CHICAGO, MAY 22, 2025 ― Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will present research at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. These oral presentations address multiple tumor types and highlight key studies in immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and treatment strategies for aggressive and rare cancers.
Forthcoming press releases will feature additional notable oral abstracts. More information on all MD Anderson ASCO Annual Meeting content can be found at MDAnderson.org/ASCO.
Online genetic testing platform demonstrates notable engagement among young-onset colorectal cancer patients (Abstract 11004)
Universal germline testing (UGT) is essential for identifying hereditary cancer risk, especially for patients with young-onset colorectal cancer (YOCRC) who were diagnosed under the age of 50. However, UGT implementation remains challenging and often is inaccessible due to increasing demand and limited physician and genetic counselor resources. Researchers led by Julie Moskowitz and Y. Nancy You, M.D., developed a platform that allows patients to independently access education, provide informed consent and initiate germline genetic testing without needing upfront provider input. The pilot study protocol incorporated a three-month phase to assess feasibility and refine procedures, followed by a 12-month main trial period. In a cohort of 160 YOCRC patients, 100 (63%) actively engaged on the platform, 89 (89%) of whom completed UGT. Interestingly, 79 of 82 (96%) patients self-navigated through the entire process without requiring involvement from genetic counselors, suggesting that online interactive platforms make UGT more accessible for YOCRC patients. Moskowitz will present the results May 30.
CAR T cell therapy continues to demonstrate encouraging activity in patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (Abstract 4508)
For patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) who did not benefit from checkpoint and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, limited alternative treatment options are available. ALLO-316 is a novel chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy designed to recognize and kill cells expressing CD70, which is elevated in ccRCC. The TRAVERSE study, led by Samer Srour, M.B.Ch.B., is a first-in-human study evaluating ALLO-316 in patients with advanced/metastatic ccRCC. Forty-four patients underwent lymphodepletion and 39 received one infusion of ALLO-316. Dose-limiting toxicities occurred in two patients, 42 patients experienced treatment-emergent adverse events, and 25 patients developed cytokine release syndrome. No graft-versus-host disease occurred. There was a 33% confirmed objective response rate for patients with CD70 in at least 50% of the tumor. The trial is ongoing. Researchers previously presented on the encouraging response rates and disease control rates. Srour will present updated results June 1.
Novel triplet regimen safe and effective for patients with higher-risk MDS and CMML (Abstract 6503)
Patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR-MDS) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) often experience temporary responses to current treatments, such as hypomethylating agents, which leads to an increased risk of the disease evolving to acute myeloid leukemia. In a Phase II study led by Guillermo Montalban-Bravo, M.D., researchers evaluated the safety and efficacy of cladribine plus low-dose cytarabine and venetoclax, alternating with azacitidine and venetoclax, in patients with newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory HR-MDS or CMML. Among evaluable patients, overall response rates were 43% and 72% in relapsed/refractory and newly diagnosed patients, respectively. With a median follow-up of 15.1 months, median overall survival was not yet reached for newly diagnosed patients and was 5.8 months for relapsed/refractory patients. The trial is ongoing, and researchers continue to evaluate and enroll patients. Montalban-Bravo will present updated results June 1.
Spatial transcriptomics identifies novel subtypes associated with disease prognosis in leiomyosarcoma (Abstract 11508)
Patients with leiomyosarcoma (LMS) - a rare and aggressive soft tissue sarcoma derived from smooth muscle - experience a high risk of recurrence and have limited treatment options. No biomarkers or targetable mutations currently improve diagnosis, prognosis or treatment. Rarely used in sarcomas, spatial transcriptomics can reveal insights into LMS tissue structure and cell states. Researchers led by Ryan Denu, M.D., Ph.D., used spatial transcriptomics on a set of LMS tissues, including 326 tissue cores from 127 unique patients, as well as matched primary and metastatic samples from 33 patients. The researchers identified two novel LMS subtypes, one with mesenchymal features (MES) and another enriched with smooth muscle cell markers (SMC). Most tumors had almost exclusively either MES or SMC cells. Additionally, MES tumors had a more immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment compared to SMC tumors, highlighting these subtypes as potential prognostic biomarkers. Denu will present the results June 1.
Subset of men with rare prostate cancer may benefit from immunotherapy added to chemotherapy and targeted maintenance therapy (Abstract 5008)
Aggressive variant prostate cancer (AVPC) is a rare subtype characterized by rapid growth, metastatic spread and a poor prognosis. While treatment options are limited, a subset of patients have had promising long-term responses with a combination of carboplatin plus cabazitaxel chemotherapy, followed by PARP inhibitor maintenance. Therefore, researchers led by Ana Aparicio, M.D., conducted a Phase II randomized trial investigating the efficacy of adding the anti-PD-1 immunotherapy cetrelimab to this chemotherapy combination, followed by niraparib maintenance. Out of 60 randomized patients, the median progression-free survival was 5.6 months for 30 patients receiving the additional immunotherapy compared to 3.4 months in 30 patients who did not receive cetrelimab, while the median overall survival was 24.3 months and 10.2 months, respectively. These findings highlight the benefit of adding immunotherapy for certain patients and underscore the urgent need for biomarkers to guide future therapies. Aparicio will present updated data June 3.
Rapid oral abstracts highlight additional impactful research
MD Anderson scientists and clinicians will present nine rapid oral abstracts featuring noteworthy research, including:
- Perioperative nivolumab vs. placebo in patients with resectable NSCLC: Updated survival and biomarker analyses from CheckMate 77T (Abstract LBA8010), presented by Tina Cascone, M.D., Ph.D.
- Efficacy of macrophage checkpoint Clever-1 inhibition with bexmarilimab plus azacitidine in myelodysplastic syndrome: Results from the ph1/2 BEXMAB study (Abstract 6513), presented by Naval Daver, M.D.
- Preliminary results from a first-in-human, Phase I/II study of VLS-1488, an oral KIF18A inhibitor, in patients with advanced solid tumors (Abstract 3012), presented by Ecaterina Elena Dumbrava, M.D.
- Overall survival and duration of response for transfusion independence in erythropoiesis stimulating agent-naive patients with very low-, low-, or intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes treated with luspatercept (LUSPA) vs. epoetin alfa (EA) in the COMMANDS trial (Abstract 6512), presented by Guillermo Garcia-Manero, M.D.
- Phase I study of HMPL-306, an inhibitor of mutant IDH1/IDH2 (mIDH1/2), in western patients with advanced mIDH solid tumor, including glioma (Abstract 2013), presented by Jordi Rodon Ahnert, M.D., Ph.D.
- Overall survival and quality of life superiority in modern Phase III oncology trials (Abstract 11015), presented by Alexander Dean Sherry, M.D.
- DIET study: A randomized controlled Phase II trial of a high fiber diet intervention (HFDI) in patients with melanoma receiving immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) (Abstract 9511), presented by Yufan Qiu, M.D., Ph.D.
- Efficacy and safety of first-line ibrutinib plus venetoclax in patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who were older or had TP53 mutations in the SYMPATICO study (Abstract 7017), presented by Michael Wang, M.D.
- A randomized Phase III trial comparing doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide followed by weekly paclitaxel with or without carboplatin for node-positive or high-risk node-negative TNBC (Abstract LBA509), presented by Vicente Valero, M.D.
