IOncology

The 2026 Xianghu Breast Cancer Treatment Frontiers Academic Conference recently concluded successfully in Hangzhou. Organized by the Breast Cancer Center of Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, the meeting featured multiple sessions covering basic and translational research, brain metastases from breast cancer, and cardio-oncology, among other topics. The Hangzhou session of the 2026 CSCO Breast Cancer (CSCO BC) Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines Tour was also held concurrently. During the meeting, Oncology Frontier interviewed Professor Hai Hu of Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Chair of the Conference, who shared his insights into the program structure and organizing philosophy, emerging directions in basic and translational research, the current state and future prospects of breast cancer brain metastasis management, and the development and operational model of the Precision Clinic at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital.

The 2026 Xianghu Breast Cancer Treatment Frontiers Conference (hereinafter referred to as the “Xianghu Forum”) is currently underway. Building on previous editions, this year's meeting has been comprehensively upgraded, focusing on international advances such as antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) and novel targeted therapies, incorporating real-world data from China and Zhejiang Province, and strengthening interdisciplinary exchange, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the development of young and mid-career physicians. These efforts aim to bring high-quality breast cancer care closer to the clinical frontline. During the meeting, Oncology Frontier interviewed Professor Xiaojia Wang of Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Chair of the Conference, to discuss the meeting's highlights and distinctive features, the significance of the Hangzhou session of the CSCO BC Guidelines Tour in advancing standardized and consistent breast cancer care, and the emerging landscape of precision diagnosis and treatment for HR-positive advanced breast cancer. He also shared valuable insights into original research, data sharing, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the professional development of young and mid-career physicians.

As neoadjuvant systemic therapy continues to gain traction in clinical breast cancer care, the principles and strategies guiding breast surgery are undergoing a comprehensive transformation. Surgery is no longer an isolated local intervention. Instead, it is closely integrated with systemic treatment, serving as a pivotal component in striking a dynamic balance between precision de-escalation and ensuring curative outcomes. How can clinicians define the appropriate boundaries of surgical de-escalation? What criteria must a de-escalation strategy meet to progress from clinical trials into international guidelines? And in which areas should China-Europe collaboration in breast cancer care focus its efforts? On October 10–11, the 2026 East China Breast Cancer Salon was held in Nanjing under the theme “Nine Decades of Compassion and Dedication: Passing the Torch of Medical Excellence.” During the meeting, Oncology Frontier interviewed Professor Michael Gnant of the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, to explore the fundamental value of surgical decision-making in the era of neoadjuvant therapy, the key evidence required to translate de-escalation strategies into clinical guidelines, and promising directions for research collaboration between China and Europe in breast surgery.

The 2026 East China Breast Cancer Salon was held in Nanjing on October 10–11 under the theme “Nine Decades of Compassion and Dedication: Passing the Torch of Medical Excellence.” Bringing together multidisciplinary experts and scholars in breast cancer from China and abroad, the meeting featured in-depth discussions on key topics, including anti-HER2 therapy, neoadjuvant treatment, oncoplastic surgery, and precision radiotherapy. It provided a platform for academic exchange, intellectual dialogue, and collaborative advancement among breast cancer professionals across East China and throughout the country. During the meeting, Oncology Frontier, in collaboration with CCMTV, conducted an in-depth interview with Professor Zefei Jiang, President-Elect of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO). He shared his expert perspectives on the value of the meeting, its key highlights, and international collaboration.

The 2026 Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) will be held under the theme “Upholding Standards and Embracing Digital Intelligence and Innovation,” showcasing research achievements and clinical advances across oncology. As an important platform connecting standardized diagnosis and treatment, innovative research, and international exchange, this year's meeting features several new highlights in its scale of participation, presentation of original research, and academic session offerings.

In first-line treatment of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC), should immunotherapy be combined with chemotherapy or an antibody–drug conjugate (ADC)? As the ADC era advances, this debate is intensifying. At the 2026 CSCO Annual Meeting, Oncology Frontier invited Professor Wenyan Chen of Nanchang People's Hospital and Professor Tengfei Chao of Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, to debate the issue in light of the ASCENT-03, TROPION-Breast02 (TB-02), and ASCENT-04 studies, among others. Professor Wenyan Chen advocated for immunotherapy plus chemotherapy, emphasizing robust evidence, manageable safety, and greater affordability. Professor Tengfei Chao supported immunotherapy plus an ADC, arguing that this approach could address unmet treatment needs in patients with PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥10 and those with early relapse, while offering promising mechanistic synergy. This article presents the key arguments from both experts.

Pathological diagnosis is a cornerstone of precision breast cancer care, and standardization and digital and intelligent transformation are key issues in the ongoing development of pathology. At the 2026 CSCO Annual Meeting, Oncology Frontier invited Professor Hong Bu of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, to share his insights on standardizing breast pathology diagnosis, approaches to digital and intelligent transformation, and collaboration between pathology and clinical departments.

From breaking through in later-line treatment to making advances in earlier lines, and from monotherapy to combination regimens that enhance efficacy, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are reshaping the breast cancer treatment landscape. At the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), several ADCs reported important clinical findings across multiple molecular subtypes, including HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), spanning the treatment continuum from later-line advanced disease to first-line therapy.

Clinical research into precision breast cancer treatment has continued to advance in recent years. On the one hand, the applications of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing are expanding beyond pretreatment target identification and treatment selection to include dynamic monitoring throughout treatment and intervention before radiographic disease progression. On the other hand, ADC development continues to evolve, with target design moving from single-target to increasingly diverse approaches, opening up new treatment options, particularly for patients who develop resistance. At the 29th Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), Oncology Frontier invited Professor Yanxia Shi of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center to discuss the latest international evidence on two cutting-edge topics: ctDNA-guided intervention before radiographic progression and the mechanistic differences among ADCs. She also explored recent advances in precision breast cancer treatment and their implications for clinical practice.

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.