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Babiker, Hani M.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9368-6296

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic in Florida

Citations 90

Abstract 4106: Pan cancer enrichment of homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene alterations in 101,240 tumor samples from AACR Project GENIE: Implications for tumor-agnostic PARP inhibitor expansion
Ganatra, Nency, Elantably, Dina, Adeoye, Tayo, Abdel-Razeq, Nayef , Babiker, H., Abdelhakeem, Ahmed , Elantably, Dina, Mosalem, Osama , Babiker, Hani M.

Cancer Research | April 3, 2026 | Volume: 86 | Issue: 7_Supplement | Pages: 4106-4106

10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-4106 Get It

Abstract Background: PARP inhibitors are restricted to a subset of BRCA-associated cancers, but homologous recombination repair (HRR) deficiency signifies a broader genomic vulnerability that may extend therapeutic opportunities across diverse malignancies. We utilized AACR Project GENIE v18.0-public to define the pan-cancer prevalence of HRR gene alterations. Methods: Somatic mutation and clinical sample data from GENIE v18.0-public were analyzed. HRR genes included BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, CHEK2, PALB2, RAD51B/C/D, RAD51L1, BARD1, BRIP1, and core FANC genes. HRR alteration rates were calculated by tumor type using unique samples; only de-identified aggregate results are reported. Results: Among 101,240 tumors, HRR gene alterations were frequent in multiple non-BRCA-associated cancers. Highest rates were seen in sialoblastoma (100%), large cell medulloblastoma (50%), malignant glomus tumor (50%), lung cancer (46.0%), infantile fibrosarcoma (42.9%), liver (40%), kidney (40%), non-melanoma skin (36.9%), colorectal (36.6%), melanocytoma (34.2%), biliary tract (33.3%), bladder (31.5%), and ovarian/fallopian tube (30.2%). Notably, lung, bladder, hepatobiliary, renal, gastrointestinal, and some sarcoma subtypes showed HRR mutation prevalence equal or higher than current PARP indications, yet lack FDA approval. Conclusions: HRR alterations are widespread across solid tumors, often surpassing rates in cancers eligible for PARP treatment. These findings support expanding tumor-agnostic HRR genomic testing beyond BRCA-linked malignancies and warrant prospective trials of PARP inhibitors in HRR-enriched tumor types such as lung, bladder, hepatobiliary, renal, gastrointestinal, and pediatric/rare cancers. Impact: Large-scale genomic profiling from AACR Project GENIE demonstrates that HRR gene alterations are common across diverse solid tumors, with prevalence in multiple cancer types surpassing those currently eligible for PARP inhibitor therapy. These findings support broad implementation of HRR genomic testing in routine molecular diagnostics and provide a rationale for expanding PARP inhibitor use beyond BRCA-associated malignancies. The data justify prospective tumor-agnostic clinical trials of PARP inhibitors in HRR-enriched cancers such as lung, bladder, hepatobiliary, renal, gastrointestinal, and select pediatric and rare tumors; this could transform therapeutic decision-making and accelerate development of synthetic lethality-based targeted therapies Citation: AACR Project GENIE Consortium. Cancer Discov. 2017;7(8):818-831 Acknowledgement: AACR and Project GENIE Citation Format: Ahmed Abdelhakeem, Nency Ganatra, Dina Elantably, Tayo Adeoye, Nayef H. Abdel-Razeq, Osama M. Mosalem, Hani M. Babiker. Pan cancer enrichment of homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene alterations in 101,240 tumor samples from AACR Project GENIE: Implications for tumor-agnostic PARP inhibitor expansion [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 4106.
Abstract 3813: Synergistic immunomodulation by Tumor Treating Fields combined with immunotherapy across solid tumors: A systematic review with translational relevance to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Albelal, Douaa , Rachamala, Hari Krishnareddy, Babiker, H., Babiker, Hani , Rachamala, Hari K., Babiker, Hani M.

