On May 27, 2026 Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH), a leading precision oncology company, reported that its FDA-approved Shield blood test is now included in updated American Cancer Society (ACS) Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening Guidelines published today. The major screening guideline update recommends Shield as a choice for patients who decline or have not completed stool-based or visual examination screening tests.

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In an effort to address persistent screening gaps and rising CRC rates in adults under 65, ACS guidelines now recommend Shield blood-based CRC screening as a new option to expand access and screening participation. Shield is the first and only FDA-approved blood test for primary colorectal cancer screening in average-risk adults age 45 and older and can be completed with just a blood draw during a routine doctor’s visit.

CRC is the second leading cancer killer in the United States1 and the number one cancer killer for adults under 50.2 The inclusion of Shield in the updated guidelines acknowledges a central challenge in colorectal cancer screening: more than 50 million eligible adults3 remain unscreened despite established methods like colonoscopy or stool-based testing existing for decades. By recognizing the effectiveness of a blood-based option, the updated guidelines add a new opportunity to reach patients who might otherwise go unscreened.

With three out of four CRC deaths among those not up to date with screening4, the American Cancer Society noted that "offering multiple, recommended screening options supports informed patient choice and may improve participation, because the most effective screening test is the one that the patient completes."

"The inclusion of Shield in the American Cancer Society’s guidelines as a recommended option is a momentous step forward in our collective work to reach the more than 50 million Americans who remain unscreened for colorectal cancer," said AmirAli Talasaz, Guardant Health co-CEO. "We know that tragically cancer does not wait. The Shield blood test has been proven to be effective in detecting cancers and increasing screening participation in the real-world setting. By making colorectal cancer screening more accessible with a blood-based option in conjunction with other established methodologies, we can get people screened."

Guardant’s Shield blood test stood out in guideline evidence for having the highest screening adherence rate compared to traditional colonoscopies and stool-based tests.5 In the real-world experience with approximately 200,000 patients tested, Shield is proven to increase screening rates with over 90% of patients completing the test.6 In the pivotal ECLIPSE study, Shield showed its high sensitivity in detecting colorectal cancers and demonstrated sensitivity of 100% in detecting stage II and above cancers.7

"Screening rates have been largely stagnant across the population, with particular challenges in delivering screening to younger individuals age 45 to 55, racial and ethnic minoritized groups, and individuals with lower socioeconomic position. By providing the choice of a new CRC screening modality, blood-based testing has the potential to expand the reach of CRC screening to individuals who might otherwise remain unscreened," said Samir Gupta, MD, Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Diego. "Today’s guideline update reflects the continued evolution of CRC screening-related technological advances, outlines persistent gaps in screening participation, and the potential for advances like blood-based testing to increase screening uptake."

Demonstrating strong real-world evidence and clinical performance published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)7, Shield is the only FDA-approved blood test included in both ACS and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines.

"The new ACS guidelines recognize that colorectal cancer screening is not one size fits all. Patients have several screening options, and their choices are impacted by where they live, their access to care, financial pressures, personal preferences, and individual risk factors," said Anjee Davis, MPPA, CEO at Fight Colorectal Cancer. "As options expand, Fight CRC remains committed to patients making an informed choice, providing clear education, and ensuring timely follow up so more people can complete lifesaving screening. Our shared goal is clear: achieving 80% screening rates in every community."

"Presenting patients with options helps them make educated health decisions," said Chris Evans, President of the Colon Cancer Coalition. "The introduction of a blood-based choice for colorectal cancer screening will increase screening rates and ultimately save lives."

ACS guidelines for colorectal cancer screening were last updated in 2018 to lower the recommended age for screening for adults at average risk from 50 to 45 in response to the rising rate of CRC among younger adults.

About Shield

Shield is a methylation partitioning cell-free DNA (mp-cfDNA) non-invasive, blood-based screening test that detects alterations associated with colorectal cancer in the blood. It is intended as a screening test for individuals at average risk for the disease, age 45 or older, and is not intended for individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer. The Shield test can be considered in a manner similar to guideline-recommended non-invasive CRC screening options and can be completed during any healthcare visit. A positive Shield result raises concern for the presence of colorectal cancer or advanced adenoma and the patient should be referred for colonoscopy evaluation.

(Press release, Guardant Health, MAY 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234666127])

On May 27, 2026 Ankyra Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering anchored immunotherapy to deliver better outcomes for people with cancer and other serious diseases, reported two poster presentations will be featured at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place May 29 to June 2 in Chicago.

