The largest international gathering of breast cancer researchers returns to San Antonio and continues to lead as the hub for scientific breakthroughs.
Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, in partnership with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), is hosting the 48th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on Dec. 9-12.
“The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium is one of the most influential platforms for introducing cutting-edge science,” said Virginia Kaklamani, MD, DSc, leader of the breast cancer program at the Mays Cancer Center and professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology. “This year’s program showcases significant advances in discovery, therapeutics and overall standard of care for patients globally.”
Kaklamani is the symposium’s co-director, along with Carlos Arteaga, MD, director of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium is owned and initiated by the Mays Cancer Center. The event was first launched in 1978 with no more than 50 attendees. Since then, it has grown to international prominence designed to deliver the latest in breast cancer research and treatment.
“Our goal is to elevate research that advances how we prevent, detect and treat breast cancer,” said Kate Lathrop, MD, associate clinical professor and breast medical oncologist at the Mays Cancer Center, and the symposium’s program director. “The discoveries shared here truly move the field forward.”
Where breakthrough research takes center stage
Drawing more than 10,000 clinicians, researchers and patient advocates from 102 countries and generating a $20 million economic impact, the symposium’s global reach makes it the premier stage for major announcements in breast cancer science.
In 2024, the COMET trial, the first U.S. study of its kind, revealed that patients with low-risk DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), considered stage 0 breast cancer, who chose active monitoring had similarly low rates of invasive cancer as those who underwent surgery. This finding is significant because it suggests many women with low-risk DCIS may safely avoid overtreatment, paving the way for more personalized and less invasive care.
Another major announcement at the symposium was the EMBER3 study. It found that imlunestrant, a new estrogen-blocking pill, significantly slowed cancer progression, especially in patients with ESR1 mutations and when combined with abemaciclib, pointing to a more effective, convenient treatment option leading to FDA approval.
The symposium also unveiled a study showing that antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) can be even more effective when paired with drugs that help slow cancer cell growth, and ongoing refinements to ADC design are leading to more targeted treatment options for breast cancer patients.
UT Health San Antonio experts advancing research
Several researchers and clinicians from UT Health San Antonio are scheduled to participate in discussions or poster sessions at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium throughout the week.
Saba Shaikh, MD, assistant professor in the Long School of Medicine Division of Hematology and Oncology, will contribute to a panel discussion examining how obesity affects cancer risk, treatment, outcomes and overall health.
Derek Rodriguez, PhD, clinical research scientist at UT Health San Antonio’s Institute for Health Promotion Research, will present on the influence of non-medical drivers of health on quality of life among Hispanic/Latina breast and cervical cancer survivors. His research examines how financial hardship, comorbidities, and limited access to supportive resources profoundly shape survivors’ daily lives and overall well-being.
Vivian Cortez, MS, research coordinator at the Institute for Health Promotion Research, will discuss advancements in hormone therapy adherence among Latina breast cancer patients experiencing non-medical drivers of health barriers. This study, led by Patricia Chalela, DrPH, evaluates the effectiveness of the HT Helper app, a bilingual and bicultural mobile app, and patient navigation strategy designed to help patients adherent with hormone therapy, a key component of preventing recurrence and improving survival.
Uday Pratap, PhD, assistant professor in the Long School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, will share research on epigenetic reactivation of estrogen receptor beta in triple-negative breast cancer. His work suggests that reactivating this receptor may enhance the antitumor activity of a novel receptor agonist, potentially offering a new treatment pathway for an aggressive subtype of breast cancer.
Marcela Mazo Canola, MD, breast medical oncologist and assistant professor in the Long School of Medicine Division of Hematology and Oncology, will present multiple studies. The first evaluates the Sensitivity to Endocrine Therapy (SET) score as a prognostic biomarker in a Latin American Breast Cancer Cohort Study, exploring whether SET can help predict patient outcomes. In another presentation, she will discuss distinct immune and metabolic profiles in Latin American breast cancer patients with obesity enrolled in the FLEX study, examining how obesity may influence treatment response and disease progression. She will also present findings on delays between diagnosis and first treatment among women with triple-negative breast cancer, highlighting significant disparities that point to potential health inequities and systemic barriers to care affecting minorities.
Breanne Nguyen, PT, DPT, adjunct faculty member and doctor of physical therapy at the Mays Cancer Center, will provide updates on rehabilitation paradigms for breast cancer patients experiencing phantom limb pain, a condition that can occur following mastectomy or reconstructive surgery.
The studies at this year’s symposium will exhibit continued advancements in prevention, treatment and personalized breast cancer care.
To learn more about the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, visit sabcs.org and view the symposium’s agenda here.
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UT Health San Antonio is the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio), offering a comprehensive network of inpatient and outpatient care facilities staffed by medical, dental, nursing and allied health professionals who conduct more than 2.5 million patient visits each year. It is the region’s only academic health center and one of the nation’s leading health sciences institutions, supported by the schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions, graduate biomedical sciences and public health that are leading change and advancing fields throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways “We make lives better®,” visit UTHealthSA.org.
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The Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio is one of only four National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Centers in Texas. The Mays Cancer Center provides leading-edge cancer care, propels innovative cancer research, and educates the next generation of leaders to end cancer in South Texas. Mays Cancer Center has a clinical partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center, expanding access to cancer treatments that are among the most advanced in the nation – close to home. UT Health San Antonio is the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio). To learn more, visit MaysCancerCenter.org.
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