Below, we feature 10 cancer research advances during 2025 that captured attention across the scientific and patient advocacy communities. Eight of the discoveries are from cancer clinical trials conducted by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) with support from the National Cancer Institute. One trial was conducted by PrECOG. Additionally, we highlight initial results from a public-private partnership between ECOG-ACRIN and Caris Life Sciences, which emerged in 2025. Click on the links to learn more.

Breast Cancer – New AI models outperform current tools in predicting breast cancer recurrence risk

Researchers presented initial findings from a public-private partnership between the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) and Caris Life Sciences to improve recurrence risk assessment in early-stage breast cancer using artificial intelligence (AI). The partnership pairs ECOG-ACRIN’s extensive clinical trial expertise and biorepository resources with Caris’ comprehensive MI Cancer Seek® whole exome and whole transcriptome profiling, whole slide imaging, and advanced machine learning platforms. New multimodal–multitask deep learning algorithms were trained on histopathologic imaging, clinical data, and molecular profiling data from over 4,000 patient cases in the biorepository of the groundbreaking TAILORx cancer clinical trial, one of the world’s largest such resources. Analyses of two AI-driven models demonstrated that they were more effective than existing methods for assessing recurrence risk and predicting the benefit of extending endocrine therapy beyond the standard 5 years. This research highlights the potential of AI to support more personalized treatment decisions in early-stage breast cancer. Read the press release.

Breast Cancer – FDG-PET/CT enables early, accurate response assessment in bone-dominant metastatic breast cancer

An ECOG-ACRIN imaging study has solved a long-standing gap in metastatic breast cancer research and care: accurately measuring treatment response in patients with bone-only or bone-dominant metastases. Standard imaging methods (CT, MRI, bone scans) can detect metastases but do not accurately assess how well systemic therapies are working. Bone lesions are deemed ‘unmeasurable’ by conventional RECIST 1.1 criteria, preventing these patients from participating in clinical trials. Researchers presented results from the FEATURE trial (EA1183) in December 2025, demonstrating that metabolic changes measured by FDG-PET/CT can accurately predict progression-free survival as early as 12 weeks after treatment initiation. This marks the first prospective validation of FDG-PET/CT and PERCIST response criteria in this patient group, enhancing treatment decision-making and expanding access to clinical trials for historically excluded patients. Read the press release.

Breast Cancer – Pelareorep plus paclitaxel shows improved response and PFS—though with increased toxicity—in HR+/HER2– metastatic breast cancer

Official results from the BRACELET-1 (PrE0113) trial led by PrECOG, LLC, were published (Clark AS. Clin Cancer Res. July 2025). They indicate that adding the oncolytic virus immunotherapy pelareorep to paclitaxel chemotherapy warrants further investigation in HR-positive (HR+), HER2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer. The addition of pelareorep to paclitaxel improved the overall response rate and the median progression-free survival. However, it was also associated with increased toxicity—an important consideration for future studies. Read the press release.

Breast Cancer – Trial reveals predictors of response to a reduced-intensity THP regimen in early-stage HER2+ breast cancer

A less intensive, reduced chemotherapy approach is currently being evaluated for patients with early-stage HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer in the CompassHER2 pCR (EA1181) trial. While longer follow-up is needed to assess the primary endpoint (3-year recurrence-free survival), researchers presented results in June 2025 for the secondary objective of pathologic complete response (pCR) at the time of surgery after 12 weeks of pre-operative treatment with taxane, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab (THP). The study reveals several predictors of THP benefit based on clinical and pathological factors—information that helps clinicians identify which patients may benefit the most from this new approach. Read the press release.

Leukemia – Large study shows Black patients with AML have lower survival rates than white patients, regardless of genetic risk factors

In December 2025, ECOG-ACRIN researchers presented one of the largest race-based comparisons of genetic abnormalities and clinical outcomes data in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). They reviewed medical records of nearly 4,000 patients with newly diagnosed AML who were treated with intensive chemotherapy in 10 ECOG-ACRIN treatment trials across four decades. They found that Black AML patients were younger at diagnosis and experienced poorer survival outcomes than white patients. Inferior survival in black AML patients treated with intensive chemotherapy in ECOG-ACRIN clinical trials was independent of cytogenetic profiles. This analysis confirms years of published reports showing inferior outcomes. Until now, the small number of Black patients with well-annotated genomic profiles has limited the validity of those findings. Watch Shella Saint Fleur-Lominy, MD, PhD,  discuss the results.

Leukemia – Blinatumomab improves survival across adolescents and young adults with MRD-negative B-ALL

The E1910 trial found that incorporating blinatumomab immunotherapy into consolidation chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival for adult patients aged 30 to 70 years with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative remission. This led to FDA approval of blinatumomab in 2024. In March 2025, researchers presented survival rates for the E1910 subgroup under the age of 55. Results showed significant improvement in overall survival and recurrence-free survival in MRD-negative younger adults who received blinatumomab and consolidation chemotherapy, despite this group having more patients with high-risk disease. This analysis, combined with pediatric data from separate trials, suggests that blinatumomab should be included in the treatment of all adolescents and young adults with B-ALL. Watch Shira Dinner, MD, discuss the results.

