IOncology

As survival continues to improve for patients with breast cancer, postoperative quality of life (QoL) has become an increasingly important factor in surgical decision-making. Breast reconstruction is an integral component of comprehensive breast cancer care, and the choice of reconstructive technique has a profound impact on long-term functional recovery and psychosocial well-being.

At the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting, the SENOMAC trial presented its final 5-year overall survival (OS) results together with patient-reported arm morbidity outcomes. The findings further confirmed that, among patients with one or two sentinel lymph nodes containing macrometastases, omission of completion axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is not only oncologically non-inferior but also significantly improves upper-limb function and lymphedema-related quality of life.

In the era of chemotherapy alone, patients with high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)—particularly those with node-positive disease or more advanced tumors—continued to face a substantial risk of recurrence after surgery, making cure an ambitious goal for many. Over the past few years, however, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have rapidly moved from the metastatic setting into early-stage treatment, bringing new hope for long-term survival and potential cure.

Perioperative chemotherapy remains a cornerstone of treatment for patients with high-risk HR-positive/HER2-negative early breast cancer. Among the commonly used regimens, dose-dense anthracycline-taxane chemotherapy has long been considered a standard option. However, important clinical questions remain regarding the optimal timing of chemotherapy, patient selection, regimen composition, and treatment intensity.

Neoadjuvant therapy has created new opportunities for breast-conserving surgery and axillary preservation in patients with breast cancer. However, accurately defining the extent of surgery after neoadjuvant treatment and determining the optimal management of axillary lymph nodes remain among the most important and challenging issues in contemporary breast cancer care.

The 2026 Lingnan Breast Cancer Forum was recently held in Guangzhou, bringing together breast cancer specialists from across China to discuss the latest advances in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Centered on the concept of whole-course breast cancer management, the meeting integrated the year's most important international breakthroughs with a comprehensive scientific program covering early detection, precision diagnosis, individualized treatment, innovative therapies, and postoperative rehabilitation.

In June, Beijing became a vibrant hub for academic exchange as the 2026 Beijing Breast Cancer Forum and Beijing Breast Reconstruction Forum—hosted by the Beijing Breast Disease Prevention and Treatment Society and organized by the Breast Center of Peking University People's Hospital—was held as a week-long scientific meeting from June 23 to 28, 2026.

Although advances in diagnosis and treatment have substantially improved outcomes for patients with early-stage breast cancer, several important unmet clinical needs remain. Conventional risk stratification based on clinicopathological characteristics lacks sufficient precision to accurately identify patients at genuine risk of recurrence, resulting in undertreatment of some high-risk patients and overtreatment of others. During neoadjuvant therapy, current assessment methods are also unable to detect treatment response at the molecular level early enough to guide timely therapeutic adjustments.

As one of China's premier academic meetings in genitourinary oncology, the Pujiang Prostate Cancer Conference continues to serve as an important platform for integrating international advances with domestic clinical practice. This year's meeting featured a dedicated multidisciplinary session, bringing together leading Chinese experts to discuss emerging directions in prostate cancer management.

The Pujiang Prostate Cancer Conference was held in Shanghai on June 26–27, 2026. Organized by the Shanghai Anti-Cancer Association and its Genitourinary Oncology Committee, and hosted by Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, the meeting focused on major clinical issues including salvage surgery following prostate cancer recurrence and the integration of multiple local treatment modalities.