Cancer Research | April 3, 2026 | Volume: 86 | Issue: 7_Supplement | Pages: 3813-3813

10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-3813 Get It

Abstract Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains highly lethal due to aggressive biology, stromal desmoplasia, and profound immunotherapy resistance. Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) disrupt mitosis and induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), type I interferon signaling, and microenvironment remodeling, providing a rationale for combining TTFields with immune checkpoint inhibition. This is the first systematic review to comprehensively synthesize mechanistic and clinical evidence for TTFields immunotherapy combinations across solid tumors, with emphasis on their translation relevance to PDAC. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted through October 26, 2025, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies evaluated TTFields combined with immunotherapy. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data using Covidence. Evidence was summarized narratively by tumor type, study design, and immunotherapeutic approach. Results: Thirty-seven studies met criteria, including preclinical and clinical investigations across glioblastoma, NSCLC, mesothelioma, PDAC, and other tumors. Preclinical models consistently showed that TTFields trigger ICD hallmarks such as calreticulin exposure, HMGB1 and ATP release, and activate STING/type I interferon pathways, enhancing dendritic-cell maturation and T-cell and NK-cell function. Across in vivo models, TTFields combined with PD-1 or CTLA-4 blockade, vaccines, or other immunotherapies reduced tumor growth and increased lymphocyte infiltration. Clinical evidence, although early-phase and heterogeneous, indicates the combination is feasible, with toxicity dominated by low-grade skin reactions and no excess immune-related adverse events. In glioblastoma, adding TTFields to pembrolizumab and temozolomide showed numerically improved survival. The LUNAR phase 3 trial in metastatic NSCLC demonstrated an overall survival advantage when TTFields were added to systemic therapy, including immunotherapy. Evidence in PDAC remains preliminary, but the ongoing PANOVA-4 study combining TTFields with atezolizumab and chemotherapy highlights emerging translational relevance. Conclusions: TTFields enhance antitumor immunity when combined with immunotherapy across solid tumors. In PDAC, these mechanisms may help counteract the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Ongoing gastrointestinal trials will clarify optimal combinations, biomarkers of response, and the clinical role of TTFields-based immunomodulation. Citation Format: Douaa Albelal, Hari Krishnareddy Rachamala, Hani Babiker. Synergistic immunomodulation by Tumor Treating Fields combined with immunotherapy across solid tumors: A systematic review with translational relevance to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 3813.
Abstract 4478: Synergistic antitumor activity of tumor-treating fields and multiselect-RAS (ON) inhibitor RMC-6236 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Saha, Ishita , Mukhopadhyay, Debabrata, Babiker, H., Babiker, Hani , Bhattacharya, Santanu , Mukhopadhyay, Debabrata , Babiker, Hani M.

Cancer Research | April 3, 2026 | Volume: 86 | Issue: 7_Supplement | Pages: 4478-4478

