ASCO: UT MD Anderson spotlights emerging precision therapies for rare and difficult-to-treat cancers

MD Anderson Research News May 21, 2026

ABSTRACTS: 8510, 8008, 6009, 4120

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will present new findings at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting showcasing innovative targeted therapies for several rare and hard-to-treat cancers. Presentations feature precision treatments with promising early results across multiple tumor types, including lung cancer, adenoid cystic carcinoma and renal medullary carcinoma. 

In addition to these studies, forthcoming press releases will highlight notable oral abstracts to be presented at the meeting. More information on all UT MD Anderson ASCO Annual Meeting content can be found at MDAnderson.org/ASCO.

Combination therapy shows promising activity in KRAS G12C‑mutant lung cancer (Abstract 8510) 
In the Phase 1b/2 Krascendo 170 study, researchers evaluated divarasib, an experimental KRAS G12C inhibitor combined with pembrolizumab immunotherapy in patients with advanced or metastatic KRAS G12C-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Among patients whose tumors expressed PD‑L1, the combined therapy achieved a 73% response rate with median progression-free survival of 19.3 months. Responses also were seen in PD-L1-negative disease, and side effects were manageable. Ferdinandos Skoulidis, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, will present the findings May 30. 

“KRAS G12C-mutant lung cancers have been difficult to treat effectively, and resistance to therapy remains a major challenge,” Skoulidis said “These results highlight the promise of pairing next‑generation KRAS inhibition with immunotherapy in the first‑line setting, including in PD‑L1‑negative tumors, and support continued evaluation of this combination as a new treatment strategy.”

Novel “smart chemo” (ADC) shows antitumor activity in over half of patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer (Abstract 8008)
ABBV‑706 is an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) from AbbVie designed to deliver a potent anti‑cancer payload directly into tumor cells by targeting SEZ6, a protein frequently overexpressed in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). In this early phase study of heavily pretreated patients, over 50% experienced significant tumor shrinkage, including complete responses in a small number of patients when treated with ABBV‑706 alone. Tumor reduction was most pronounced when ABBV‑706 was used at the recommended dose as second‑line therapy; more than 80% of these patients had their tumors shrink, with many responses lasting six months or longer. Lauren Byers, M.D., professor of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, will present the findings June 1. 

“Most patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer experience rapid disease progression and limited benefit from available therapies,” Byers said. “In addition to shrinking tumors, many responses were sustained for months, or longer, supporting the potential of ABBV‑706 as a new treatment option for patients whose cancer has returned after prior therapy.”

First-in-class RNA-targeted therapy shows promise in adenoid cystic carcinoma (Abstract 6009)
In the Phase 1/2 ARIA study, researchers evaluated REM‑422, a new experimental drug from Remix Therapeutics, in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare cancer. The drug uses a novel approach: it targets and breaks down a key mRNA molecule that helps cancer grow. While this type of technology has been used in other diseases, it has not yet been approved for cancer. In the study, 43% of patients whose tumors carried a specific biomarker saw their tumors shrink. Many of these responses lasted more than a year and are still ongoing. All patients in the trial had their disease kept under control, with some remaining on treatment for nearly two years. The drug showed activity across different subtypes of this cancer, including in patients who had already tried other therapies, and it was generally well tolerated. Renata Ferrarotto, M.D., professor of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, will present the results June 1.

“For patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma, there has been a clear unmet need for therapies that can deliver durable benefit,” Ferrarotto said. “REM-422 introduces a new mechanism of action, and the activity we’re observing across subtypes and prior treatments is promising. The fact that responses are ongoing and strengthening over time suggests this approach may offer meaningful long-term disease control.”

EGFR-targeting immunotherapy shows tumor response in patients with rare, aggressive kidney cancer (Abstract 4120)
Panitumumab is an EGFR-targeting antibody drug from Amgen that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in non-RAS-mutant colorectal cancers. In this study, researchers investigated its potential in renal medullary carcinoma (RMC), a rare and highly aggressive kidney cancer that is strongly dependent on EGFR to grow and survive. In heavily pretreated patients with RMC, panitumumab achieved a 53.9% objective response rate, including a complete response rate of 15.4%. Median progression‑free survival approached six months, which exceeds historical outcomes with chemotherapy, and overall survival reached nearly 10 months despite extensive prior treatment. Pavlos Msaouel, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, will present the findings June 1. 

“There currently are no established targeted therapies for renal medullary carcinoma, which disproportionately affects young patients and carries a poor prognosis,” Msaouel said. “Targeting the EGFR vulnerability with panitumumab produced responses that exceed historical outcomes with chemotherapy and may provide a new option for patients with this aggressive disease.”