- Proton therapy improves survival and offers quality-of-life benefits over traditional radiation therapy for patients with head and neck cancers
- Novel mitochondrial target improves antitumor responses in pancreatic cancer models
- Diagnostic MRIs may be unnecessary for some patients with early-stage breast cancer
HOUSTON, DECEMBER 18, 2025 ― At The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, research breakthroughs are made possible through seamless collaboration between the institution’s world-leading clinicians and scientists, bringing discoveries from the lab to the clinic and back. The studies below showcase the latest advances in cancer care, research and prevention.
Proton therapy shows survival benefit in Phase III trial for patients with head and neck cancers
Read the full release | Read the study in The Lancet
A new study showed a significant survival benefit for patients with oropharyngeal cancers who were treated with proton therapy (IMPT) compared to those treated with traditional radiation therapy (IMRT). The study, led by Steven Frank, M.D., executive director of technology and innovation and deputy division head of strategic programs for Radiation Oncology, is the first to demonstrate a survival benefit for proton therapy.
“This is important, level one evidence that proton therapy has both a survival benefit and quality-of-life improvement for these patients and should be the standard of care for advanced cases of oropharyngeal cancer,” Frank said. “These results demonstrate the advantages of proton therapy for head and neck cancer patients, and this study could lay the foundation for increased accessibility for patients who may benefit.”
Promising target improves antitumor response in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer
Read the full release | Read the study in Cancer Research
Researchers have found that a mitochondrial enzyme, GFER, creates an immunosuppressive environment within pancreatic tumors, leading to treatment resistance. The study demonstrated that inhibiting GFER in combination with immune checkpoint blockade results in a strong antitumor response in preclinical models, highlighting a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with pancreatic cancer. The research was led by Ziheng Chen, Ph.D., in the laboratory of corresponding author Giulio Draetta, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Genomic Medicine and chief scientific officer at MD Anderson.
“These findings highlight a crucial and promising target for pancreatic cancer, which is notoriously difficult to treat,” Draetta said. “Understanding the basic science of how pancreatic tumors become immunosuppressive lays the foundation for the development of effective therapeutic strategies that can help patients in need of better treatment options.”
SABCS 2025: Diagnostic breast MRI may be unnecessary for some patients with early-stage breast cancer
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Adding breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to a diagnostic mammogram did not reduce five-year cancer recurrence rates for patients with stage I/II hormone receptor (HR)-negative breast cancer. The Phase III Alliance A011104/ACRIN6694 trial found that five-year locoregional recurrence rates were 6.8% in patients who received an MRI as part of a diagnostic work-up and 4.3% in those who did not. These data were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) by principal investigator Isabelle Bedrosian, M.D., professor of Breast Surgical Oncology.
“We have long assumed that finding more breast cancer on an MRI and removing it with surgery would help lower the chance of a patient’s cancer coming back,” Bedrosian said. “When you look at our findings alongside earlier trials, the message is clear: adding MRI before surgery doesn’t improve results for patients -- and may not have to be used as a standard part of the diagnostic process.”
Awards and Honors
- MD Anderson was recognized as a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence (DICOE) Pinnacle Site by the American College of Radiology
- The International Consortium for Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer, led by consortium chair and co-founder, David Gershenson, M.D., professor of Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine, received the 2025 World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Impact Award
- Maura Gillison, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, was awarded the 2025 VinFuture Grand Prize for discoveries and development of vaccines for prevention of tumors caused by human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Nicholas Navin, Ph.D., chair of Systems Biology, was awarded the 2025 Rising Star Research Award, and William Fraser Symmans, MB.ChB., professor of Pathology and Translational Molecular Pathology, was awarded the 2025 Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction by Susan G. Komen for their contributions to breast cancer research and clinical care
- Raghu Kalluri, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Cancer Biology, was elected into the 2025 Class of Fellows by the National Academy of Inventors
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