Press Releases
ATLANTA, April 17, 2026 — American Cancer Society (ACS) scientists will share new findings spanning survivorship, sleep and cancer risk, and tumor immunology at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, April 17–23 in San Diego. Two ACS leaders will also be recognized with prestigious AACR honors, underscoring the organization’s impact on cancer prevention, equity, and population science.
With more than 22,000 researchers, clinicians, survivors, and advocates convening, AACR is a leading venue for unveiling results that can shape future cancer care and research priorities. ACS researchers will present the highlighted studies below across poster sessions and educational programming aligned with this year’s theme, “Precision, Partnership, Purpose: Advancing Cancer Science to Save Lives Globally.”
Highlighted abstracts include:
Presentation #876 /Poster Board #22
April 19, 2026, 2:00pm-5:00pm, PT
Presenter: Dr. Hyunjung Lee
In this study, cardiovascular disease (CVD) medication adherence among cancer survivors was lower among young adults, women, and individuals with higher education and multiple chronic conditions. CVD was also lower among people with limited access to mail-order or online pharmacies, those managing multiple medications, and those living in the Midwest and South. Targeted interventions are needed to improve cardiovascular medication adherence and long-term health outcomes in cancer survivors.
- Associations of self-reported sleep duration and sleep quality with cancer risk: A pooled analysis of 6 prospective cohorts
Presentation #5047/Poster Board #20
April 21, 9:00am – 12:00pm, PT
Presenter: Dr. Charlie Zhong
In this research, short sleep duration appeared to be protective against overall cancer risk, potentially due to the association with lower risks of breast and prostate cancer. However, short sleep was associated with higher risks of small intestine and head and neck cancers. Long sleep duration was also associated with increased risk of head and neck cancers. These results highlight the complex relationship between sleep and cancer risk, as well as the importance of assessing individual cancer types.
Presentation #6998/Poster Board #10
April 22, 2025, 9:00am – 12:00pm, PT
Presenter: Dr. Clara Bodelon
In this study, scientists found that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do not appear to influence the breast tumor immune microenvironment. In contrast, researchers observed that acetaminophen use lowers the scores of multiple immune cell types, including those related to improved prognosis.
ACS scientists honored with two prestigious AACR conference awards
Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president, surveillance, prevention, and health services research at ACS, is the 2026 recipient of the AACR–Minorities in Cancer Research Jane Cooke Wright Lectureship. This distinguished lectureship recognizes outstanding scientists who have made significant contributions to cancer research and have advanced the careers and representation of minority investigators.
Dr. Jemal leads a team of researchers dedicated to promoting health equity and addressing disparities in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. His research has revealed critical disparities in access to quality care and how social determinants of health and public policy impact cancer care and outcomes.
Dr. Alpa Patel, senior vice president, population sciences at ACS, will accept the AACR Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (CEBP) Frederick P. Li Impact Award. The honor will be presented to Dr. Patel and co-authors for their paper entitled, “Sugar and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and Cancer Mortality in a Large U.S. Prospective Cohort,” published in the October 2022 issue of the CEBP journal. Dr. Patel is senior author and Dr. Marji McCullough (retired) is lead author.
The CEBP Frederick P. Li Impact Award is an annual honor given for an article that has had a significant impact on the fields represented by the journal. The ACS research paper was selected based on the following criteria: originality; scientific, clinical, and/or public health impact; and overall significance as measured by citations and other publication metrics over a 5-year period prior to award consideration.
# # #
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.