Back to Faculty
Faculty

Tian Zhang

MD, MHS
Associate Professor
UT Southwestern Medical Center; Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dr. Zhang received her MD from the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology (HST) program and completed post-graduate training at Duke University, where she remained on faculty until 2021. She is currently Associate Professor and Associate Director of Clinical Research in the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Clinically she specializes in genitourinary malignancies and is a clinical researcher focused on improving novel therapies and biomarkers for patients with renal, prostate, and urothelial cancers. She serves as co-chair of the NCI GU Steering Committee Renal Task Force and participates on national committees for ASCO, SITC, CAHON, and KCA.

2026 Sessions

Doublet Immune Checkpoint Blockade

In this debate, faculty will examine clinical trial evidence, efficacy across risk groups, toxicity profiles, and sequencing considerations that inform first-line treatment selection in metastatic renal cancer. The discussion will highlight ongoing controversies regarding durability of response versus disease control. Providers will share expert insights on applying these strategies in real-world practice.

Review pivotal clinical trial data, response durability, and survival outcomes associated with dual immunotherapy regimens, and learn approaches to patient selection, toxicity management, and predictors of long-term benefit. Participants will gain insight into the role of doublet immune checkpoint blockade in contemporary metastatic renal cancer care.

Presenter

Saturday, March 14 2:10–2:30 PM
Room Royal Ballroom 3/4
Genitourinary Cancers
Faculty

Tian Zhang

MD, MHS
Associate Professor
UT Southwestern Medical Center; Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dr. Zhang received her MD from the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology (HST) program and completed post-graduate training at Duke University, where she remained on faculty until 2021. She is currently Associate Professor and Associate Director of Clinical Research in the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Clinically she specializes in genitourinary malignancies and is a clinical researcher focused on improving novel therapies and biomarkers for patients with renal, prostate, and urothelial cancers. She serves as co-chair of the NCI GU Steering Committee Renal Task Force and participates on national committees for ASCO, SITC, CAHON, and KCA.
General Session

First-Line Strategies in Metastatic Renal Cancer: Doublet Immune Checkpoint Blockade vs Immune Checkpoint Blockade Plus VEGFR TKI

In this debate, faculty will examine clinical trial evidence, efficacy across risk groups, toxicity profiles, and sequencing considerations that inform first-line treatment...

  • Moderator
    • Guru Sonpavde, MD
  • Presenter
    • Stephanie Berg, DO
    • Tian Zhang, MD, MHS
Genitourinary Cancers

Doublet Immune Checkpoint Blockade

In this debate, faculty will examine clinical trial evidence, efficacy across risk groups, toxicity profiles, and sequencing considerations that inform first-line treatment selection in metastatic renal cancer. The discussion will highlight ongoing controversies regarding durability of response versus disease control. Providers will share expert insights on applying these strategies in real-world practice.

Review pivotal clinical trial data, response durability, and survival outcomes associated with dual immunotherapy regimens, and learn approaches to patient selection, toxicity management, and predictors of long-term benefit. Participants will gain insight into the role of doublet immune checkpoint blockade in contemporary metastatic renal cancer care.

Presenter

Saturday, March 14 2:10–2:30 PM
Room Royal Ballroom 3/4
Genitourinary Cancers
Faculty

Tian Zhang

MD, MHS
Associate Professor
UT Southwestern Medical Center; Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dr. Zhang received her MD from the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology (HST) program and completed post-graduate training at Duke University, where she remained on faculty until 2021. She is currently Associate Professor and Associate Director of Clinical Research in the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Clinically she specializes in genitourinary malignancies and is a clinical researcher focused on improving novel therapies and biomarkers for patients with renal, prostate, and urothelial cancers. She serves as co-chair of the NCI GU Steering Committee Renal Task Force and participates on national committees for ASCO, SITC, CAHON, and KCA.

Immune Checkpoint Blockade Plus VEGFR TKI

In this debate, faculty will examine clinical trial evidence, efficacy across risk groups, toxicity profiles, and sequencing considerations that inform first-line treatment selection in metastatic renal cancer. The discussion will highlight ongoing controversies regarding durability of response versus disease control. Providers will share expert insights on applying these strategies in real-world practice.

Discussion of key clinical trial data will demonstrate improvements in response rates and progression-free survival with combination approaches. Faculty will address toxicity profiles, patient selection, and practical considerations for managing combination therapy in routine practice, and expand participants’ knowledge of the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors plus VEGFR TKI regimens in the evolving treatment landscape of metastatic renal cancer.

Presenter

Saturday, March 14 2:30–2:50 PM
Room Royal Ballroom 3/4
Genitourinary Cancers
Faculty

Stephanie Berg

DO
Instructor of Medicine, Senior Physician
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute , Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Berg is a genitourinary medical oncologist and Excuetive Officer in the Alliance for Clinical Trials for Oncology in the Genitourinary Committee and Experimental Therapeutics/Rare Tumors Committee. Dr. Berg initially joined Loyola University Chicago in 2018 as junior faculty lead of the Genitourinary Oncology Program with a focus on translational science and clinical trial development for patients with rare urologic cancers. She is currently at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology and instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is also a senior physician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Her main role at Alliance is design of clinical trials sponsored by Alliance through the National Cancer Instutite National Cinical Trials Network.
Back to top