At ASCO 2026, Lunit will present precision patient stratification and biomarker-driven oncology research through AI-powered HER2/IHC biomarker quantification and spatial tumor microenvironment analysis.
Seoul, South Korea, May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lunit, a leading provider of AI for cancer diagnostics and precision oncology, today announced that five studies featuring its AI biomarker platform will be presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, May 29-June 2 in Chicago, Illinois.
Lunit at ASCO 2026
This year’s presentation reflects Lunit’s expansion of biomarker research beyond traditional immune profiling toward integrated AI-powered HER2/IHC biomarker quantification and spatial tumor microenvironment (TME) analysis. Using AI to characterize HER2 expression, immunophenotype, tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and endothelial cells, this study highlights the potential of integrated biomarker analysis to improve accurate stratification of patients across multiple cancer types.
The five presentations include research across biliary tract cancer (BTC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), microsatellite stable (MSS), metastatic colorectal cancer, and advanced gastric cancer (AGC).
One high-profile study, led by researchers at Yonsei University School of Medicine, is evaluating a first-line four-drug regimen consisting of trastuzumab, nivolumab, gemcitabine, and cisplatin for HER2-positive advanced BTC. This study was selected for Rapid Oral Presentation at ASCO 2026.
Using AI-powered whole slide image (WSI) analysis, researchers analyze HER2 expression and immunophenotype within tumor tissue. Among 40 patients enrolled in a multicenter phase Ib/II trial, the combination demonstrated a 55% objective response rate (ORR), a 95% disease control rate (DCR), and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 10.6 months. Patients with ≥10% HER2 IHC 3+ tumor cells identified by AI analysis achieve a substantially higher response rate compared to patients below the threshold (80% vs. 36.4%). This study shows how AI-powered integrated analysis of HER2 and spatial tumor microenvironment can help identify patients who are more likely to benefit from HER2-targeted combination therapy.
Another study used AI-powered spatial analysis to characterize the tumor microenvironment landscape in HER2-overexpressing NSCLC. Across more than 2,000 whole NSCLC slide images, HER2-overexpressing tumors show significantly reduced tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte density and a lower proportion of an inflamed immunophenotype compared to non-overexpressing tumors. The immune cold phenotype is more pronounced in tumors with a high proportion of HER2 3+ cells. This study provides further insight into the biological relationship between HER2 overexpression and tumor immune status and highlights the broader potential of combining spatial tumor microenvironment characterization and AI-powered HER2 analysis in biomarker studies.
Another notable study conducted in collaboration with Seoul National University Hospital examines AI-based spatial tumor microenvironment analysis in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), a rare cancer with limited treatment options. Researchers identified a subgroup of ACC patients with high endothelial cell and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) densities that showed significantly prolonged progression-free survival (19.6 months vs. 11.1 months) after axitinib treatment. The findings suggest that AI-based spatial profiling may help differentiate responder populations that are difficult to stratify using traditional biomarkers alone.
Researchers at Asan Medical Center are investigating AI-based tumor microenvironment analysis in MSS metastatic colorectal cancer, which is generally considered resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Researchers found that patients with larger areas of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) identified by AI had improved progression-free survival and overall survival after immunotherapy. The findings highlight the potential of AI-powered spatial analysis to identify MSS colorectal cancer patients likely to benefit from immunotherapy.
“These studies demonstrate how AI-powered biomarker analysis is evolving beyond traditional immune profiling toward integrated HER2/IHC quantification and spatial tumor microenvironment analysis,” said Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit. “We believe that integrated biomarker analysis will play an increasingly important role in precision oncology research, patient stratification, and treatment response assessment.”
Lunit will be exhibiting at ASCO 2026, where attendees can learn more about the company’s AI biomarker platform and research collaborations.
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AI biomarker research highlighted by Lunit at ASCO 2026 includes:
[Rapid Oral #4016] Phase Ib/II trial of first-line treatment of trastuzumab, nivolumab, gemcitabine, and cisplatin in HER2-positive biliary tract cancer (HERBOT): a multicenter study by the Korean Cancer Research Group
[Poster #8545/335] AI-based characterization of tumor microenvironment in HER2-overexpressing non-small cell lung cancer
[Poster #6122/579] Spatial analysis of endothelial cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes using artificial intelligence predicts response to axitinib in adenoid cystic carcinoma
[Poster #2532/322] AI-based spatial tumor microenvironment analysis in metastatic microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer undergoing immunotherapy
[Poster #2612/402] Potential effects of TGF-β inhibition on immune resistance by targeting the immunosuppressive microenvironment in advanced gastric cancer (AGC): a multi-omics post-hoc analysis of the K-Umbrella-06 trial
About runit
Founded in 2013, Lunit (KRX: 328130) is a global leader on a mission to defeat cancer through AI. Our clinically validated solutions span medical imaging, breast health, and biomarker analysis to enable earlier detection, smarter treatment decisions, and more accurate outcomes across the cancer treatment continuum.
Lunit offers a comprehensive suite from risk prediction and early detection to precision oncology. Our FDA-cleared Lunit INSIGHT Breast Suite and breast health solutions support cancer screening in thousands of healthcare facilities around the world. Meanwhile, the Lunit SCOPE platform is used in research partnerships with global pharmaceutical companies and laboratory leaders for biomarker research and companion diagnostic development.
Trusted by more than 10,000 facilities in more than 65 countries, Lunit combines deep medical expertise with continuously evolving datasets to deliver measurable impact for patients, clinicians, researchers, and more. Lunit is headquartered in Seoul and has offices around the world, advancing the global fight against cancer. For more information, please visit lunit.io.
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