Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified a stem-like state in small-cell lung cancer that distinguishes a group of patients with exceptionally poor outcomes following chemoimmunotherapy, according to a study published in Cell Reports Medicine.

Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified a stem-like state in small-cell lung cancer that distinguishes a group of patients with exceptionally poor outcomes following chemoimmunotherapy, according to a study published in Cell Reports Medicine.

Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified a stem-like state in small-cell lung cancer that identifies a group of patients with exceptionally poor outcomes following chemoimmunotherapy, accordin...

The effectiveness and optimal timing of matched targeted therapy after first-line chemoimmunotherapy in biliary tract cancer (BTC) remain uncertain. W…

FDA’s first-line approval of pirtobrutinib for CLL/SLL rests on a large progression-free survival gain over chemoimmunotherapy, but direct comparisons with today’s leading targeted regimens are still missing.

This study explores and validates the SENECA index, a novel prognostic index for patients with locally advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer treated with first-line therapy with cisplatin, gemc...

Background This study was aimed to assess the efficacy and potential role of laryngeal function preservation of toripalimab combined with TPF in locally advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcino...

A precision-engineered bacterial platform integrates enzyme/prodrug chemotherapy and immunotherapy to drive synergistic antitumor responses.

A precision-engineered bacterial platform integrates enzyme/prodrug chemotherapy and immunotherapy to drive synergistic antitumor responses.

A precision-engineered bacterial platform integrates enzyme/prodrug chemotherapy and immunotherapy to drive synergistic antitumor responses.

Background While immune checkpoint inhibitor-based neoadjuvant therapy shows promise in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC), the optimal regimen has yet to be established...

Read the full paper: A stem-like chromatin program in small-cell lung cancer is associated with poor outcomes after chemoimmunotherapy

Excess deaths seen in trial combining the BCL2 inhibitor with intensive initial regimen

Kumar et al. use ATAC-seq and transcriptomic analyses to define recurrent chromatin programs in small-cell lung cancer. A stem-like program is associated with metabolic adaptation, reduced immune signaling, and inferior outcomes after chemoimmunotherapy, supporting further development of chromatin-informed biomarkers and therapeutic strategies.

Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41571-026-01194-3The phase III FIGHT-302 trial demonstrated that the FGFR inhibitor pemigatinib improves progression-free survival and response rates versus first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced-stage FGFR2-rearranged cholangiocarcinoma. However, the trial accrued slowly and closed early after chemoimmunotherapy became the new standard of care. FIGHT-302, alongside two similarly terminated trials, highlights the need for innovative trial designs and flexible regulatory frameworks to evaluate therapies in rare, biomarker-defined populations.