On May 29, 2025 Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), one of the world’s leading oncology research organizations conducting community-based clinical trials, reported that it will showcase its latest research highlights through more than 155 accepted abstracts and presentations at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, held in Chicago from May 30-June 3, 2025 (Press release, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, MAY 29, 2025, View Source [SID1234653503]). Over 75 investigators from more than 20 research sites in SCRI’s network are first authors and co-authors on the clinical trial updates featured at the Annual Meeting, including findings from 55 early-phase clinical trials.

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"We are excited to join our colleagues from around the world at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)’s Annual Meeting to share the latest developments in research that are advancing therapies for patients," says Howard A. "Skip" Burris, III, MD, President, SCRI. "From developments in novel agents to findings in a variety of cancers, the research presented by SCRI leaders not only highlights how our work is accelerating drug development, but also our dedication to ensuring people facing cancer have access to innovative treatments closer to home."

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 our Leadership Page.

Noteworthy Presentations

Blood Cancer

David Andorsky, MD, SCRI at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers I The US Oncology Network, will present "Efficacy and Safety of Asciminib in Patients with Chronic-Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia after 1 Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor: Interim Analysis of the Phase 2 ASC2ESCALATE Trial" in the Rapid Oral Abstract Session, Hematologic Malignancies—Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, and Allotransplant on Friday, May 30 at 2:06 p.m. CDT in E450a.
Breast Cancer

Erika Hamilton, MD, SCRI, will deliver two oral presentations, including "Vepdegestrant, a PROTAC Estrogen Receptor Degrader, vs Fulvestrant in ER-Positive/Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 –Negative Advanced Breast Cancer: Results of the Global, Randomized, Phase 3 VERITAC-2 Study" in the Oral Abstract Session, Breast Cancer—Metastatic on Saturday, May 31 at 1:15 p.m. CDT in Hall B1 and "Initial Phase 1 Dose Escalation Data for Emiltatug Ledadotin, a Novel B7-H4-Directed Dolasynthen Antibody-Drug Conjugate" during the Rapid Oral Abstract Session, Development Therapeutics—Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology on Monday, June 2 at 8:00 a.m. CDT in S406.
Cancer Detection

Dax Kurbegov, MD, HCA Healthcare Sarah Cannon Cancer Network, will present "Performance Evaluation of a Reflex Blood-Based Methylated ctDNA Multi-Cancer Early Detection Test in Individuals with Obesity" in the Clinical Science Symposium, The Future of Cancer Detection is Coming on Saturday, May 31 at 8:24 a.m. CDT in Hall D1.
Lung Cancer

David Spigel, MD, SCRI, will present "An International, Multicenter, Prospective Randomized Trial of Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage Ia-IIa Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Identified as High-Risk by a 14-Gene Molecular Assay" in the Poster Session, Lung Cancer—Non-Small Cell Local-Regional/Small Cell/Other Thoracic Cancers on Saturday, May 31 from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. CDT in Hall A.
Solid Tumors

Judy Wang, MD, SCRI at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, will deliver "An Open-Label, Phase I Trial of The SIRPα Monoclonal Antibody, BI 770371, Alone and in Combination with The PD-1 Inhibitor Ezabenlimab in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors" as part of the Rapid Oral Abstract Session, Development Therapeutics—Immunotherapy on Sunday, June 1 at 11:45 a.m. CDT in S406.
In addition to the above, Dr. Erika Hamilton and Dr. David Spigel will serve in two prestigious leadership roles, as 2025 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee Chair and Cancer Communications Committee Chair, respectively.

