Yale research advances presented at San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium annual meeting

Members of the Center for Breast Cancer at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center attended the 48th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), from December 9-12, 2025 to share breaking and promising news about breast cancer research and treatment. The symposium is a four-day program attended by an international audience of academic and private researchers and physicians from over 102 countries.

Oral presentations, education sessions, and poster presentations were led by Yale authors at the meeting highlighting new research in HER2+ breast cancer, advanced cancers, hormone replacement therapy, menopause after cancer, and cancer genetics.

Dr. Eric Winer was a discussant on a trial discussing treatment decisions for patients with DCIS. He emphasized that treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) should be based on thorough patient education and patient-centered decision making. During an educational session moderated by Dr. Tara Sanft, Dr. Maryam Lustberg highlighted the considerable unmet needs in menopause care for breast cancer survivors and those at high-risk, stressing that many symptoms experienced by patients remain overlooked. Dr. Lustberg also presented during a Quick Pitch session on why patient-reported outcomes must be central to oncology drug development and clinical trials.

New research presented by Dr. Lajos Pusztai revealed that RNA levels of key genes (ESR1 and PGR) closely match traditional estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor test results in breast cancer. Once developed, a simple RNA test could determine hormone receptor status accurately in real-time.

Over 20 attendees from Yale participated in formal lectures in clinical, translational, and basic research, selected slide and poster presentations, forums, and case discussions. The SABCS is the largest breast cancer research meeting in the world, dedicated to providing state-of-the-art information on the biology, etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer and premalignant breast disease.