SAN DIEGO, APRIL 17, 2026 ― Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will be presenting nearly 220 abstracts from April 18 to April 22 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026, highlighting the latest breakthroughs in cancer care, research and prevention.
This email digest includes notable upcoming presentations and other highlights from the meeting. For more information on all UT MD Anderson AACR Annual Meeting content, including abstracts, presentations and Meet the Experts sessions, visit MDAnderson.org/AACR.
Top abstracts feature advances in immunotherapy, targeted therapies and AI tools
Albert Koong, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer at UT MD Anderson, previewed the top three abstracts from the institution, including two press program studies and one plenary talk, that highlight impactful discoveries on a novel therapeutic approach for oral cancer prevention, an AI-assisted platform to predict treatment responses in lung cancer, and results of a targeted therapy combination for a subset of advanced solid tumors.
Abstract CT188: Intralesional PD-1 blockade for oral cancer prevention: First-in-class phase 1 trial
- Presented by Moran Amit, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Head & Neck Surgery
- Patient Jessica Lutterman shared her story as a participant on the trial
- Press release with trial data to be published concurrently with the AACR press conference: Tuesday, April 21 at 8am PT/10am CT
Abstract 4003: PATH-IO uses machine learning to predict responses in NSCLC
- Presented by Rukhmini Bandyopadhyay, postdoctoral fellow, Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology and Imaging Physics
- Press release with trial data to be published concurrently with the AACR press conference: Monday, April 20 at 8am PT/10am CT
Abstract CT022: First data disclosure of the Phase I trial of the first in class combination of WEE1 inhibitor zedoresertib with PKMYT1 inhibitor lunresertib in patients with advanced solid tumors harboring CCNE1, FBXW7, or PPP2R1A
genomic alterations
- Presented by Timothy Yap, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., professor of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics and vice president and head of clinical development in UT MD Anderson’s Therapeutics Discovery division
- Press release with additional data will be published at presentation time: Sunday, April 19 at 1pm PT/3pm CT
Clinical trials and preclinical breakthrough studies featured in oral presentations
Twenty abstracts from UT MD Anderson researchers were selected for oral presentations, featuring both clinical and preclinical breakthroughs.
In six minisymposia presentations, researchers will share promising results from clinical trials featuring novel targeted and cell therapies, ctDNA for monitoring responses to treatment, and new approaches allowing for de-escalation of therapy. Read the press release.
Additionally, UT MD Anderson scientists will present breakthrough preclinical studies highlighting innovations in single-cell technologies, integrative computational approaches, experimental therapeutics, targeted therapies, mechanisms of treatment resistance, cancer modeling and more. Read the press release.
UT MD Anderson researchers honored at AACR Annual Meeting
Three UT MD Anderson researchers will be honored with awards at this year’s meeting.
- Immunotherapy pioneer James P. Allison, Ph.D., will be honored with the AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research
- Pioneering physician-scientist Jennifer Wargo, M.D., has been elected to the 2026 class of Fellows of the AACR Academy
- Adam Grippin, M.D., Ph.D., senior resident in Radiation Oncology, earned distinction as an AACR Annual Meeting 2026 NextGen Star, an honor that recognizes promising early-career scientists
| About UT MD Anderson The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world’s most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution’s sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world, and, in 1971, it became one of the nation’s first National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers. UT MD Anderson is No. 1 for cancer in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” rankings and has been named one of the nation’s top two hospitals for cancer since the rankings began in 1990. UT MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672). |