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

Jason Henry, MD, SCRI at HCA HealthONE, will chair the Oral Abstract Session, Developmental Therapeutics—Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology, on Friday, May 30 from 2:45 – 5:45 p.m. CDT in Hall D1.
Elisa Fontana, MD, PhD, SCRI at HCA Healthcare UK, will serve as panelist and present "KRAS G12C: From First to Next Generation" as part of the Gastrointestinal Cancer—Colorectal and Anal Oral Abstract Session on Friday, May 30 at 5:21 p.m. CDT in Arie Crown Theater.
Dr. Dax Kurbegov will serve as panelist in The Future of Cancer Detection Is Coming on Saturday, May 31 from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. CDT in Hall D1.
Dr. Howard Burris will deliver the "Top Donor Recognition Ceremony" during the Opening Session on Saturday, May 31 at 10:50 a.m. CDT in Hall B1.
Haydar Frangoul, MD, MS, SCRI at TriStar Centennial Children’s Hospital, will present "Established Gene Therapy Options in the Clinic" during the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)/AACR Joint Session: Lessons From Gene Therapy in Practice: Successes, Challenges, and How to Have Access for All on Saturday, May 31 at 1:19 p.m. CDT in E450a.
Dr. Erika Hamilton will serve as a panelist in the Oral Abstract Session, Breast Cancer—Metastatic on Saturday, May 31 from 1:15 – 4:15 p.m. in Hall B1.
Meredith Pelster, MD, MSCI, SCRI, will chair the Oral Abstract Session, Development Therapeutics—Immunotherapy on Saturday, May 31 from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. CDT in Hall D2.
Abdul Rafeh Naqash, MD, SCRI at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, will present "Dual-Edged: The Promise and Perils of Bispecific T-Cell Engagers in Lung Cancer and Beyond" during BiTES and Beyond: BiTES, Amivantimab, and the Multidimensional Impact of Toxicity Management on Sunday, June 1 at 11:42 a.m. CDT in Arie Crown Theater.
Melissa Johnson, MD, SCRI, will present "Gizmos and Gadgets! How Can Community Oncology Practices Hurdle the Obstacles to Administering Lung Cancer’s Newest Therapies" during BiTES and Beyond: BiTES, Amivantimab, and the Multidimensional Impact of Toxicity Management on Sunday, June 1 at 12:06 p.m. CDT in Arie Crown Theater.
Dr. Erika Hamilton will chair the Plenary Session on June 1 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. CDT in Hall B1.
Dr. Erika Hamilton will serve as a panelist in the Rapid Oral Abstract Session, Developmental Therapeutics—Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology on Monday, June 2 from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. CDT in S406.
Meredith McKean, MD, MPH, SCRI, will present "Novel Targets in Melanoma Treatment" during State of the Art: Melanoma 3.0T—Tech Innovations, New Targeted Therapies, and T-Cell Breakthroughs on Tuesday, June 3 at 8:15 a.m. CDT in S100a.
Dr. Abdul Rafeh Naqash will chair the Oral Abstract Session, Lung Cancer—Non–Small Cell Local-Regional/Small Cell/Other Thoracic Cancers on Monday, June 2 from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. CDT in Arie Crown Theater.
Additional Poster Presentations with SCRI First Authors

Saturday, May 31

"Phase 1 Expansion Study of FF-10832 Antitumor Activity in Patients with Advanced Biliary Carcinomas," Gerald Falchook, MD, SCRI at HCA HealthONE, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"Preliminary Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Clinical Activity of RG6344 in Patients with BRAF V600E-Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer," Dr. Elisa Fontana, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"Real-World Treatment Patterns and Outcomes with Trifluridine/Tipiracil Monotherapy or in Combination with Bevacizumab in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer," Donald Richards, MD, PhD, SCRI at Texas Oncology I The US Oncology Network, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"Interim Results of PDL1V, a Vedotin-Based ADC Targeting PD-L1, in Patients with NSCLC in a Phase 1 Trial," Dr. Elisa Fontana, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"Integration of a Virtual Personalized Medicine Review Board Integration into a Major Community Oncology Phase 1 Unit," Marilynn Hammer, PhD, SCRI, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"A Digital Intervention to Enhance Engagement with Oral Oncolytic Treatments and Assess Patient Experiences with Novel Therapies," David Waterhouse, MD, MPH, SCRI at OHC I The US Oncology Network, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
Monday, June 2

