On-Site at ASCO GU 2026 | Prof. Thomas Powles: HER2-Targeted Therapy Is Transforming Urothelial Carcinoma Care, with Chinese Innovation Reshaping the Global Landscape

On-Site at ASCO GU 2026 | Prof. Thomas Powles: HER2-Targeted Therapy Is Transforming Urothelial Carcinoma Care, with Chinese Innovation Reshaping the Global Landscape

The 2026 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU) has once again opened as one of the most authoritative and influential global meetings in genitourinary oncology. As always, it sets the direction for advances in urothelial carcinoma, prostate cancer, and renal cell carcinoma. This year, precision-targeted therapy in urothelial carcinoma stands firmly at the center of attention.
Breaking the Adjuvant Monotherapy Standard: LITESPARK-022 Study Shows 28% Reduction in Recurrence Risk for High-Risk ccRCC

Breaking the Adjuvant Monotherapy Standard: LITESPARK-022 Study Shows 28% Reduction in Recurrence Risk for High-Risk ccRCC

At the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Dr. Toni K. Choueiri from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School presented the primary results of the LITESPARK-022 study (NCT05239728). As the largest randomized, double-blind, Phase 3 trial to date in the adjuvant immunotherapy setting, LITESPARK-022 evaluated the efficacy of pembrolizumab plus belzutifan versus pembrolizumab monotherapy for patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) at increased risk of recurrence post-nephrectomy.
KEYNOTE-905 Update: EV plus Pembrolizumab Achieves 57% pCR and Significantly Extends DFS in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

KEYNOTE-905 Update: EV plus Pembrolizumab Achieves 57% pCR and Significantly Extends DFS in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

At a recent international medical congress, Dr. Steffen Rausch from the University Hospital Tübingen presented the latest analysis of pathological outcomes and disease-free survival (DFS) from the KEYNOTE-905 study. This randomized, open-label Phase III trial evaluates the efficacy and safety of perioperative enfortumab vedotin (EV) combined with pembrolizumab in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who are ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy.
Balancing Survival Benefit and Quality of Life: Clinical Trade-offs in Adjuvant Immunotherapy Based on RAMPART PRO Data

Balancing Survival Benefit and Quality of Life: Clinical Trade-offs in Adjuvant Immunotherapy Based on RAMPART PRO Data

At a recent international academic symposium, Dr. Sophie Merrick from the Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at University College London (UCL) reported the Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) data from the RAMPART trial. The study aimed to evaluate the dynamic impact of adjuvant durvalumab plus tremelimumab versus active monitoring on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with resected renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Significant Improvement in PFS and DOR: LITESPARK-011 Validates Clinical Benefit of a Novel Combination Following Immunotherapy Progression

Significant Improvement in PFS and DOR: LITESPARK-011 Validates Clinical Benefit of a Novel Combination Following Immunotherapy Progression

For patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have progressed after anti-PD-(L)1 therapy, a consensus standard of care is currently lacking. Belzutifan, a first-in-class HIF-2α inhibitor, combined with the VEGFR-TKI lenvatinib, has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. At a recent academic conference, Professor Robert J. Motzer from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) presented the latest results from the randomized, open-label, Phase 3 LITESPARK-011 study.
Toward Precision Bladder Preservation: RETAIN 2 Validates Nivolumab Plus NAC Potential; ctDNA Emerges as a Key Systemic Risk Predictor

Toward Precision Bladder Preservation: RETAIN 2 Validates Nivolumab Plus NAC Potential; ctDNA Emerges as a Key Systemic Risk Predictor

At the recent genitourinary oncology symposium, Dr. Pooja Ghatalia from Fox Chase Cancer Center presented the primary clinical outcomes of the RETAIN 2 trial. She also provided an integrated analysis of the RETAIN 1 and RETAIN 2 trials, focusing on the role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in guiding response-adapted bladder preservation for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).
Dual Liquid Biopsy Insights: Combining utDNA and ctDNA to Identify pCR and Inform Bladder-Sparing Strategies in MIBC

Dual Liquid Biopsy Insights: Combining utDNA and ctDNA to Identify pCR and Inform Bladder-Sparing Strategies in MIBC

At the recent ASCO Annual Meeting, Professor Michiel S. van der Heijden from the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) presented the latest biomarker analysis from the Phase III NIAGARA trial. The study investigated the dynamics of urinary tumor DNA (utDNA) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) receiving perioperative durvalumab in combination with chemotherapy, evaluating their utility in predicting pathological complete response (pCR) and event-free survival (EFS).
Milestone Breakthrough: KEYNOTE-B15 Study Confirms Perioperative EV plus Pembrolizumab Significantly Improves Outcomes in Cisplatin-Eligible MIBC

Milestone Breakthrough: KEYNOTE-B15 Study Confirms Perioperative EV plus Pembrolizumab Significantly Improves Outcomes in Cisplatin-Eligible MIBC

During a recent clinical oncology symposium, Professor Matthew D. Galsky from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai presented the primary results of the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-B15 study (also known as EV-304). This trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of perioperative enfortumab vedotin (EV) in combination with pembrolizumab for patients with cisplatin-eligible muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).
A Breakthrough in Luminal-Targeted Therapy: First-in-Class PPARG Inhibitor FX-909 Demonstrates Potent Antitumor Activity and Precision Subtyping Potential

A Breakthrough in Luminal-Targeted Therapy: First-in-Class PPARG Inhibitor FX-909 Demonstrates Potent Antitumor Activity and Precision Subtyping Potential

At a recent major international oncology conference, Dr. Matthew D. Galsky from Mount Sinai presented updated data from a Phase 1 clinical trial (Late-Breaking Abstract, LBA639) and associated biomarker analysis of FX-909, a first-in-class peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) inhibitor, in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC). The study data were simultaneously published in the top-tier journal Nature Medicine.
HCRN GU 20-444 Trial: Phase II Clinical Results of Pembrolizumab Monotherapy with a Response-Guided Bladder-Sparing Strategy in MIBC

HCRN GU 20-444 Trial: Phase II Clinical Results of Pembrolizumab Monotherapy with a Response-Guided Bladder-Sparing Strategy in MIBC

While radical cystectomy (RC) remains the standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), it is associated with significant morbidity and long-term quality-of-life impacts. For elderly patients and those ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy, effective bladder-sparing strategies are urgently needed in clinical practice. At a recent major international oncology conference, Dr. Jonathan F. Anker from Mount Sinai presented the latest data from the HCRN GU 20-444 study (Abstract 737). This Phase II clinical trial innovatively explored a pembrolizumab-based, response-guided bladder-sparing strategy in cisplatin-ineligible MIBC patients and conducted an in-depth analysis of the immense potential of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in precisely identifying the population that stands to benefit. Oncology Frontier has summarized the core academic content below.