Five plenary talks headline MD Anderson presentations

Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will be presenting more than 200 abstracts from April 25 to April 30 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025, highlighting the latest breakthroughs in cancer care, research and prevention.

MD Anderson clinicians and scientists present five plenary talks

Jennifer Litton, M.D., vice president of Clinical Research at MD Anderson, previewed the five plenary talks and shared potential impacts.

Abstract CT050: Zongertinib in patients with pretreated HER2-mutant advanced NSCLC: Beamion LUNG-1

• John Heymach, M.D., Ph.D. chair of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology
• Press release with trial data to be published concurrently with the AACR press conference: Monday, April 28 at 8 am CT

Abstract CT018: A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized phase 2 clinical trial to assess the efficacy of a topical BRAF inhibitor for acneiform rash toxicities from anti-EGFR therapies

• Anisha Patel, M.D., associate professor of Dermatology
• and Christine Parseghian, M.D., associate professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, discuss EGFR inhibitors and skin toxicities in a podcast
• Press release with trial data to be published at presentation time: Sunday, April 27, 3:30 pm CT

Abstract CT004: KEYLYNK-007: Tumor agnostic trial of olaparib plus pembrolizumab in homologous recombination repair mutation- and homologous recombination deficiency-positive advanced cancers

• Timothy Yap, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., professor of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics and vice president and head of clinical development of the Therapeutics Discovery division
• Press release with additional data will be published at presentation time: Sunday, April 27 at 1pm CT

Abstract CT016: First-in-human (FIH) phase 1 trial of the oral first-in-class covalent Werner helicase (WRN) inhibitor RO7589831 in patients with microsatellite instable (MSI) and/or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) advanced solid tumors

• Timothy Yap, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., professor of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics and vice president and head of clinical development of the Therapeutics Discovery division
• Press release with additional data will be published at presentation time: Sunday, April 27, at 3:30 pm CT

Abstract CT206: ICAM-1 directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells (AIC100) in patients with advanced thyroid cancers: Clinical and translational data from the phase 1 dose escalation study

• Samer Srour, M.B., Ch.B, assistant professor of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
• Press release with additional data will be published at presentation time: Tuesday, April 29, at 10:15 am CT

Fifteen abstracts featured in oral presentations

In addition to the plenary talks, 15 abstracts from MD Anderson researchers were selected for oral presentations.

Researchers will present promising results from clinical trials in three minisymposia abstracts, featuring a personalized vaccine therapy for colorectal cancer, the use of radiotherapy to minimize toxicities in kidney cancer, and engineered exosomes to treat pancreatic cancer. Read the press release here.

Additionally, MD Anderson scientists will present breakthrough studies across the spectrum of cancer research in 12 minisymposia abstracts. Read the press release here.

MD Anderson researchers honored at AACR Annual Meeting

Five scientists from MD Anderson will be recognized with Scientific Achievement Awards and honors at the meeting. These awards highlight significant achievements in translational research and oncology leadership from both early career and internationally renowned scientists and clinicians. The honors include:

• AACR-Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research: Robert Bast, M.D.
• AACR-Princess Takamatsu Memorial Lectureship: Ronald DePinho, M.D.
• AACR-Minorities in Cancer Research Jane Cooke Wright Lectureship: Christopher Flowers, M.D.
• AACR-Award for Outstanding Achievement in Basic Cancer Research: Han Liang, Ph.D.
• NextGen Star for the AACR Annual Meeting 2025: Di Zhao, Ph.D.

Additionally, John N. Weinstein, chair of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology and professor of Systems Biology was elected to the 2025 class of Fellows of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy in recognition of decades of combined laboratory and computational work pioneering multi-omic molecular profiling, including the introduction of new laboratory techniques, clustered heat maps, and early innovations in artificial intelligence for cancer drug discovery.

Read more posts featuring MD Anderson Cancer Center in OncoDaily.