"Efficacy and Safety of Larotrectinib in Patients with TRK Fusion Thyroid Carcinoma: An Updated Analysis," Marcia Brose, MD, PhD, SCRI at Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"Imlunestrant with or without Abemaciclib in Advanced Breast Cancer: Safety Analyses from the Phase III EMBER-3 Trial," Joyce O’Shaughnessy, MD, SCRI at Texas Oncology I The US Oncology Network, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"Zanzalintinib + Nivolumab ± Relatlimab in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors: Results from Two Dose-Escalation Cohorts of the Phase 1b STELLAR 002 Study," Benjamin Garmezy, MD, SCRI, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"First Report of ROR2 Directed Therapy with Conditionally Active Antibody Drug Conjugate in Advanced Melanoma," Jacob Keeling, MD, SCRI at HCA HealthONE, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"ZL-1310, a DLL3 ADC, in Patients with Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer: Ph1 Trial Update," Manish Patel, MD, SCRI at Florica Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"First-in-Human Phase 1 Study of CUSP06, a Cadherin-6-Directed Antibody-Drug Conjugate, in Patients with Platinum-Refractory/Resistant Ovarian Cancer and Other Advanced Solid Tumors," Dr. Manish Patel, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"First-in-Human Study of BG-C9074, a B7-H4-Targeting ADC in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors: Preliminary Results of the Dose-Escalation Phase," Cesar Perez, MD, SCRI at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"Efficacy and Safety of Pralsetinib in RET Fusion-Positive Solid Tumors: Final Data from the ARROW Trial," Vivek Subbiah, MD, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A.
"Efficacy and Safety Results of a Multi-Center Phase I Study of Utidelone Capsule, a Novel Oral Microtubule Inhibitor, in Advanced Solid Tumor Patients," Dr. Judy Wang, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A.

On May 29, 2025 Lantern Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging advanced AI and machine learning to transform the cost, pace, and timeline of oncology drug development, reported promising preclinical data for LP-184 in atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRT), a rare and aggressive pediatric brain cancer (Press release, Lantern Pharma, MAY 29, 2025, View Source [SID1234653502]). The results were presented by Dr. Eric Raabe of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine at the Society for Neuro-Oncology’s 8th Biennial Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Conference held May 15-17, 2025, in San Diego, California.

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The data further validates the research that supported Lantern Pharma’s Rare Pediatric Disease Designation from the FDA for LP-184 in ATRT and strengthens the scientific foundation for the company’s planned pediatric clinical trial expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026.

The data demonstrated that LP-184, a next-generation acylfulvene clinical-stage drug candidate, significantly extended survival in mouse models of ATRT. In the CHLA06 model, median survival increased from 20 days in the control group to 89 days in the LP-184 treatment group, representing a 345% improvement (p<0.0001). In the BT37 model, median survival increased from 68 days to 98 days (p=0.0422).

"The preclinical data presented by Dr. Raabe and his team at Johns Hopkins provides powerful confirmation of LP-184’s potential to address the significant unmet need in pediatric ATRT," said Panna Sharma, CEO and President of Lantern Pharma. "The substantial increase in survival time and the favorable tolerability profile observed in these models underscore the promise of LP-184 as a novel therapeutic option to evaluate clinically for this devastating pediatric cancer. This independent validation further supports our Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and reinforces our path toward initiating our planned pediatric clinical trial."

