The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) and its cosponsor, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), have announced the recipients of two prestigious awards recognizing exceptional contributions to breast cancer research. The honors will be presented during SABCS 2025, taking place December 9–12 at the Henry B. González Convention Center.
2025 AACR Distinguished Lectureship in Breast Cancer Research
Ben Ho Park, MD, PhD, director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 AACR Distinguished Lectureship in Breast Cancer Research, supported by Aflac, Inc. The award acknowledges scientific achievements that have inspired or have the potential to shape new perspectives in the causes, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of breast cancer.
Dr. Park is recognized for groundbreaking research that has reshaped both molecular and clinical understanding of breast cancer. His work has elucidated mechanisms of PI3K/AKT pathway deregulation, offering vital insights into therapeutic resistance, tumor invasion, and metastatic progression. A major contribution from his laboratory is the pioneering use of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) as a minimally invasive biomarker. This innovation has transformed precision oncology by enabling the early detection of genetic mutations, continuous monitoring of disease activity, and identification of minimal residual disease. Importantly, cfDNA analysis has also made it possible to detect metastatic potential in early-stage breast cancer before clinical progression occurs.
Details regarding the date and time of Dr. Park’s award lecture will be announced soon.
2025 AACR Outstanding Investigator Award for Breast Cancer Research
Sara M. Tolaney, MD, MPH, chief of the Division of Breast Oncology and associate director of the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has been named the recipient of the 2025 AACR Outstanding Investigator Award for Breast Cancer Research, supported by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The award honors investigators whose work has had, or is poised to have, significant impact across the breast cancer research continuum.
Dr. Tolaney is recognized for her leadership in advancing targeted therapies for HER2-positive breast cancer through practice-changing clinical trials. Her APT trial established the effectiveness of a less intensive regimen combining paclitaxel and trastuzumab for patients with early-stage, node-negative disease a finding that has since been incorporated into national and international treatment guidelines. Beyond HER2-positive disease, her contributions to biomarker-driven personalized oncology and the development of CDK4/6 inhibitors have meaningfully advanced treatment strategies in both adjuvant and metastatic settings.
Dr. Tolaney will deliver her award lecture on Friday, December 12, at 1:30 p.m. CT in the Stars at Night 1–2 Ballroom at the Henry B. González Convention Center.
AACR-Mark Foundation Chemistry in Cancer Research Grants
Written by Nare Hovhannisyan, MD