HOUSTON, OCTOBER 30, 2025 ― At The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , research breakthroughs are made possible through seamless collaboration between the institution's world-leading clinicians and scientists, bringing discoveries from the lab to the clinic and back. The studies below showcase the latest advances in cancer care, research and prevention.
Spatial analysis finds immune-rich pockets in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma tumors with clear treatment potential
Read the full release | Read the study in Nature Genetics
By analyzing the tumor environment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), researchers identified seven distinct cellular microenvironments, providing a framework to develop therapies that will engage a patient's immune system to attack cancer cells. Each microenvironment showed a different mix of cells and its own pattern of communication between tumor B-cells and immune cells. The study was led by Michael Green, Ph.D , professor of Lymphoma/Myeloma , and Linghua Wang, M.D., Ph.D. , associate professor of Genomic Medicine , associate member of the James P. Allison Institute and focus area co-lead with the Institute for Data Science in Oncology .
"This study maps the immune landscapes of DLBCL in unprecedented detail and reveals distinct cellular communities, referred to as niches, that shape how tumors and immune cells interact," Green said.
Americans have widespread misbeliefs about the cancer risks of alcohol, study finds
Read the full release | Read the study in JAMA Oncology
Despite clear evidence linking alcohol use to increased cancer risks, public awareness of this connection remains low in the U.S. Researchers found that more than half of American adults (52.9%) did not know if alcohol affects cancer risk, 37.1% do understand there is a correlation between cancer risk and drinking, and 1% believed that drinking decreased cancer risk. Researchers also found people who had recently consumed alcohol, or who believed that cancer isn't fatal or preventable, were more likely to think that drinking alcohol doesn't influence cancer risk.
"It's concerning that people who drink alcohol are the ones most likely to believe it has no effect on cancer risk," said lead author, Sanjay Shete, Ph.D. , professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology . "Given people's beliefs play a critical role in whether they choose healthier behaviors, we need to work on correcting these misperceptions, which could be essential to reducing the growing burden of alcohol-related cancers."
Study shows protein relieves pain hypersensitivity in preclinical models
Read the full release | Read the study in Science Translational Medicine
Many patients undergoing cancer treatments experience damage or dysfunction of the nerves, leading to debilitating chronic nerve pain. Unfortunately, these patients have limited options because nerve pain responds poorly to current medications. Researchers discovered a specific protein called LRRC8A in sensory neurons inhibits pain hypersensitivity, highlighting a potential therapeutic strategy for nerve pain.
"Our research reveals that nerve damage boosts NMDA receptor activity and amplifies pain signaling by lowering LRRC8A, a protein that normally keeps NMDA receptor activity in check," said study lead Hui-Lin Pan, M.D., Ph.D. , professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine . "Using gene therapy to restore LRRC8A levels eliminates this receptor hyperactivity and relieves neuropathic pain."
Comprehensive molecular profiling of renal medullary carcinoma identifies TROP2 as a promising therapeutic target
Read the full release | Read the study in Cell Reports Medicine
In the largest and most comprehensive molecular analysis of renal medullary carcinoma (RMC), a rare and aggressive form of kidney cancer, researchers identified TROP2 as a promising therapeutic target in 25 patient samples. These findings led to the exploration of sacituzumab govitecan, a TROP2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate. In a small cohort of four heavily pretreated RMC patients, sacituzumab govitecan resulted in one partial response and two patients with stable disease, with a median progression-free survival of 2.9 months.
"Identifying TROP2 as a therapeutic target in renal medullary carcinoma marks a pivotal step toward precision treatment for one of the most aggressive and underserved cancers," said principal investigator Pavlos Msaouel, M.D., Ph.D. , associate professor of Genitourinary Medical Oncology .
New oral therapy shows early signs of safety and effectiveness in patients with advanced, treatment-resistant prostate cancer
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A first-in-human clinical trial showed that the novel oral treatment HLD-0915 was well tolerated with preliminary evidence of tumor shrinkage and lower PSA levels in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) . If results are validated in additional clinical studies, HLD-0915 could offer a new line of treatment. Furthermore, HLD-0915 received fast track designation from the Food and Drug Administration, accelerating the path from clinical trials to potential approval and access. Data from the study were presented by Andrew W. Hahn, M.D. , assistant professor of Genitourinary Medical Oncology , at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics .
"HLD-0915 employs a novel mechanism of action through regulated induced proximity targeting chimera to simultaneously target the androgen receptor and BRD4, which is a critical mediator of prostate cancer progression and therapeutic resistance," Hahn said. "Dose expansion studies of HLD-0915 are currently ongoing, and we hope to learn more about its efficacy in the near future."
