IOncology

Cholangiocarcinoma is characterized by its high malignancy, with the majority of patients presenting with unresectable disease at initial diagnosis. In recent years, conversion therapy—which utilizes systemic treatment to downsize tumors—has emerged as a pivotal, offering select patients a pathway to curative-intent resection. However, striking the right balance between therapeutic efficacy and overtreatment remains a significant clinical challenge. At APPLE 2026, Prof. Stephen L. Chan, from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Faculty of Medicine, offered an in-depth analysis of these issues during an exclusive interview with our journal. Prof. Chen advocates for earlier genomic testing for alterations such as FGFR2 and IDH1, and proposes a multidimensional assessment framework combining radiology with circulating biomarkers like ctDNA and MRD to precisely identify the optimal surgical window. Furthermore, he recommends a stratified postoperative strategy guided by pathological response (MPR/pCR) to maximize recurrence-free survival.

From July 3–5, 2026, the 16th Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert Meeting (APPLE 2026) will be held in Shanghai. Initiated by the Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert Association (APPLE), supported by the Shanghai Xinxin Medical Technology Development Foundation, and hosted by Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, the meeting will focus on the theme "Frontiers in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Liver Cancer in the Era of Artificial Intelligence." Bringing together leading liver cancer experts from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and North America, APPLE 2026 will explore emerging strategies for liver cancer prevention and treatment. Following previous editions in 2012 and 2022, this marks the third time APPLE has been hosted in Shanghai, highlighting China's remarkable progress in healthcare, scientific research, and innovation over the past decade. Ahead of the meeting, Oncology Frontier spoke with Congress President Academician Jia Fan of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, who reflected on APPLE's evolution, discussed the changing role of Chinese liver cancer specialists on the global stage, and shared his vision for how artificial intelligence (AI) will transform liver cancer care. Stay tuned for this landmark event.

On-site at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting, the targeted therapy landscape for ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is witnessing intense competition, with multiple frontline updates from cutting-edge studies reshaping the global dynamics. As a pioneering Chinese homegrown innovative drug making its way onto the world stage, how can ensartinib—Betta Pharmaceuticals' proprietary ALK inhibitor—demonstrate its core value amidst formidable international rivals? MediaMedic had the privilege of an exclusive on-site interview with Professor Li Mao, President of R&D and Chief Medical Officer at Betta Pharmaceuticals, a seasoned leader deeply engaged in precision oncology, to deconstruct ensartinib's distinctive pathway to differentiation and global breakthrough. ADD HASHTAGS

The 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, held in Chicago from May 29 to June 2, 2026, showcased several practice-changing advances in oncology. Among the highlights, Prof. Kohei Shitara from the National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan, presented additional health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data from the landmark DESTINY-Gastric04 trial, further demonstrating the benefits of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in preserving patients' quality of life.

The landmark results of the DESTINY-Gastric04 (DG04) trial have firmly established trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) as the missing piece in second-line HER2-targeted treatment for gastric cancer. At the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, the DESTINY-Gastric03 (DG03) study was also unveiled, highlighting the promising potential of T-DXd in the first-line setting. As T-DXd moves from later-line therapy toward frontline treatment for HER2-positive gastric cancer, an increasing number of patients stand to benefit.

Following the clinical success and approval of disitamab vedotin (RC48) plus toripalimab in locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, attention has shifted toward improving outcomes for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) in the perioperative setting, where substantial unmet clinical needs remain.

At the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, the treatment landscape for ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) continued to evolve, with major updates from landmark studies including CROWN, ALKOVE-1, and TRIDENT-1 reshaping global competition among ALK inhibitors.

the field of breast cancer, Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) has become a clinical challenge due to its high aggressiveness and lack of effective targets. Although the KEYNOTE-522 study established the standard status of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) combined with chemotherapy in perioperative TNBC, high-risk patients with lymph node-positive and T3/T4 stage disease still face a high risk of recurrence. Recently, Professor Alice Y. Ho from Duke University reported the latest results of the TBCRC-053 (P-RAD) study at an academic conference. This study explores the clinical value of preoperative radiotherapy as an "Immune Primer" combined with Pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in high-risk TNBC.

At the recent American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Professor Anees B. Chagpar, a Professor of Surgery at the Yale School of Medicine, delivered an important special report titled "Does resection of cavity shave margins impact survival in breast cancer patients?". Based on the famous SHAVE and SHAVE2 randomized controlled trials, the report explored the advantages of Cavity Shave Margins (CSM) in breast-conserving surgery (BCS) regarding the reduction of positive margin rates and re-excision rates. For the first time, it disclosed detailed long-term impacts on patients' 5-year local recurrence (LR) rates, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS), providing key evidence-based support for treatment de-escalation and multi-modal synergy in the field of breast surgery.