10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-4478 Get It

Abstract RMC-6236 (daraxonrasib) is a novel multiselect RAS(ON) inhibitor under investigation for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and other RAS-mutant cancers. This compound shares structural similarities with RMC-7977 and exhibits a conserved binding site and interaction pattern within the tri-complex formed between active RAS (RAS(ON)) proteins and cyclophilin A (CypA). Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are low-intensity, alternating electric fields that disrupt mitosis and have shown clinical benefit in solid tumors. The PANOVA-3 trial demonstrated that TTFields combined with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel improved survival, pain control, and quality of life in locally advanced PDAC. Our previous work demonstrated that TTFields abrogate oncogenic KRAS pathway. We thus hypothesize a potential for increase in effectievness with the combination. In this study, the metastatic PDAC cell line AsPC-1 was treated with TTFields (150 kHz, 1.8 V/cm), RMC-6236 (15 nM; sub-IC50), or combination. A sub-IC50 concentration (15 nM) of RMC-6236 was selected based on MTS assay results, and subsequent experiments were performed at this dose. The MTS assay revealed that both TTFields and RMC-6236 independently reduced AsPC-1 cell viability, with a more pronounced reduction observed at 72 hours compared to 48 hours. RMC-6236 alone produced minimal effects at either 48 hours (85.82 ± 13.9%) or 72 hours (90.48 ± 15.4%) compared with control (100.0 ± 8.4%, 48 h; 100.0 ± 8.2%, 72 h). TTFields treatment significantly reduced viability to 74.42 ± 21.4% at 48 hours and 50.17 ± 26.5% at 72 hours. The combination treatment (TTFields + RMC-6236) further decreased viability to 63.8 ± 25.2% at 48 hours and 40.93 ± 18.1% at 72 hours, demonstrating synergistic cytotoxicity relative to monotherapy. Clonogenic assays were performed to evaluate cell survival fractions following treatment with RMC-6236, TTFields, and their combination. Cell migration was assessed using scratch assays, revealing that untreated cells exhibited a migration rate of 91.49 ± 0.85%, RMC-6236-treated cells showed 89.48 ± 1.3%, TTFields alone reduced migration to 61.33 ± 16.3%, and combination treatment markedly suppressed migration to 24.6 ± 22.13% . For every case we were compared with 72h cell migration rate with 0 h migration rate. These findings indicate that TTFields alone significantly impair cellular motility, while their combination with RMC-6236 results in a profound anti-migratory effect, substantially inhibiting wound closure. Additionally, western blot analysis was performed to assess changes in KRAS protein expression, a key PDAC biomarker. Overall, our results demonstrate that the combination of TTFields and RMC-6236 significantly inhibits PDAC cell growth, migration, and survival at sub-IC50 concentrations, suggesting a promising alternative therapeutic approach for PDAC management. Citation Format: Ishita Saha, Santanu Bhattacharya, Debabrata Mukhopadhyay, Hani M. Babiker. Synergistic antitumor activity of tumor-treating fields and multiselect-RAS (ON) inhibitor RMC-6236 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 4478.
Abstract 2611: Prospective evaluation of 68Ga-PSMA PET imaging in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing first line immunotherapy.
Tran, Nguyen H., Hirdler, Jacob, Antony, Ajith , Torbenson, Michael S., Thompson, Scott M. , Halfdanarson, Thor R., Jin, Zhaohui, Fonkoua, Lionel Aurelien Kankeu, Washburn, Leslie, Revzin, Alexander , Dong, Haidong, Jatoi, Aminah , Borad, M., Bekaii-Saab, T., Gores, Gregory J., Roberts, Lewis R. , Johnson, Geoffrey B., Goenka, Ajit H. , Roberts, Lewis R , Tran, Nguyen H. , Hirdler, Jacob B. , Teske, Jacob J. , Venkatesh, Sudhakar K. , Mahipal, Amit , Torbenson, Michael , Halfdanarson, Thor R, Jin, Zhaohui , Fonkoua, Lionel Aurelien Kankeu , McWilliams, Robert R. , Babiker, Hani M. , Borad, Mitesh J. , Gores, Gregory J. , Johnson, Geoffrey B

Cancer Research | April 3, 2026 | Volume: 86 | Issue: 7_Supplement | Pages: 2611-2611

