Editor’s Note: At the 8th Conference on Oncology Precision Medicine and the 11th Conference on Individualized Therapy for Breast Cancer (2025 COMB), Oncology Frontier invited Professor Tao Wang (Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital) and Professor Kun Wang (Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital) for a deep exchange on “Chinese Original Research and Future Horizons.” The two professors reflected on clinical practice and research in HER2-positive breast cancer, analyzing hot topics and trends, sharing challenges and experiences, and discussing how multidisciplinary integration and precision oncology can shape the next chapter of Chinese original breast cancer research.01
Oncology Frontier: At this meeting, you presented multiple original Chinese studies in HER2-positive breast cancer, including Professor Kun Wang’s neoCARHP trial. Among them, which captured your particular attention? Could you elaborate on the current hotspots and future directions of Chinese original research in HER2-positive breast cancer?
Professor Tao Wang: Our Chinese original research is mainly concentrated in two areas:
- Drug innovation in HER2-positive breast cancer. This spans monoclonal antibodies, TKIs, ADCs, and novel antibody-based therapies. Importantly, domestically developed agents such as inetetamab, pyrotinib, SHR-A1811, and ARX788 have generated pivotal evidence to support approvals.
- Innovative strategies using approved drugs. A representative example is Professor Kun Wang’s neoCARHP trial, which pioneered a de-escalation approach in the neoadjuvant setting by removing carboplatin. The results showed that the carboplatin-free regimen achieved comparable efficacy with fewer toxicities—findings highly relevant to real-world practice.
Such strategy-driven research complements registrational trials by enrolling patient groups often excluded from drug approval studies, providing clinicians with data that are closer to the realities of daily practice.
02
Oncology Frontier: The neoCARHP study undoubtedly faced hurdles during execution. From a broader perspective, what are the main obstacles in conducting original research in China? Could you use neoCARHP as an example to illustrate the specific challenges in HER2-positive breast cancer research, and share valuable lessons learned?
Professor Kun Wang: The neoCARHP trial was an investigator-initiated trial (IIT), unlike registrational studies, and relied heavily on the PI and team’s dedication. While less resource-intensive, it required full collaboration across all members.
Preparation was extensive: the PI coordinated with statisticians and collaborators to carefully design the study. Execution demanded rigorous patient enrollment and follow-up. With a large sample size, enrollment alone took nearly three years, and combined with follow-up, the study cycle was long and demanding.
Clinically, while TCbHP is effective, carboplatin often causes hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicities. To address this, neoCARHP was designed as a multicenter, open-label, randomized, non-inferiority phase III trial comparing THP (without carboplatin) with the standard TCbHP regimen. Results confirmed THP was non-inferior in efficacy and significantly reduced adverse events—offering real benefits to patients in the neoadjuvant setting.
03
Oncology Frontier: From a clinical perspective, how do you evaluate China’s current position in breast cancer original research compared with international efforts? At this meeting, you introduced the concept of “multi-modal drivers of breast cancer progress.” Could you expand on that?
Professor Kun Wang: China has made impressive progress. Ten years ago, we lacked innovative drugs and relied on international trials. Today, as Professor Tao Wang mentioned, we have developed monoclonal antibodies, TKIs, ADCs, and more. This is reflected internationally: Chinese scholars now account for ~20% of oral presentations at ASCO, underscoring the global recognition of our research.
We also leverage technology to address local needs. For example, breast conservation rates in China remain lower than the ~70% seen abroad, due to later-stage diagnoses and larger tumor-to-breast size ratios. By using neoadjuvant therapy to shrink tumors, breast preservation becomes feasible. With AI integrated into multi-omics, we can predict tumor regression patterns more accurately, guiding surgical decisions for breast and axillary preservation. This is a strong demonstration of how multimodal innovation addresses real-world challenges.
04
Oncology Frontier: Future research in breast cancer will increasingly emphasize cross-disciplinary collaboration and precision medicine. How can Chinese original research better embrace these trends? What advice would you offer to researchers undertaking original studies?
Professor Tao Wang: China’s pharmaceutical innovation has advanced rapidly, with many drugs now reaching or surpassing international standards. The gap with the global front line has narrowed significantly.
These innovations open opportunities for more IITs. Compared with registrational studies, IITs enroll broader populations and directly address clinical pain points. The neoCARHP study exemplifies this model.
In addition, multi-omics research holds dual value: it accelerates drug R&D through AI-enhanced analyses while providing technical support for IITs, improving clinical decision-making and solving practical problems.
Chinese breast cancer patients also have unique characteristics—they are relatively younger, with distinct breast morphology and stronger preferences for breast preservation compared with Western populations. Conducting studies tailored to these differences not only advances global oncology knowledge but also directly benefits local patients. This, I believe, is how Chinese original research can step onto the international stage.
Professor Tao Wang
MD, Chief Physician, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor Head, Department of Oncology, Fifth Medical Center, PLA General Hospital
Professor Kun Wang
Vice President, Cancer Hospital, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital Doctoral Supervisor
