Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at ASH 2025: Advancing Blood Cancer Science Through Collaboration
Summary
- Sylvester faculty gave 155 oral and poster presentations and four special sessions at the 67th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting.
- Research covered acute and chronic leukemias, myeloma, lymphoma, cellular therapy and emerging science.
- Faculty led and participated in studies shaping the future of blood cancer care, with a focus on rigorous science and patient impact.
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, made a powerful impression at the 67th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting. With 155 oral and poster presentations, as well as four special sessions, Sylvester demonstrated its commitment to advancing blood cancer science. The cancer center’s team led sessions, presented new data and collaborated on international studies, reflecting a culture of innovation.
Sylvester’s presence was felt not only in the number of presentations but in the range of expertise and perspectives represented. From early-career investigators to established leaders, the cancer center’s faculty showcased a relentless drive to improve blood cancer patients’ care.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
Cancer researchers at Sylvester played a prominent role in sessions focused on AML and MDS, including special symposia on menin inhibitors and updated clinical practice guidelines for AML in older adults from Justin M. Watts, M.D., chief of the leukemia section in the Division of Hematology at the Miller School, and Mikkael Sekeres, M.D., chief of the Division of Hematology at the Miller School. Dr. Sekeres also chaired a session on the latest ASH guidelines, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based care for older patients and presented new data connecting Agent Orange to MDS, a first in the field.
Research highlights included:
• Clinical translation of single-cell measurable residual disease (scMRD) assays, offering new insights into disease monitoring and relapse prediction.
• Studies on novel drug combinations, such as menin-MLL inhibitors with venetoclax and azacitidine and dual IRAK1/4 inhibitors for relapsed MDS.
• International collaborations on survival modeling (PRISM) and genomic atlases for AML, providing a more nuanced understanding of risk and treatment response.
• Poster presentations on the impact of metabolic factors, such as vitamin B12, on leukemia progression and the role of clonal hematopoiesis in autoinflammatory disease.
Why This Research Matters
AML and MDS are aggressive blood cancers that often affect older adults. Treatments can be challenging and the risk of relapse is high. The studies Sylvester presented focused on finding cancer cells that remain after treatment. By using new tests that spot even tiny amounts of disease, clinicians can act sooner if the cancer tries to return.
New drug combinations and guidelines help tailor care for older patients, who may not tolerate intensive treatments. This research means more personalized, safer and potentially more effective options for people who previously had limited choices.
“Guidelines are only as strong as the science behind them,” said Dr. Sekeres. “We wrote these AML guidelines to reflect the real conversations that occur between doctors and patients, providing recommendations for treatments from diagnosis through cure. Our work reflects a commitment to rigorous research and practical solutions for patients.”
Sylvester’s contributions also included studies on the safety and efficacy of new agents for myelodysplastic syndromes, such as imetelstat and R289, and analyses of treatment patterns in older adults. These efforts underscore the cancer center’s dedication to improving outcomes for populations often underrepresented in clinical trials.
Multiple Myeloma: New Approaches and Deeper Understanding
Sylvester Myeloma Institute, led by C. Ola Landgren, M.D., Ph.D., contributed to studies on minimal residual disease, quadruplet therapies and the genomics of myeloma precursor conditions.
Oral presentations included:
• The IMMUNOPLANT study, exploring immuno-consolidation strategies for patients with minimal residual disease positivity.
• The ReKInDLE trial, evaluating a four-drug combination for relapsed myeloma.
• Genomic research defining the transformation from precursor conditions to active myeloma, using whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing.
Poster sessions covered topics such as risk stratification, imaging advances and the biology of circulating tumor cells. Studies on the importance of MRI in smoldering myeloma and the application of computational modeling to risk assessment were presented.
“Artificial intelligence is opening new doors in myeloma research, so it is of great interest. Its ability to analyze complex data patterns could help us predict outcomes and personalize treatment strategies in ways we’ve never been able to before,” said Dr. Landgren.
Sylvester faculty also presented research on the biology of monoclonal gammopathy-related coagulopathies, the role of Cyclin D1 in t(11;14) myeloma and the impact of chromothripsis on high-risk disease. These studies highlight the complexity of myeloma and the need for multidisciplinary approaches.
Potential Impact on Patient Outcomes
Multiple myeloma patients are at risk for relapse because the cancer changes over time. Sylvester’s research focuses on providing clinicians with the information they need to adjust treatments before problems arise.
New combinations of medicines and advanced genetic testing mean that care can be more precise. This helps people live longer, healthier lives and reduces the chances of the cancer coming back.
“Each study brings us closer to understanding the complexity of myeloma,” said Dr. Landgren. “Our goal is to translate these findings into meaningful improvements in patient care and survival.”
Dr. Landgren’s team also presented an innovative artificial intelligence tool, CORAL, which analyzes standard bone marrow biopsy slides to predict genetic subtypes and patient outcomes in multiple myeloma, bypassing the need for expensive genomic tests. For this innovation, he was honored with the HealthTree Foundation’s 2025 Innovation Award.
The collaborative spirit was evident in multi-institutional trials and partnerships with leading cancer centers. Sylvester’s work on individualized treatment risk stratification and the use of AI in diagnosis points to a future where technology and clinical expertise converge.
Lymphoma and Cellular Therapy: Personalizing Treatment
Sylvester faculty, including Jay Spiegel, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Juan Alderuccio, M.D., associate professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Hematology, Izidore Lossos, M.D., professor in the Division of Hematology, and Georgios Pongas, M.D., associate professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Hematology, presented research on lymphoma subtypes and cellular therapies.
