Article Topic: Lung Cancer

Siteman Cancer Center Shares the Latest in Medical Oncology, Screening Innovation and Translational Science at ASCO

WashU Medicine physician-scientists and others affiliated with Siteman will share findings from multi-institutional studies they lead and will present on health equity, mentorship and more at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

At the 2026 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), WashU Medicine scientists and physician-researchers at Siteman Cancer Center will present on the scale, depth and translational impact of their most recent research in advancing cancer outcomes worldwide.

With presentations representing the continuum of scientific and medical discovery, health equity, mentorship and more, Siteman will share its newest advances that reflect where oncology is headed –— more personalized therapies, smarter screening strategies, multidisciplinary treatment models and deeper understanding of how biology and lived experience intersect in cancer outcomes.

Nearly 45,000 scientists, clinicians and other healthcare professionals, survivors, patients and advocates gather at the conference in Chicago each year to share and discuss the latest breakthroughs. This year’s meeting takes place from May 29-June 2 and will feature key findings from WashU Medicine faculty members, fellows and others associated with Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine.

“Siteman Cancer Center is proud to once again take the stage at ASCO, where the brightest minds in oncology gather to push the boundaries of what’s possible,” said Timothy J. Eberlein, MD, director of Siteman, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine in St. Louis. “The research our team brings to this meeting reflects both scientific rigor and an unwavering dedication to patients. This is where ideas become breakthroughs — and breakthroughs become better lives.”

In one of the most anticipated oral abstract sessions at ASCO, Matthew A. Powell, MD, the Ira C. and Judith Gall Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at WashU Medicine, will present data from the landmark RUBY trial, which evaluated the addition of dostarlimab to standard chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel for patients with advanced endometrial cancer. 

Powell, a nationally recognized physician-scientist who treats patients at Siteman Cancer Center, was recently installed as president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO). 

WashU Medicine physician-scientists at Siteman also will present key findings in lung cancer: 

  • Ramaswamy Govindan, MD, FASCO, the Anheuser Busch Endowed Chair in Medical Oncology and Associate Chief of Oncology and principal investigator of a Phase III study under the National Cancer Institute’s ALCHEMIST platform, will discuss findings from the trial, which found that erlotinib did not improve overall survival but did improve disease-free survival in resected EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. 
  • Brendan Heiden, MD, MS, MBA, Assistant Professor of Surgery, will present an analysis of the data of nearly 1 million U.S. veterans that may support a shift in national screening guidelines. 

Additional details of these and other Siteman and WashU-led advances and presentations are below. For a full schedule, click here.

Below are highlighted presentations by WashU Medicine researchers and physician-scientists at Siteman. And be sure to follow us at #ASCO26 on X @SitemanCenter and Bluesky @sitemancenter.bsky.social.

All presentations will be at Chicago’s McCormick Place and available via live stream, if noted, for virtual registrants. All times are CDT.

Friday, May 29

Matthew A. Powell, MD, Ira C. and Judith Gall Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, WashU Medicine



Powell will present full data on model-based predictions from the pivotal phase 3 ENGOT-ENG-NSGO/GOG-3031/RUBY trial (NCT03981796) that suggest the potential for cure with dostarlimab-gxly (Jemperli) plus carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with mismatch repair–deficient (dMMR)/microsatellite instability–high (MSI-H) primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.

Presentation: Long-term survival rates and cure modeling with dostarlimab plus chemotherapy in mismatch repair deficient/microsatellite instability-high (dMMR/MSI-H) primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer in the ENGOT-EN6-NSGO/GOG-3031/ RUBY trial.  


When: 2:45-2:57 p.m.
Where: Room S100bc + Live Stream



Saturday, May 30

Douglas R. Adkins, MD, Professor of Medicine, WashU Medicine



Adkins will discuss an exploratory analysis of the international KEYNOTE-689 trial (NCT03765918) that found neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembro plus surgery and postoperative [chemo]radiotherapy (SOC) significantly improved event-free survival versus SOC in patients with resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.



