For many years, trastuzumab combined with pertuzumab and a taxane (the THP regimen) has been the standard first-line treatment for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. However, approximately half of patients experience disease progression within two years, highlighting the urgent need for more effective treatment options.

The 2026 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) was held in Madrid, Spain. The EPIC-TC study (NCT07235566), initiated by Professor Yu Wang's team at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, was selected for the Rapid Oral session and presented on October 23 as Abstract 4211RO. The study focuses on patients with EGFR-positive, unresectable anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) and poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC), investigating the efficacy and safety of the EGFR-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) vicetumotug vedotin combined with the PD-1 inhibitor putrelizumab. Its selection for the Rapid Oral session reflects the congress's interest in research on these rare malignancies. However, the study remains a single-center, single-arm Phase II trial, and the data presented represent preliminary findings at a prespecified data cutoff.

Most types of thyroid cancer progress slowly and respond well to treatment. However, two subtypes are particularly aggressive: anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) and poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC). ATC is one of the most rapidly progressing thyroid malignancies, with a historical median overall survival (OS) of only approximately five months and a 1-year OS rate of around 20%. Although PDTC generally has a better prognosis than ATC, it is highly heterogeneous. Historically, the overall 5-year OS rate has been approximately 60%–70%; however, once the disease becomes locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic, patient outcomes deteriorate significantly. For a long time, effective treatment options for these patients have been extremely limited.

During the 2026 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), Oncology Frontier conducted an on-site interview in Barcelona, Spain, with Professor Brian M. Slomovitz, Global Principal Investigator of the KEYNOTE-C93 study and Director of Gynecologic Oncology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, United States.

The highly anticipated 2026 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) was held in Madrid, Spain, from October 23 to 27, 2026. As one of the most influential academic meetings in global oncology, this year's congress brought together leading experts and scholars from around the world to present cutting-edge advances and explore the future of cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The 2026 ESMO Congress brought major advances to the forefront of oncology. Iza-bren (BL-B01D1/伦康依隆妥单抗), the world's first-in-class and first approved EGFR×HER3 bispecific antibody–drug conjugate (ADC), made a striking appearance with data from its pivotal Phase III PANKU-Breast01 study. The study presented its prespecified interim analysis results in full for the first time in a late-breaking abstract (LBA).

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress is one of the most influential academic events in global oncology, where the presentation of each major study has the potential to reshape the clinical treatment landscape. Iza-bren (伦康依隆妥单抗), a globally pioneering, first-in-class bispecific antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) and the first of its kind to receive regulatory approval worldwide, has demonstrated significant clinical impact. At this year's congress, the interim analysis results of its pivotal Phase III PANKU-Breast01 study were presented as a late-breaking abstract (LBA). The study evaluated patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer who had received prior endocrine therapy and one to two lines of chemotherapy. The results were also published simultaneously in The Lancet (impact factor: 109), making iza-bren the first innovative Chinese drug in the field of breast cancer to be published in the journal's main edition in its 200-year history.

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress is one of the most prestigious academic events in global oncology, where the presentation of every major study has the potential to reshape the clinical treatment landscape. Iza-bren (伦康依隆妥单抗) is the world's first approved EGFR×HER3 bispecific antibody–drug conjugate (ADC). At this year's congress, the pivotal Phase III PANKU-Breast01 study, led by Academician Binghe Xu of the National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, was presented as a late-breaking abstract (LBA). The study evaluated iza-bren in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer who had previously received endocrine therapy and one to two lines of chemotherapy, and demonstrated highly encouraging results. The full study was also published simultaneously in The Lancet (impact factor: 109), making iza-bren the first innovative Chinese drug in the field of breast cancer to be published in the journal's main edition.

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress is one of the most highly anticipated academic events in global oncology, where the presentation of every major study has the potential to reshape the clinical treatment landscape. Iza-bren (BL-B01D1/伦康依隆妥单抗) is the world's first approved EGFR×HER3 bispecific antibody–drug conjugate (ADC). At this year's congress, the pivotal Phase III PANKU-Breast01 study evaluating iza-bren in patients with HR-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer who had previously received endocrine therapy and one to two lines of chemotherapy was presented as a late-breaking abstract (LBA), demonstrating impressive results.