10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-2611 Get It

Abstract Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is highly expressed in tumor-associated neovasculature in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), highlighting its promise as a theranostic target. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the utility of novel biomarkers derived from PSMA positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET/CT) to assess treatment response in advanced HCC patients (pts) receiving first line immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Methods: This study (NCT05176223) enrolled unresectable, advanced HCC pts eligible for first-line ICI (atezolizumab/bevacizumab [A/B] or durvalumab/tremelimumab [D/T]) with measurable disease according to RECIST criteria. Primary endpoints: progression-free survival (PFS) per RECIST 1.1 and mRECIST; overall survival (OS); and best overall response. The survival distribution was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Observed agreement is defined as the proportion of pts whose responses, as classified by PET/CT or CT, were concordant. Weighted kappa and Cohen’s kappa were used to quantify the strength of agreement between PET/CT and CT. Pts completed up to five 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT scans and blood collections. Results: Twenty-six pts were enrolled (25 evaluable) between Oct 2022 and Nov 2024. Median follow up was 22.1 months (m) (Q1, Q3: 14.5-23.7). Median age 68 yrs, 72% male, 88% White, 68% Child-Pugh [CP] A, 32% CP B, 32% Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC] stage B, 68% BCLC stage C, 36% with microvascular invasion; 56% received A/B and 40% received D/T treatment. PSMA was positive in 96% of pts at baseline with median SUVmax 14.3 (range 5.1-40.5) and median background liver SUVmax 3.9 (range 2.1-6.8). Median (95%CI) PFS was 5.6 m (4.6-12.5) by both RECIST and mRECIST. Median (95%CI) OS was 18.6 m (7.2-not estimable), with 56% deceased. The observed agreement between PET/CT adapted PERCIST criteria compared to RECIST and mRECIST in determining the best response was 46% and 50% and weighted kappa of 0.63 (95% CI: 0.37-0.90) and 0.66 (0.41-0.92), respectively. Observed agreement between PERCIST compared to RECIST and mRECIST for responders’ assessment was 67% and 71% with Cohen’s kappa of 0.36 (0.03-0.68) and 0.43 (0.11-0.76), respectively. Conclusion: In this cohort, PSMA PET/CT avidity was observed in all but one pt with advanced HCC, each demonstrating moderate to high SUVmax values. Median OS and PFS were consistent with outcomes reported in clinical trials. Response assessment using 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT according to PERCIST criteria showed good concordance with both RECIST and mRECIST standards. Analysis of immune biomarkers is ongoing. Citation Format: Nguyen H. Tran, Jacob Hirdler, Ajith Antony, Jacob Teske, Sudhakar K. Venkatesh, Amit Mahipal, Michael S. Torbenson, Scott M. Thompson, Thor R. Halfdanarson, Zhaohui Jin, Lionel Aurelien Kankeu Fonkoua, Leslie A. Washburn, Alexander Revzin, Haidong Dong, Robert R. Mcwilliams, Aminah Jatoi, Hani M. Babiker, Mitesh J. Borad, Tanios Bekaii-Saab, Gregory J. Gores, Lewis R. Roberts, Geoffrey B. Johnson, Ajit H. Goenka. Prospective evaluation of 68Ga-PSMA PET imaging in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing first line immunotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 2611.
Concordance of Circulating Tumor DNA, Primary and Metastatic Tissue DNA, and Immunohistochemistry in Gastroesophageal Carcinoma
Jamal, Fares , Sahwan, Oudai , Abidoye, Seyi, Alsulaiman, Abdullah, Sheashaa, Hesham, Ahn, Daniel H. , Wu, Christina, Borad, Mitesh, Zhu, Mojun, Jones, Jeremy, Jin, Zhaohui, Majeed, Umair , Bekaii-Saab, Tanios, Starr, Jason S., Yoon, Harry H. , Borad, Mitesh J. , Jones, Jeremy , Wu, Christina , Abidoye, Oluseyi , Alsulaiman, Abdullah , Abidoye, Oluseyi , Alsulaiman, Abdullah A , Sheashaa, Hesham , Wu, Christina , Borad, Mitesh J , Jones, Jeremy C , Halfdanarson, Thorvardur R , Jin, Zhaohui , Babiker, Hani , Majeed, Umair , Bekaii-Saab, Tanios S , Starr, Jason S , Yoon, Harry H , Sonbol, Mohamad B , Sahwan, Oudai , Jamal, Fares , Zhu, Mojun , Hálfdánarson, Þorvarður R. , Jin, Zhaohui , Babiker, Hani M. , Bekaii‐Saab, Tanios , Starr, Jason S. , Sonbol, Mohamad Bassam

JCO Precision Oncology | March 25, 2026 | Volume: 10 | Issue: 3 | Pages: No page available

