Today is the last day of SABCS 2025! Here are the biggest updates from the final day of the conference:

• Data from a phase I TNBC vaccine trial showed that 74% of participants had an immune response after receiving the vaccine. Phase I clinical trials look at the safety of a medication and what dosage is the most effective. Results showed some redness and swelling at the site of vaccine injection, but no serious side effects. In light of these positive results, the research will move into a phase II trial to study a larger group of people while still monitoring side effects and dosage. 
• The Phase III ASCENT-04 trial found that the combination of sazituzumab-govitecan (Trodelvy) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared to chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for patients with previously untreated, PD-L1-positive, locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Progression-free survival is a common measurement in clinical trials that looks at the length of time that a patient lives without their cancer getting worse. The results from the Phase III ASCENT-04 trial suggests that sazituzumab-govitecan (Trodelvy) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) may be a new first-line standard of care for TNBC patients in the near future. 
• Over 40% of breast cancer survivors experience chemo brain (also called brain fog), but patients face few options to help minimize chemo brain. ENHANCE phase II clinical trial research presented at SABCS found that acupuncture improved chemo brain for breast cancer survivors, decreasing memory problems and increasing cognitive clarity. After 10 weeks of acupuncture, participants saw measured improvement in chemo brain. Previously, the same study team found that acupuncture also helped improve insomnia for breast cancer survivors.

Remember to follow @tnbcfoundation, @touchbbca, and @cancerfashionista to learn more about research announcements throughout the coming year. You can also find research updates on the brand new Black TNBC Sanctuary website, under the Research Updates tab. The Black TNBC Sanctuary is a safe and trusted home for Black and Afro-Latina individuals diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer and their loved ones. Here, you can find everything you need to understand your specific diagnosis and feel equipped to make the best decisions for you. 

SABCS is in full swing! Here are some highlights from mid-week research and presentations:

Breaking data
BioNTech and Bristol Myers Squibb announced data from their global phase 2 BNT327-02 trial that is testing a drug called pumitamig in combination with chemotherapy. In one cohort of the study, which combined pumitamig with Abraxane, the overall response rate was 72%, and the confirmed overall response was 62%. To break down that number a bit more:

• The study saw similar performance for patients with and without PD-L1 status ( PD-L1 expression above and below 10%)
• Responses were better for first-line patients (76%) than for second-line patients (68%).
• Response rates were best with the 20mg/kg dose (80%). 

We won’t know things like average progression-free survival or overall survival until the study has been running for longer. 

Risk & Lifestyle
This SABCS included a popular session entitled “Open bar and all you can eat? Impact of lifestyle on breast cancer risk and recurrence.” The session explored how alcohol and obesity can impact breast cancer risk and risk of recurrence. The discussion covered data that showed alcohol of any type is associated with increased breast cancer risk and risk of recurrence, even in smaller amounts and even after menopause. Similarly, obesity correlates to higher breast cancer risk and risk of recurrence.

Side Effects Impacting Quality of Life
A big topic of discussion at the conference this year has been how to address the side effects of many cancer medications. Often, researchers talk about and measure the impact of these side effects through a catch-all concept called “quality of life.” For many new medications, research is being done on whether reducing the dosage of any given medication might improve side effects and overall quality of life without sacrificing the effectiveness of the medication. Many medications have shown that lower dosages work just as well as the full dosage, although more data is needed across more medications.

Welcome to the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS)! SABCS is not just an academic meeting, it’s where the latest translational, clinical, and basic science in breast cancer converge, and where advocacy and patient voices are increasingly represented. It’s also the largest breast cancer research meeting in the world.

To kick off SABCS 2025, TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, hosted an event on Monday themed “Advancing Black Breast Cancer Globally.” Did you know that every minute, four women are diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide? The crisis of breast cancer inequity for Black women represents one of the most pressing global health challenges of the 21st century. TOUCHBBCA brought together a panel of amazing women who are breaking barriers and making waves across the globe. Watch the broadcast showcasing TOUCHBBCA’s collective work that is bringing the power of science and patient advocacy to the global stage HERE.

In a poster spotlight session focused on health disparities, data was presented to show that:

• Even in a study where biomarker testing was comparable across all races/ethnicities, Black TNBC patients are less likely to receive PARP-inhibitors (a novel therapy). According to this data, even when Black TNBC patients do receive PARP-inhibitor, they have lower survival rates than white patients. 
• Rural breast cancer patients experience worse outcomes than urban and suburban patients. One study suggested that access to telemedicine services, enhanced care for those with Medicaid coverage, and patient-centered care for anxiety and depression are the most likely to improve outcomes for rural breast cancer survivors. 
• A team from MD Anderson, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and Susan G. Komen presented on neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in early-stage high-risk TNBC. Neoadjuvant describes any treatment that happens before surgery, in this case, chemoimmunotherapy before surgery. Chemoimmunotherapy refers to the combination of chemotherapy medications (like paclitaxel, carboplatin, doxorubicin, and/or cyclophosphamide) with immunotherapy medications (Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)). Since its approval for early-stage high-risk TNBC, the widespread use of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy has been accompanied by rising pCR rates (pathological complete response). Pathological complete response means that there is no cancer left after treatment. In this research, Black and Hispanic patients had lower odds of receiving neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy, as did patients on Medicaid/Medicare, as well as those with no insurance, which suggests that these patients face a worse likelihood of pathological complete response. This highlights the need for equitable access to new and emerging therapies for Black and Hispanic patients, patients on Medicaid/Medicare, and patients without insurance.

In the coming days, we will make sure to keep you updated on any and all information about these topics and everything TNBC!

Follow @tnbcfoundation, @touchbca, and @cancerfashionista to learn more about research announcements during the week and throughout the coming year. And stay tuned for more updates on TNBC-specific research from SABCS!