COLUMBUS, Ohio – Pancreatic cancer blood tests, genetic predictors of breast cancer survival and sarcoma treatment response prediction tools are among the research topics being presented by scientists from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting being held from May 30-June 3 in Chicago.
The ASCO Annual Meeting is a large-scale international conference focused on advancements in cancer care, research and education that brings together oncologists, researchers, patient advocates and industry representatives. The meeting features various sessions, including oral presentations, poster presentations and clinical science symposia, showcasing the latest research and clinical trials. OSUCCC – James clinical findings highlights include:
Study describes genetic predictors and associations with breast cancer
Investigator: Arya Mariam Roy, MD, breast medical
For this study, scientists wanted to know if genetic information could predict survival rates for women with breast cancer. They analyzed various genetic traits, including proteins in the blood and gene activity, in nearly 4,000 women diagnosed between 2006 and 2013. The study found that certain gene expression traits were linked to better overall survival rates, identifying four genes as important predictors. However, traits related to proteins and other molecules in the blood did not show significant results. The findings suggest that genetic information can help predict survival rates, but more research is needed to confirm these results and apply them in real-life medical settings.
New blood test to help diagnose pancreatic cancer and predict treatment outcomes
Investigator: Ashish Manne, MBBS, gastrointestinal medical oncologist with the OSUCCC – James
This study focused on creating a blood test to improve how we detect and treat pancreatic cancer. The research team looked at tiny fragments of DNA found in the blood—called cell-free DNA—and studied changes in these fragments that may be linked to how patients respond to treatment. Using a carefully selected group of 99 genes known to affect treatment response, the team identified DNA patterns that were linked to how long patients lived. They developed two smaller sets of 15 genes—one that worked for all patients in the study and another just for those receiving chemotherapy to manage advanced disease. Both sets showed a strong ability to predict which patients were likely to do better. The goal is to use this blood test in the future to catch pancreatic cancer earlier and to help doctors choose the most effective treatment for each patient. More testing is underway to confirm how well it works.
Blood test to predict sarcoma treatment response with immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs
Investigator: Gabriel Tinoco Suaraz, MD, sarcoma medical oncologist with the OSUCCC – James
The way sarcomas respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors (a type of cancer treatment that helps the immune system attack tumors) can't be predicted well.
One possible tool is the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, or NLR. This is a simple and low-cost blood test that looks at the balance between two types of white blood cells: neutrophils and lymphocytes.
In this study, researchers explored NLR as a useful blood marker that may help predict how well people with advanced sarcoma respond to immunotherapy. Patients who start treatment with a low NLR tend to live longer and have their disease under control for a longer time. If NLR levels go up during treatment, it might mean the cancer is getting worse. These early results are promising, but more studies are needed to confirm them.
Supportive care services use among metastatic breast cancer patients living in rural versus urban areas
Investigator: Ashley Davenport, MD, breast medical oncologist with the OSUCCC – James
The study aimed to examine differences in supportive care service referrals and utilization among long-term metastatic breast cancer survivors living in rural versus urban areas. Study results revealed that urban patients had a higher rate of supportive care service utilization compared to rural patients, with urban patients reporting worse physical and mental health scores, as well as greater fatigue and pain. Additionally, higher education and income levels were associated with increased service utilization for rural patients. The study suggests that more research is needed to evaluate the impact of distance, financial and time barriers on equitable access to supportive care services.
Survival impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on small node-negative and triple negative breast cancers
Investigator: Kai Johnson, MD, breast medical oncologist with the OSUCCC – James
For this study, researchers wanted to know whether adding different chemotherapy treatments after surgery could help patients with early stage triple negative breast cancers live longer and avoid the cancer coming back. They found that patients who received chemotherapy after surgery had better survival rates and fewer recurrences compared to those who only had surgery without chemotherapy afterwards. This was especially true for a specific type of chemotherapy called AC-T. The study suggests that even patients who seem to be at low risk might still benefit from chemotherapy following surgery, and future research should focus on finding better ways to personalize chemotherapy treatment needs for patients after surgery.
AWARDS AND HONORS
OSUCCC – James faculty leaders are also receiving the following ASCO-related awards and honors:
W. Kimryn Rathmell receives Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award
W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, who most recently served as the 17th director of the National Cancer Institute and became CEO of the OSUCCC – James on May 27, will receive the Hologic, Inc. Endowed Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award. This award recognizes extraordinary women leaders in oncology and role models who have excelled as a mentor and have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the professional development of women colleagues as clinicians, educators and researchers in oncology.
Rathmell, a renowned kidney cancer specialist and researcher, also has held leadership positions with ASCO and the American Society for Clinical Investigation, serving as secretary-treasurer and president. As a result of her efforts, she has been elected to the Association of American Physicians, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Medicine. She is a highly decorated physician-scientist whose awards include the American Cancer Society Medal of Honor, the 2025 American Society for Clinical Investigation Korsmeyer Award, the 2019 Louisa Nelson Award for Women of Achievement, Vision, and Inspiration, the 2019 Eugene P. Schonfeld Award from the Kidney Cancer Association, and the Paragon Award for Research Excellence from the Doris Duke Foundation.
Carolyn Presley, Audrey Sigmund selected for ASCO Leadership Development Program
Carolyn Presley, MD, MHS, and Audrey Sigmund, MD, have been accepted into the ASCO Leadership Development Program (LDP), a yearlong program designed to develop future ASCO leaders. Presley will be in the LDP executive program, which accepts only 16 participants per year, and Sigmund will be in the LDP Education Scholars Program, which accepts only 12 participants per year.
Presley, a specialist in thoracic and geriatric oncology, serves as section chief of thoracic medical oncology and is an associate professor with tenure in the College of Medicine. She is in the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James, where she also serves as associate medical director of the Oncogeriatrics Program and co-director of the Cancer and Aging Resiliency (CARE) Clinic.
Sigmund is an assistant professor in the Division of Hematology who treats patients with B-cell cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma. As a member of the Leukemia and Hematologic Malignancies Program at the OSUCCC – James, she analyzes outcomes for patients with lymphoma, especially those treated with cellular therapies. She also has a strong interest in medical education. (NOTE: I know Amanda was checking with ASCO media to see whether there was an embargo on this story. I surmised from emails I saw yesterday that there is no embargo on any of the ASCO information. This also ran in our Oncology Update tat was sent out yesterday evening.)
Amneet Bajwa receives Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award
Amneet Bajwa, MD, a fellow in the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program at Ohio State, will receive the 2025 Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award from Conquer Cancer, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Foundation. This highly competitive and prestigious award provides $50,000 for one year to support promising early-career investigators during their transition from fellowship to a faculty appointment. Recipients conduct their research under the guidance of a scientific mentor. Bajwa plans to join the Division of Hematology faculty at Ohio State this fall.
Sara Meyers, Dionisia Quiroga receive ASCO Career Development Awards
In addition, Sara Myers, MD, PhD in the Division of Surgical Oncology, and Dionisia Quiroga, DO, PhD, assistant professor in the Division of Medical Oncology, will receive an ASCO Career Development Award – a three-year grant that funds clinical investigators in the first to fourth year of their faculty appointment to help them establish an independent clinical cancer research program. (NOTE: The two names in this paragraph look to be in a different font. I’ve also linked their names to their cancer webpages, but you can remove the links if you prefer.)
To learn more about the OSUCCC – James’s presence at ASCO, visit cancer.osu.edu/asco or visit booth #11019 in the exhibit hall.
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