10.1200/po-25-01194 Get It

PURPOSE Gastroesophageal carcinoma (GEC) is increasingly managed using biomarker-guided therapies. Although both tissue DNA (tDNA) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing are used clinically, the concordance of genomic alterations between primary tumors, metastatic sites, and liquid biopsy remains incompletely understood. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 345 patients with GEC who underwent ctDNA testing at Mayo Clinic. tDNA next-generation sequencing and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 ( ERBB2 ) and mismatch repair (MMR) were collected. Concordance was evaluated between ctDNA and tDNA, ctDNA and IHC, and across all three modalities, using 60-day and 30-day intervals. RESULTS Among 345 patients with ctDNA testing, 186 had tDNA testing, and 310 underwent IHC. ctDNA testing showed a shorter turnaround time than tDNA (median 6 v 13 days). The most frequent alteration in ctDNA, primary tDNA, and metastatic tDNA was TP53. Concordance between ctDNA and primary tDNA was ≥78.8% for key genes; between ctDNA and metastatic tDNA, it was ≥84.8%. IHC-ctDNA concordance was higher in metastatic tumors, with 91.1% for HER2/ ERBB2 and 97.7% for mismatch repair (MMR)/microsatellite instability (MSI) compared with 81.1% and 95.8%, respectively, in primary tumors. Triplet concordance for MSI/MMR was 97.6% in primary tumors and 100% in metastatic tumors, while ERBB2 /HER2 showed 84.4% and 93.9% concordance, respectively. ctDNA temporal heterogeneity analysis revealed 14 patients with fluctuating ERBB2 status and 3 with fluctuating MSI-H status. CONCLUSION ctDNA testing demonstrates high concordance with tDNA and IHC and offers faster turnaround. Given its minimally invasive nature and strong concordance with tissue-based testing, ctDNA is a reliable tool for genomic profiling and longitudinal monitoring in GEC.
Time Toxicity in Patients With Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer Receiving Gemcitabine Plus Cisplatin With or Without Durvalumab
Okano, N., Pirozzi, Angelo, O'Donnell, C., Hayashi, Masato, Usón, Pedro Luiz Serrano, Hoyek, Celine , Abidoye, Oluseyi , Eslinger, Cody , Zheng-Lin, Binbin , Elliott, Natalie , Zhou, Yumei , Ahn, Daniel, Wu, Christina, Nishioka, Mariko, Sato, Taro , Teixeira, Maria Fernanda , Sforzin, Isabella, Babiker, Hani M., Tran, Nguyen H., Rimassa, Lorenza, Nagashima, Fumio, Bekaii-Saab, Tanios, Borad, Mitesh J., Usón, Pedro Luiz Serrano , O'Donnell, C. , Uson, Pedro L S , Elliott, Natalie , O'Donnell, Conor D J , Abidoye, Oluseyi , Okano, Naohiro , Pirozzi, Angelo , Hayashi, Masato , Raupach, Elizabeth A. , Petit, Joachim L. , Ahn, Daniel H. , Sonbol, Mohamad Bassam , Babiker, Hani M. , Majeed, Umair , Tran, Nguyen H. , Rimassa, Lorenza , Nagashima, Fumio , Hironaka, Shuichi , Bekaii‐Saab, Tanios , Borad, Mitesh J.

JCO Oncology Advances | March 12, 2026 | Volume: 3 | Issue: 1 | Pages: No page available

10.1200/oa-25-00126 Get It

PURPOSE For patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC), cancer-related time spent in health care systems, time toxicity, represents a critical but understudied burden affecting quality of life. This study aimed to quantify time toxicity in patients receiving first-line systemic therapy and evaluate whether the addition of durvalumab to gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) increases health care contact time. METHODS This international, multicenter, retrospective cohort study included patients with advanced BTC seen between January 2019 and April 2024 at Mayo Clinic Enterprise (US), and between January 2021 and April 2024 at Kyorin University Hospital (Japan), and Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (Brazil). Patients received GC plus durvalumab (GCD) or GC. Time toxicity was recorded from treatment initiation until discontinuation or last follow-up during first-line systemic therapy. Multiple regression analysis identified factors associated with high time toxicity. RESULTS Among 193 patients (102 GCD, 91 GC; median age 65 years; 50% male; 49% Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status [PS] 0), median time on treatment (TOT) was 156 days (95% CI, 122 to 190). The median proportion of total time toxicity was 14.4% (IQR, 10.9-20.6). Planned visits accounted for 11.9%, while unplanned visits were infrequent (1.8%). Time toxicity strongly correlated with TOT ( r = 0.824) and progression-free survival ( r = 0.827). Despite longer treatment in the GCD group than the GC group (212 v 134 days; P = .027), total time toxicity was similar (27 v 18 days; P = .19). Younger age and poor PS were independent factors of higher time toxicity. CONCLUSION Time toxicity represents a meaningful metric that allows for more comprehensive integration of the net benefit in patients with advanced BTC with a limited lifespan.
Transplant Oncology in Evolution: Emerging Roles for Liver Transplant Beyond Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Abdelhakeem, Ahmed , O’donnell, Conor D., Elantably, Dina , Adeoye, Oluwatayo , Babiker, Hani M., Starr, Jason, Yang, Liu, LeGout, Jordan D. , Toskich, Beau, Harnois, Denise M. , Jones, Jeremy C., Croome, Kristopher P., Majeed, Umair , Babiker, Hani M. , Starr, Jason S. , Croome, Kristopher P. , Jones, Jeremy , Toskich, Beau B. , O'Donnell, C. , Elantably, Dina , Abdelhakeem, Ahmed , O'Donnell, Conor D J , Babiker, Hani , Starr, Jason , Toskich, Beau , Jones, Jeremy C , Croome, Kris P , Majeed, Umair , Elantably, Dina

Cancers | March 10, 2026 | Volume: 18 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 887

