Hematology Frontier

As precision medicine continues to advance in hematologic malignancies, the clinical value of germline genetic factors is gradually extending beyond disease-risk assessment to influence treatment decision-making. For patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), donor selection has traditionally focused on factors such as HLA matching, donor–recipient relationship, donor age, and overall health status. However, an increasingly important question is: Could the germline genetic backgrounds shared by or differing between donors and recipients also affect post-transplant disease control, infection risk, and long-term survival?

On August 25, 2026, Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology (IF 57.5) published online a commentary titled "The International Chinese Young Scholars Alliance for the Study of the Liver: facilitating global collaboration," jointly completed by Xiaolong Qi (Zhongda Hospital Southeast University, China), Wenhao Li (Royal London Hospital, UK), Zhujun Cao (European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure / Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China), Yee Hui Yeo (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA), Ying Shang (Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden), and Kaina Chen (Singapore General Hospital, Singapore).

The 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress will be held from October 23–27 in Madrid, Spain. As one of the most influential academic meetings in global oncology, ESMO attracts tens of thousands of leading experts each year and provides a platform for cross-border and multidisciplinary scientific exchange through a combination of online and in-person formats.

The 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress is set to take place in Berlin, bringing together leading experts and cutting-edge research from across oncology. In hematology, several studies are attracting particular attention, spanning mechanisms of CAR-T resistance, innovative dual-target therapies, MRD-guided treatment discontinuation in multiple myeloma, and single-cell profiling. Together, these advances highlight the rapid evolution of hematologic malignancy research and the growing potential for more precise, individualized treatment strategies.

The 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress is set to take place in Berlin, bringing together the latest advances and cutting-edge research in oncology. In hematology, several highly anticipated research directions are attracting attention, ranging from investigations into the mechanisms of CAR-T cell resistance and potential strategies to overcome this challenge, to innovative dual-target therapies that may offer more precise and effective treatment options. Other highlights include MRD-guided treatment discontinuation in multiple myeloma, which may help improve long-term survival and quality of life, as well as single-cell profiling studies providing new insights into the pathogenesis of hematologic malignancies. Together, these studies reflect the continued advancement of hematologic oncology and the emergence of new opportunities for more precise diagnosis and treatment.

How has PD-1 blockade transformed the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma? Can biomarkers such as CD30 and 9p24.1 amplification further refine precision therapy? And what lessons can HL teach us about the future of T-cell lymphoma? At EHA 2026, Dr. Zhihui Li of Beijing Gaobo BoRen Hospital joined Prof. Stephen Ansell of Mayo Clinic for an in-depth conversation on the latest advances in tumor immunobiology, precision immunotherapy, transplant de-escalation, and next-generation treatment strategies.

Crossing borders, exchanging insights, and exploring the frontiers of hematology. During the 2026 Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA), Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier invited Dr. Zhihui Li, Director of Beijing Gaobo BoRen Hospital, and Prof. Stephen Ansell of Mayo Clinic for an in-depth discussion on the tumor immune microenvironment and precision treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL) is a rare, highly aggressive lymphoid malignancy closely associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection. Patients with advanced-stage or relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease continue to face poor outcomes, making effective treatment a longstanding clinical challenge. Recently, Director Zhihui Li and colleagues from Beijing GoBroad Boren Hospital published a study in Blood Advances entitled "HSCT May Improve Survival in Advanced Extranodal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma: A Single-Center Retrospective Study."

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a highly heterogeneous myeloid malignancy in which early identification of high-risk patients is critical for timely referral to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Recently, a collaborative team led by Professor Zheng Ge of Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, and Professor Shuqian Xu of Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, published a study in Blood Cancer Journal entitled "BLAST demonstrates higher prognostic accuracy for survival than CPSS in Chinese patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia."

From July 10–12, 2026, the 10th Hematologic Malignancies Congress of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) was held in Harbin, China. Over the past decade, the meeting has grown into one of China's premier academic forums for hematologic oncology. This year's congress not only celebrated ten years of scientific achievement but also marked an important milestone for future innovation.