CHICAGO: Cancer researchers presented a series of significant treatment advances and early-stage findings at the annual summit of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which concluded on Tuesday in Chicago.
The meeting featured more than 7,000 scientific studies covering breakthroughs in treatment, early detection, and drug development, including promising—but still preliminary—data on weight-loss medications and their possible role in cancer outcomes.
One of the most notable presentations focused on pancreatic cancer, widely regarded as one of the deadliest forms of the disease.
A clinical trial of a new drug molecule, daraxonrasib, developed by US-based start-up Revolution Medicines, showed encouraging results compared to standard chemotherapy.
Researchers reported that half of the patients treated with the drug survived more than 13 months—roughly double the survival time observed in the chemotherapy group.
Oncologists described the findings as a potential turning point in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer, a disease that has seen limited progress in recent decades.
Early signals linking weight-loss drugs and cancer
Researchers also presented early-stage findings suggesting that GLP-1 receptor agonists—commonly used weight-loss and diabetes medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy—could potentially influence cancer progression.
The data indicated a 38 to 50 percent reduction in disease progression across lung, breast, colorectal, and liver cancers among patients taking these drugs compared to conventional diabetes treatments.
However, scientists emphasized that the findings remain preliminary and require confirmation through randomized clinical trials.
Rethinking surgical cancer treatment
Another study highlighted at the summit suggested that some surgical interventions in breast cancer may be unnecessary in certain cases.
The research found that omitting axillary lymph node dissection in patients whose cancer had spread to only one or two lymph nodes did not negatively affect outcomes, while reducing the risk of long-term side effects.
Experts said the findings could help reduce overtreatment in breast cancer care.
Advances in precision medicine for prostate cancer
Researchers also presented results from an international trial focusing on prostate cancer patients with genetic mutations, particularly those involving the BRCA2 gene.
The study tested a combination therapy using enzalutamide and talazoparib, showing a 65 percent reduction in the risk of disease progression or death among BRCA2 mutation carriers.
Experts said the results could significantly reshape treatment approaches for high-risk prostate cancer patients.
Blood-based cancer screening still inconclusive
Several studies explored the use of liquid biopsies and blood-based screening tests, including the Galleri test, which claims to detect multiple cancers before symptoms appear.
However, a large study involving more than 140,000 participants in the United Kingdom found that while the test showed some promise, it did not significantly reduce late-stage cancer diagnoses across multiple cancer types.
Researchers said further evidence is needed before such tests can be widely adopted.
While many of the findings remain at an early stage, experts at the summit said the research reflects steady progress toward more targeted, less invasive, and more effective cancer treatments.
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