Highlights included:
• A phase 2 trial showing high response rates with a combination of mosunetuzumab, polatuzumab, and CAR T therapy in relapsed large B-cell lymphoma.
• Studies on risk stratification for elderly patients with lymphoma and outcomes for rare subtypes such as T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma.
• Advances in CAR T cell therapy, including research on neoantigen-driven immune responses and the impact of genomic instability.
• Poster presentations on the prognostic impact of diagnosis-to-treatment interval, treatment patterns in older adults and the effectiveness of new agents such as pirtobrutinib.
• A panel discussion on architectural tumor suppression.
The emphasis on personalized medicine was clear in studies examining the genomic and transcriptomic landscape of extranodal marginal zone lymphoma, the use of multi-antigen profiling to predict CAR T efficacy and the development of clinical prediction models for follicular lymphoma. Of note, Sylvester researcher Martin Rivas, Ph.D., assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Miller School, provided a new perspective on understanding and treating blood cancers that focuses on how architectural changes affect gene expression and cell fate.
Clinical Significance
Lymphoma comes in many forms, and what works for one person might not work for another. Sylvester’s research is helping to sort out these differences so that treatments can be matched to each patient’s unique cancer.
Cellular therapies, such as CAR T, “train” a person’s own immune system to become a specialized search-and-destroy team against cancer cells. By understanding why these therapies work for some and not others, researchers can improve results and reduce side effects. This means more hope for people with lymphomas that have not responded to other treatments.
“Personalized approaches are reshaping how we treat lymphoma,” said Dr. Alderuccio. “Our research is focused on tailoring therapies to each patient’s disease features.”
Sylvester’s leadership in cellular therapy was further demonstrated by studies on the feasibility and tolerability of CD4-directed CAR T cell therapy, the long-term outcomes of autologous CD30 CAR-T cells and the impact of comorbidities on treatment response.
Special Sessions and Emerging Science
Sylvester faculty led and participated in special sessions on topics such as menin inhibitors in AML and modern advances in MDS treatment. Emerging science was also explored in presentations.
Emerging science presentations explored:
• The role of the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle interventions for lymphoma survivors, with studies on adherence to cancer prevention recommendations and the feasibility of home-based exercise during chemotherapy.
• Artificial intelligence applications in diagnosis and risk modeling, including AI-based bone marrow analysis and the evaluation of large language models in clinical decision making.
• Studies on clonal hematopoiesis and the impact of metabolic factors on leukemia progression, such as the effect of vitamin B12 on epigenetic reprogramming and the amelioration of Tet2-deficient phenotypes by butyrate.
Why This Work Makes a Difference
Some of the most meaningful progress in blood cancer comes from thinking outside the box, like using diet and exercise to help survivors or artificial intelligence to spot patterns that clinicians might miss.
Sylvester’s work in these areas gives patients more tools to stay healthy and catch problems early. It’s also about making sure new treatments are safe and effective for everyone, not just a select few.
By exploring new frontiers, researchers are opening doors to better care, fewer side effects and more personalized support for patients and families.
“Innovation in hematology is a ceaseless translation the lab and the clinic,” said Sylvester researcher Sangeetha Venugopal, M.D., an assistant professor in the Miller School’s Division of Hematology. “We are exploring novel targets with sound mechanistic rationale while staying grounded in patients’ needs.”
Sylvester’s commitment to innovation was evident in research on novel therapeutic targets, such as PARP1 in BCL6-expressing lymphomas and dual BET/HAT inhibitor-based combinations for secondary AML. The cancer center’s faculty also contributed to studies on the safety and efficacy of new agents for rare disorders such as blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm and light-chain amyloidosis.
Collaboration, Inclusion and the Future
Sylvester’s presence at ASH 2025 reflected not only scientific rigor but also a spirit of collaboration. Faculty partnered with national and international teams, contributed to multi-institutional trials and mentored the next generation of hematology researchers.
The range of research topics, from pediatric anticoagulation stewardship to the impact of rural-urban differences on lymphoma outcomes, speaks to the cancer center’s holistic approach. Sylvester faculty were involved in studies addressing barriers to clinical trial enrollment, the implementation of adapted menopause assessments in sickle cell disease and the relationship of sociodemographic factors to venous thromboembolism in children. One multi-institutional study examined whether patients can safely receive stem cell transplants from unrelated donors with multiple genetic mismatches.
“We’re rewriting the rules of what’s possible for stem cell transplantation,” said Antonio Jimenez Jimenez, M.D., an associate professor in the Division of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at the Miller School. “For patients who once faced impossible odds, this research opens the door to hope.”
How This Research Could Change Care
Sylvester’s collaborative approach means that discoveries are shared, tested and improved by teams around the world.
“Our strength lies in our ability to work across disciplines,” said Stephen D. Nimer, director of Sylvester, professor of medicine, biochemistry and molecular biology and executive dean for research at the Miller School and the Oscar de La Renta Endowed Chair in Cancer Research. “By fostering collaboration, we accelerate progress for patients everywhere.”
Sylvester’s faculty returned to Miami with new ideas, strengthened partnerships and a renewed dedication to transforming the future of hematology. The work presented at the conference will inform future studies, clinical guidelines and, ultimately, the lives of those affected by blood cancers.
Tags: Acute Myeloid Leukemia, AML, ASH 2025, blood cancers, CAR T cells, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, Dr. C. Ola Landgren, Dr. Jay Spiegel, Dr. Justin Watts, Dr. Mikkael Sekeres, Dr. Stephen Nimer, lymphoma, MDS, minimal residual disease, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, Sylverster Comprehensive Cancer Center