Below are summaries of recently published analyses from the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN). Click on the shortened citations to access the publications.

Leukemia – This analysis addressed a common treatment decision in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).  About 14–21 days after intensive initial chemotherapy begins, clinicians often perform a bone marrow biopsy. If residual leukemia is found, patients may receive another intensive course. However, studies have questioned whether these biopsies predict outcomes, and less-intensive options are now available. Analyzing data from two ECOG-ACRIN trials, researchers found that the percentage of leukemia cells, changes in that percentage, and bone marrow cellularity did not predict remission or survival among patients who received additional chemotherapy. The findings suggest that biopsy results should not be the main factor guiding additional treatment. The analysis did not determine whether giving another intensive chemotherapy cycle was beneficial. Bone Marrow Biopsy Characteristics at Nadir After Intensive Induction Therapy Do Not Predict Outcomes in Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients: An Analysis of ECOG-ACRIN Clinical Trials. Tremblay DA. Haematologica. September 2026 (available as a PDF download).

Lung Cancer – About one in 25 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a tumor with an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene fusion. Crizotinib is a first-generation ALK-targeted therapy for advanced ALK-positive (ALK+) NSCLC. In E4512, part of the ALCHEMIST precision medicine platform trial, crizotinib did not prolong disease-free survival in patients with surgically resected ALK+ NSCLC. These findings indicate that crizotinib should not be recommended as adjuvant therapy for these patients. Crizotinib Versus Observation or Placebo for Surgically Resected Early-Stage ALK-Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (E4512): A Phase 3 Trial.  Gerber DE. Lancet Respir Med. August 2026.

NCI-MATCH – Mutations in BRAF at codons other than V600 (non-V600) and BRAF fusions confer dependence on the RAF–MEK–ERK pathway. Arm Z1L investigated the clinical activity of ulixertinib, an ERK1/2 inhibitor, in a small, heavily pretreated population of patients with tumors harboring these alterations. No demonstrable evidence of clinical activity was observed. ERK1/2 Inhibitor Ulixertinib in Pancancer Patients with BRAF Fusions or Non-V600E/K Mutations: Results from the NCI-MATCH ECOG-ACRIN Trial (EAY131) Subprotocol Z1L. Subbiah V. Clin Cancer Res. September 2026.

NCI-MATCH – Motivated by the rising incidence of cancers at younger ages, researchers compared genomic alterations in ovarian, breast, and colorectal tumors from NCI-MATCH participants with relapsed or treatment-resistant cancer between patients aged 18-39 years and those aged 40 or older. They found no significant differences in the prevalence of gene mutations between the two age groups, although certain genetic changes were associated with younger or older age. In colorectal cancer, some age-related patterns differed between men and women. The wealth of data from this large national precision oncology trial made such an analysis possible. Associations of Age With Tumor Genomic Characteristics in Relapsed/Refractory Cancers Interrogated With the NCI-MATCH Trial Targeted Gene Panel Assay. Sankaran H. JCO Prec Oncol. August 2026.