10.3390/cancers18060887 Get It

Liver transplantation has emerged as a curative treatment option for selected patients with unresectable hepatic malignancies beyond hepatocellular carcinoma, marking a paradigm shift in transplant oncology. For colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM), prospective trials have demonstrated that highly selected patients achieve 5-year OS rates of 60–83%, with the Oslo score identifying optimal candidates for transplantation. Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) has been successfully treated using strict patient selection criteria combined with neoadjuvant therapy, achieving 5-year OS rates of 50–68%, though emerging data suggests chemotherapy-based approaches may be preferable to radiation in selected cases. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), previously considered a contraindication to transplantation, can now achieve excellent long-term outcomes (79.5% 5-year OS) in patients demonstrating sustained response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radioembolization, with metabolic tumor volume < 70 cm3 serving as an objective prognostic marker. Across these three emerging indications, successful outcomes depend on strict patient selection based on tumor biology, intensive multimodal neoadjuvant therapy, multidisciplinary evaluation in high-volume centers, and careful observation during treatment to exclude patients with aggressive disease. This evolution in transplant practice offers curative intent therapy to patients that previously only had palliative therapeutic options, fundamentally transforming hepatobiliary and oncologic surgery.
Correlative Biomarker Analysis of PSMA Expression on CTCs and PSMA Imaging in a Phase I Study of PSMA-Targeted Tubulysin Conjugate EC1169
Zaidi, Samir , Kuo, Phillip H. , Prudente, Tiago Paiva, Lacuna, Kristine P. , Babiker, Hani M., Aparicio, Renan , Schonhoft, Joseph D. , Fernandez, Luisa , Messmann, Richard , Groaning, Michael , Tolcher, Anthony W., Gordon, Michael S. , Yoo, Don C. , Vaishampayan, Ulka, Petrylak, Daniel P., Sartor, Oliver, Morris, Michael J., Vaishampayan, Ulka N. , Babiker, Hani M. , Kuo, Phillip H. , Messmann, Richard A. , Lacuna, Kristine Peregrino , Paiva Prudente, Tiago , Babiker, Hani , Tolcher, Anthony W. , Vaishampayan, Ulka , Picus, Joel , Petrylak, Daniel P , Sartor, A Oliver , Morris, Michael J , Groaning, Michael D., Picus, Joel , Petrylak, Daniel P. , Morris, Michael J.

Clinical Cancer Research | January 27, 2026 | Volume: 32 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 1766-1776

10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-25-2313 Get It

Abstract Purpose: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)–directed therapies provide meaningful clinical benefit in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), yet responses remain limited, underscoring the need for additional biomarkers of PSMA expression heterogeneity. In this study, we explored the relationship between PSMA imaging and PSMA expression on circulating tumor cells (CTC) in our early-phase trial using a PSMA-targeted small molecule. Experimental Design: This phase I study investigated EC1169, a small molecule conjugated to a tubulysin analog warhead, and 99mTc–EC0652, a PSMA imaging agent. Part A (dose escalation) identified the recommended phase II dose. Part B (dose expansion) assessed radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) as its primary endpoint. We enrolled and treated 103 patients with mCRPC. Most part B patients underwent 99mTc–EC0652 PSMA imaging. A CTC assay assessed PSMA-positive CTCs and their association with response and PSMA imaging. Results: 99mTc–EC0652 single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging demonstrated increased sensitivity for detecting bone lesions compared with standard scans (computed tomography/bone scans). Using an optimized CTC assay, we observed that patients with a decrease in PSMA+ CTCs at baseline versus C3D1 displayed a longer rPFS (8 vs. 2.9 months; P = 0.04). Importantly, patients with predominantly PSMA-positive disease on 99mTc–EC0652 imaging also harbored PSMA-negative CTCs, with a subset displaying neuroendocrine prostate cancer–like morphology. Conclusions: Although EC1169 showed limited activity, CTC and imaging analyses showed significant heterogeneity in PSMA expression on CTCs in patients with predominantly PSMA-positive lesions on SPECT. Our study highlights the importance of assessing both PSMA-based CTC and imaging assays in future validation trials.
Subgroup analyses from the phase 3 PANOVA-3 trial of tumor treating fields (TTFields) with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma: Efficacy and safety by sex, age, and body mass index (BMI).
Babiker, Hani M., Macarulla, Teresa, Philip, Philip Agop, Ueno, Makoto, Newton, Herbert B. , Shroff, Rachna T. , Senellart, Hélène, Brenner, Warren, Matrana, Marc Ryan, Lou, E M Saiz, Kundranda, Madappa N. , Jiang, Yixing , Cutsem, Eric Van, Seufferlein, Thomas, Picozzi, Vincent J. , Babiker, Hani M. , Macarulla, Teresa , Dragovich, Tomislav , Matrana, Marc , Cutsem, Eric Van , Seufferlein, Thomas

