Alliance -

E-News - February 2026
Media Spotlight on Alliance Research

Highlighting Alliance Progress & Impact In Research

Highlighting the progress and impact of cancer research, the Alliance shares stories about new clinical trials, scientific discoveries, and the achievements of our investigators. These features showcase the progress being made against cancer and the people driving it forward.

By sharing these stories, we raise awareness of the vital role clinical trials play in improving patient care, alert healthcare providers to practice-changing research, help patients discover potential treatment options, and build trust in the science behind our work. Amplifying these efforts through the media strengthens collaboration, accelerates innovation, and moves us closer to our mission of delivering better treatments and outcomes for people living with cancer.

Below are links to some of our recent media coverage.

Targeted therapy shows promise for patients with aggressive meningiomas
:: Alliance A071401

A national study led by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology has found that abemaciclib, an oral cancer drug, may slow tumor growth in patients with aggressive meningiomas that have specific genetic mutations, reported the ASCO Post. The news reports were based on an Alliance press release highlighting the results of Alliance A071401 published in Nature Medicine. The news was also covered by CURE, eCancer, Medical Xpress, Mirage News, Inside Precision Medicine and News Directory 3. Internationally, it was highlighted by Argentina’s Infobae, Japan’s Nippon News, Spain’s 24 News, China’s Mandarinian, News Bioon and Briefing, and Greece’s The Times, ePortal, and Iatropia.

Trial reveals gene variant may affect prostate cancer drug efficacy
:: Alliance A032201

Data from Alliance A032201 has uncovered a genetic factor that may inform how to optimize the dosing of abiraterone, a widely used hormone treatment for advanced prostate cancer, the ASCO Post reported based on an Alliance news story. Published in Clinical and Translational Science, this secondary analysis by Michael Morris, MD, and Nadine Norton, PhD, could lead to more personalized treatments for patients. The story was also covered by MSN News, Medical Xpress, OncoDaily, Health Medicine Network, Newsy Today, Newsbreak, South America’s NotiUlti and Germany’s Germanic News.

Alliance trial tests proactive chemotherapy dose adjustments for GI cancers
:: Alliance A232402CD/PAGODA

A new Alliance trial aims to minimize treatment disruptions for people with gastrointestinal cancers, reported MSN News and News Medical based on an Alliance news story. Led by study chair Gabriel Brooks, MD, MPH, of Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Alliance A232402CD/PAGODA will test a proactive approach to chemotherapy dose adjustments, aiming to minimize treatment interruptions and help patients complete their chemotherapy as planned.

Targeted therapy extends survival for advanced breast cancer
:: AFT-38/PATINA

An international study led by the Alliance Foundation Trials has found that the targeted therapy palbociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, added to standard maintenance therapy extends survival by more than 15 months compared with standard therapy alone, reported eCancer and 2-Minute Medicine. The news reports were based on an Alliance news release on AFT-38 published in the New England Journal of Medicine. NewsUSA Today, Time.News, Cancer Today Magazine, CURE, News Medical, Cancer Network, OncoDaily, First Word Pharma, Technology Networks, Archyde, China’s 360 Doc, Mexico’s Gaceta Medica, and Spain’s iSanidad and NoticiaSalud also reported on the news.

Prostate cancer trial seeks to reduce toxicity without sacrificing efficacy
:: Alliance A032304/RECIPROCAL

The Alliance has launched a randomized clinical trial to explore whether doctors can optimize the timing of targeted radiation therapy to minimize side effects while preserving efficacy in men with advanced prostate cancer, reported Aunt Minnie. The story was based on an Alliance news release on Alliance A032304/RECIPROCAL led by Thomas Hope, MD, of UCSF and Deaglan McHugh, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The story was also covered by MSN News, Oncology News Australia, Radiology Network Services, First Word Pharma, Cancer Letter, eCancer, AuntMinnie, News Medical, Barchart, StemCell101, HealthTost, and India's Guwahati Mail.

Blood test may help identify which colon cancer patients benefit from NSAIDs
:: CALGB (Alliance) 80702

A blood test could help doctors decide which patients with colon cancer should receive anti-inflammatory medication along with chemotherapy after surgery, according to a study appearing in JAMA Oncology based on data from CALGB (Alliance) 80702. Media coverage in Physician’s Weekly and OncoZine was based on an Alliance news story citing authors George Q. Zhang, MD, MPH, of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Jeffrey Meyerhardt, MD, MPH, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Importance of research for esophageal cancers

Realizing that not every esophageal cancer can be caught early, researchers are working on more effective treatments that are less disruptive to patients’ lives, wrote Alliance member and CALGB young investigator recipient Daniel Boffa, MD, of Yale School of Medicine. “It is critical that we continue to support esophageal cancer research so the battles with cancer today can help bring us a better way of fighting cancer tomorrow,” he said in U.S. News and World Report. The article was reshared by Health Day, Medicine Net and Drugs.com.

Coffee consumption may be beneficial to people with colorectal cancer
:: CALGB (Alliance) 89803

Research shows regular consumption of coffee may be beneficial for people with colorectal cancer, reported Germany’s Die Huetigen Nachrichten and Canada’s Les Actualites. The news articles cite the results of CALGB (Alliance) 89803 published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2015.