The findings will be presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
• Dana-Farber research also supports promising treatments for rare and aggressive forms of cancer
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers are leading four studies with compelling and potentially practice changing results in colorectal cancer and breast cancer.
Investigators will also present clinical trial results that support future research into new strategies for the treatment of rare and aggressive forms of cancer and new approaches to de-escalate treatment and improve quality of life.
The research teams will present their findings at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago from May 30 to June 3, 2025. ASCO is the world's largest clinical cancer research meeting, attracting more than 30,000 global oncology professionals.
More than 115 studies led by Dana-Farber affiliated researchers will be presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting.
View a full list of Dana-Farber Oral Presentations at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.
View a full list of Dana-Farber Poster Discussions at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.
ASCO Press Program
Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt, chief Clinical Research Officer at Dana-Farber, is senior author of "Randomized Trial of Standard Chemotherapy Alone or Combined with Atezolizumab as Adjuvant Therapy for Patients with Stage III Deficient DNA Mismatch Repair Colon Cancer (Alliance A021502; ATOMIC)," which will be presented during ASCO's Plenary Session on Sunday, June 1; 2:00-5:00pm ET.
Dr. Sara Tolaney, chief of the Division of Breast Oncology at Dana-Farber, will present "Trastuzumab deruxtecan + pertuzumab vs taxane + trastuzumab + pertuzumab for first-line treatment of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) advanced/metastatic breast cancer: Interim results from DESTINY-Breast09" in the Oral Abstract Session: LBA Session: Presentation and Discussion of LBA1008 - Breast Cancer on Monday, June 2; 8:30am ET.
Tolaney will also present "Sacituzumab govitecan + pembrolizumab vs chemotherapy + pembro in previously untreated PD-L1 positive advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): Primary results from the randomized phase 3 ASCENT-04/KEYNOTE-D19 study" in the Oral Abstract Session: Breast Cancer-Metastatic on Saturday, May 31; 4:35pm ET.
Dr. Sara Char, a clinical fellow in Hematology and Oncology at Dana-Farber, will present "Association between empirical dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP) and survival in patients with stage III colon cancer: Findings from CALGB/SWOG 80702 (ALLIANCE)" in the Clinical Science Symposium; Gastrointestinal Cancer-Colorectal and Anal on Sunday, June 1; 5:42pm ET.
Early-Stage Clinical Trials Show Promising Results for Rare and Advanced Cancers
Adagrasib plus pembrolizumab shows promise for KRASG12C-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Dr. Pasi Jänne, senior vice president for Translational Medicine at Dana-Farber, will present data from the phase 2 portion of the KRYSTAL-7 study, the largest study of its kind to date. The results suggest that first-line adagrasib, a KRASG21C inhibitor, plus pembrolizumab, a PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, is a potentially effective treatment with manageable side effects for patients with KRASG12C-mutated advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, regardless of the presence of PD-L1 in their tumors. The phase 3 KRYSTAL-7 trial is ongoing and will compare this regimen to pembrolizumab alone in patients with KRASG12C- mutant NSCLC and PD-L1 greater than 50 percent.
- Study Title: First-line adagrasib (ADA) with pembrolizumab (PEMBRO) in patients (pts) with advanced/metastatic KRASG12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from the phase 2 portion of the KRYSTAL-7 study
Oral Abstract Number: 8500
Session: Oral Abstract Session - Lung Cancer-Non-Small Cell Metastatic; June 1, 2025, 9:00am ET
Presenting Author: Pasi Jänne, MD, PhD
Tirabrutinib shows promise for rare, aggressive brain lymphoma
Dr. Lakshmi Nayak, director of the Center for Central Nervous System Lymphoma, will present data from the multicenter phase 2 PROSPECT study suggesting that tirabrutinib is an effective treatment with manageable side effects in patients with relapsed or refractory primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). Tiribrutinib is a second generation Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor and PCNSL is a rare and aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma that occurs in the brain, spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid, or eyes. There are no approved treatments for PCNSL in the US or Europe.
- Study Title: Tirabrutinib for the treatment of relapsed or refractory primary central nervous system lymphoma: Efficacy and safety from the phase II PROSPECT study
Oral Abstract Number: 2019
Session: Rapid Oral Abstract Session - Central Nervous System Tumors; May 31, 2025, 5:06pm ET
Presenting Author: Lakshmi Nayak, MD
Practice-Informing Studies Show New Treatment Strategies May Improve Quality of Life Without Sacrificing Cancer Care Effectiveness
Dosing strategy reduces side-effects and discontinuation of abemaciclib in early-stage HR+/HER2- breast cancer
Dr. Erica Mayer, director of Breast Cancer Clinical Research at Dana-Farber, will present data from the Dana-Farber-led investigator-initiated phase 2 TRADE study suggesting that a dose escalation strategy for adjuvant abemaciclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, in combination with adjuvant endocrine therapy, enables more patients to reach and maintain the desired abemaciclib dose, and reduces treatment discontinuation. The study's dosing strategy could be considered in clinical practice when initiating abemaciclib in patients with hormone receptor positive HER2-negative early breast cancer.