Journal of Clinical Oncology | January 12, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 2_suppl | Pages: 707-707

10.1200/jco.2026.44.2_suppl.707 Get It

707 Background: Due to insufficient data, therapy for unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LAPAC) is based on trials in metastatic disease, and outcomes remain poor. TTFields disrupt cancer cell division using alternating low-frequency electric fields delivered externally by a portable device. In the phase 3 PANOVA-3 trial (NCT03377491), TTFields with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (GnP) significantly improved overall survival (OS; HR 0.82) and pain-free survival (HR 0.74) vs GnP in patients with unresectable LAPAC. Methods: In PANOVA-3, patients with newly diagnosed LAPAC were randomized 1:1 to receive GnP with or without concomitant TTFields. Kaplan-Meier methodology was used for time-to-event analyses. Response evaluations were based on RECIST V1.1. OS, pain-free survival, and safety were analyzed post-hoc in subgroups based on sex (male, female), age ( < 65, ≥65 years), and BMI (<25, ≥25 kg/m 2 for efficacy; ≤20, 20–25, 25–30, ≥30 kg/m 2 for safety). Differences between treatment arms were compared using the log-rank test. Results: Efficacy outcomes are shown in the table. TTFields significantly extended pain-free survival in females and patients ≥65 years. Device-related adverse events (AEs) were comparable between sexes, older and younger patients, and across BMI ranges. Some device-related skin adverse events occurred more frequently in females (e.g. dermatitis, 33.1% vs 22.7%; rash 21.8% vs 13.5%, females vs males, respectively); others occurred more often in males (e.g. maculo-papular rash, 9.8% vs 14.2%; erythema, 9% vs 12.1%, females vs males, respectively). Dermatitis and pruritus had a higher incidence in the BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 subgroup (38.5%), whereas patients with BMI <30 kg/m 2 did not show noticeable differences in device-related AEs. Skin irritation (11.5% vs 5.5%) and skin reactions (8.5% vs 2.8%) were more common in patients ≥65 years than patients <65 years. Conclusions: Median OS and pain-free survival in these post-hoc subgroup analyses are generally consistent with the overall analysis, supporting use of TTFields with GnP in unresectable LAPAC. No new safety concerns were noted; observations were consistent with the general PANOVA-3 population. Clinical trial information: NCT03377491 . Survival outcomes for the subgroup analyses. Median OS, months TTFields + GnP GnP P value Age<65 years≥65 years 18.6 (n=113)15.4 (n=172) 16.0 (n=114)12.9 (n=172) 0.2060.061 SexFemaleMale 16.8 (n=138)15.7 (n=147) 14.5 (n=161)13.4 (n=125) 0.1140.145 BMI<25≥25 16.7 (n=166)16.2 (n=117) 14.2 (n=174)14.5 (n=108) 0.1550.105 Median pain-free survival, months Age<65 years≥65 years 16.5 (n=113)13.1 (n=172) 9.2 (n=114)8.3 (n=172) 0.4070.035 SexFemaleMale 16.5 (n=138)15.2 (n=147) 8.3 (n=161)9.3 (n=125) 0.0260.478 BMI<25≥25 16.6 (n=166)14.7 (n=117) 9.1 (n=174)8.3 (n=108) 0.1170.088
Clinico-genomic characterization of TP53 / CDKN2A co-alteration and its prognostic value in biliary tract cancer (BTC).
Pirozzi, Angelo , Teixeira, Maria Fernanda Botelho, Hoyek, Celine , Okano, Naohiro, Fonkoua, Lionel Aurelien Kankeu, Babiker, Hani M., Imai, Mitsuho , Morizane, Chigusa , Bando, Hideaki, Fujisawa, Takao , Tran, Nguyen H., Nakamura, Y., Yoshino, Takayuki, Rimassa, Lorenza, Ikeda, Masafumi, Bekaii-Saab, Tanios S., Shibuki, Taro , Teixeira, Maria Fernanda Botelho, Okano, Naohiro , Fonkoua, Lionel Aurelien Kankeu , Babiker, Hani M. , Bando, Hideaki , Majeed, Umair , Tran, Nguyen H. , Yoshino, Takayuki , Rimassa, Lorenza , Usón, Pedro Luiz Serrano , Borad, Mitesh J. , Ikeda, Masafumi , Bekaii‐Saab, Tanios

