CTIC 2026 Chair Interview | Professor He Huang: Driving Innovation Through a Global Perspective and Advancing Development Through Clinical Breakthroughs

CTIC 2026 Chair Interview | Professor He Huang: Driving Innovation Through a Global Perspective and Advancing Development Through Clinical Breakthroughs

Gathering in Qiantang to Discuss Ideas and Shape the Future. From November 6 to 8, 2026, the 2026 Cellular Therapy and Immunotherapy Conference (CTIC 2026) was successfully held in Hangzhou. With a global perspective, the conference brought together leading experts and scholars from China and abroad to explore cutting-edge areas, including cell therapy, gene therapy, AI-enabled hematology, and industrial translation. Participants discussed clinical challenges and explored pathways toward high-quality development in the field. During the conference, Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier invited Professor He Huang, Conference Chair, from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, for an in-depth discussion on the conference's academic positioning, clinical challenges in cellular immunotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and the development of young professionals.
ESMO 2026 | Blanca Homet Moreno: New Evidence and Key Questions in Bladder Cancer Treatment — Perioperative Therapy, Patient Selection for Bladder Preservation, and Prospects for ADC-Based Combinations

ESMO 2026 | Blanca Homet Moreno: New Evidence and Key Questions in Bladder Cancer Treatment — Perioperative Therapy, Patient Selection for Bladder Preservation, and Prospects for ADC-Based Combinations

The 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress presented findings from several studies in genitourinary cancers. Among the key topics were differences in the results of studies investigating perioperative chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, patient selection for bladder-preserving treatment, and emerging approaches combining antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) with immunotherapy. These developments raise important questions for bladder cancer treatment. How should new evidence influence established clinical perspectives? As treatment options continue to expand, how can clinicians better define individualized treatment pathways for patients? Oncology Frontier – UroStream invited Blanca Homet Moreno, a researcher in the oncology division of Merck & Co., for an interview to share her observations and perspectives on these topics.
ESMO Insights from the East | Professor Jianya Zhou: PD-1/IL-2 Bispecific Antibody Plus Bevacizumab May Offer a New Strategy to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance in Lung Adenocarcinoma

ESMO Insights from the East | Professor Jianya Zhou: PD-1/IL-2 Bispecific Antibody Plus Bevacizumab May Offer a New Strategy to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance in Lung Adenocarcinoma

In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), particularly those targeting PD-1/PD-L1, have transformed the treatment landscape of advanced driver gene-negative non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, resistance to immunotherapy remains inevitable. For patients whose disease progresses following first-line immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy, subsequent treatment options are extremely limited, creating an urgent need for more effective strategies to overcome resistance.
ESMO International Perspectives | How Does the BEHOLD-1 Biomarker Analysis Inform Patient Selection for ADC Therapy in Ovarian Cancer?

ESMO International Perspectives | How Does the BEHOLD-1 Biomarker Analysis Inform Patient Selection for ADC Therapy in Ovarian Cancer?

The 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress was held in Madrid, Spain, from October 23 to 27. During the Gynecological Cancers Session, an exploratory biomarker analysis from the BEHOLD-1 study attracted considerable attention. The analysis systematically characterized response patterns to Mo-Rez (mocertatug rezetecan), a novel B7-H4-targeted topoisomerase I inhibitor (TOP1i) antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC). The findings showed that 96% of patients with PROC had B7-H4-positive tumors, while clinical responses to Mo-Rez were observed across different levels of B7-H4 expression. The linker-cleaving enzyme CTSB, the payload sensitivity gene TOP1, stromal remodeling, and immune-related pathways were all associated with response.
Breaking New Ground | ORR of 68% and mPFS of 11.2 Months! Sacituzumab Tirumotecan Plus Immunotherapy Explores a New First-Line Treatment Strategy for la/mUC

Breaking New Ground | ORR of 68% and mPFS of 11.2 Months! Sacituzumab Tirumotecan Plus Immunotherapy Explores a New First-Line Treatment Strategy for la/mUC

