Top 10 Peer-Reviewed ONCOLOGY Articles Shaping Cancer Care in 2025

Moving the needle in cancer research was an important focus for the journal ONCOLOGY in 2025.

2025 was a whirlwind year for research in cancer care. From original investigations to reviews and even case studies, the peer-reviewed journal ONCOLOGY® took part in publishing top articles throughout the year. Across cancer types and multidisciplinary fields, this research focused on ways to improve outcomes for patients.

Take a look at the top 10 articles from ONCOLOGY published in 2025:

#1 Insights, Knowledge Gaps, and Priorities in Marginal Zone Lymphoma Research

Based on the consensus from the 2024 Mantle Zone Lymphoma (MZL) Scientific Workshop hosted by the Lymphoma Research Foundation, a series of experts gathered to discuss basic scientific and clinical research that helped to develop the understanding of MZL. The Workshop co-chairs were Thomas Habermann, MD, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, and Davide Rossi, MD, PhD, deputy head of the Division of Hematology of the Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland.

The sessions covered pathology, molecular taxonomy, new pathogens/antigens associated with MZL, developmental therapeutics, epidemiology, response evaluation, surrogate end points, and clinical trial updates. Outcomes from the Workshop also produced a future roadmap for progressing MZL and included understanding different MZL subtypes, the lack of consensus around pathologic diagnosis of transformation, developing new response criteria, and improving the knowledge base of targetable pathways.

Find the article on PubMed: 10.46883/2025.25921033

#2 Updates in Surgical Management of the Axilla

Anita Mamtani, MD, FACS, and Andrea V. Barrio, MD, co-authored a review article regarding the evolution of axillary management strategies for patients with breast cancer, such as sentinel lymph node biopsy. At the conclusion of the review, the pair highlighted multiple trials where the avoidance of axillary lymph node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy in select patients with early breast cancer yielded a decrease in the burden of cancer treatment and improvement in quality of life.

They also highlighted multiple clinical trials that found that de-escalation of axillary surgery among patients with low-risk disease caused less nodal disease burden, showing “great promise for surgical and [radiotherapy] de-escalation in excellent responders to neoadjuvant therapy.”

Mamtani is a surgical site director at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Bergen, and Barrio is an attending surgeon at MSK.

Find the article on PubMed: 10.46883/2025.25921035

#3 Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Care: Addressing Challenges and Health Equity

The team from MedNews Week submitted a review article on the current use of artificial intelligence (AI) in cancer care. Results from the review showed that the health care community could maximize AI’s use in cancer care by revolutionizing cancer diagnosis and treatments. Additionally, cost-effective and improved patient outcomes could be achieved.

The team was led by Yan Leyfman, MD, a fellow at NewYork Presbyterian and a hematologic malignancies editorial advisory board member of ONCOLOGY.

Find the article in PubMed: 10.46883/2025.25921037

#4 Utility of the Diagnosis-Specific Graded Prognostic Assessment for Prognostication in Leptomeningeal Disease

Using the diagnosis-specific Graded Prognostic Assessment (DS-GPA) tool had promising outcomes for identifying leptomeningeal disease, according to original research published by Nicole Shonka, MD, senior author.

Among 64 patients with leptomeningeal disease, the median overall survival was 2.6 months and was not statistically significant across cancer types. It was found that patients with higher DS-GPA scores, specifically those with lung or breast cancer, had trends toward longer survival. Longer survival was also noted for patients who had leptomeningeal disease on imaging that was confined to 1 location.

Shonka is the interim chief of the University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of Oncology, professor, and clinical and infusion Medical Director at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, and the head and neck editorial advisory board member of ONCOLOGY.

Find the article in PubMed: 10.46883/2025.25921040

#5 Cardio-Oncology Considerations for Breast Cancer: Risk Stratification, Monitoring, and Treatment

A review article regarding cardiovascular disease (CVD) for patients with breast cancer found that CVD was the leading cause of non–cancer-related mortality in this population. The authors of the study provided an overview of toxicities that are associated with treatment for breast cancer. Additionally, data on risk-stratification tools were highlighted.