Journal of Clinical Oncology | January 12, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 2_suppl | Pages: 593-593

10.1200/jco.2026.44.2_suppl.593 Get It

593 Background: TP53 and CDKN2A are the most frequently mutated tumor suppressors in BTC, each linked to poor outcomes. Their co-alteration remains unexplored due to the current single-gene classification. Methods: This is an international multicenter study involving 35 institutions across 3 continents (North America, Asia, South America). Genomic profiling was performed on tissue or blood samples using NGS. Patients (pts) were categorized as wild-type (wt) TP53/ wt CDKN2A (WT/WT) (42%), mutated (mut) TP53 /wt CDKN2A (45%), wt TP53 /mut CDKN2A (5%), mut TP53 /mut CDKN2A (8%). Associations between TP53 / CDKN2A status , clinical and genomic features were evaluated using Chi-squared/Kruskal-Wallis tests adjusted for multiple comparisons. Overall survival (OS) from start of first-line systemic therapy was analyzed by Kaplan–Meier and multivariate Cox regression (covariates: age, sex, stage, primary site, first-line treatment, TP53/CDKN2A status), p or q<0.05. Results: We included 1079 pts with BTC. Median age 66 years with intrahepatic BTC (46%), gallbladder cancer (25%), extrahepatic BTC (22%), undefined (6%), ampullary cancer (< 1%). Most had de novo metastatic disease (54%), followed by recurrent (38%) and locally advanced disease (8%). Treatment regimens included chemotherapy (87%), chemo-immunotherapy (12%) and immunotherapy alone (<1%). The most frequently actionable genes were HER2 (8%), IDH1 (7%), BRAF (6%), FGFR2 fusions (4%), MSI-High (H) (3%). HER2 alterations were prevalent in mut TP53 /wt CDKN2A vs WT/WT (11 vs 4%, q = 0.002). IDH1 alterations were more frequent in WT/WT vs TP53 mut/wt CDKN2A (10 vs 4%, q < 0.001). FGFR2 fusions were more common in wt TP53 /mut CDKN2A vs WT/WT (17 vs 6%, q < 0.001), mut TP53 /mut CDKN2A (17 vs 3%, q = 0.001) and mut TP53 /wt CDKN2A (17 vs 1%, q < 0.001). MSI-H was enriched in mut TP53 /mut CDKN2A vs wt TP53 /mut CDKN2A (11 vs 2%, q = 0.035), mut TP53 /wt CDKN2A (11 vs 3%, q = 0.002) and WT/WT (11 vs 2%, q < 0.001). TMB-H was more prevalent in mut TP53 /mut CDKN2A vs mut TP53 /wt CDKN2A (16 vs 8%, q < 0.001) and WT/WT (16 vs 3%, q < 0.024). There was no significant difference in ORR, DCR and PFS among the four groups. mut TP53 /mut CDKN2A had the shortest median OS, while WT/WT had the longest (Table). Only 14% of mut TP53 /mut CDKN2A received regimens including immunotherapy. Conclusions: mut TP53 /mut CDKN2A represents a high-risk subset enriched with MSI-H and TMB-H pts, underscoring the need to prioritize the development of immunotherapy strategies. TP53 / CDKN2A status is prognostic, stratifying patients into distinct survival groups and supporting NGS use in the first-line setting. mOS (months) (95% CI) HR (95% CI) P-value WT/WT 21.4 (19.0-24.4) reference wt TP53 /mut CDKN2A 17.3 (12.4-25.9) 1.16 (0.79-1.71) 0.442 mut TP53 /wt CDKN2A 17.4 (16.0-19.2) 1.21 (1.01-1.45) 0.040 mut TP53 /mut CDKN2A 13.8 (11.5-18.1) 1.54 (1.13-2.09) <0.001