Month: June 2026

The 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting has once again brought together the latest breakthroughs in cancer research and drug development from around the world. As the largest and most influential oncology conference globally, every oral presentation represents a major advance in clinical practice and translational research.

Although radical cystectomy remains the standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) that is unresponsive to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy, many patients are either unsuitable for or unwilling to undergo radical cystectomy because of underlying comorbidities and the potential impact on quality of life. Consequently, there is an urgent need to explore novel treatment approaches. At the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, a study conducted by the team of Professor Wang He and Professor Wenlong Zhong from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, was selected for presentation. The study evaluated a bladder-preservation strategy combining disitamab vedotin-based systemic targeted immunotherapy with transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND), offering a new possibility for bladder preservation in patients with MIBC. Oncology Frontier – UroStream invited both experts to discuss the clinical value, efficacy, and future prospects of this innovative approach.

In recent years, immunotherapy-based combination regimens have transformed the treatment landscape of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and have become standard first-line options for advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). However, therapeutic progress in non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (nccRCC) has remained limited. At the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, the research team led by Professor Hao Zeng, Professor Xu Hu, and Dr. Junru Chen from West China Hospital, Sichuan University, presented encouraging findings on first-line treatment with cadonilimab plus axitinib in patients with nccRCC, offering a promising new option for this underserved patient population. Oncology Frontier – UroStream invited Dr. Junru Chen to discuss the study and its implications.

ASCO 2026 has officially opened, featuring 518 major studies in genitourinary oncology, with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) emerging as one of the most exciting areas of progress. Among them, enfortumab vedotin (EV), a Nectin-4-targeting ADC, was the subject of 36 presentations, continuing to drive transformative changes in the treatment landscape of urothelial carcinoma (UC).

The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) is rapidly expanding from the first-line treatment of advanced disease into the perioperative setting, fundamentally reshaping the treatment landscape of urothelial carcinoma (UC). As global research momentum continues to accelerate, Chinese-developed immunotherapy–ADC combinations are emerging as important contributors to this evolving field.

Recently, the team led by Professor Nengwang Yu from the Department of Urology at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University published a research article entitled “Spermine oxidase-DOX conjugates reshape tumor microenvironment via carbonyl stress to potentiate bladder cancer chemotherapy” in Materials Today Bio (CAS Q1; Impact Factor: 10.2).

In recent years, rapid advances in surgical robotics and information technology have enabled remote robotic surgery to transcend geographic barriers and redefine the future of surgical care. At the same time, China’s innovative drug development efforts have achieved major international milestones. The phase III RC48-C016 study evaluating toripalimab plus disitamab vedotin (DV) as first-line treatment for urothelial carcinoma was published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), marking a landmark achievement for Chinese oncology research.

The 2026 CUDA Yanqi Lake Urology Academic Conference was successfully held, bringing together leading urologists, clinical experts, and researchers from across China. Centered on the theme “Innovation Empowering Clinical Care, Collaboration Driving Progress,” the meeting featured in-depth discussions on key topics including advances in urologic oncology, translational innovation at the intersection of medicine and engineering, and expanding access to high-quality healthcare resources.

Urothelial carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies of the urinary tract, with bladder cancer representing its most prevalent subtype. In recent years, immunotherapy has offered new hope for patients with advanced disease. However, not all patients derive meaningful benefit.

On May 21, 2026, a research team led by Professor Zhuowei Liu, Dr. Zikun Ma, and Associate Research Fellow Xiaoyu Liang from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center published a study in Cancer Cell entitled “Endocytic Escape Drives Tumor Resistance to Antibody–Drug Conjugate Therapy.” The study systematically characterized the adaptive remodeling processes underlying resistance to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) using humanized mouse models, single-cell sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics.