Izalontamab brengitecan delayed breast cancer growth in a phase III trial

In a trial of 383 heavily treated patients in China with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, izalontamab brengitecan kept cancer from growing for 8.2 months, compared with 4.0 months with chemotherapy.

“The EGFR and HER3 bispecific antibody–drug conjugate izalontamab brengitecan significantly improved progression-free survival vs chemotherapy in heavily pretreated Chinese patients with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative (without extra HER2 protein) breast cancer, according to results from the multicenter phase 3 (large late-stage) PANKU-Breast01 trial presented during the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026 ( Abstract LBA50 ) and published by Lan et al in The Lancet . “These results suggest that [izalontamab brengitecan] could be a new treatment option for this population in China; however, further evaluation of [izalontamab brengitecan] in global populations and in earlier lines of therapy for HER2-negative breast cancer is warranted,” the investigators wrote.”

What this means. A large, final-stage trial in breast cancer. This is the kind of result regulators use when deciding whether to approve a treatment.

Pembrolizumab delays womb cancer growth in first-line trial

In a phase III trial of 299 people with advanced or recurrent womb cancer, pembrolizumab kept the cancer from growing for a median 38.2 months, compared with 8.4 months with carboplatin and paclitaxel.

What this means. A large, final-stage trial in womb cancer. This is the kind of result regulators use when deciding whether to approve a treatment.

Blood tests identified high-risk Ewing sarcoma patients

Researchers studied blood samples from 347 people with Ewing sarcoma in clinical trials. At diagnosis, certain tumor changes in the blood identified a high-risk group with 3.6 times the risk of cancer events.

“Prospective, trial-integrated circulating tumour DNA profiling provides comprehensive molecular characterization, reveals clinically relevant heterogeneity and clonal evolution, and identifies an independent molecular high-risk subgroup at diagnosis, supporting ctDNA-guided risk stratification in Ewing sarcoma.”

What this means. A mid-stage trial in sarcoma. Good results at this stage usually still need a larger trial before approval.

Ivonescimab showed tumor responses in resectable lung cancer trial

In a phase 2 trial, patients with resectable lung cancer received ivonescimab around surgery, alone or with chemotherapy; both groups had encouraging tumor responses.

What this means. A mid-stage trial in lung cancer. Good results at this stage usually still need a larger trial before approval.

Wake Forest names breast cancer specialist to lead new department

Wake Forest University School of Medicine appointed Antoinette R. Tan to lead its new cancer medicine department in Charlotte; she has led clinical trials of breast cancer treatments.

What this means. A large, final-stage trial in breast cancer. This is the kind of result regulators use when deciding whether to approve a treatment.

RNA vaccine boosted engineered T cells against glioblastoma in lab models

In glioblastoma models, an RNA vaccine helped transferred immune cells multiply, reaching up to 80% of circulating immune cells, and slowed tumor growth. In a model using human gliomas, the approach led to tumor rejection.

“In summary, these findings indicate that mRNA vaccines can boost TCR-T cell therapy against glioblastoma.”

What this means. Lab or animal research on brain cancer. Not yet tested as a treatment in people; many lab results never reach patients.

Researchers mapped varied cells in glioblastoma

Researchers mapped human glioblastoma tumors and found that their varied cancer cells followed a common path through the tumor.

What this means. Based on data or samples from people with brain cancer. It is not a treatment trial.