Lung Cancer – Phase 3 study finds crizotinib did not improve outcomes after surgery in early-stage ALK+ NSCLC, highlighting the need for newer targeted treatments

About one in 25 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has tumors that harbor the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion gene. Targeted treatments, such as crizotinib, are helping patients with ALK-positive (ALK+) NSCLC live longer, though no cure currently exists. In E4512, part of the ALCHEMIST precision medicine platform trial for patients with early-stage, resectable NSCLC, researchers evaluated crizotinib for its potential to improve survival in these patients. Results presented in September 2025 showed crizotinib did not improve disease-free survival compared to observation in early-stage ALK+ NSCLC. However, the availability of subsequent generations of ALK inhibitors with a favorable tolerability profile and better efficacy against brain metastasis does provide hope for improving patient outcomes. Watch David A. Gerber, MD, discuss the results.

Lung Cancer – Trial shows no survival benefit to giving durvalumab during chemoradiation, but confirms its benefit after treatment in stage 3 NSCLC

For patients with locally advanced, inoperable, stage 3 NSCLC, standard therapy involves concurrent administration of platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CRT). Patients whose disease has not progressed following CRT receive 1 year of immunotherapy with durvalumab. The EA5181 trial evaluated the addition of durvalumab to the CRT phase. Results presented in September 2025 showed concurrent and consolidation durvalumab with CRT did not improve overall survival compared to consolidation durvalumab alone. While these results do not support the use of concurrent PD-1 blockade with CRT, they do confirm the role of durvalumab in the consolidation setting for locally advanced NSCLC. Watch John M. Varlotto, MD, discuss the results.

Melanoma – Immunotherapy after surgery demonstrates the potential to prevent the spread of Merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma, though rare, is an extremely aggressive cancer with fewer than half of patients surviving 5 years after diagnosis. The phase 3 EA6174/STAMP trial enrolled 293 patients whose tumors had been surgically removed and evenly randomized them to either pembrolizumab or observation. Results presented in October 2025 showed that after 2 years, 73% of patients receiving pembrolizumab showed no cancer recurrence, compared with 66% among those who did not receive the drug.2 Although this difference did not reach statistical significance, patients receiving pembrolizumab had a 42% lower risk of developing distant metastases. The STAMP trial provides the first evidence that immunotherapy with pembrolizumab after surgery may help people with Merkel cell carcinoma by preventing their cancer from returning in organs distant from the site of the original disease. Read the press release.

Melanoma – Adding vidutolimod to neoadjuvant pembrolizumab increases complete response rates in high-risk melanoma

The phase 2 EA6194 trial for patients with high-risk, operable melanoma evaluated the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab when combined with the investigational TLR9 agonist vidutolimod compared with pembrolizumab alone. In the results presented in June 2025, among 57 patients, those receiving the combination had a higher pathologic complete response rate than those who received pembrolizumab alone. Toxicity was manageable in both arms. These findings support further investigation of the pembrolizumab plus vidutolimod regimen as a promising neoadjuvant strategy in high-risk melanoma. Watch Ahmad Tarhini, MD, discuss the results.

Notable Publications

Final results from several ECOG-ACRIN clinical trials were published in high-impact journals in 2025, following initial results presented at major medical meetings in previous years. We highlight three studies below that continue to have a high clinical impact.

Leukemia – Remarkable results from the EA9131 trial were published in JAMA Oncology. This innovative study evaluated a supportive care–focused treatment algorithm combined with 24/7 expert consultation to reduce early deaths in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Among 201 patients treated across both academic and community centers, the 1-month mortality rate dropped dramatically to 3.0%, far below historically reported rates of up to 30%. These findings demonstrate that implementing accessible expert co-management systems significantly improves early survival in this rare and aggressive—yet highly curable—form of blood cancer.

Lung Cancer – Data showing improved outcomes in a difficult-to-treat cancer were published in Cancer. Study EA5161 tested whether adding nivolumab to standard platinum–etoposide chemotherapy could improve outcomes for patients with untreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Among 144 treated patients, the nivolumab combination modestly extended progression-free survival and overall survival compared with chemotherapy alone. The regimen showed no new safety concerns, suggesting nivolumab plus platinum–etoposide may offer a survival benefit in this setting.

Prostate Cancer – The highly anticipated 10-year follow-up from the CHAARTED (E3805) study was published in Annals of Oncology. The analysis detailed the long-term survival of patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer treated with androgen deprivation therapy with or without docetaxel. It showed that adding docetaxel to androgen deprivation therapy significantly improved 10-year overall survival in patients with metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, particularly in those with high-volume disease. Patients with a prostate-specific antigen level below 0.2 ng/mL at 6 months had markedly better survival outcomes regardless of treatment arm. PSA nadir at 6 months emerged as an independent prognostic marker, supporting its potential role in guiding response-adapted treatment strategies.