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The presentations highlight ongoing Phase 1 clinical trials of tolododekin alfa, a novel IL-12 anchored immunotherapy, including a trial-in-progress poster describing its evaluation in combination with an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody in people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as baseline quality-of-life data from a separate Phase 1 trial of tolododekin alfa in people with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. These presentations underscore Ankyra’s commitment to advancing anchored immunotherapy as a practical platform design that retains high-dose therapeutics, like IL-12, at the tumor site to deliver enhanced efficacy with lower systemic toxicity.

Presentation details:

Title: A Phase 1b, Two-Arm Study of Tolododekin Alfa (ANK-101) in Combination with an Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Antibody in Participants with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Type: Poster Session
Session: Developmental Therapeutics – Immunotherapy
Abstract: #TPS2678
Poster: #461b
Date / time: Saturday, May 30, 2026; 1:30 – 4:30 pm CDT; Hall A
Lead author: Thomas Marron, MD, PhD, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York
Title: Quality-of-Life in Cancer Patients Treated with Anchored Interleukin-12 (IL-12) Immunotherapy: Results from a First-in-Human Phase 1 Trial of Tolododekin Alfa (ANK-101)

Type: Poster Session
Session: Developmental Therapeutics – Immunotherapy
Abstract: #2593
Poster: #383
Date / time: Saturday, May 30, 2026; 1:30 – 4:30 pm CDT; Hall A
Lead author: Jong Chul Park, MD, Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Boston
About tolodoken alfa

Tolododekin alfa is an investigational, first-in-class interleukin-12 (IL-12)-anchored immunotherapy. IL-12 is a highly potent proinflammatory cytokine, but its therapeutic use has been limited by toxicity. With Ankyra’s anchoring technology, tolododekin alfa has been shown to deliver and retain high doses of IL-12 in the tumor microenvironment. Early results from an ongoing Phase 1 study show durable retention within tumors, encouraging clinical activity, and a favorable safety profile, with no dose-limiting toxicities across multiple difficult-to-treat solid tumor types. Ankyra is also evaluating tolododekin alfa for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

(Press release, Ankyra Therapeutics, MAY 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234666126])

On May 27, 2026 NEOK Bio, Inc., a clinical-stage oncology therapeutics company focused on the development of novel antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), reported that the first patients have been dosed in each of the Phase 1 clinical trials for its lead bispecific ADC candidates, NEOK001 and NEOK002, being developed for the treatment of advanced solid tumors.

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NEOK001 is a first-in-class bispecific ADC designed to target B7-H3 and ROR1, two surface proteins highly expressed in cancer cells. NEOK002 is a novel bispecific ADC targeting EGFR epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and MUC1 (Mucin 1)-expressing solid tumors. Each Phase 1 study is evaluating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of these candidates in patients with cancers that co-express these targets. Both candidates enter the clinic on a foundation of promising preclinical studies in which they have demonstrated superior in vivo efficacy in solid tumors compared to traditional monovalent ADCs.

"Advancing two ADC programs from preclinical development to first-in-human dosing in such a short time underscores the operational efficiency and execution capabilities of our team," said Mayank Gandhi, MD, CEO of NEOK Bio. "Our novel bispecific ADC approach holds significant promise for unlocking new therapeutic value for patients with hard-to-treat solid tumors who need more effective treatment options."

Initial clinical data from both Phase 1 studies are expected in 2027.

(Press release, Neok Bio, MAY 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234666125])

On May 27, 2026 Arima Genomics, Inc., a cancer diagnostics company bringing DNA sequence and structure together to advance cancer therapy selection, reported that it will present new data at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place May 29-June 2 in Chicago.

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The findings in the poster presentation demonstrate the value of Arima’s Hi-C sequencing-based approach to fusion and rearrangement detection, available clinically through the Aventa FusionPlus test, for identification of clinically actionable driver alterations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Poster Presentation Details:

Poster Board Number: 420
Title: Hi-C Sequencing Can Identify Clinically Actionable Fusions in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Missed by Other Sequencing Technologies
Abstract Number: 8630
Date and Time: May 31, 2026, 9:00am-12:00pm CDT
Track: Lung Cancer-Non-Small Cell Metastatic
Presenter: Kevin Levine, M.D., University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA.

(Press release, Arima Genomics, MAY 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234666124])

On May 27, 2026 Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), one of the world’s leading oncology research organizations conducting community-based clinical trials, reported it will present new data across more than 155 abstracts and presentations at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place in Chicago from May 29–June 2, 2026.

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The data reflect contributions from over 85 authors and coauthors across more than 30 research sites in SCRI’s network and include findings from both early- and late-phase clinical trials. These findings underscore SCRI’s role in advancing innovative therapies from first-in-human studies to practice-changing science leveraging the network’s scientific leadership and expansive community-based research footprint.

