This year’s World Cancer Research Day underscores the importance of discovery-driven care and the ongoing need for clinical research that improves outcomes in cancer patients. Across Baptist Health South Florida, physician-researchers are leading studies that not only generate novel insights but also accelerate the translation of innovation into clinical protocols.
“From adaptive radiotherapy and tumor genomics to drug-radiation combinations and evidence-based guideline development, recent work at Baptist Health South Florida spans multiple tumor types and disciplines, contributing meaningfully to the broader oncology research landscape,” said Scott Lipkin, DPM, vice president and chief research officer at Baptist Health South Florida.
Manmeet Singh Ahluwalia, M.D., MBA, FASCO
Radiation oncology has emerged as a particularly dynamic area of study. Multiple prospective studies have demonstrated the clinical feasibility and benefit of MRI-guided adaptive radiotherapy, particularly in patients with glioblastoma and other primary brain tumors. Real-time plan adaptation based on tumor evolution and normal tissue constraints enables improved target coverage while minimizing neurotoxicity. These approaches have been detailed in recent publications in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology and the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics.
Supporting this work is a novel digital cognitive assessment tool, deployed in English, French, and Spanish, that facilitates longitudinal evaluation of neurocognitive function during brain-directed therapy. In early implementation, 94% of patients reported the platform as usable and accessible, suggesting its scalability in multi-center trials.
Investigators are also exploring ultra-hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) delivered in a single fraction under MRI guidance. This approach has shown >90% one-year local control for lesions in the lung, liver, pancreas, adrenal glands, kidneys, and lymph nodes, with a favorable toxicity profile. These results support the integration of single-fraction, image-guided SBRT into treatment pathways for oligometastatic and select primary tumors.
Ongoing clinical trials are reshaping the treatment landscape for brain metastases. The ADORATION trial, which combines the RAGE receptor antagonist azeliragon with stereotactic radiosurgery, is demonstrating early safety and tolerability while exploring the drug’s potential to reduce the need for corticosteroids by modulating the neuroinflammatory response. Parallel efforts include molecular profiling of CNS tumors and the application of tumor-agnostic therapeutics based on actionable mutations, expanding precision systemic options for patients with intracranial disease.
Baptist Health South Florida investigators are contributing to evolving international treatment standards as well. A recent study informed the updated global consensus guidelines on radiation dose escalation for locally advanced pancreatic cancer, incorporating advanced delivery techniques and biologically effective dose models. Additional contributions to ASCO guidelines for metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer underscore the institution’s role in synthesizing and translating emerging evidence into practice.
At the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting, research teams presented results from multiple active protocols. These included updates from ADORATION, as well as trials focused on treatment optimization for older adults with HER2-positive breast cancer, addressing a historically underrepresented population in clinical oncology studies. These studies are part of a broader institutional commitment to expanding the evidence base across diverse demographics and care settings.
In addition, Baptist Health South Florida is advancing research in breast, skin, and gastrointestinal cancers. A current study is evaluating the safety of omitting post-mastectomy radiation in select HER2-positive patients. In cutaneous oncology, multidisciplinary forums such as the Skin Cancer Conference have focused on integrating immunotherapeutic strategies, genomic analysis, and surgical innovation. Parallel work in breast imaging is exploring AI-enhanced detection algorithms, with prospective trials underway to evaluate their diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility.
Baptist Health South Florida is one of few integrated systems offering proton therapy, MRI-guided linear accelerators, robotic surgical platforms, and molecular diagnostics within a unified oncology service line. The institution is AAHRPP-accredited, ensuring compliance with the highest standards in research ethics, oversight, and patient protections. Significant philanthropic support – most recently more than $5 million raised through the 2025 Bounce Back from Cancer™ campaign – continues to accelerate trial development and implementation.
“Looking forward, our institutional priorities include expanding early- to late-phase clinical trials, refining biomarker-driven protocols, and further integrating artificial intelligence into treatment planning and toxicity monitoring,” said Manmeet Singh Ahluwalia, M.D., MBA, FASCO, chief of medical oncology, chief scientific officer, and deputy director of Miami Cancer Institute, and Fernandez Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Cancer Research. “Investigators remain focused on delivering evidence-based, patient-centered care across disease types and demographic boundaries, translating research findings into scalable clinical solutions.”
On World Cancer Research Day, this body of work reflects a coordinated commitment to advancing oncology through clinical rigor, innovation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration – positioning research as a central pillar of modern cancer care at Baptist Health South Florida.
