- Cancer vaccine may offer new prevention strategy for patients with Lynch syndrome
- Novel immunotherapy overcomes treatment resistance in multiple types of cancer
- Engineered nanobodies improve respiratory defenses against multiple viruses
- New combination treatments show promise for patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma and breast cancer
HOUSTON, JANUARY 22, 2026 ― 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.
Immune-targeting vaccine shows promise intercepting cancer in patients with Lynch Syndrome
Read the full release | Read the study in Nature Medicine
The investigational cancer vaccine, NOUS-209, was found to safely stimulate the immune system to target precancerous and cancerous cells in individuals with Lynch Syndrome (LS).
The results of a Phase Ib/II clinical trial, led by Eduardo Vilar-Sanchez, M.D., Ph.D., chair ad interim of Clinical Cancer Prevention, provide early evidence that immune-based approaches, such as NOUS-209, may be able to intercept cancer before it develops, offering a potential new avenue for preventive care for high-risk individuals.
"Current management strategies for Lynch Syndrome patients – frequent screenings or elective preventive surgery – are life-changing interventions that help prevent cancer development but can significantly affect quality of life," Vilar-Sanchez said. "By teaching the immune system to recognize and attack abnormal cells, this therapy offers a promising new approach to this patient population, who face a significantly higher risk of colorectal, endometrial, urothelial and other cancers."
Novel immunotherapy demonstrates early potential to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint therapy
Read the full release | Read the study in Nature Medicine
In a Phase I study, the novel monoclonal antibody linavonkibart, also known as SRK-181, demonstrated the potential to overcome treatment resistance to anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors in multiple cancer types. The trial was led by Timothy Yap, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., professor of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics and vice president and head of clinical development in MD Anderson’s Therapeutics Discovery division.
“This is a very exciting trial because we’ve been trying to effectively target this protein, called transforming growth factor-beta 1, for a long time,” Yap said. “We’ve known that it helps tumors evade the immune system and develop resistance to immunotherapies but, until now, attempts to target it have failed. This is potentially a significant step in helping patients overcome resistance and benefit further from immunotherapies.”
Engineered nanobodies improved respiratory defenses in preclinical study
Read the full release | Read the study in Nature Nanotechnology
A multi-institutional study showed that engineered bispecific nanobodies successfully strengthened mucosal defenses in the respiratory tract, improving protection against influenza infection and reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in vivo. Wen Jiang, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Radiation Oncology, collaborated with Liming Zhou, M.D., a postdoctoral student, and the late Charles Chan, Ph.D., assistant professor of surgery at Stanford Medicine. Unlike vaccines, which can take several weeks to generate a respiratory response, the nanobodies begin working immediately upon delivery, which could provide immediate, localized protection at the site of viral entry.
“Most approaches to these types of viruses are limited to either one type of virus or relieving symptoms once someone is already infected,” Jiang said. “This study lays the groundwork for a promising new strategy to reinforce the body’s first-line mucosal defense against several types of respiratory viruses.”
New treatment combination offers excellent results for early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma with less chemotherapy
Read the full release | Read the study in Blood
Patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma had impressive response rates when treated with a novel combination of therapies – brentuximab vedotin and nivolumab combined with chemotherapy drugs doxorubicin and dacarbazine. A total of 154 patients were treated with the novel combination on this trial. Ninety-six percent of patients had some level of response to treatment, and 92% had a complete response with no signs of cancer seen on scans after treatment.
“By pairing modern targeted therapies with a shorter course of chemotherapy, we’re seeing strong outcomes that improve historical standards and reduce treatment intensity,” said senior author Hun Ju Lee, M.D., associate professor of Lymphoma.
Study reveals synergistic effect of CDK2 and CDK4/6 combination therapy
Read the full release | Read the study in Nature Communications
A new study identified a powerful strategy to overcome drug resistance in breast cancer by simultaneously targeting two key cell-cycle regulators, CDK2 and CDK4/6. Researchers led by postdoctoral fellow Linjie Luo, M.D., Ph.D., and Khandan Keyomarsi, Ph.D., professor of Experimental Radiation Oncology, found that combining the selective CDK2 inhibitor BLU-222 with CDK4/6 inhibitors produces strong, durable anti-tumor effects. These effects were consistent across every preclinical model of breast cancer tested, including treatment-resistant disease and aggressive triple-negative breast cancer. Notably, this synergy was observed without exception, underscoring the broad translational potential of the approach.
“This is an important and highly consistent finding,” Keyomarsi said. “Across all resistant HR-positive models and all TNBC models we tested, the combination of BLU-222 with CDK4/6 inhibitors consistently outperformed standard-of-care therapies, producing durable tumor regression and prolonged survival.”
Awards and Honors
- Jason Schenkel, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Laboratory Medicine, received a Young Physician-Scientist Award from the American Society of Clinical Investigation. This honor recognizes physician-scientists who are early in their first faculty appointment and have made notable achievements in their research.
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