- Study Title: The TRADE study: A Phase 2 Trial to Assess the Tolerability of Abemaciclib Dose Escalation in Early-Stage HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer
Oral Abstract Number: 517
Session: Rapid Oral Abstract Session - Breast Cancer - Local/Regional/Adjuvant; June 1, 2025, 10:12am
Presenting Author: Erica Mayer, MD, MPH
Senior Author: Sara Tolaney, MD, MPH
Use of plasma circulating tumor HPV DNA seems to inform use of de-intensified treatment for certain higher-risk head and neck cancer patients
Dr. Glenn Hanna, director of the Center for Cancer Therapeutic Innovation, will present data from a phase 2 trial suggesting that circulating human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA can be used as a biomarker prior to and during treatment for HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer to guide decisions about treatment intensity without compromising progression-free survival in higher-risk patients. More than 90 percent of patients who were stratified as low-risk and received de-escalated treatment survived without progression for 2 years, which included a proportion of patients initially classified as higher-risk who were later reclassified based on HPV DNA clearance. Currently, treatment with standard levels of concurrent chemotherapy and radiation has favorable outcomes but also can cause long-term side-effects. This de-escalation strategy and biomarker-directed approach warrants further study.
- Study Title: Risk-adapted therapy guided by human papillomavirus (HPV) circulating tumor DNA in patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer (ReACT 1.0)
Oral Abstract Number: 6009
Session: Clinical Science Symposium - Biomarker-Driven Adaptive Therapy: New Horizons in Head and Neck Cancer; June 2, 2025; 4:12pm ET
Presenting Author: Glenn J. Hanna, MD
Senior Author: Jonathan D. Schoenfeld, MD, MPH
Stereotactic radiation outperforms whole brain radiation for patients with multiple brain metastases
Dr. Ayal Aizer, director of Central Nervous System Radiation Oncology at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, will present data from a phase 3 trial demonstrating that stereotactic radiation (SRS) provides superior outcomes compared to hippocampal avoidance whole brain radiation therapy (HA-WBRT) in patients with 5 to 20 brain metastases. The study, which enrolled 196 patients with brain metastases from solid tumors, found that SRS significantly reduced symptom burden and interference with daily functioning. Patients receiving SRS also exhibited better performance status, improved ability to complete activities of daily living, and more favorable neurocognitive outcomes compared to those treated with HA-WBRT. These results support adoption of SRS as the new standard of care for this patient population.
- Study Title: Stereotactic radiation versus hippocampal avoidance whole brain radiation in patients with 5-20 brain metastases: A multicenter, phase 3 randomized trial
Oral Abstract Number: 2011
Session: Clinical Science Symposium - Refining Local Therapies in Central Nervous System Oncology; Hitting the Bullseye; June 1, 2025, 11:33am ET
Presenting Author: Ayal Aizer, MD, MHD
Senior Author: Rifaquat Rahman, MD
Supportive Care Improves Lives of Young Adults and Adolescents With Advanced Cancer
Psychosocial intervention for adolescents and young adults with advanced cancer improves resilience immediately, quality of life over time
Dr. Abby Rosenberg, chief of Pediatric Palliative Care at the Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, will present results from a randomized trial showing that a psychosocial intervention, Promoting Resilience in Stress Management for Advanced Cancer (PRISM-AC), immediately improved resilience and hope and increasingly improved quality of life and anxiety over the course of a year for adolescents and young adults with advanced cancer. Patients received either the usual care or the intervention, which consists of four skill-building sessions related to stress management, goal setting, cognitive reframing, and meaning making, plus an optional session focused on communicating care preferences and priorities. PRISM-AC could help address experiences of psychosocial distress and poor quality of life among young people with advanced cancer.
- Study Title: Promoting Resilience in Stress Management (PRISM): A randomized controlled trial of a psychosocial intervention for adolescents and young adults with advanced cancer.
Oral Abstract Number: 10009
Session: Oral Abstract Session: Pediatric Oncology II; June 2, 2025; 9:00am ET
Presenting Author: Abby Rosenberg, MD, MS
Senior Author: Joyce P. Yi-Frazier, PhD