Key highlights from the presentation include:

LP-184 demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity across multiple ATRT cell lines representing different molecular subtypes (MYC, TYR, and SHH), with IC50 values ranging from 17.5 nM to 161 nM
Treatment with LP-184 significantly decreased cancer cell proliferation and increased apoptosis (programmed cell death) in ATRT cells
LP-184 showed strong blood-brain barrier penetrance, with reported Cmax of 730 nM in brain tissue
No apparent toxicity was observed in the mouse models, with stable weight maintained throughout the treatment period
Treatment with LP-184 resulted in statistically significant survival benefits in two different orthotopic xenograft ATRT models
ATRT is characterized by the deletion or inactivation of the SMARCB1 gene, an epigenetic regulator. LP-184’s mechanism of action may be particularly effective against tumors with epigenetic dysregulation, potentially explaining the strong preclinical anti-tumor activity observed in this tumor type.

"Current treatment options for ATRT are limited to surgery, intensive chemotherapy, and radiation, with poor outcomes and significant treatment-related toxicity," said Dr. Marc Chamberlain, Chief Medical Officer of Starlight Therapeutics and Lantern Executive Director of Clinical Development. "The single-agent activity of LP-184 in these models suggests it could potentially transform the treatment landscape for children with these brain tumors."

The company highlighted that the pediatric Phase I trial for LP-184 in brain tumors is targeted to open in winter 2025 or early 2026, following completion of the ongoing Phase I trial in adult solid tumors (NCT05933265) and obtaining future funding and approvals from the pediatric consortium.

About Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (ATRT)

ATRT is a rare, fast-growing tumor of the brain and spinal cord that typically occurs in children aged three years and younger, though it can occur in older children and adults. These tumors are characterized by the loss of function of the SMARCB1 gene. ATRTs account for approximately 1-2% of all pediatric brain tumors but represent a disproportionately high percentage of brain tumors in infants. Current treatment involves a combination of surgery, intensive chemotherapy, and, in some cases, radiation therapy. Despite aggressive treatment, the prognosis remains poor, with a median survival of approximately 17 months, highlighting the urgent need for more effective therapies.

About LP-184

LP-184 is a next-generation acylfulvene drug candidate, a synthetic small molecule belonging to a class of naturally-derived anti-cancer agents. LP-184 works by preferentially damaging DNA in cancer cells that overexpress specific biomarkers or that harbor mutations in DNA damage repair pathways. LP-184 is the product of years of research, including insights from RADR, Lantern’s proprietary AI platform that leverages over 200 billion oncology-focused data points.

LP-184 is a prodrug that is converted to its bioactive form inside the cancer cell by PTGR1 (prostaglandin reductase 1), an enzyme that is overexpressed in certain cancers. Once activated, LP-184 creates cytotoxic metabolites that form adducts with DNA, leading to irreparable DNA damage and ultimately tumor cell death.

LP-184 has shown nanomolar preclinical potency across multiple cancer types, including several that are resistant to standard therapies, and has demonstrated particularly promising preclinical activity in CNS and brain cancers. The drug has received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for the treatment of malignant gliomas and pancreatic cancer, as well as Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for ATRT.

On May 29, 2025 Eikon Therapeutics, Inc., a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company dedicated to integrating advanced engineering with traditional biology research to accelerate drug discovery, reported that new data from its oncology programs will be presented in collaboration with independent investigators at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, to be held May 30 – June 3, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois (Press release, Eikon Therapeutics, MAY 29, 2025, View Source [SID1234653501]). Alongside these presentations, Eikon will also share additional milestone updates across its broad and diverse research and development pipeline.

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"We are encouraged by the progress we are seeing across our clinical-stage oncology programs, which reflect both the potential of these candidates and the capabilities of the fully integrated development organization that we are building at Eikon," said Roger M. Perlmutter, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Eikon Therapeutics. "Our team brings deep experience in advancing therapies through clinical studies and regulatory review, and we are pleased to see that capability reflected in the progress of our lead programs. At the same time, we continue to advance a pipeline of internally derived candidates, informed by the insights of our novel technology platform and Single Molecule Tracking (SMT) system. We look forward to positioning our results in the context of what has been achieved by the broader ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) community."

ASCO 2025 Presentations

The following posters will spotlight new first-in-human and combination data from Eikon’s two most advanced clinical programs.