In recent years, the combination of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and immunotherapy has transformed the treatment landscape for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (la/mUC). However, for patients who are ineligible for cisplatin, improving tumor response rates, prolonging disease control, and maintaining treatment tolerability and quality of life remain important clinical challenges. At the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, a study of first-line treatment with a regimen combining China's homegrown TROP2 ADC sacituzumab tirumotecan and immunotherapy in la/mUC was presented in a Rapid Oral session [1]. Updated data showed a confirmed objective response rate (ORR) of 68%, a median duration of response (mDOR) of 19.4 months, and a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of 11.2 months. Effective and durable tumor responses were observed regardless of TROP2 or PD-L1 expression levels, providing important evidence to inform clinical treatment decisions. Oncology Frontier – UroStream invited Professor Dingwei Ye and Professor Xiaojie Bian of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center to discuss the study design, efficacy and safety findings, and the development of Chinese-originated ADCs in genitourinary oncology, with the aim of providing insights for clinical practice.
ESMO Voices from China | Landmark Study Led by Academician Binghe Xu Published in The Lancet: Iza-bren Reshapes the Breast Cancer Treatment Landscape with Robust Clinical Data

ESMO Voices from China | Landmark Study Led by Academician Binghe Xu Published in The Lancet: Iza-bren Reshapes the Breast Cancer Treatment Landscape with Robust Clinical Data

At the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, the PANKU-Breast01 study, led by Academician Binghe Xu of the National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, was presented as a late-breaking abstract (LBA) and simultaneously published in the internationally renowned medical journal The Lancet (impact factor: 109). In the more than 200-year history of The Lancet, this is the first study of an innovative Chinese drug in the breast cancer field to be published in the journal's flagship edition.
ESMO Investigator Insights | Professor Quchang Ouyang: Deep Tumor Shrinkage and a Manageable Safety Profile — Iza-bren Ushers in a New Era of Bispecific ADC Therapy for Breast Cancer

ESMO Investigator Insights | Professor Quchang Ouyang: Deep Tumor Shrinkage and a Manageable Safety Profile — Iza-bren Ushers in a New Era of Bispecific ADC Therapy for Breast Cancer

The annual meeting of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) is one of the most authoritative academic gatherings in global oncology. The presentation of key research findings continues to drive advances in clinical practice and reshape treatment paradigms. At the 2026 ESMO Congress, the PANKU-Breast01 study, led by Academician Binghe Xu of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, was presented as a Late-breaking Abstract (LBA).
ESMO 2026 Expert Insights | Professor Bing Zhao: Overcoming Treatment Bottlenecks in Later-Line HR+/HER2− Advanced Breast Cancer — Iza-bren Ushers in a New Era of Bispecific ADC Therapy for Breast Cancer

ESMO 2026 Expert Insights | Professor Bing Zhao: Overcoming Treatment Bottlenecks in Later-Line HR+/HER2− Advanced Breast Cancer — Iza-bren Ushers in a New Era of Bispecific ADC Therapy for Breast Cancer

At the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, iza-bren (BL-B01D1) made a remarkable appearance as the world's first-in-class and first approved EGFR×HER3 bispecific antibody–drug conjugate (ADC), with the strongest clinical impact in its class. The pivotal Phase III PANKU-Breast01 study, led by Academician Binghe Xu of the National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, was presented as a late-breaking abstract (LBA), with the full study published simultaneously in The Lancet (impact factor: 109). In the 200-year history of The Lancet, iza-bren is the first innovative Chinese drug in the breast cancer field to be published in the journal's flagship edition.
i Hope International Expert Roundtable | Bringing Together Global Expertise to Explore New Pathways in Innovative Medicine and International Healthcare Collaboration

i Hope International Expert Roundtable | Bringing Together Global Expertise to Explore New Pathways in Innovative Medicine and International Healthcare Collaboration

On October 31, 2026, the 6th i Hope Innovative Medicine Forum was held in Beijing. Focusing on the development of innovative medicine and international healthcare collaboration, the forum brought together clinical experts, researchers, and healthcare industry representatives from China and abroad to exchange insights on topics including the clinical application of innovative therapies, global clinical research collaboration, international healthcare partnerships, and the development of nursing capabilities.
Professor Heyu Ni: New Insights into the Mechanisms of Drug-Induced Thrombocytopenia

Professor Heyu Ni: New Insights into the Mechanisms of Drug-Induced Thrombocytopenia

Drug-induced thrombocytopenia (DITP) is a rare but potentially serious adverse reaction encountered in clinical practice. Its pathogenesis is complex, diagnosis is challenging, and treatment options remain limited. In recent years, advances in our understanding of immune regulation have led to important progress in this field. Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier invited Professor Heyu Ni of the University of Toronto, Canada, to discuss recent findings from his team's research on heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and atorvastatin-induced thrombocytopenia. He shares new insights that extend beyond hemostatic homeostasis to encompass immune regulation, as well as the potential for clinical translation.