Poster Presentation: Neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab (pembro) plus standard of care (SOC) for resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC): Efficacy by surgical outcomes in the phase 3 KEYNOTE-689 trial.


When: 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Where: Hall A



Sunday, May 31

Emily L. Podany, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, WashU Medicine



Podany will discuss findings of a multi-institutional study of 851 metastatic breast cancer patients that found that those living in food deserts had distinct tumor DNA profiles — including more RTK/RAS mutations and CCNE1 variants — and significantly shorter survival, particularly among Black patients, highlighting the critical intersection of tumor biology and social determinants of health.



Presentation: Impact of food access and poverty on somatic genomic profiles and clinical outcomes in metastatic breast cancer.


When: 11:42-11:48 a.m.
Where: Hall D1 + Live Stream



Monday, June 1

Ramaswamy Govindan, MD, FASCO, Anheuser Busch Endowed Chair in Medical Oncology and Associate Chief of Oncology, WashU Medicine

Govindan, principal investigator of the Phase III A081105 trial (NCT02193282), will discuss findings from the evaluation of adjuvant erlotinib versus placebo in resected EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. Among 390 patients, erlotinib did not significantly improve overall survival but did improve disease-free survival. Erlotinib did not significantly improve overall survival but did improve disease-free survival in 390 of 450 patients.

Presentation: Adjuvant erlotinib versus observation after complete resection of EGFRmutant NSCLC: Final overall survival results of Alliance A081105.


When: 1:27-1:39 p.m.
Where: Hall D1 + Live Stream



Brendan Heiden, MD, MS, MBA, Assistant Professor of Surgery, WashU Medicine



Heiden and his fellow researchers analyzed the data of nearly 1 million U.S. veterans to compare tobacco smoking duration (TSD) versus pack-years (TPY) for lung cancer screening eligibility. TSD identified more at-risk individuals, reduced missed diagnoses from 30% to 7.5% and improved equity across racial and sex subgroups — supporting a shift in national screening guidelines toward smoking duration.

Presentation: Redefining lung cancer screening eligibility: Smoking duration vs. pack-years in a national VA cohort of nearly 1 million patients.


When: 2:27-2:39 p.m.
Where: Hall D1 + Live Stream

Dineo Khabele, MD, Mitchell & Elaine Yanow Professor and Chair of OB/GYN, WashU Medicine



Khabele joins other senior leaders in academic oncology to discuss her perspective on career development, including strategic planning and actionable steps for each level.



Presentation: Senior Career Perspective: Gynecologic Oncologist


When: 3:36-3:48 p.m.
Where: Room E350



Tuesday, June 2

Cynthia X. Ma,  MD,  PhD, Professor of Medicine, WashU Medicine



Ma is chair and moderator of this session featuring 11 presenters who will give an overview of their novel research and answer questions during a panel discussion.

Rapid Oral Abstract Session: Developmental Therapeutics—Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology


When: 9:45-11:15 a.m.
Where: Room E451



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About Siteman Cancer Center

Siteman Cancer Center is one of only a few cancer centers to receive the highest rating of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) — “exceptional.” Comprising the cancer research, prevention and treatment programs of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine in St. Louis, Siteman treats adults at six locations, including the new Gary C. Werths Building for outpatient care and an inpatient hospital on the Washington University Medical Campus, and partners with St. Louis Children’s Hospital in the treatment of pediatric patients at Siteman Kids. All locations offer patient-focused, multidisciplinary care driven by scientific breakthroughs and powered by WashU Medicine physicians.

Quick Facts

  • Established in 1999, Siteman is recognized as a leading cancer center by its peers and the NCI.
  • Every year, 75,000+ people are treated at Siteman, including 12,000+ who are newly diagnosed.
  • Siteman is powered by 600+ WashU Medicine physicians and scientists focused on the latest in cancer treatment and research.
  • With 9,000+ patients enrolled every year in 1,600+ clinical research studies, including 600+ therapeutic clinical trials, Siteman offers access to investigational therapies not generally available to the public.
  • Siteman has held NCI’s highest rating — “exceptional” — since 2015, based on a rigorous review of its research programs.
  • Siteman is also proud to receive more than $185 million annually for basic and clinical oncology research grants, including $66 million from the NCI, funding 1,400+ research projects. This includes three Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grants, for endometrial, leukemia and pancreatic research.
  • In 2024, WashU faculty at Siteman filed for 198 patents.
  • WashU Medicine has the second-largest research funding portfolio from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) among U.S. medical schools.

Siteman Cancer Center announces 2026 American Cancer Society-funded pilot projects

WashU Medicine grant recipients will focus on lung and blood cancers

Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, is pleased to announce the next cohort of pilot projects funded by the Institutional Research Grant from the American Cancer Society. The three projects are described below.

Jason Weber Phd
Jason Weber, PhD

Under the leadership of Jason Weber, PhD, who has been principal investigator of the grant since 2011, these awards support independent, self-directed investigators early in their careers and enable them to conduct research in areas of special interest to the American Cancer Society.

WashU has funded early-career oncology researchers with this grant since 1958. Learn about projects initially supported in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Project Title: Complement Modulation as a Strategy to Sensitize Tumors to Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy Principal Investigator: Vaishali Kapoor, PhD

Vaishali Kapoor, PhD
Vaishali Kapoor, PhD

Summary: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85% of all cases. Radiation therapy (RT) is one of the most common and effective treatments for NSCLC, used in combination with chemotherapy and immunotherapy. While many patients initially respond to RT, most eventually experience cancer recurrence. One reason for treatment failure is that tumors can change their surrounding environment to hide from the immune system and resist therapy. This research focuses on the complement system, a part of the body’s natural immune defense, which helps recognize and destroy harmful cells. Surprisingly, new evidence suggests that in cancer, activation of the complement system can have the opposite effect: Instead of helping the immune system, it may help tumors survive. Researchers have found that RT activates the complement system, releasing a molecule called C3a, which then signals through a receptor called C3aR to recruit cells that suppress the immune system. At the same time, RT generates another molecule called iC3b, which programs certain immune cells to become less effective at fighting cancer. In this project, the researchers will investigate how these processes occur and test whether blocking C3aR — using a drug that already exists — can reprogram the immune system, allowing it to work together with RT to fight cancer more effectively. The long-term goal is to develop new combination therapies that enhance the power of RT, make immunotherapies more effective and improve survival for patients with lung cancer.

Project Title: Glycan-Guided Pathomic Signatures of Immunotherapy Response in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Principal Investigator: José Marcio Luna, MS, PhD

José Marcio Luna, MS, PhD
José Marcio Luna, MS, PhD

Summary: A type of treatment called immunotherapy has transformed care for some patients with advanced lung cancer by helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. Unfortunately, this treatment does not work for everyone, and doctors currently lack reliable ways to know in advance which patients will benefit. As a result, many patients are exposed to treatments that may not help them while losing valuable time for other therapies. Researchers will explore whether patterns inside tumor tissue can help predict which patients are most likely to respond to immunotherapy. They will use lung tissue samples that were already collected from patients treated by WashU Medicine physicians. With the help of advanced imaging techniques, the researchers can map molecules such as sugars and proteins within the tumor. These maps will then be linked to digital images of the same tissue under the microscope. By analyzing these images with computer algorithms, scientists can detect subtle patterns that are invisible to the human eye. The goal of this work is to identify new patterns in tumor tissue that indicate whether a patient will respond well to immunotherapy. If successful, this approach could improve the way doctors select treatments for lung cancer, ensuring patients receive therapies that are most likely to help them. In the future, this research may also open the door to better tests that can guide treatment decisions for many other types of cancer.

Project Title: Germline Genome Sequencing in Patients with Myeloid Neoplasms in Paraguay

Principal Investigator: Samuel Urrutia, MD, MS

Samuel Urrutia, MD, MS
Samuel Urrutia, MD, MS

Summary: This study is about understanding what causes myeloid neoplasms, a type of blood cancer, in a diverse population in Paraguay. While treatments for these cancers have improved in high-income countries, they’re often not available in places like Paraguay. A project called GEMA is already underway there, using advanced genetic testing to diagnose these cancers. This new project, an expansion of GEMA, aims to go a step further. It will look at two main things. First, it will search for inherited genetic changes (germline variants) that make people more susceptible to these cancers and see how they interact with new genetic changes (somatic alterations) that happen later in a person’s life. Second, the study will investigate how a person’s genes and their environment (gene-environment interaction) might work together to cause these cancers. To do this, researchers will analyze genetic information from saliva samples collected from patients. By combining this new information with data on their ancestry, environment and the genetic changes in their cancer cells, the study’s researchers hope to get a complete picture of why these cancers develop in this specific population. Ultimately, the goal is to identify new risk factors and better understand the unique challenges faced by patients with myeloid neoplasms in Latin America, which could lead to more effective prevention and treatment strategies in the future.

For Your Health: You’ve Got This. Don’t Give Up on Quitting Smoking

Scc 2025 For Your Health Digital Banner



It’s a number to celebrate: 3.9 million. That’s the likely number of Americans saved from lung cancer since 1970 with efforts to curb cigarette smoking. Seen another way, this translates to over 76 million years added to people’s lives. It’s truly astounding and doesn’t even include the impact from lower risks of many other cancers and diseases caused by smoking.

Looking ahead, these gains will only grow as fewer youth and young adults take up smoking — and as more people who currently smoke, quit.

Quitting, though, isn’t easy — as anyone who’s done it can tell you. But thousands of people do it every day, and right now in the U.S. there are more people who used to smoke than who currently smoke.

For those who want to quit — or are just thinking about it — getting support can really help, doubling the chances of success. This can include reaching out to your health care clinic or provider for assistance.

There’s also free support at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) and smokefree.gov, which offers texting tools, an app and other services.

Support usually includes a mix of medication as well as in-person and virtual classes and programs. Medications can be prescription drugs, like bupropion, as well as nicotine replacement therapy, like gums and patches. These help with nicotine withdrawal and cravings. Programs and classes can help with developing skills and behaviors for staying smoke-free.

“Services like the smokefree.gov texting program provide encouraging, motivating daily messages,” said Dr. Li-Shiun Chen, director of smoking cessation at WashU Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center. “A lot of my patients love that. They wake up and get a text that says, ‘Hey, it’s a new day. Why don’t you take a walk outside instead of lighting a cigarette?’”

Along with such support, one of the most important approaches to quitting is simply to keep at it.

“On average, it takes a person seven to nine attempts to succeed,” Chen said. “One gentleman we worked with tried 13 times, but then he succeeded with help from a lifestyle coach and medicine. He said that support made all the difference. So, don’t worry about failure. It’s very important to keep trying, even just to reduce how much you smoke.”

FDA-approved products, like nicotine replacement therapy, have the best evidence for helping with quitting. But electronic cigarettes and vaping, which aren’t FDA-approved, may have a role in certain situations, Chen said. “In an adult who smokes cigarettes routinely, actually transitioning to safe vaping is harm reduction. ‘Safe vaping’ means just nicotine — not adding cannabis, not adding flavors. And this type of vaping can be an intermediate step to getting rid of tobacco.”

Vaping, though, is a double-edged sword, Chen warned. It has some inherent dangers, and kids should totally avoid it. Among other risks, it can lead to nicotine addiction and tobacco smoking. “If you’re a 12-year-old, vaping is really bad.”

No matter how long you’ve been smoking or how old or healthy you are — in almost any situation, really — there are important benefits to quitting. And these benefits start just days in and build over the years. Breathing quickly improves. Food starts tasting better. And wrinkles on the face from early aging can start to relax. Then, the risk of serious diseases like cancer, stroke, heart disease, lung disease and dementia begin to drop, with some eventually reversing to the same risk as someone who never smoked.

“Quitting smoking can add about 13 years of life back to a person, but it’s not only a longer life, it’s also a higher quality of life,” Chen concluded. “It’s an amazing opportunity to improve your health, and it’s the best thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones.”

Happy holidays, and happy New Year.