UAB O’Neal Cancer Center Showcases Research and Clinical Leadership at ASCO 2026
Faculty and researchers from the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) will join oncology professionals from around the world at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, taking place May 29 – June 2 in Chicago. Recognized as one of the field’s leading conferences, the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting highlights the latest advances in cancer research, treatment and patient care.
UAB O’Neal Cancer Center’s presence at ASCO 2026 reflects the breadth of its leadership in cancer discovery, clinical innovation, and patient-centered care. Research spanning precision oncology, hematologic malignancies, breast and gynecologic cancers, care delivery, and medical education will be presented.
Several UAB researchers and faculty members will be presenting in a variety of ways at this year’s meeting.
Maya Khalil, M.D., section chief of thoracic medical Oncology, associate professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UAB and associate scientist at the UAB O’Neal Cancer Center, will participate in a roundtable discussion for career development for International Medical Graduates.
May 31 | 10:15 – 11:00 a.m. CDT | Location: Hall C, Trainee and Early Career Lounge
Aakash Desai, M.D., MBBS, MPH, associate professor of Medicine at the UAB O’Neal Cancer Center and associate director of the Phase I and Precision Oncology Program, will chair a session on how artificial intelligence is helping close information gaps in oncology.
Oncology 2.0: How AI is Closing the Information Gap – or Is It?
May 31 | 9:45 – 11:15 a.m. CDT | Location: S102 | CE Credit 1.5
Gabrielle Rocque, M.D., associate professor of Medicine in the Divisions of Hematology & Oncology and Gerontology, Geriatrics, & Palliative Care at UAB, will chair a session on elevating the patient voice and is also presenting a poster on the impact of remote symptom monitoring on payor-specific healthcare costs.
Elevate the Patient Voice: Choosing the Right Patient-Cancered Endpoints in Modern Clinical Trials
May 31 | 9:45 – 11:15 a.m. CDT | Location: Hall D1 | Live Stream
Impact of Remote Symptom Monitoring Program on Payor-Specific Healthcare Costs
May 30 | 9:00 – 12:00 p.m. CDT | Location: Hall A – Posters and Exhibits
Abstract 1632 | Poster 550
Jorge Cortes, M.D., Chief of Hematology at UAB Medicine and Deputy Director of the UAB O’Neal Cancer Center, is presenting a poster on a new study he authored that found asciminib was effective and well-tolerated over 144 weeks in patients newly diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, compared with other commonly used treatments. Cortes will also be presenting a poster he co-authored on linking patient, disease, and genetic traits to long-term response to olutasidenib in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
ASC4FIRST wk 144 Analysis: Efficacy and Safety and Tolerability with Asciminib (ASC) vs Investigator-Selected Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (IS TKIs) in Newly Diagnosed (ND) Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase (CML-CP)
June 1 | 9:00 – 12:00 p.m. CDT | Location: Hall A – Posters and Exhibits
Abstract 6583 | Poster 376
Association of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patient, Disease, and Molecular Characteristics with a Long-Term (LT) Response to Olutasidenib
June 1 | 9:00 – 12:00 p.m. CDT | Location: Hall A – Posters and Exhibits
Abstract 6523 | Poster 316
Pankit Vachhani, M.D., associate professor of Medicine and Medical Director of Clinical Research Unit at UAB, is a co-author of the oral presentation on the findings of the Phase 3 SENTRY trial which added selinexor/placebo to ruxolitinib for JAK inhibitor naive patients with Int-1, 2, or high-risk myelofibrosis.
Selinexor Plus Ruxolitinib in JAK Inhibitor–Naïve Myelofibrosis: Phase 3 SENTRY Trial
June 2 | 9:45 – 12:45 p.m. CDT | Location: S100a – Oral Abstract Session | Live Stream
Abstract LBA6500
Humaira Sarfraz, M.D., MBBS, associate professor of Medicine and clinician-educator, Division of Hematology and Oncology at UAB, will present a poster on a phase II clinical trial studying whether a lower dose of capecitabine is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with advanced breast cancer.
Phase II Single-Arm Trial of Low-Dose Capecitabine in Patients with Advanced Breast Cancer
June 1 | 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. CDT | Location: Hall A – Posters and Exhibits
Abstract TPS1159 | Poster 265a
Mehmet Akce, M.D., Interim Chief of Oncology, Director of Phase I and Precision Medicine Program at UAB and Scientist at the UAB O’Neal Cancer Center, co-authored a poster on how tucatinib and subcutaneous trastuzumab may help treat patients with solid tumors that have ERBB2 alterations.
Tucatinib + Subcutaneous (SC) Trastuzumab (Tuc + Trast SC) in Patients (pts) with Solid Tumors with ERBB2 Alterations (alts): Results from the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) Study
May 30 | 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. CDT | Location: Hall A – Posters and Exhibits
Abstract 3104 | Poster 241
Charles Leath, M.D., director of Gynecologic Oncology at UAB O’Neal Cancer Center, co-authored a study on updated survival results from the NRG-GY-018 trial, which studied pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy for patients with endometrial cancer which will be presented in an oral presentation. He also co-authored two poster presentations: one on a phase 2 study of atezolizumab and bevacizumab for recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer, and another on the NRG-GY-037 clinical trial evaluating pembrolizumab with chemotherapy and radiation for patients with high-risk locally advanced cervical cancer.
Updated Overall Survival Analysis and Examination of Subsequent Therapy in Endometrial Cancer (EC) Patients (pts) Treated with Pembrolizumab plus Carboplatin/Paclitaxel (CP) as Compared to CP plus Placebo (PBO) in the NRG-GY018 Trial
May 29 | 2:45 – 5:45 p.m. CDT | Location: S100bc – Oral Abstract Session | Live Stream
Abstract 5502
A Phase 2, Open-Label, Multi-Center, Single-Arm Study of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab in the Treatment of Second Line and Beyond, Recurrent/Metastatic Endometrial Cancer
May 30 | 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. CDT | Location: Hall A – Posters and Exhibits
Abstract 2576 | Poster 366
NRG-GY037: A Phase III Randomized Trial of Induction Chemotherapy and Pembrolizumab Followed by Chemoradiation and Pembrolizumab Maintenance Versus Standard Chemoradiation and Pembrolizumab Maintenance in High-Risk Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer
June 1 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT | Location: Hall A – Posters and Exhibits
Abstract TPS5632 | Poster 296a
Beyond individual presentations, UAB O’Neal Cancer Center’s participation reinforces its role as Alabama’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center. With more than 500 physicians and researchers working across disciplines, the O’Neal Cancer Center remains focused on translating discoveries into better options for patients.
Visit the ASCO website at asco.org/annual-meeting for the full schedule of events.