Researchers from Mass General Brigham are poised to unveil groundbreaking advancements in cancer therapy and supportive care at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. This prestigious event, convening the world’s foremost oncology experts from May 30 to June 3 in Chicago, will showcase pioneering investigations from clinical trials conducted across Mass General Brigham institutions. The research spanning innovative immunotherapies, novel radiation techniques, and psychosocial digital health tools promises to redefine the paradigms of cancer treatment and patient support.
A prominent presentation will focus on the INCIPIENT trial, an avant-garde phase I clinical study investigating CAR T-cell therapy engineered to combat recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). GBM remains one of the most aggressive and heterogeneous brain tumors, presenting considerable obstacles due to its complex antigenic landscape. To surmount these challenges, investigators developed a dual-action CAR T-cell product, termed CARv3-TEAM-E, which not only targets the EGFRvIII mutation predominant in GBM but also secretes T-cell Engaging Antibody Molecules (TEAMs) directed at wild-type EGFR. This dual-targeting approach is designed to broaden the immune attack on tumor heterogeneity, potentially improving therapeutic efficacy.
Initial findings from the INCIPIENT study indicate that intraventricular delivery of CARv3-TEAM-E cells results in sustained presence of CAR T cells within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for a mean duration exceeding one month. The immunological milieu within the CSF revealed dynamic fluctuations, with an immediate influx of granulocytes, natural killer cells, B cells, and monocytes post-infusion that gradually subsided over several weeks. These data provide crucial insights into the local immune dynamics elicited by CAR T-cell therapy in the central nervous system and underscore the potential for modulating the tumor microenvironment.
.adsslot_5wFAEj4tZT{width:728px !important;height:90px !important;}
@media(max-width:1199px){ .adsslot_5wFAEj4tZT{width:468px !important;height:60px !important;}
}
@media(max-width:767px){ .adsslot_5wFAEj4tZT{width:320px !important;height:50px !important;}
}
ADVERTISEMENT
Complementing these immunological studies, the phase I safety assessment of CARv3-TEAM-E demonstrated successful manufacturing of CAR T cells for all enrolled patients and tolerable safety profiles following lymphodepleting chemotherapy regimens. Patients received up to six intraventricular doses via Ommaya catheter after preconditioning with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, indicating feasible delivery strategies for maximizing local immune engagement while managing toxicity. This safety and feasibility evidence forms a foundational step towards expanding CAR T therapeutics for GBM—a domain historically marked by limited treatment options.
Beyond oncologic immunotherapy, the Mass General Brigham team unveiled an innovative psychosocial digital application aimed at transforming supportive care for caregivers of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Recognizing that caregivers endure significant psychological distress and quality of life impairments, the BMT-CARE App was designed as a scalable, self-guided intervention to address these unmet needs. A rigorously conducted randomized controlled trial demonstrated that engagement with this app yielded statistically significant improvements in caregiver quality of life, coping strategies, and reductions in depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms, representing a promising digital health advancement in oncology supportive care.
In addressing another pressing clinical challenge, investigators led by Dr. Ayal A. Aizer from Brigham and Women’s Hospital presented findings from a multicenter phase 3 randomized trial evaluating stereotactic radiation (SRS/SRT) versus hippocampal avoidance whole brain radiation (HA-WBRT) in patients harboring multiple brain metastases. Prior studies had established SRS as superior for patients with four or fewer lesions, but evidence in cases with 5 to 20 metastases was lacking. This trial compellingly demonstrated that SRS/SRT not only reduced symptom severity and improved functional outcomes compared to HA-WBRT but did so without compromising overall survival, advocating for revision of current radiotherapeutic standards in patients with multiple brain metastases.
Moving into gynecologic oncology, a phase II study led by Dr. Oladapo O. Yeku explored the therapeutic synergy of cisplatin-sensitized radiation therapy combined with pembrolizumab in patients with unresectable vulvar cancer—a malignancy that disproportionately affects underserved patient populations and has witnessed rising incidence and mortality. This single-arm trial enrolled primarily patients with primary unresectable disease and revealed promising improvements in overall response rates and six-month recurrence-free survival, heralding potential new frontline strategies via combination immunotherapy and chemoradiation.
In the realm of cutaneous malignancies, frontline research presented by Dr. Meghan Mooradian detailed a randomized phase II investigation comparing neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy alone versus combined anti-PD-1 and anti-TIM-3 blockade in high-risk resectable melanoma. Although specifics remain embargoed until the conference date, this study highlights the cutting-edge exploration of checkpoint inhibitor combinations designed to overcome therapeutic resistance and improve pathological response rates prior to surgical intervention.
Collectively, the array of presentations from Mass General Brigham at ASCO 2025 underscores a multifaceted approach to cancer research, encompassing sophisticated immunotherapies exploiting tumor heterogeneity, precision radiation techniques optimizing neurocognitive preservation, and digital tools enhancing caregiver support. Such integrative efforts reflect the institution’s commitment to advancing cancer care through innovation not only in tumor-directed treatments but encompassing patient and family-centered interventions.
With rapidly evolving therapeutic landscapes, these investigational studies demonstrate how next-generation strategies can address long-standing barriers to effective cancer management. The dual-antigen targeting CAR T cells for GBM represent a paradigm shift in immunotherapy deployment within the central nervous system, overcoming antigen escape and tumor heterogeneity. Meanwhile, the positive psychosocial outcomes associated with the BMT-CARE App herald a transformative leap in digitizing oncology support services, potentiating scalability and personalization.
Similarly, the phase 3 radiation trial offers a compelling evidence base to expand the application of SRS to patients traditionally relegated to whole brain radiation, potentially redefining standards of care with tangible quality of life benefits. In vulvar cancer, the integration of immune checkpoint blockade with chemoradiation opens avenues toward improved survival in an underserved malignancy, while neoadjuvant checkpoint combinations in melanoma continue to refine the oncology precision toolkit.
As the field moves towards individualized, multi-dimensional cancer management, the forthcoming detailed data and peer-reviewed publications will be essential in translating these clinical findings into practice. The ASCO Annual Meeting will provide an invaluable forum for dissemination, discussion, and collaborative advancement, affirming Mass General Brigham’s pivotal role in shaping the future of oncology research and patient care.
Subject of Research: Innovative cancer therapies and supportive care strategies presented by Mass General Brigham researchers at ASCO 2025, including CAR T-cell therapy for glioblastoma, radiation treatment for brain metastases, immunotherapy for vulvar cancer and melanoma, and digital psychosocial interventions for hematopoietic stem cell transplant caregivers.
Article Title: Mass General Brigham Unveils Breakthroughs in Oncology at ASCO 2025: From Dual-Targeted CAR T-Cells to Digital Caregiver Support
News Publication Date: Not specified (to coincide with ASCO 2025, May 30 – June 3, 2025)
Web References:
https://meetings.asco.org/2025-asco-annual-meeting
https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org
Keywords: Cancer research, CAR T-cell therapy, glioblastoma, brain metastases, stereotactic radiation, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, psychosocial digital application, vulvar cancer, immunotherapy, melanoma, clinical trials, oncology innovation
Tags: advancements in cancer therapyASCO 2025 conference highlightscancer patient support strategiesCAR T-cell therapy for glioblastomadual-action CAR T-cell therapyglioblastoma treatment challengesINCIPIENT trial findingsinnovative immunotherapy developmentsMass General Brigham cancer researchnovel radiation techniques in cancer treatmentpsychosocial digital health tools in oncologytargeting EGFRvIII mutation in cancer
