HOUSTON, NOVEMBER 13, 2026 ― 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.
Structurally guided therapy shows promise for patients with specific EGFR-mutated lung cancer in Phase 1b trial
Read the full release | Read the study in Cancer Cell
For patients with EGFR PACC-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) , the targeted therapy firmonertinib achieved durable antitumor activity in a Phase 1b trial, supporting an approach to selecting treatments based on the structural features of uncommon EGFR mutations. Results from the Phase 1b FURTHER trial revealed that patients receiving 160 mg or 240 mg daily lived a median of 11.1 months and 16 months without their disease worsening (progression-free survival), respectively. The trial was led by Xiuning Le, M.D., Ph.D. , associate professor of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology .
"Patients with uncommon EGFR mutations have long faced limited evidence to guide treatment decisions," Le said. "The responses we observed with firmonertinib in patients with EGFR PACC mutations are encouraging and suggest that understanding mutation structure may help identify therapies better matched to a patient's cancer."
Cell changes around early breast cancers provide clues into why some cases become invasive
Read the full release | Read the study in Science
Researchers created one of the most detailed maps to date of the cell environment surrounding ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the most common form of preinvasive, or stage 0, breast cancer . The findings may help explain why some lesions progress to invasive breast cancer and others do not, informing strategies to improve patient risk prediction and develop better targeted approaches for patients at higher risk of invasive disease. The study was co-led by Nicholas Navin, Ph.D. , chair of Systems Biology ; Savitri Krishnamurthy, M.D. , professor of Anatomical Pathology ; Alastair Thompson, M.D., surgical oncologist at Baylor College of Medicine, as well as co-first authors Siyuan He, Ph.D., and Aatish Thennavan, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellows of Systems Biology at UT MD Anderson.
"DCIS is considered a snapshot before breast cancer becomes invasive, but not all DCIS cases progress to invasive disease, and the biology surrounding these lesions has been challenging to examine," Navin said. "This atlas reveals the surrounding cells and structures that may help disease become invasive. In the future, these findings may allow clinicians to better identify and treat patients with DCIS who are at higher risk of invasive progression while also avoiding unnecessary treatments for those at low risk."
Newly discovered pathway fuels production of cancer-driving proteins
Read the full release | Read the study in Nature Cell Biology
A previously unknown mechanism helps cancer cells selectively produce proteins that drive tumor growth — such as KRAS — in common cancers. The findings reveal that targeting a specific enzyme may improve responses to targeted therapies and help overcome treatment resistance. The study was co-led by Pawel Mazur, Ph.D. , associate professor of Experimental Radiation Oncology , along with collaborators at other institutions.
"Our findings show that, in cancer cells, the METTL13 enzyme facilitates the production of important growth-driving proteins," Mazur said. "By understanding the underlying mechanisms and removing that support, we may be able to make tumors more vulnerable to treatment and help improve patient outcomes."
Combination therapy overcomes treatment resistance in breast cancer models
Read the full release | Read the study in Cancer Research
A combination approach successfully overcame treatment resistance and led to durable responses in preclinical models of advanced breast cancer . The targets at the center of this approach were identified by a new computational biology algorithm developed at UT MD Anderson called TargetScore, suggesting this tool could be used to develop new therapeutic strategies and advance precision oncology. The study was co-led by Anil Korkut, Ph.D. , associate professor of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology .
"Our findings suggest that resistant cancer cells often adapt to find alternate pathways for survival," Korkut said. "Current precision medicine approaches don't account for these adaptive responses, which allow tumors to avoid being destroyed. Uncovering these back-up routes can bring about more effective combination strategies to, ultimately, improve patient outcomes."
UT MD Anderson researchers highlight breakthroughs at ESMO and SITC
Researchers showcased impactful research across the cancer care continuum at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026 and Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting. Highlights include:
- ESMO 2026: New targeted therapy improved survival for patients with KRAS-mutated lung cancer
- ESMO 2026: Immunotherapy combination extends survival in advanced endometrial cancer
- ESMO 2026: UT MD Anderson highlights innovative approaches to monitor, prevent and treat cancer
- SITC 2026: UT MD Anderson highlights advances in cancer immunotherapy
