UT MD Anderson

From sharing new research to connecting with colleagues from around the world, UT MD Anderson experts and teams made the most of the 2026 ESMO - European Society for Medical Oncology Congress. With more than 44 presentations, our experts shared advances across cancer types. At our booth, attendees joined Meet the Experts sessions and connected with UT MD Anderson experts to discuss our research, clinical expertise and opportunities to collaborate Research highlights included new approaches to monitor treatment response, prevent cancer in people at high risk and improve outcomes with targeted therapies. Explore the research: • Cancer prevention, treatment monitoring and more: Research presented by Dr. Eduardo Vilar Sanchez, Dr. Tina Cascone, Dr. Carlos Barcenas and Dr. Neil Gross. http://spr.ly/6041BHgQSU • KRAScendo 1 trial: Dr. Ferdinandos Skoulidis presented late-breaking results on targeted therapy for KRAS G12C-mutated lung cancer. http://spr.ly/6043BHgQSS • DUO-E trial: Dr. Shannon Westin presented new survival data in endometrial cancer. http://spr.ly/6045BHgQSt Thank you to everyone who connected with us at ESMO as we work together to advance cancer research and care.

At the 2026 ESMO - European Society for Medical Oncology Congress, cancer vaccines are part of a growing conversation about new ways to prevent and treat cancer. Researchers are exploring vaccines that could help prevent cancer from returning, as well as approaches designed to prevent cancer from developing in people at higher risk. At UT MD Anderson, Dr. Eduardo Vilar Sanchez is studying a vaccine for people with Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition that increases the risk of several cancers. As new findings bring greater attention to the potential of cancer vaccines, more research is needed to understand how these approaches could help patients. Read more about the science and the future of cancer vaccine research: http://spr.ly/6045BHbwD1

A sore on his ear led to a melanoma diagnosis. When surgery revealed the cancer had spread to a lymph node in his neck, Tony Hout chose to take part in clinical research. Tony enrolled in a Phase 3 clinical trial at UT MD Anderson testing a personalized cancer vaccine with immunotherapy. Melanoma specialist and researcher Dr. Hussein Tawbi and his team are helping advance research that could improve treatment options for people with melanoma. As cancer experts gather at the 2026 ESMO - European Society for Medical Oncology Congress, Tony’s story highlights the role clinical trials play in advancing cancer research and the people who make that progress possible. Read Tony’s story: http://spr.ly/6047BHZIpF

At the 2026 ESMO - European Society for Medical Oncology Congress, UT MD Anderson experts are showcasing advances in cancer care and leading conversations on translating discoveries into clinical practice to benefit patients worldwide. Explore five featured studies spanning genetic testing, cancer vaccines, circulating tumor DNA and new treatment approaches. Learn more from the researchers presenting these studies: 1. Maria D. Iniesta-Donate, M.D., Ph.D. on increasing genetic testing among at-risk family members 2. Eduardo Vilar Sanchez, M.D., Ph.D. on revaccination for people with Lynch syndrome 3. Carlos Barcenas, M.D. on monitoring circulating tumor DNA in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer 4. Funda Meric-Bernstam, M.D. on a targeted therapy for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer 5. Marcelo Negrao, M.D. on a new treatment approach for advanced non-small cell lung cancer Read Dr. Jennifer Litton, MD, MHCM overview of the five featured studies: http://spr.ly/6041BHpijP Explore UT MD Anderson at ESMO, including our presentation and Meet the Experts schedule: http://spr.ly/6043BHpijR

Congratulations to Lakeisha Keller-Davis and Ellen Mullen, Ph.D., for being awarded the 2026 Brown Foundation Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing, which is UT MD Anderson's highest nursing recognition honoring outstanding patient care and clinical practice. #EndCancer “We are grateful for the ability to honor our outstanding nurses, whose clinical expertise, compassion and leadership make a meaningful impact on our patients and advance our mission every day,” says chief nurse executive Kim Slusser, Ph.D.

