City of Hope

City of Hope has opened an innovative Phase 2 clinical trial designed to map how tumors change as they begin to resist immunotherapy, treatment that improves the immune system’s ability to fight disease. The research focuses on advanced non-small cell lung cancer, the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for 87% of cases. Aiming to enroll 535 patients newly diagnosed with NSCLC, the six-year IMMUNO-BIOMAP trial will use predictive models to tailor treatments to the evolving biology of patients’ tumors. Doctors often rely on immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat advanced NSCLC, but fewer than 40% of patients see positive results, and many develop resistance to the drugs. The trial will run across select City of Hope locations across the nation. City of Hope’s national clinical trials model is a fully integrated network of 39 sites in four states, structured for faster trial activation and consistent execution across locations. An award of up to $23.7 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) funds the research, and City of Hope is the only institution in the nation to receive ARPA-H funding for lung cancer research in the ADAPT study. Read more about the trial: https://bit.ly/4wZy1n0

There's only one Yaya... and if you know, you know. Known for her big heart, infectious personality and unwavering compassion, Yaya has a way of making everyone who walks through our doors feel welcome. Meet the incredible Yajaira "Yaya" B. Her warmth is felt by everyone she works with, and it's part of what makes City of Hope feel like home.

Dr. Rob Jenq of City of Hope discusses how microbiome research is helping scientists better understand treatment response, improve immune recovery and accelerate the next generation of cancer therapies.

The renewed interest in thymus biology reflects a broader shift in medicine: understanding how the immune system influences not only cancer outcomes, but overall health across a lifetime. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to Nature’s discussion on this emerging field. At City of Hope, our researchers are advancing discoveries that may one day help improve immune recovery, support healthier aging and expand options for patients through innovation and scientific collaboration. https://lnkd.in/g4pppVbv

Hope in action as Gov. Hobbs signed HB2082 yesterday, and City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix Chief Clinical Officer, Alan Haruo Bryce, M.D., (left) and TGen - Part of City of Hope President, Jeffrey Trent, Ph.D., F.A.C.M.G.G., were proud to support it. HB2082 creates the Childhood Cancer and Rare Childhood Disease Research Commission within the Arizona Department of Health Services, empowering the state to award grants to health care providers and research institutions advancing clinical trials for pediatric cancer and rare childhood diseases. A meaningful step forward for Arizona’s youngest patients and the families who fight alongside them. #HopeInAction #ArizonaHealth #CityOfHope and #TGen

City of Hope is proud to share that Wafa Samara Pharm.D. has been named to Becker's Healthcare Hospital Review's 101 Hospital and Health System Chief Pharmacy Officers to Know list. Wafa leads pharmacy operations at City of Hope with a commitment to patient safety, clinical excellence, and equitable access to care. Her work spans complex medication management across our national cancer network, and she brings a long-standing dedication to using pharmacy as a tool to address health disparities and expand access to advanced cancer care. Please join us in congratulating Wafa on this well-deserved recognition.

For Barbara Andes, receiving daraxonrasib, a promising new treatment for pancreatic cancer, feels like a blessing and a miracle.    Barbara is one of the first patients in the country to receive this emerging therapy while it is still being studied for FDA approval — and one of the first at City of Hope. This could mean more time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. More moments to make memories. More opportunities to dream about what's next, including a trip to Norway she's eager to take.    For all of us, it’s a reminder of why every breakthrough matters. She is profoundly grateful to Robert Stone for his leadership and for being there for this pivotal moment and to Dr. Pashtoon Kasi for his clinical expertise, advocacy and compassion.

Surviving cancer isn’t the end of the story. For Nicole Schulz, it was the beginning of a new and often unpredictable chapter. Diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia as a teenager, she endured years of treatment, including two bone marrow transplants, only to find that life after cancer came with challenges of its own. Her body still carries the impact. Chronic graft-versus-host disease. Avascular necrosis that led to knee replacements. And the quieter struggles, including the uncertainty, the moments of fear that don’t always fade with remission. Her care team at City of Hope meets those realities head-on. Through our Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult Survivorship Clinic, Nicole’s full treatment history guides care designed not just to respond, but to anticipate, helping her manage long-term risks while restoring something just as critical: peace of mind. That consistency has mattered in ways that go beyond medicine. When a new cancer appeared years later, it was caught early. When the unknown felt overwhelming, her care team brought clarity. Over time, that support helped Nicole begin to see a future she once thought might not be possible. The word “irrepressible,” tattooed on her arm, captures that journey, reflecting not just the strength it took to survive, but the determination to keep moving forward. Read her story: https://bit.ly/4aBvGG0