CHICAGO, IL — April 25, 2025 — The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is making a powerful statement at this year’s American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, presenting over 200 abstracts from April 25 through April 30. This highly anticipated annual gathering brings together the brightest minds in oncology, and MD Anderson is taking center stage with five groundbreaking plenary talks and numerous oral presentations, spotlighting the institution’s unwavering commitment to revolutionizing cancer care, prevention, and treatment.

🔬 Five Plenary Talks Set the Tone for Cancer Innovation

MD Anderson’s elite team of clinicians and scientists is delivering five high-impact plenary presentations, each promising to reshape future standards of care.

HER2-Mutant NSCLC Trial (Beamion LUNG-1): Dr. John Heymach leads a pivotal study on zongertinib for pretreated HER2-mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Full data will be released April 28.

Topical BRAF Inhibitor for Skin Toxicities: Drs. Anisha Patel and Christine Parseghian introduce a novel treatment targeting acneiform rashes caused by anti-EGFR therapies—an often overlooked but impactful side effect in cancer patients.

KEYLYNK-007 Trial: Dr. Timothy Yap presents findings on the tumor-agnostic use of olaparib plus pembrolizumab in cancers with homologous recombination deficiencies. This cutting-edge immunotherapy combination will be detailed April 27.

First-in-Human WRN Inhibitor: Dr. Yap also unveils the first-ever data on a covalent Werner helicase (WRN) inhibitor for microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) and mismatch repair-deficient tumors—potentially offering a new line of defense for hard-to-treat cancers.

CAR T Cells for Thyroid Cancer: Dr. Samer Srour introduces AIC100, an ICAM-1 directed CAR T cell therapy for advanced thyroid cancers, marking a pivotal advancement in cellular therapy.

🎤 Oral Presentations and Minisymposia Shine Light on Transformative Therapies

Beyond the plenaries, MD Anderson researchers will deliver 15 compelling oral presentations and participate in multiple minisymposia. These include:

Colorectal Cancer Vaccine Therapy

Radiotherapy Innovations for Kidney Cancer

Engineered Exosomes for Pancreatic Cancer

Each study is grounded in clinical relevance and personalized medicine, underlining MD Anderson’s dedication to tailoring cancer treatments for optimal patient outcomes.

🏆 Honoring Excellence: Prestigious AACR Awards for MD Anderson Faculty

AACR 2025 is not only a platform for discovery but also for celebrating the people behind the progress. Five MD Anderson scientists are being recognized for excellence in cancer research, education, and equity:

Dr. Robert Bast – AACR-Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Education & Training

Dr. Ronald DePinho – AACR-Princess Takamatsu Memorial Lectureship

Dr. Christopher Flowers – Minorities in Cancer Research Jane Cooke Wright Lectureship

Dr. Han Liang – Outstanding Achievement in Basic Cancer Research

Dr. Di Zhao – Named AACR NextGen Star 2025

🌐 Pioneering Cancer Data Science

Capping off this exceptional showing, Dr. John N. Weinstein, chair of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, has been inducted into the 2025 class of AACR Academy Fellows. Dr. Weinstein’s decades of trailblazing work in multi-omic profiling, data visualization, and artificial intelligence for cancer drug discovery have laid the foundation for a more precise and personalized future in oncology.

🧬 MD Anderson at AACR 2025: A Force for the Future

As one of the world’s leading cancer centers, MD Anderson continues to redefine what’s possible in cancer research and treatment. Its presence at AACR 2025 reflects a deep institutional ethos—where science, innovation, and patient-centered care intersect.

Stay up to date with MD Anderson's latest advancements and expert insights by visiting: www.MDAnderson.org/AACR

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