EIK1001-006 (Abstract: TPS9604)
Title: TeLuRide-006: An adaptive phase 2/3 study of EIK1001, a Toll-like receptor 7/8 (TLR7/8) agonist, in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced melanoma
Date and time: June 1, 2025, from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT
Presenter: Jason J. Luke, M.D., UPMC, Hillman Cancer Center

EIK1003-001 (Abstract: 3122)
Title: Safety and efficacy of EIK1003, a selective PARP1 inhibitor, as monotherapy in participants with advanced solid tumors
Date and time: June 2, 2025, from 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM CDT
Presenter: Guru P. Sonpavde, M.D., AdventHealth Cancer Institute

Recent Program Milestones

In addition to its presentations at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper), Eikon will be discussing recent program milestones including:

EIK1001-006 (TeLuRide-006, NCT06697301): The first patient has been enrolled in the TeLuRide-006 trial, which is investigating the potential role of EIK1001, a systemically administered co-agonist of toll-like receptors 7 and 8 that has been observed to exhibit clinical activity as a monotherapy and in combination with anti-PD-(L)1 agents across multiple solid tumor types in Phase 1 trials, as an addition to standard of care pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA) for the treatment of patients with advanced metastatic melanoma. TeLuRide-006 is a global, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active comparator-controlled, adaptive Phase 2/3 trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EIK1001 and pembrolizumab versus placebo and pembrolizumab as first-line therapy in participants with advanced melanoma. The trial includes dose optimization and dose expansion parts. Eikon has entered into a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck (known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada). Under the terms of the Agreement, Merck will provide pembrolizumab to Eikon. Eikon will be the sponsor of the Phase 2/3 clinical trial.

EIK1001-005 (TeLuRide-005, NCT06246110): Enrollment continues as planned in this Phase 2 trial testing EIK1001 with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in patients with squamous and nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer. The trial’s primary objective is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of EIK1001. Eikon also hopes to learn whether the immunomodulatory mechanism of EIK1001 might improve standard therapy in this hard-to-treat setting.

EIK1003-001 (NCT06253130): Enrollment is proceeding in the trial of EIK1003, a highly selective PARP1 inhibitor, in adults with advanced solid tumors. Initial pharmacokinetic, safety, tolerability, and early efficacy findings from the monotherapy dose-escalation cohort will be reported in an ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2025 poster (Abstract: 3122).

EIK1004-001 (NCT06907043): The first patient has been dosed in a Phase 1/2 trial of EIK1004, a CNS-penetrant selective PARP1 inhibitor. This trial is assessing safety, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and preliminary antitumor activity in patients with advanced solid tumors, including those with brain metastases.

"The steady progress we are making as evidenced by the first safety and efficacy data from EIK1003, the initiation of our adaptive melanoma study with EIK1001, and the recent first-patient dosing of the CNS-penetrant selective PARP1 inhibitor EIK1004, underscores the momentum Eikon’s clinical team is building across our oncology portfolio," said Roy Baynes, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Eikon Therapeutics. "Their deep experience in oncology is translating into real world progress, and we are pleased to share these advances with the oncology community at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) as we work to deliver new medicines to address serious illnesses."

Eikon at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2025

The Eikon Therapeutics team also recently presented program data at the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) conference. These presentations included:

EIK1004-001 (Abstract#5719): Identification of EIK1004: A CNS-penetrant, potent and selective PARP1 inhibitor poised for testing in patients with HRD mutant tumors. The poster presented data on methodologies to optimize early lead PARP1 inhibitors with novel structures for selectivity and CNS penetration leading to discovery of EIK1004.

EIK1003-001 (Abstract # CT197): A first-in-human, Phase 1/2 dose escalation, dose-optimization, and dose-expansion trial of PARP1-selective inhibitor EIK1003 in patients with advanced solid tumors.

The Eikon team will also welcome attendees at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Booth #14143 to discuss these and its other pipeline programs.