"The breadth of research presented by SCRI investigators at this year’s ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting reflects the unique role SCRI plays in cancer clinical research," said David R. Spigel, MD, President and Chief Medical Officer, SCRI. "Our work provides patients access to the best available research options and expert care in the communities where they live. Everyone facing cancer should have the opportunity to participate in trials with new agents without having to travel great distances away from their families and homes. We look forward to sharing our latest insights with the global oncology community in Chicago."

For a comprehensive list of SCRI abstracts and presentations, visit SCRI’s ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Site. To learn more about our research experts, visit the SCRI Leadership page.

Noteworthy Presentations

Blood Cancer & Blood Disorders

Hans Lee, MD, SCRI, will deliver "First Results from the Phase 1/2 LINKER-AL2 Trial of Linvoseltamab in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Systemic Light Chain Amyloidosis" in an oral presentation on Friday, May 29 at 3:09 p.m. CDT during the session, Hematologic Malignancies—Plasma Cell Dyscrasia in S100a.
Peter Forsberg, MD, SCRI at Colorado Blood Cancer Institute, will present "Optec/Optal: A Phase 2 Study to Evaluate Outpatient, Step-Up Administration of Teclistamab or Talquetamab with Prophylactic Tocilizumab in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma" in an oral presentation on Sunday, May 31 at 9:51 a.m. CDT during the session, Hematologic Malignancies—Plasma Cell Dyscrasia in E450a.
John Burke, MD, SCRI at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers | The US Oncology Network, is coauthor on the Late Breaking Abstract, "frontMIND: Phase 3 Study of Tafasitamab plus Lenalidomide and R-CHOP for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma" that will be presented on Saturday, May 30 at 3:00 p.m. CDT as part of the session, Hematologic Malignancies—Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in the Arie Crown Theater.
Breast Cancer

Erika Hamilton, MD, SCRI, will deliver "Efficacy and Safety of Tucatinib vs Placebo Combined with Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab as Maintenance Therapy for HER2+ Metastatic Breast Cancer by Stratified Subgroups" in an oral presentation on Tuesday, June 2 at 11:09 a.m. CDT as part of the session, Breast Cancer—Metastatic in Hall D1.
Mabel Mardones, MD, SCRI at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers | The US Oncology Network, is a coauthor on the Late Breaking Abstract, "Giredestrant + Palbociclib vs Letrozole + PALBO as First-Line Therapy in Patients with Estrogen Receptor–Positive, HER2-Negative Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer: Primary Analysis of the Phase III persevERA BC Trial" that will be presented on Tuesday, June 2 at 11:45 a.m. CDT during the session, Breast Cancer—Metastatic in Hall D1.
Lung Cancer

Melissa Johnson, MD, SCRI, is coauthor on the Late Breaking Abstract, "Event-Free Survival with Adjuvant Selpercatinib in Stage IB-IIIA RET Fusion-Positive NSCLC: Primary Results of the Phase 3 LIBRETTO-432 Trial" that will be presented during the Plenary Session on Sunday, May 31 at 2:13 p.m. CDT in Hall B1.
Melanoma & Skin Cancers

Meredith McKean, MD, MPH, SCRI, is coauthor on the Late Breaking Abstract, "Darovasertib Plus Crizotinib vs Investigator’s Choice as First-Line Treatment for Patients with HLA-A2 Negative Metastatic Uveal Melanoma: Primary Results from the OptimUM-02 Trial" that will be presented on Monday, June 1 at 9:00 a.m. CDT during the session, Melanoma/Skin Cancers in S100bc.
Additional

James Essell, MD, SCRI at OHC | The US Oncology Network, will deliver the oral "Impact of Remote Therapeutic Monitoring with Patient-Reported Outcomes on Hospitalization in Real-World Patients Receiving Therapy for Metastatic Solid Tumors" that will be presented on Sunday, May 31 at 9:24 a.m. CDT during the session, Quality Care/Health Services Research in S100bc.
Dr. Erika Hamilton and Elisa Fontana, MD, PhD, SCRI at HCA Healthcare UK, also serve on the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee; Dr. Hamilton as the Prior Annual Meeting Scientific Committee Chair and Dr. Fontana on the Gastrointestinal Cancer – Colorectal & Anal Committee.

