E-News - May 2026
Spotlight on Alliance Research in the News
Highlighting Alliance Progress and Impact in Research through News Reports
At the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, we love sharing stories that show what’s happening in cancer research right now. Whether it’s a new clinical trial, a scientific breakthrough, or the work of one of our dedicated investigators, we want people to see the progress being made, and the real humans behind it.
These stories help explain why clinical trials matter so much in improving cancer care. They give providers information on research that could change the way they treat patients, and they help patients and their caregivers discover studies that might offer new options. Most importantly, these articles raise awareness of our work and build trust in the people bringing new solutions to patients.
By getting these stories out into the world through media and outreach, we’re broadening awareness, encouraging collaboration, and helping move innovation forward. It all brings us closer to what we’re here to do: finding better treatments and better outcomes for everyone facing cancer.
Below are links to some of our recent media coverage.
Recent publications
Antidepressant unable to prevent chemo-related nerve pain
A new randomized trial has found that duloxetine, a common antidepressant, does not prevent nerve damage caused by chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer. The primary analysis of Alliance A221805 was published in JCO Oncology Advances, reported The Cancer Letter, ASCO Post, National Today, Medical Xpress, Doctor’s Guide, FirstWord Pharma, Science Magazine, UAB News, Drugs.com, News Medical, Mirage News, OncoDaily, Life Technology, Ophthalmology Now, Bioengineer, and Romania’s Monitorul de Stiri. The reports are based on an Alliance news story.
ATOMIC trial establishes new standard of care for some colon cancers
Immunotherapy added to chemotherapy after surgery significantly improves outcomes for patients with some colon cancers, according to the results of the Alliance’s ATOMIC trial (Alliance A021502) published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The trial results will change the standard of care for this subset of stage III colon cancer, reported Cure Today, The Cancer Letter, HealthDay, 2 Minute Medicine, Drugs.com, PharmCube, Source Report, OncologyTube, OncoDaily, Richmond Today, OncLive, Investing.com, Oncology Brothers Podcast, Mirage News, Bionegineer, Newsbreak, Italy’s Corriere Nazionale, Archyde, Dana-Farber Research News, Poland’s Termedia and China’s SOHU. The news articles are based on an Alliance release.
AFT-46 shows immunotherapy and chemo improve lung cancer outcomes
New findings of an Alliance Foundation Trials study show combining immunotherapy and chemotherapy before surgery improves outcomes for some patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, according to the results of AFT-46/CHIO3 published in Lung Cancer, reported MedPage Today, Science Magazine, Life Technology, Arabic Euronews, and Medical Xpress. The articles are based on an Alliance news story.
Drug therapy reduces hot flashes from prostate cancer treatment
A trial led by Bradley Stish, MD, has found that oxybutynin, a drug used to treat overactive bladder symptoms, reduces hot flashes in men receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer, reported Cancer Network and Cancer Today. The story is based news release on the results of Alliance A222001 published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Alliance trial awareness
Importance of clinical trials
Clinical trials like those organized by the Alliance are an important way for patients to get access to new and improving treatments and help improve survival from cancer, reported Forbes and Yahoo! Health News.
New trial targets vaginal health issues after breast cancer treatments
The Alliance is enrolling patients in a clinical trial aimed at helping women recover from vaginal side effects of breast cancer treatment. The REVITALIZE study (Alliance A221801) is testing laser therapy helps reduce vaginal dryness caused by breast cancer treatment, a painful side effect that can cause significant discomfort for many cancer survivors, reported Cure Today, MedPage, MSN News, The Cancer Letter, News Medical, Gene Online, Science Magazine, Bioengineer, France’s Why Doctor?, and Romania’s Monitorul de Stiri. An Alliance news story was the source.
Alliance supports head and neck cancer awareness
In recognition of April being Head and Neck Cancer Awareness month, the Alliance shared information on all its active clinical trials available to this population, reported Bright Surf, Science Magazine and EurekAlert. The information was based on an Alliance news story.
AYA Awareness Week
The Alliance marked Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week by highlighting clinical trials specifically created to address issues affecting 85,000 adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 15 to 39 diagnosed with cancer each year. Coverage appeared in Science Magazine and Spain’s Notiulti. The articles were based on an Alliance news story.
Study chairs discuss importance of the ASPIRE trial
Deepak Kilari, MD, and Rana McKay, MD, talked to the GU Cast podcast about the importance of the new ASPIRE trial (Alliance A032302). The phase III trial is currently recruiting 1,200 participants from 300 sites to answer the question of it adding chemotherapy to metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer improves outcomes.
Alliance trial aims to improve outcomes for leukemia and lymphoma
Led by Jennifer Brown, MD, PhD, the Alliance has launched Alliance A042302 for adults who need first-line therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma, reported Ad Hoc News. The article is based on an Alliance news story.
Alliance trials improve breast cancer outcomes
Results of Alliance studies are helping women with HER-2 positive breast cancer according to articles in Memsita and News USA Today. The articles are based on Alliance research presented at the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Testicular cancer trial awareness
A recent article in The Oncology Pharmacist highlighted ongoing clinical trials for testicular cancer, including Alliance A031702, Testing the Effectiveness of Two Immunotherapy Drugs (Nivolumab and Ipilimumab) With One Anti-cancer Targeted Drug (Cabozantinib) for Rare Genitourinary Tumors, led by Andrea Apolo, MD. A recent OncLive article quoted Bradley McGregory, MD, saying he looks forward to the results of the Alliance TIGER trial, Alliance A031102.
