Posts by Peter W. PENG

At the 2024 Chinese Congress of Holistic Integrative Oncology (CCHIO) held from November 14–17 in Xi’an, Dr. Yinying Wu from The First Affiliated Hospital Xi'an Jiao Tong University delivered a comprehensive lecture titled “Advances in CLDN18.2-Positive Gastric Cancer Research.” The presentation delved into the role of CLDN18.2 protein in gastric cancer, advancements in drug therapies, and preliminary explorations into drug and immunotherapy combinations.

Breast cancer poses a significant global challenge to women’s health. In China, unprecedented efforts are being made to advance standardized diagnosis and quality control in breast cancer care. During the 2024 Conference on Standardized Diagnosis and Quality Control in Breast Cancer, Oncology Frontier interviewed the conference chair, Dr. Fei Ma from the Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences . Professor Ma shed light on the core values and profound significance of quality control in breast cancer care, offering a clear direction for future advancements. In the interview, he shared the latest achievements, ongoing challenges, and the pivotal role of quality control in bridging gaps between urban and rural areas and promoting equitable access to high-quality medical resources. He emphasized that comprehensive quality control and the standardization of breast cancer care are critical steps toward achieving the Healthy China 2030 goals.

The 2024 CACA Integrated Lung Cancer Conference, hosted by the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association and the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association’s Integrated Lung Cancer Committee (under preparation), was held in Zhuhai on October 25–26, 2024. With the theme “Uniting Efforts, Leading the Future,” the conference gathered leading domestic experts and scholars in the field of pulmonary tumors for in-depth and broad academic exchanges on hot and challenging topics related to lung cancer. During the conference, Oncology Frontier invited Dr. Gen Lin from the Cancer Center of Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, for an exclusive interview. Professor Lin shared insights into the current clinical practice of immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and progress in strategies to address secondary resistance in immunotherapy.

The 2024 CACA Integrated Lung Cancer Conference, organized by the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association and the CACA Lung Cancer Integration Committee, was held in Zhuhai from October 25 to 26. Under the theme “Gathering Strength and Leading the Future,” the conference brought together top experts in lung cancer to discuss key challenges and advancements. Oncology Frontier interviewed Prof. Li Zhang from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, who shared insights on the clinical applications, development, and future prospects of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in lung cancer treatment.

The 18th International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) Annual Conference took place in Toronto, Canada, from October 17-19, 2024. During the conference, Prof. Richard S. Finn of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA presented subgroup data from the real-world REFINE study, highlighting that patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) who received transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or transarterial radioembolization (TARE) in addition to regorafenib had better survival trends. Oncology Frontier invited Dr. Yunfei Yuan from the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center to discuss and provide insights on this study.

The final results of the KEYNOTE-522 trial confirm the potential of pembrolizumab to change patient management, though careful patient selection and toxicity monitoring are essential.

From October 24-27, 2024, the 9th Academic Symposium of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) China Chapter took place in Wuhan. In the field of liver cancer adjuvant therapy, Dr. Minshan Chen from the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center presented new treatment strategies. Oncology Frontier invited Prof. Chen for an in-depth interview, where he shared insights on this topic. Prof. Chen highlighted that traditional postoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is becoming outdated, as it shows limited efficacy in addressing large liver tumors and residual micro-lesions. In contrast, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), validated through a decade of clinical research, has proven highly effective for advanced liver cancer. HAIC not only shrinks tumor size for resectability but also shows promising results for large tumors and patients with vascular invasion. Prof. Chen emphasized that in liver cancer treatment, patient survival and quality of life should be prioritized over the focus on recurrence alone.

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) is a validated treatment for liver cancer, yet the influence of the immune microenvironment on treatment response and survival remains unclear. At the 18th International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) Annual Conference, a recent study shed light on the complex relationship between the immune microenvironment in liver cancer patients prior to SIRT and its impact on treatment response and survival. Oncology Frontier invited Dr. Lin Zhang, from the Hepatobiliary Interventional Radiology Department at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, to provide an expert analysis. With a detailed breakdown of the data and expert interpretation, this study offers valuable insights into the role of the local immune state in liver cancer treatment, paving the way for personalized and combination therapy strategies.