Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) experts presented breakthrough findings in several areas of cancer research at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting held May 29 to June 2, 2026 in Chicago. Highlights include advances in the treatment of liposarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, and multiple myeloma.
Liposarcoma: Targeted Therapy Significantly Delayed Time to Tumor Growth and Reduced Tumor Size for Previously Treated Patients
The targeted therapy abemaciclib (Verzenio) lengthened the time to tumor regrowth by more than six times, up from less than 2 months with placebo to nearly 10 months, in patients with recurrent or metastatic dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS). The findings come from the phase 3 multicenter SARC041 trial (NCT04967521), presented as an ASCO 2026 late-breaking abstract by Mark A. Dickson, MD, a sarcoma medical oncologist at MSK.
Median progression-free survival (PFS) with abemaciclib (N=54) was 9.7 months compared with 1.5 months with placebo (N=54); p<0.001. The median overall survival (OS) was not reached for patients receiving abemaciclib; median OS was 24.5 months with placebo; p=0.077.
Dr. Dickson and colleagues also found that 1 in 10 patients randomized to abemaciclib experienced tumor shrinking, something considered very rare for treatment with existing therapies for this type of cancer. Given the success seen in the study, the treatment has the potential to become standard of care for patients with few other options.
DDLPS is an aggressive cancer of fat cells, which often develops in the retroperitoneum, the deep space in the abdomen, behind the abdominal organs, and in front of the spine and major back muscles. Surgery is currently considered the best treatment option. However, the cancer returns in 2 of 5 patients, often within 2 years. Chemotherapy can delay growth 2-4 months.
Abemaciclib is an attractive therapy, already approved for certain breast cancers, because it targets cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), a protein that promotes unchecked cancer cell growth and division. Success has previously been seen with the related drug palbociclib (Ibrance). Abemaciclib lowers blood counts to a lesser degree tough, allowing it to be given continuously rather than in a start/stop manner common with palbociclib. This may translate to more efficient targeting of cancer cells.
“We know that almost all cases of dedifferentiated liposarcoma are driven by a gene called CDK4, which is overexpressed in the cancer cells. This study shows that abemaciclib, which blocks CDK4, has significant activity in this disease. It delayed the time before tumors grew by more than 5 times, and it even shrank some tumors in patients.”
Patients on placebo, who experienced disease progression, were allowed to receive abemaciclib. These patients also had extended PFS, and some experienced decreased tumor size. Median PFS for these patients was 3.4 months, and median OS was 24.0 months. Overall response rate (ORR) after crossover was 4.3%.
Adverse events included diarrhea and lowered blood cell counts. Serious adverse events (grade 3 or greater) were similar for the two groups and were considered manageable.
ASCO 2026 Abstract LBA2. The study was supported by funding from Eli Lilly and Company, Cycle for Survival, and the National Cancer Institute. Access author disclosures at ASCO.org.
Liver Cancer: Triple Combination Therapy in EMERALD-3 Trial Delays Disease Progression in Embolization-Eligible Hepatocellular Carcinoma
The addition of dual immunotherapy to chemoembolization extended the time before disease progression in patients with a type of advanced liver cancer that cannot be removed surgically but has not spread beyond the liver. The findings come from the phase 3 multinational EMERALD -3 trial (NCT05301842), presented as a late-breaking study by Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, MD, JD, MBA, PhD(hc), a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at MSK.
The study combined two immunotherapies with and without a drug that prevents the growth of new blood vessels and chemoembolization to treat patients with advanced embolization-eligible hepatocellular carcinoma (eeHCC). A third group of patients received standard trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) without Lenvatinib. Chemoembolization is the delivery of tiny beads either impregnated with chemotherapy drugs or mixed with chemotherapy to the hepatic artery. The technique blocks blood supply, as well as delivers chemotherapy directly to the tumor which help enhance the two immunotherapies activation in this setting.