On May 29, 2025 As the global oncology community gathers for the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (May 30–June 3), the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) reported that it is demonstrating how bold science, accelerated through collaborative networks, can drive meaningful progress where patients need it most (Press release, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, MAY 29, 2025, View Source [SID1234653500]). At a pivotal moment when scientific breakthroughs in immunotherapy are arriving alongside heightened pressure for faster, smarter impact, PICI’s integrated model shows how to compress timelines from discovery to patient care.

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PICI’s presence spans more than 50 presentations including 16 oral sessions, 30+ poster sessions, 10 e-papers and a featured clinical science symposium. This volume reflects not only the strength of the PICI network but also a unique ability to support promising work early and help carry it across the finish line, from foundational discoveries to practice-changing trials.

Glioblastoma Breakthroughs: New Hope for Cancer’s Most Formidable Challenge

After decades of limited progress in glioblastoma, where median survival has hovered around one year, multiple PICI-supported teams are reporting clinical responses that suggest the field may be turning a corner. These advances demonstrate how collaboration, persistence and innovation can converge on even the most intractable problems:

Stanford Medicine researchers achieved median overall survival of 14.6 months in recurrent glioblastoma patients using B7H3 CAR T cells delivered directly to the brain via dual Ommaya reservoirs. The Phase 1 study established a recommended Phase 2 dose and demonstrated manageable inflammation using IL-1 blockade, offering a tangible advance in a cancer where meaningful clinical progress has long remained elusive. (Crystal Mackall, MD, Director of the PICI Center at Stanford; Michelle Monje, MD, PhD — Abstract #2018)

University of Pennsylvania investigators reported tumor shrinkage in 85% of evaluable patients using bivalent CAR T-cell therapy targeting EGFR and IL13Rα2 in recurrent glioblastoma. Delivered into the cerebroventricular space without lymphodepletion, the engineered T cells persisted in cerebrospinal fluid and blood for up to one year, marking an encouraging step toward sustained response and long-term disease management. (Carl June, MD, Director of the PICI Center at Penn; Donald O’Rourke, MD — Abstract #102)

UCSF and Memorial Sloan Kettering researchers identified more than 700 glioma-specific, splice-derived neoantigens using the SNIPP antigen discovery platform. These targets elicited CD8+ T-cell responses in vitro and many were conserved across tumors, opening the door to scalable, potentially off-the-shelf TCR-based therapies. (Hideho Okada, MD, PhD, UCSF — Abstract #2519)

Leadership Recognition: PICI CEO Receives ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)’s Highest Honor

Dr. Karen Knudsen, PICI’s CEO, will receive the Allen S. Lichter Visionary Leader Award during ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)’s opening session, recognizing a career spent building bridges from bench to patient and helping reshape how academic institutions, nonprofits and companies move from insight to implementation. Saturday, May 31, 9:45 AM–12:00 PM CDT, Room N – Hall B1

Dr. Knudsen will also join Endpoints News for a live discussion on research acceleration, regulatory pace and how PICI’s model aligns research, policy and investment with the realities facing patients today. Wednesday, June 4, 10:35 AM CDT, Endpoints Stage

Network-Wide Impact: Where Discovery Meets Delivery

PICI-supported science appears across the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) agenda, tackling critical questions in high-burden cancers through studies connected by a framework that enables speed, coordination and clinical relevance. These presentations reflect a hallmark of the PICI approach: compressing the distance between new insight and patient impact, often turning early-stage ideas into clinical action within just a few years.

