IOncology

In recent years, there have been two significant changes in the field of liver cancer. On the one hand, with the development of treatment technologies, the prognosis of liver cancer patients has significantly improved, shedding its title as the "king of cancers." On the other hand, China's rapid advancements in liver cancer diagnosis and research have contributed a series of "Chinese solutions" and "Chinese wisdom" to global liver cancer prevention and treatment. On the eve of the "2024 Annual Progress Seminar on Chinese Clinical Oncology (BOC) and Best of ASCO 2024 China," Oncology Frontier interviewed the renowned clinical oncology expert, Professor Shukui Qin from The First Affiliated Hospital of China Pharmaceutical University (Nanjing Tianyinshan Hospital), to review China's achievements in liver cancer prevention and treatment research and to share the latest advances in systemic therapy for liver cancer.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a novel liquid biopsy method that detects tumor-specific DNA mutations in the blood of breast cancer patients, helping to identify high-risk patients prone to recurrence and metastasis. Its prognostic value has been confirmed in multiple studies. At the 2024 ASCO conference, a study (Abstract LBA507) further analyzed the MonarchE study population, confirming that ctDNA testing has predictive value for recurrence risk in HR+/HER2-, lymph node-positive high-risk early-stage breast cancer patients. Oncology Frontier invited Professor Qiang Liu from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University  to provide an introduction and commentary.

With the continuous emergence of novel therapeutic agents, treatment strategies for advanced melanoma have evolved from traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy to include immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and their combinations. Global researchers are constantly exploring and optimizing treatment options for first-line therapy in advanced melanoma. At the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO 2024) Annual Meeting, several oral presentations showcased the latest developments in this field. Oncology Frontier is honored to have Professor Chuanliang Cui from Peking University Cancer Hospital share insights on these studies.

In recent years, with the advancement of innovative mechanisms and technologies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have become a research hotspot. ADC drugs have further promoted clinical development, clinical translation, and patient treatment outcomes. Recently, the high-level closed-door seminar "Planning and Action, Breaking Through the Billion-Dollar ADC Market," hosted by the Oriental Clinical Oncology Research Center, China Pharmaceutical University, and Shanghai Gaobo Oncology Hospital Affiliated to China Pharmaceutical University, was successfully held in Shanghai. Oncology Frontier invited Vice President Yong Yang of China Pharmaceutical University, President Jin Li of Shanghai Gaobo Oncology Hospital Affiliated to China Pharmaceutical University, and Executive President Chen Feng of Shanghai Gaobo Oncology Hospital Affiliated to China Pharmaceutical University to a roundtable discussion. They jointly explored the development trends of ADCs in China and collaborated to plan the future blueprint for ADCs.

The mid-year meeting of the Youth Expert Committee of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO YOUNG) was held from June 28-30, 2024, in Shanghai, where young elites from across the country gathered to discuss academic progress. Recent updates and announcements from various DESTINY-Breast (DB) series studies have brought more benefits to patients with HER2-positive, HER2-low, and HER2 ultra-low expression. Oncology Frontier invited Professor Rui Ge from Fudan University Shanghai East Hospital to share the latest findings from the DB series and to discuss the future treatment landscape for HER2-positive breast cancer.

ASCO International Perspective | experience hot flushes and night sweats (HFNS), which not only decrease their quality of life but may also affect compliance with ADT. Current relief methods are limited. At the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Professor Simon J. Crabb from the University Hospital Southampton presented the results of the MANCAN2 study. "Oncology Frontier" invited Professor Simon J. Crabb to share his thoughts on managing prostate cancer.

Since 2015, the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) has adhered to the philosophy of "International Standards, Chinese Characteristics, Learning and Absorbing, Innovating and Improving," launching the "Annual Research Advances in Chinese Clinical Oncology" for nine consecutive years. At the recently held "2024 Annual Progress Seminar on Chinese Clinical Oncology (BOC) and Best of ASCO 2024 China," the "Annual Research Advances in Chinese Clinical Oncology 2023" was officially released. Professor Tian Yang from The Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital) reported on the "Annual Research Advances in Chinese Clinical Oncology 2023 (Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumors)." The report is summarized below.

For most patients, postoperative radiotherapy plays a crucial role. Some early-stage breast cancer patients require prophylactic regional lymph node irradiation (RNI) in addition to whole-breast irradiation (WBI). However, the survival benefit of RNI for patients with 1-3 positive axillary lymph nodes (pN1) remains uncertain. Therefore, it's necessary to evaluate the impact of RNI on the prognosis of pN1 breast cancer patients receiving systemic therapy. At the 2024 ASCO Conference, Korean researchers initiated the KROG 1701 study (Abstract 577) to explore this issue. "Oncology Frontier" invited Professor Yanxia Zhao from Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, to interpret and comment on this study.

The 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting concluded successfully. In a recent late-breaking abstract (LBA) report, Professor Samuel R. Denmeade from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine shared the specific results of the TRANSFORMER trial. This randomized trial targeted abiraterone-pretreated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients, aiming to identify blood biomarkers. "Oncology Frontier" had the opportunity to interview Professor Samuel R. Denmeade to highlight the potential benefits and future directions of bipolar androgen therapy (BAT), a new treatment approach.