“The addition of the two immunotherapies to chemoembolization independent of the addition of anti-VEGF improved the progression-free survival markedly,” said Dr. Abou-Alfa.
The combined two immunotherapies regimen called STRIDE includes a single priming dose of tremelimumab plus regular interval doses of durvalumab. Tremelimumab (Imjudo) is an immune checkpoint inhibitor that targets cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), helping to activate the patient’s immune system to attack cancer cells. Durvalumab (Imfinzi) is an immune checkpoint inhibitor that blocks programmed cell death ligand 1, helping to activate the immune system through a different pathway.
When compared with dual immunotherapy and TACE, the addition of lenvatinib (Lenvima) (N=204) improved progression-free survival (PFS) by more than 6 months compared with TACE alone (N=205) — 15.0 months vs. 8.2 months respectively; p=0.032.
While it’s too early to say with certainty because the data is not yet mature, there is a similar trend toward better overall survival (OS) compared with TACE alone.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 90% of primary liver cancers. Almost one-third of patients with HCC are eligible for TACE chemoembolization, the standard of care for these patients when cancer is confined to the liver but has not spread outside the liver. PFS ranges from 8 to 10 months with TACE with recurrence often happening in the first year.
The investigators were particularly interested in the combined two immunotherapies because TACE is associated with increased programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and one of the proteins responsible for new vessel growth. PD-L1 suppresses the immune system, allowing tumors to grow. This combination immunotherapy is associated with extended overall survival in patients with HCC in previous trials.
The most common side effects seen with STRIDE plus TACE were post-embolization subsiding inflammation syndrome, fever, and anemia. Those for TACE alone included post-embolization subsiding inflammation syndrome, fever, and diarrhea. There were seven treatment-related deaths with STRIDE plus lenvatinib and TACE, one with STRIDE plus TACE, and three with TACE alone.
ASCO 2026 Abstract LBA4000. The study was supported by funding from AstraZeneca. Access author disclosures at ASCO.org.
Lung Cancer: Targeted Therapy Given in RET Fusion-Positive Early-Stage Disease Extends Survival
MSK researchers and international colleagues have demonstrated that the use of the targeted therapy selpercatinib in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) delayed recurrence or progression in patients with a specific gene alteration. The findings are part of a broader move in oncology to use therapies that are effective in advanced disease earlier in cancer development, with the aim of delaying the development of advanced disease.
The findings were simultaneously presented during the plenary session and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Alexander Drilon, MD, who is a thoracic medical oncologist and Chief of the Early Drug Development Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is senior author of the publication.
Only 8% of patients with stage II or IIIA disease who received adjuvant selpercatinib (Retevmo) experienced disease recurrence, progression, or death (event-free survival, 92%) compared with 39% of those who received placebo (event-free survival, 61%) as determined by the investigators (p<0.001). Results were similar when assessed by blinded central review.
While overall survival results are not yet mature for the LIBRETTO-432 trial (NCT04819100), there was a trend toward improved OS with selpercatinib.
Patients in the study had rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion alterations, which essentially keep a tumor’s growth switch on. Selpercatinib works by blocking the abnormal RET signals that drive tumor growth.
The primary analysis population included 109 patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC, who had undergone either surgery or radiotherapy with the intent to cure. An event was defined as a new regional or metastatic lesion, progression of a locally treated lesion, or death.
In the overall population — 151 patients with stage IB, II, or IIIA disease — event-free survival (EFS) at 2 years was 94% for patients who received selpercatinib versus 71% for those who received placebo as assessed by investigators. Results were similar when assessed by blinded central review.
Grade 3 or greater adverse events occurred in 67% of the selpercatinib group and 24% in the placebo group. Grade 3 or greater adverse events for which the difference between selpercatinib and placebo was at least 10% included increases in levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase.
ASCO 2026 Abstract LBA3. The study was supported by funding from Eli Lilly and Company. Access author disclosures at ASCO.org.