In addition to scientific presentations, SCRI leadership will participate in and lead several ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) sessions, including:

Stephen Strickland, Jr., MD, MSCI, SCRI, will offer the "Transplant Specialist Perspective" during the session, From Myelodysplastic Syndrome to Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Treatment-Related Myeloid Neoplasm Diagnosis and Therapeutic Strategies on Saturday, May 30 from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. CDT in E450b.
Howard Burris, III, MD, SCRI, will deliver the "Top Donor Recognition Ceremony" during the Opening Session on Saturday, May 30 from 11:15 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. CDT in Hall B1.
Dr. Melissa Johnson will present "KRAS-Directed Therapy: A Clinical Update" during the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)/AACR Joint Session: The KRAS Journey – Perseverance Pays Off on Saturday, May 30 from 1:34 p.m. – 1:49 p.m. CDT in S100bc.
Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA, SCRI at Texas Oncology | The US Oncology Network, will present "Algorithms in Action: From Training to Practice" during the session, Oncology 2.0: How Artificial Intelligence Is Closing the Information Gap – Or Is It? on Sunday, May 31 from 10:45 a.m. – 10:57 a.m. CDT in S102.
Dr. Elisa Fontana will present "RAS in Colorectal Cancer: Mechanisms of Action, Inhibition and Resistance" during the session, Emerging and Established Targets in Colorectal Cancer: Translating Biology in Therapeutics, as well as moderate the panel Q&A, on Sunday, May 31 from 4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. CDT in Hall D2.
Benjamin Garmezy, MD, SCRI, will chair the session, Rapid Oral: Genitourinary Cancer – Kidney and Bladder on Monday, June 1 at 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. CDT in Hall D2.
Dr. Erika Hamilton will serve as Chair for the session, Highlights of the Year II on Monday, June 1 at 8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. CDT in Hall D1.
Dee Anna Smith, SCRI, will deliver "The Community Frontline: Scaling Rapid Activation for Real-World Impact" during the session, Time to Activation in Oncology Clinical Trials: Challenges and Opportunities for Improvement on Monday, June 1 from 8:40 a.m. – 8:55 a.m. CDT in S100a.
Additional SCRI First-Author Poster Presentations

Saturday, May 30, 2026

"Advancing Health Equity in Oncology: Virtual Collaborative Behavioral Health Engagement and Outcomes Among Medicaid-Insured and BIPOC Patients," Nina Balanchivadze, MD, SCRI at Virginia Oncology Associates | The US Oncology Network, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"Phase 1 Dose Escalation of CTX-8371, a Novel PD-1xPD-L1 Bispecific Antibody, in Patients with Advanced Malignancies Post Checkpoint Inhibition," Judy Wang, MD, SCRI at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute | The US Oncology Network, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"BI-1808 + Pembrolizumab: Responses to a Chemotherapy-Free Regimen in Advanced Ovarian Cancer," Anja Williams, MD, SCRI at HCA Healthcare UK, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
Sunday, May 31, 2026

"Real-World Characteristics, Homologous Recombination Repair Mutation Testing, Treatment Patterns, and Outcomes of Patients with Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer in the US Community Oncology Setting," Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS, SCRI at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers | The US Oncology Network, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"Combining HC-7366 with Belzutifan in Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma to Alter Tumor and Microenvironment: Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Analysis of a Phase 1b Study," Dr. Benjamin Garmezy, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"Imneskibart + Low-Dose Subcutaneous IL-2 ± Nivolumab in Patients with CPI-Refractory Cutaneous Melanoma: Promising Results from an Ongoing Phase 1/2 Study," Dr. Meredith McKean, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"Efficacy, Safety, and Cytokine Profiling with Addition of the Toll-Like Receptor 7/8 Dual Agonist EIK1001 to Standard of Care First-Line Therapy: The Phase 2 TeLuRide-005 Trial in Stage 4 NSCLC," Bo Wang, MD, SCRI at Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center | The US Oncology Network, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
Monday, June 1, 2026

"Evaluating the Impact of a Statewide Intervention on Multiple Myeloma Bispecific T-Cell Engaging Antibody Therapy Uptake in Florida," Maen Hussein, MD, SCRI at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute | The US Oncology Network, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"Comparative Efficacy of Linvoseltamab versus Teclistamab in Triple-Class Exposed Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Updated Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison with Longer Follow-Up," Dr. Hans Lee, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"Efficacy Prediction for Progression-Free Survival and Overall Survival by Genomic Instability Score Cutoffs in Patients with Advanced Ovarian Cancer: Post Hoc Results from the Phase 3 PRIMA/ENGOT-OV26/GOG-3012 Trial," Bradley Monk, MD, SCRI at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute | The US Oncology Network, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"A Phase 1/2, First-in-Human Study of AVZO-021, a Selective Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 Inhibitor, as Monotherapy and in Combination for Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors, including Hormone Receptor–Positive/Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Negative Breast Cancer and Cyclin E1–Amplified Solid Tumors: Updated Safety and Efficacy Results," Manish R. Patel, MD, SCRI at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute | The US Oncology Network, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A.

(Press release, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, MAY 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234666123])