IOncology

The 29th Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) was held in Jinan, Shandong Province, from September 16 to 19, 2026. During the meeting, Professor Yongmei Yin of Jiangsu Province Hospital presented updated results from OptiTROP-Breast05, a multicenter Phase II study evaluating first-line sacituzumab tirumotecan (sacituzumab govitecan? No—sacituzumab tirumotecan, SKB264/MK-2870), China's first independently developed TROP2-directed antibody–drug conjugate (ADC), in advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The objective response rate (ORR) reached 70.7%, and median overall survival (OS) was 32.8 months. At the opening ceremony on the first day of the CSCO Annual Meeting, the study received the “2026 Innovation Research Award,” reflecting strong recognition from Chinese experts. Oncology Frontier invited Professor Yongmei Yin, Lead Principal Investigator of OptiTROP-Breast05, to contribute this article exploring the far-reaching implications of China's innovative medicines. The full text follows.

As the concept of precision surgery continues to advance, partial nephrectomy (PN) has become the gold standard for the treatment of early-stage renal cancer. However, accurately identifying anatomy intraoperatively, shortening warm ischemia time, and preserving renal function remain major challenges for urologists, particularly when treating complex hilar and endophytic renal tumors. Recently, at the CACA GU meeting, Professor Lei Wang, Chief Physician in the Department of Urology at Peking University Shougang Hospital, delivered an in-depth presentation on the applications of holographic imaging in partial nephrectomy. Drawing on years of clinical experience and research findings from his team, Professor Wang outlined the technological evolution from three-dimensional reconstruction to medical holographic imaging and demonstrated the potential advantages of this technology in supporting complex surgical decision-making and improving the likelihood of achieving the “Trifecta” outcome.

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the cornerstone of comprehensive prostate cancer management. When choosing between the two pharmacological approaches to castration—luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists and antagonists—clinical practice has long tended to favor familiar, established drugs. However, this pattern is now being reconsidered. In an interview with Oncology Frontier, Professor Aili Zhang of the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University discussed common pharmacological castration regimens, highlighting the key advantages of LHRH antagonists, particularly degarelix. Their direct receptor-blocking mechanism enables rapid and sustained testosterone suppression without the initial testosterone surge known as the “flare effect.” While novel androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) are profoundly transforming systemic treatment for prostate cancer, ADT remains the foundation of endocrine therapy.

For patients with resectable head and neck cancer, postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy has been the standard of care for two decades. With the advent of immunotherapy, this long-established treatment paradigm is undergoing a fundamental transformation, and the integration of perioperative immunotherapy with local treatment has become a major focus of academic discussion.

The plenary sessions of the 29th Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) were successfully held in Jinan, Shandong Province, from September 17 to 19, 2026. As CSCO approaches its 30th anniversary, this year's meeting centered on the theme of “Upholding Standards and Embracing Digital and Intelligent Innovation,” focusing on standardized cancer diagnosis and treatment as well as innovation driven by digital and intelligent technologies.

Translating evidence from clinical trials into routine clinical practice involves multiple stages, including translational research, regulatory approval, reimbursement, and adaptation to clinical settings. Overcoming these challenges is a shared priority for the global oncology community.

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies among women worldwide. Optimizing screening strategies is essential to improving early detection and reducing mortality. The 2026 Lingnan Breast Cancer Academic Forum was recently held in Guangzhou. At the meeting, Professor Wing Cheong Chow, Medical Director of the Comprehensive Breast Care Centre at Hong Kong Yan Hong Medical Centre, delivered a presentation entitled “Controversies of Breast Cancer Screening Strategies in Asia,” examining the challenges that breast characteristics among Asian women pose for mammography and outlining potential screening approaches. Following the presentation, Oncology Frontier invited Professor Chow to discuss current controversies surrounding the choice of breast cancer screening modalities in Asia, as well as how to balance the risks of overdiagnosis and missed diagnoses.

The 2026 Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) was held in Jinan, China. At the meeting, Professor Qiang Wei of the Department of Urology at West China Hospital, Sichuan University, presented a poster based on real-world data from the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA), focusing on patients with newly diagnosed metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) who were older, frail, or had a high burden of comorbidities.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies among men in China, and its development and progression are closely associated with androgens. Consequently, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains an indispensable cornerstone throughout the prostate cancer disease continuum, from localized disease and metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer to castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Pathological diagnosis is the cornerstone of precision breast cancer care. In recent years, rapid advances in digital scanning, artificial intelligence (AI), and multimodal integration have driven a profound transformation in breast pathology, moving it beyond traditional morphological diagnosis toward a digital and intelligent paradigm. These developments offer new tools and evidence to support precise breast cancer classification, treatment response prediction, and individualized therapy. The 17th Yanzhao Breast Cancer Forum was held in Shijiazhuang from August 26 to 30, 2026. During the meeting, Oncology Frontier invited Professor Hong Bu of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, to discuss the development of digital and intelligent breast pathology, drawing on his presentation entitled “The Development of Digital and Intelligent Breast Pathology.” He shared his insights into the key stages of development, the clinical implementation of AI and human–AI collaboration, the digital transformation of pathology, and its clinical value.