Markey researchers present findings at world’s largest oncology meeting
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 29, 2025) — Physicians and scientists from the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center will share their latest research at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago from May 30 to June 3.
The largest oncology gathering in the world, ASCO allows thousands of experts to discuss groundbreaking advancements in cancer care and facilitates collaborations that can lead to better treatments and patient outcomes.
Markey-led studies featured at ASCO 2025 highlight the cancer center’s newest contributions to multiple areas of oncology, including CAR T-cell therapy, glioblastoma treatment and real-world cancer outcomes.
Yanal Alnimer receives ASCO Merit Award
Hematology-oncology fellow Yanal Mufeed Alnimer, M.D., will receive the prestigious 2025 ASCO Merit Award for his abstract The impact of the use of hypomethylating agents prior to reduced intensity conditioning allogeneic bone marrow transplant among patients with MDS. This award recognizes outstanding oncology research, and Alnimer's work shows that a common pre-transplant drug treatment for blood cancer patients may actually harm rather than help their chances of survival.
Markey research featured at ASCO 2025
Poster presentations include:
- Yanal Mufeed Alnimer, M.D.: The impact of the use of hypomethylating agents prior to reduced intensity conditioning allogeneic bone marrow transplant among patients with MDS; Assessing the role of cytarabine-based regimens in mantle cell lymphoma: A real world study
- John L. Villano, M.D., Ph.D.: Prognostic impact of DDR mutations (mt) in IDH mutant high-grade gliomas (HGG)
Publications featured include:
- Timothy Mullett, M.D.: Co-designing a smartphone-based navigation system for cancer patients
- Insija Selene: Association of total neoadjuvant therapy sequencing with surgical intervention and overall survival in locally advanced rectal cancer: An NCDB analysis
- Allison Swiecki-Sikora, M.D.: Assessing the value of multiple molecular tumor board reviews for sequential next-generation sequencing in patients with solid-tumor malignancies
- Sarah Sertich, M.D.: Patient-reported outcomes, race, and ethnicity in high-impact lung cancer clinical trials
UK HealthCare is the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky. But it is so much more. It is more than 10,000 dedicated health care professionals committed to providing advanced subspecialty care for the most critically injured and ill patients from the Commonwealth and beyond. It also is the home of the state’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for the tiniest and sickest newborns, the region’s only Level 1 trauma center and Kentucky’s top hospital ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
As an academic research institution, we are continuously pursuing the next generation of cures, treatments, protocols and policies. Our discoveries have the potential to change what’s medically possible within our lifetimes. Our educators and thought leaders are transforming the health care landscape as our six health professions colleges teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals, spreading the highest standards of care. UK HealthCare is the power of advanced medicine committed to creating a healthier Kentucky, now and for generations to come.