The authors concluded that CVD is a major adverse effect associated with treatment for breast cancer. Oncologists should identify and understand each patient’s individual risk profile to better determine who would benefit from a consultation with a cardio-oncologist.

Find the article on PubMed: 10.46883/2025.25921044

#6 Immune Modulation in Sarcoma: Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment

Based on a MedNews Week presentation by Seth M. Pollock, MD, a professor with Tenure at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, the authors provided a review on modifying the immune environment in sarcoma treatment. The paper highlighted the use of T-cell receptor therapy, cancer testis antigen, and CAR T-cell therapy as effective forms of treatment for sarcoma.

Additionally, the alteration of the tumor microenvironment in support of cellular therapy was assessed to determine the immune response in sarcoma. Overall, the study noted that combining therapeutic approaches like immune checkpoint inhibitors with radiation therapy offered the most benefit in improving patient outcomes.

Find the article in PubMed: 10.46883/2025.25921045

#7 GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Weight Change in Patients With Breast Cancer

In a rapid communications article, Sherry Shen, MD, et al. investigated GLP-1 receptor agonist use among patients with breast cancer. Of the 75 patients, the median body mass index (BMI) was 34, the mean weight change was –2.9 kg (95% CI, –4.1 to –1.7) at 6 months and –4.2 (95% CI, –5.5 to –2.9) at 12 months, and the mean weight change at 12 months was –5% (95% CI, –6% to –3%).

“In univariable and multivariable analyses, age, race, ethnicity, baseline BMI, diabetes diagnosis, breast cancer stage, histology, breast cancer subtype, and menopausal status were not significantly associated with having 5% or greater weight loss at 12 months after GLP-1 [receptor agonist] initiation,” Shen, a breast medical oncologist at MSK, wrote with coauthors.

Find the article in PubMed: 10.46883/2025.25921046

#8 Molecular Characterization of a Rare Glioblastoma Case With Atypical Histopathologic Features

This case study depicted a 76-year-old man who presented to the emergency department after a fall that resulted in a head injury. A brain MRI found subtle cortical thickening and a contiguous non–mass-like increased T2 FLAIR signal in the temporal opercular and right insular cortex. After referral and repeated imaging, at 2.5 years, the radiographic imaging pointed to a low-grade glioma.

The official diagnosis was IDH wild-type, central nervous system, World Health Organization grade 4 molecular glioblastoma. The patient was given adjuvant therapy of 5250 cGy hypofractionated radiation with concurrent temozolomide (Temodar) given at 75 mg/m2followed by maintenance temozolomide and tumor treating fields.

Find the article in PubMed: 10.46883/2025.25921050

#9 Trabedersen (OT-101) With Pembrolizumab for Newly Diagnosed PD-L1–Positive Metastatic NSCLC

A clinical trial in progress led by Omar Abughanimeh, MBBS, from the University of Nebraska, is looking at pembrolizumab (Keytruda) plus trabedersen for patients with treatment-naïve advanced non–small cell lung cancer with PD-L1 expression of 1% or more. The phase 1/2 trial (NCT06579196) will look at the regimen’s safety and evaluate the recommended phase 2 dose.

At the date of submission in August 2025, no patients had been enrolled. The sample size for phase 1 will be 12 patients, and the second phase will have 27, with a total of 39 patients between phases.

Find the article in PubMed: 10.46883/2025.25921056

#10 The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Palliative Oncology: Zeroing in on Hematologic Malignancies

AI has multiple uses in cancer care. Investigators from the University of Nebraska, led by Ram Prakash Thirugnanasambandam, MBBS, assessed AI-powered support tools for cancer survivorship. Despite these advancements, there are still challenges with using AI, such as data bias, ethical concerns, and the need for prospective validation in clinical settings.

“By integrating predictive analytics, wearable monitoring, and AI-driven decision support, clinicians can enhance treatment planning, patient monitoring, and palliative care delivery. Additionally, AI tools in cancer survivorship and end-of-life care can facilitate earlier palliative care discussions, improve follow-up strategies, and optimize supportive care interventions,” the authors wrote.

Find the article in PubMed: 10.46883/2025.25921057