Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have uncovered a functional role for KRAS mutations in pancreatic cancer and rapidly translated these findings into a novel therapeutic approach combining a KRAS G12D inhibitor with immune checkpoint inhibitors for early- and late-stage KRAS G12D-mutant pancreatic cancer. The combination therapy led to durable tumor elimination and significantly improved survival outcomes in preclinical models, leading to the launch of a phase I clinical trial.
Lauren Averett Byers, professor of thoracic/head & neck medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, received the 2025 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Medicine from the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology. The award recognizes her fundamental discoveries and contributions to identifying novel therapeutic strategies for small cell lung cancer, which have paved the way for personalized treatments, even in the most highly recalcitrant cancers.