Other Notable MSK Research News from ASCO 2026:
Nivolumab Does not Improve Outcomes in Patients with Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Following Surgical Resection and Adjuvant Chemotherapy
MSK Thoracic Oncologist Jamie E. Chaft, MD, presented data from the multicenter phase 3 ECOG-ACRIN EA5142 (NCT02595944), showing no survival benefit for nivolumab for patients with non-small cell lung cancer measuring at least 4 cm or involving regional lymph nodes, without EGFR and ALK alterations, following surgery and planned adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation.
The study adds to the mixed data landscape of trials moving immunotherapies and targeted therapies earlier in disease course to improve cure rates. The negative study also suggests that some patients may currently be overtreated with the perioperative treatment paradigm.
The trial was stopped early due to futility with nivolumab proving no better than observation — median disease-free survival (DFS) was 71.3 months and 68.8 months with nivolumab and placebo respectively, p=0.39. The researchers also examined DFS for patients with tumors having high levels of PD-L1 expression, without benefit. Both the treatment arm and control arm performed far better than the statistical assumptions, and better than similar studies in this setting that suggest benefit from other immunotherapies. Further analysis is planned.
ASCO 2026 Abstract 8000. The study was supported by funding from the National Cancer Institute. Access author disclosures at ASCO.org
Lower Intensity Dosing of Anti-BCMA Therapy With Standard Therapy Maintains Response While Minimizing Ocular Side Effects
The addition of the anti-BCMA therapy belantamab mafodotin (Belafodotin) to standard treatment for patients with transplant-ineligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma produced a high response rate across several dosing schedules with more intensive early dosing schedules producing deeper responses.
However, more aggressive dosing schedules were also associated with higher rates of ocular side effects. Less frequent dosing appeared to maintain strong responses with improved tolerability. The findings come from the phase 1 DREAMM-9 (NCT04091126) trial presented by Saad Z. Usmani, MD, a myeloma specialist at MSK.
Belantamab mafodotin targets B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), making it an attractive therapy to add to bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone. BCMA is highly present on myeloma cells, but relatively limited on most other tissues, and is linked to survival of the malignant plasma cells.
ASCO 2026 Abstract 7503. The study was supported by funding from GSK. Access author disclosures at ASCO.org.
Novel Alpha-Particle Therapy Shows Efficacy and Safety in Patients with mCRPC Following Lu-177 Antigen Treatment
Rosopatamab Tetraxetan (CONV01-α) — an actinium-225 (Ac-225) alpha-emitting treatment — shows promising activity and treatment durability in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), now known as Androgen Pathway Modulator Resistant disease (APMR), who were previously treated with Lutetium-177 (Lu-177) prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA).
The CONVERGE-01 study (NCT06549465) also demonstrated that CONV01-α is safe for patients with prior exposure to Lu-177-PSMA radioligand therapy (Lu-PSMA). The phase 2 study was presented by Michael J. Morris, MD, who is a genitourinary specialist and Prostate Cancer Section Head at MSK.
Thirty-five patients who had progressed through hormonal therapy and up to one chemotherapy and at least one dose of Lu-188 PSMA were treated. Despite this extensive treatment history, 40% of patients responded by PSA. The treatment schedule was comprised of two doses administered two weeks apart. Responses as durable as 8-12 months were seen, with a median of 8.41 months for those patients who received the dose intended for further study. The drug appeared active even in those patients who were resistant to prior Lu-177 PSMA treatment.
The most clinically relevant side effects seen were dry mouth, low platelets, and anemia. No nephrotoxicity was observed. These events were considered transient, reversible, and clinically manageable at the target dose for future use. The study is continuing to examine this treatment in patients with APMR who have not received Lu-177 PSMA, and a future phase III study is under development for those who have received prior Lu-177 PSMA based on the data presented at ASCO.
ASCO 2026 Abstract 5011. The study was supported by funding from Convergent Therapeutics, Inc. Access author disclosures at ASCO.org.