Strong participation of 4CB at ASCO
Clínic’s activity at ASCO spans multiple oncology areas, with research focused on gastrointestinal tumours, breast, lung, gynaecological, urological and skin cancers. The studies presented range from the analysis of molecular biomarkers and prognostic factors to the development and optimisation of new therapeutic strategies, including immunotherapy, antibody-drug conjugates and targeted therapies.
Among the most notable contributions, Clínic professionals are involved in oral and educational sessions on early breast cancer, small cell and non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and metastatic prostate cancer. They are also contributing to studies in high-risk melanoma aimed at personalising adjuvant immunotherapy, as well as analyses in metastatic breast cancer exploring the role of novel targeted therapies in specific patient subgroups.
This body of work further consolidates the hospital’s role as a leading centre for clinical and translational research and as a key partner in international consortia.
A KRAS inhibitor redefines the treatment of pancreatic cancer
In this context, ASCO 2026 will feature, in a plenary session, the presentation of the final results of an international clinical trial evaluating a KRAS-targeted inhibitor, one of the most common and relevant molecular alterations in pancreatic cancer.
For decades, KRAS has been considered an “undruggable” target. This study shows that direct inhibition of this pathway can translate into a meaningful clinical benefit, with an increase in overall survival in patients treated in the second-line setting, representing a paradigm shift and a new standard of care in this disease.
Dr Teresa Macarulla, Head of the Medical Oncology Department at Hospital Clínic Barcelona, member of the IDIBAPS Translational Oncology in upper gastrointestinal cancers, and an expert in pancreatic and biliary tract cancers, participated as an investigator in the clinical development of this treatment during her time at Vall d’Hebron Hospital, where she coordinated the centre’s contribution to the study.
This is the first KRAS inhibitor of this new generation to demonstrate a clear survival benefit in pancreatic cancer. The drug is not yet approved in Europe and is currently only available through clinical trials.
At Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Dr Macarulla will lead the initiation of new phase 3 clinical trials with this compound across different disease settings and will serve on the scientific committees of several international studies, contributing to shaping the future development of KRAS-targeted therapies.
“The results, selected for presentation in a plenary session, reinforce the role of molecularly targeted therapies in the management of pancreatic cancer and open the door to a new generation of treatments,” Dr Macarulla notes.
The participation of the Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Centre at ASCO 2026 highlights its commitment to excellence in clinical research and to advancing innovative therapies in tumours with unmet medical needs, such as pancreatic cancer.