Melanoma Advances

DREAMseq Final Results: Optimal treatment sequencing in BRAF-mutant metastatic melanoma (Jedd Wolchok, MD, PhD, Weill Cornell; Antoni Ribas, MD, PhD, UCLA — Abstract #9506)
Quadruple Immunotherapy: IL-6 blockade combined with checkpoint inhibitors in advanced melanoma (F. Stephen Hodi, MD, Dana-Farber — Abstract #9510)
Neoadjuvant Strategy: Pembrolizumab in clinical stage IIB/C melanoma (Alexander Huang, MD, University of Pennsylvania — Abstract #9502)
Prostate Cancer Innovation

COMRADE Trial: Olaparib plus radium-223 in castration-resistant prostate cancer with bone metastases (Eliezer Van Allen, MD, Dana-Farber — Abstract #5007)
C3NIRA Trial: Triplet chemo-immunotherapy induction followed by PARP inhibitor maintenance (Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD, MD Anderson — Abstract #5008)
Breast and Lung Cancer Precision Strategies

NeoSTAR Trial: Response-guided neoadjuvant sacituzumab govitecan plus pembrolizumab in early triple-negative breast cancer (Elizabeth Mittendorf, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber — Abstract #511)
ADRIATIC Correlatives: Genomic analysis of long-term responders in limited-stage small cell lung cancer (David Barbie, MD, Dana-Farber — Abstract #8014)
Translational Platforms

INCIPIENT Trial: CARv3-TEAM-E immunological correlates in recurrent glioblastoma (Marcela Maus, MD, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital — Abstract #2008)
BRCA1/2 DNA Vaccines: Plasmid-based immunotherapy platform with and without IL-12 (Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, University of Pennsylvania — Abstract #10505)

On May 29, 2025 RBL LLC, a pioneering biotech venture creation studio dedicated to rapidly building companies based on breakthrough medical technologies from Rice University, reported the launch of Sentinel BioTherapeutics at the 2025 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (Press release, Sentinel BioTherapeutics, MAY 29, 2025, View Source [SID1234653499]). Sentinel’s launch marks RBL’s first company spin-out since its formation in October 2024 and positions Sentinel to begin preparations ahead of the next phase of clinical development for its lead cancer immunotherapy program.

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Developed in the laboratory of bioengineering expert, Omid Veiseh Ph.D., at Rice, Sentinel’s platform enables sustained and local delivery of the cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) to activate the immune system and enhance the potency and effectiveness of checkpoint inhibitors against solid tumors. The allogeneic encapsulated cell-based system enables constitutive expression of human IL-2. This approach can offer a new paradigm for treating cancers that typically respond poorly to checkpoint inhibitors, such as ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.

"We believe this is a powerful, new approach that can increase the sensitivity of solid tumors to immunotherapy" said Rima Chakrabarti, M.D., the company’s Chief Executive Officer and managing partner at RBL. "Data from a Phase 1 study show the significant potential of our IL-2-producing cell-based platform to specifically stimulate immune checkpoint expression, supporting the rationale for using our agent in combination with immunotherapy. With the backing of RBL, we are moving forward with GMP manufacturing and clinical trial preparation plans in high unmet need solid tumor indications. We are proud to be part of the growing Houston biotech ecosystem that is supported by the Rice Biotech Launch Pad and RBL."

Sentinel’s Phase 1 data will be presented in a poster at the 2025 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Chicago. The presentation will highlight clinical biomarker data showing the ability of the company’s IL-2 immune priming therapy to induce dose-dependent increases in CTLA-4 expression on both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, supporting its use as a priming agent for effective checkpoint inhibition. Full details of the abstract (#5562) can be viewed here.

Session Title: Gynecologic Cancer

Poster Title: Phase I Study of Sustained and Local Delivery of Intraperitoneal IL-2 using Encapsulated Cells in Patients with Platinum-Resistant High-Grade Serous Carcinoma

Date & Time: June 1, 2025, 9 – 12 p.m. CT

Location: Poster Bd #460

"The launch of Sentinel represents a major milestone in RBL’s mission to support companies that are transforming bold scientific ideas into therapeutic products with the potential for rapid patient impact," said Paul Wotton, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of RBL and Chairman of Sentinel. "Sentinel’s cytokine factory platform is the breakthrough technology that we believe has the potential to define the next era of cancer treatment."