biopsy-naive individuals who ...
An increasing proportion of the U.S. public may be aware of the link between consuming alcohol and the elevated risk of later developing cancer, according to a recent survey conducted by the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC). Background On January 3, 2025, Vivek...
The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy announced the appointment of Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, PhD, as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the institute. A visionary leader in oncology, health-care delivery, scientific innovation, and strategic transformation, Dr. Knudsen will take on her...
In a single-center phase II trial (DEPEND) reported in JAMA Oncology, Rosenberg et al found that the combination of neoadjuvant nivolumab and chemotherapy followed by response-stratified chemoradiation (CRT) was active in human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative stage IVa/b head and neck squamous cell...
Guest Editor’s Note: Several epidemiologic studies have shown an inverse association between healthy dietary patterns and the risk of chronic diseases including cancer. Patients are often interested in exploring different dietary interventions throughout the cancer continuum. However, concrete...
Two doses of a simple tuberculosis (TB) vaccination after surgery helps the immune system fight cancer cells and may improve patient outcomes among those with non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer, according to a pilot study of 40 patients. Initial results from the RUTIVAC-1 Trial were presented by...
As a Native American and former president of the Seneca Nation of Indians, I am keenly aware of the disparities in cancer care we face in accessing screening and treatment, which results in worse survival rates compared with those of racial and ethnic populations.1 Native American and Alaska Native ...
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Adi Diab, MD, and colleagues, the phase III ILLUMINATE trial showed adding the Toll-like receptor-9 agonist tilsotolimod to ipilimumab in patients with advanced refractory melanoma produced no benefit. Study Details Four hundred and eighty-one...
Neoadjuvant therapy that combines chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and the investigational PD-1 inhibitor sintilimab led to a significantly higher pathologic complete response rate in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, according to data presented at the 2025 ASCO...
The Pezcoller Foundation–American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) International Award for Extraordinary Achievement in Cancer Research will be presented to Douglas Hanahan, PhD, FAACR, during the upcoming 2025 AACR Annual Meeting, to be held April 25–30 at the McCormick Place Convention...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) in combination with lenalidomide and a rituximab product for adults with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL)—including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified, DLBCL arising ...
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has evolved from an experimental biomarker to an increasingly actionable tool, informing treatment decisions throughout colorectal cancer care. Whether guiding adjuvant therapy intensification or de-escalation, refining organ-preservation strategies in rectal cancer,...
Results from the phase III NRG Oncology GOG-0263 trial—which tested the addition of cisplatin-based chemotherapy to adjuvant radiotherapy following radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy for patients with early-stage, intermediate-risk cervical carcinoma—indicated that the addition of...
A combination of two immunotherapies may improve treatment response among patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas compared with just one immunotherapy drug, according to a recent study published by Li et al in Cancer Cell. Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas occur in the...
The consumption of alcohol has been associated with increased cancer risk, but red wine has been perceived by some as a healthier choice compared to white wine and other types of alcohol. Investigators evaluated whether the anticancer properties of red wine were greater in a recent study published...
Combining the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab and chemotherapy, and following that regimen with response-adapted chemoradiation, may an effective treatment for advanced human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, according to a recent study published by Rosenberg et al in...
Cancer and its treatments often contribute to burdensome symptoms that negatively impact patients’ quality of life and treatment outcomes, including fatigue, anxiety, and depression.1 Many patients experience multiple symptoms concurrently2 that can disrupt their treatments and lead to unplanned...
In recognition of her commitment to tackling the complexities and challenges of cancer, the American Cancer Society (ACS) awarded the 2025 Medal of Honor to W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, MMHC. The Medal of Honor is the American Cancer Society’s most prestigious award given to distinguished...
Catharine Young, PhD, has spent the past decade of her career focused on cancer policy and advocacy. A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Dr. Young served as Senior Director of Science Policy at the Biden Cancer Initiative, which began in 2017 by then former Vice President Joe Biden. There she...
A 5-year study on men that had primary partial-gland cryoablation shows that the procedure averted cancer recurrence in most patients while preserving urinary and sexual function. Led by researchers at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, the study tracked the patient outcomes after...
In a Chinese phase II trial (HORIZON-Lung) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Li et al found that trastuzumab rezetecan, a novel antibody-drug conjugate, showed activity in patients with advanced HER2-positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Trastuzumab rezetecan consists of a HER2-directed...
Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, announced in a statement his retirement as Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), effective February 28, 2025. Dr. Collins is the longest-serving presidentially appointed NIH Director, having served three U.S. presidents over more than 12 years—Barack...
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Alexander Drilon, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, and colleagues, final results of the registrational phase I/II LIBRETTO-001 trial showed continued benefit of the RET receptor tyrosine...
The Cancer Drug Development Forum (CDDF) held its annual conference in the Netherlands from February 3–5, 2025. Under the title “Challenges, Advances, and Open Questions in Global Cancer Drug Development and Clinical Trials,” the workshop focused on diversity and real-world evidence in anticancer...
In a multicohort phase Ib study (COSMIC-021) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Sumanta K. Pal, MD, FASCO, and colleagues identified the activity of cabozantinib plus atezolizumab in a cohort of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma according to first-line...