Elevating Precision Medicine Across Different Oncologic Populations

At the 3rd Biennial Miami Precision Medicine Conference, CancerNetwork^® spoke with a variety of researchers and clinicians who presented on different topics regarding the use of targeted therapies across several cancer types. Faculty from the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center shared key advances and ongoing initiatives across pancreatic cancer, sarcomas, genitourinary malignancies, and other diseases.

First, Jashodeep Datta, MD, an associate professor of surgery, a coleader of the Gastrointestinal Site Disease Group at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, an associate director of translational research at Sylvester Pancreatic Cancer Research Institute, and DiMare Family Endowed Chair in Immunotherapy, all at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, discussed his presentation on overcoming a historical “moratorium” associated with immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer.¹ Based on recent data, he noted that current goals include analyzing distinct subpopulations of patients who respond to immunotherapy and understanding the biology of why they respond to inform the design of novel therapeutic approaches. Looking toward the future, Datta described how messenger RNA vaccines may play a larger role in advancing personalized patient care.

Next, Steven Bialick, DO, a gastrointestinal, sarcoma, and connective tissue medical oncologist, spoke about his presentation on diagnosing and treating patients with sarcomas.² He highlighted how markers such as microsatellite instability–high status may help identify patients who are suitable candidates to receive immunotherapies such as pembrolizumab (Keytruda). Overall, he emphasized the practice of thorough molecular testing to help navigate a treatment landscape that has “changed so dramatically” over the years.

Finally, Jaime Merchan, MD, director of the Phase 1 Clinical Trials Program and a tenured professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, talked about his presentation on the development of novel targeted therapies in genitourinary malignancies, which included bladder and kidney cancers.³ He described strategies for using new HIF-2⍺ inhibitors alongside therapeutic standards such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Additionally, he detailed how other investigational drug classes, including oncolytic viruses and T-cell engagers, may fit into the treatment paradigm for these genitourinary cancers.

References

1. Datta J. Mission impossible? strategies for precision immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer. Presented at: 3rd Biennial Miami Precision Medicine Conference; April 11-12, 2026; Fort Lauderdale, FL.
2. Bialick S. Precision oncology in the diagnosis and management of sarcoma patients. Presented at: 3rd Biennial Miami Precision Medicine Conference; April 11-12, 2026; Fort Lauderdale, FL.
3. Merchan J. Genitourinary cancers: bladder and kidney. Presented at: 3rd Biennial Miami Precision Medicine Conference; April 11-12, 2026; Fort Lauderdale, FL.