Congratulations to our Albert Koong, M.D., Ph.D., and Katy Rezvani, M.D., Ph.D., for being elected into the National Academy of Medicine. "Their groundbreaking research has changed the practice of radiation oncology and cell therapy, and their thoughtful leadership continues to strengthen our institution’s research enterprise," says UT MD Anderson president ad interim Jeffrey E. Lee, M.D. Read more about this honor and their contributions to cancer care and research. #CancerResearch #EndCancer

If you or a loved one have been recently diagnosed with cancer, you may be wondering: What now? In the latest Cancerwise podcast episode, our Craig Kovitz, M.D., and social work counselor Hayle Lopez share what to do first, from preparing for appointments to managing stress and building your support team.

The countdown is on. We are just 30 days away from UT MD Anderson's Boot Walk to End Cancer. Boot Walk helps fund critical cancer research and programs that help advance lifesaving discoveries for cancer patients. You can attend in person on our Texas Medical Cancer Campus or walk virtually from wherever you are. Register today to join us on Saturday, Nov. 14, and help give cancer the boot: http://spr.ly/6008BGLVn2 #EndCancer

The latest research from UT MD Anderson includes two new insights into immunotherapy-related colitis as well as a suggested standard of care to lower the risk of recurrence for some patients with brain metastases. Swipe through to read more. #EndCancer   1. Immunotherapy-related colitis may be improved with fecal microbiota transplantation   Findings from a Phase 1/2 trial, led by Yinghong (Mimi) Wang, M.D., Ph.D., found that targeting the gut microbiome with fecal microbiota transplantation may help cancer patients with immunotherapy-related colitis avoid the need for immune-suppressing treatments: https://bit.ly/4hOEj31   2. Monitoring B cells could help predict risk of immunotherapy-induced colitis   Researchers led by Roza Nurieva, Ph.D., have identified a role for B cells in triggering colitis occurring as a side effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors. The findings provide a potential biomarker to identify patients at risk of immunotherapy-related colitis: https://bit.ly/4zdVlyq   3. B7-H3 immune checkpoint serves dual role in tumor immune suppression   Researchers have identified a pathway that prostate tumors leverage to suppress the immune system by reshaping the tumor microenvironment. Findings of the study, led by Di Zhao, Ph.D., and Nicholas Navin, Ph.D., found a combined targeted therapy approach improved antitumor responses and prolonged survival in preclinical models: https://bit.ly/4y8vkzA   4. AI model can identify patients at risk for developing treatment-induced lung inflammation   An AI model developed in a study led by Jia Wu, Ph.D., Ajay Sheshadri, M.D., and Mehmet Altan, M.D., can predict which lung cancer patients may be at higher risk of pneumonitis, a potentially life-threatening side effect of immunotherapy: https://bit.ly/3TFYMPu   5. Two factors may help identify patients benefit from off-the-shelf CAR T cell therapies   A study identified two factors that may determine how well off-the-shelf CAR T cells expand and persist in patients: immune rejection by the patient and the “fitness” of the donor-derived CAR T cells. Corresponding author Pavan Bachireddy, M.D., shares how the findings could help improve future CAR T cell therapies: https://bit.ly/3VzZmPf   6. Tile-based radiation therapy suggested as standard of care to lower risk of recurrence in brain metastases Findings from the Phase 3 ROADS trial, co-led by Jeffrey Weinberg, M.D., and Thomas Beckham, M.D., Ph.D., show tile-based radiation therapy delivered during surgery significantly improved tumor control and more than doubled median overall survival in patients with brain metastases: https://bit.ly/4rSuFAJ

Rugang Zhang, Ph.D., runs a lab at UT MD Anderson that dedicates much of its work to understanding the relationship between aging, inflammation and inflammation-related diseases — or, "inflammaging." "Deepening our understanding of inflammaging and cancer will help unlock new treatments for not just cancer, but other age-related diseases," he says. Read more about how this exciting research may be able to be used for cancer prevention.