ICYMI: Highlights From AACR 2025

Each year, certain developments in oncology rise above the rest—either for their clinical impact, their potential to shift standards of care, or simply because they capture the imagination of clinicians, researchers, and patients alike. In 2025, readers gravitated toward stories spanning cutting-edge immunotherapy, emerging targets like RAS, lifestyle-related cancer risks, and promising early-phase science presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting.

From immunotherapy breakthroughs to early-stage scientific advances shaping the next generation of cancer care, these were the top oncology stories from AACR. | Image credit: Pixel-Shot - stock.adobe.com

Here are the 5 most-viewed AACR pieces of 2025.

5. Proving the Concept: A Sampler of Early-Stage Science at AACR 2025

Among the standout developments were SENTI-202, an off-the-shelf chimeric antigen receptor natural killer–cell therapy that produced complete remissions in a subset of patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia, and CHS-114, a novel antibody targeting CCR8-positive regulatory T cells with the potential to reprogram the tumor microenvironment in head-and-neck cancers. The roundup also featured encouraging data on micvotabart pelidotin, an antibody–drug conjugate that targets the EDB+ fibronectin domain to disrupt tumor structure across several solid tumors. Collectively, these early signals offer more than incremental progress. they represent concept-proving science with the potential to redefine treatment approaches in the years ahead.

Read the full article.

4. From “Super-Skeptical” Beginnings, a New Immune-Modulatory Vaccine Awaits Phase 3 Results

This piece explored the development of an immunomodulatory vaccine designed not to prevent disease but to reshape immune responses against existing conditions—a departure from traditional vaccine use. Its move toward phase 3 trials speaks to the broader shift in oncology to harnessing and recalibrating the immune system in increasingly sophisticated ways. The article tracked how therapeutic vaccines might complement or even enhance established modalities like checkpoint blockade and adoptive cell therapy. With a pivotal trial now underway, many are waiting to see whether the early promise can translate into durable, clinically meaningful benefit.

Read the full article.

3. Addressing KRAS Resistance: RAS(ON) Therapies Find Limelight at AACR

The long-standing challenge of targeting KRAS—once considered undruggable—remains a focal point of oncology research. The AACR 2025 updates on “RAS-(ON)” inhibitors, which aim to neutralize active forms of the protein driving tumor growth, struck a chord with oncologists who routinely confront KRAS-mutant cancers in the clinic. As RAS-targeting strategies expand and mature, the article highlighted a path toward more effective options for patients with KRAS-driven lung, colorectal, pancreatic, and other malignancies.

Read the full article.

2. Ultraprocessed Foods Tied to Higher Cancer Risk

This interview spotlighted new epidemiologic findings linking high consumption of ultraprocessed foods with an elevated risk of developing cancer, drawing in clinicians, researchers, and consumers interested in the intersection of diet and cancer prevention. The analysis presented by Mingyang Song, MBBS, ScD, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, emphasized that although the overall association is statistically modest, the relationship appears consistent—particularly for colorectal cancer among men. This interview reflects rising awareness of lifestyle factors in cancer risk, as well as an appetite for clearer guidance on how diet contributes to long-term health outcomes.

Watch the full interview.

1. Patients With Multiple Types of Mismatch Repair–Deficient Tumors Avoid Surgery With Dostarlimab

This year’s most-read story detailed a landmark phase 2 trial showing that patients with mismatch repair–deficient (dMMR) solid tumors achieved high rates of complete clinical response with dostarlimab, allowing many to forgo surgery entirely. The findings—82% complete response among evaluable patients and 92% recurrence-free survival at 2 years—captivated readers because they signal a potential paradigm shift in how dMMR tumors are managed across gastrointestinal and urothelial cancers. As early-onset gastrointestinal cancers continue to rise, the article highlighted a future in which immunotherapy-first strategies may offer curative outcomes without the morbidity of traditional operative approaches.

Read the full article.