IOncology

At the 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology Asia Congress (ESMO ASIA 2024), during the Preferred Oral Presentations on Thoracic Oncology, Professor Yilong Wu from Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital presented the positive results of the PACIFIC-5 Phase III trial (Abstract No: LBA6). This study evaluated the efficacy of durvalumab consolidation therapy in unresectable Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who remained progression-free after concurrent (cCRT) or sequential chemoradiotherapy (sCRT). Oncology Frontier invited Prof. Wu to provide an in-depth interpretation of the findings and highlight key points from this landmark study.

Liquid biopsy is not a new concept in the field of breast cancer, but its clinical applications continue to evolve, requiring fresh insights into the technologies, terminology, biomarkers, and future directions. On Tuesday, December 10 (Central Time), during the "Educational Session 2: Liquid Biopsy: MRD, ctDNA, and Monitoring Response to Treatment" at the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), experts discussed current liquid biopsy technologies and their optimal applications, including early disease detection, real-time monitoring, and predicting treatment responses.

Pathogenic germline mutations in certain genes are known to increase the risk of hereditary breast cancer. Approximately 5% to 10% of all breast cancer cases are hereditary, primarily driven by such mutations, with BRCA1/2 being the most common. Germline mutations also guide treatment decisions, as patients with pathogenic BRCA1/2 germline mutations may benefit from PARP inhibitor-based therapies.

On September 19, 2024, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, multicenter phase III clinical study, co-led by Professor Shukui Qin from the Nanjing Tianyinshan Hospital Affiliated to China Pharmaceutical University and Professor Liwei Wang from the Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, was published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy (IF = 40.8), a prestigious international medical journal under Nature. The study evaluated the efficacy of irinotecan liposome (II) combined with 5-FU/LV as second-line treatment for locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer after failure of gemcitabine therapy. Our results showed that the irinotecan liposome (II) combination therapy reduced the risk of death by 37% compared to the control group. Based on this research, irinotecan liposome (II) combination therapy was included as a Grade I expert recommendation (IA evidence) in the 2024 edition of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines. This treatment regimen fills the gap in second-line therapy for locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer patients in China.

From December 10–13, 2024, the 47th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) took place in San Antonio, USA. As one of the largest and most prestigious gatherings in breast cancer research, SABCS showcased cutting-edge developments from the past year, including research breakthroughs, clinical practice insights, treatment advances, and technological innovations. Among these, studies led or co-authored by Dr. Jian Zhang’s team from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center were prominently featured. Following the conference, Oncology Frontier invited Dr. Jian Zhang to share insights from their team’s research.

Treatment strategies for HR+/HER2+ breast cancer have long been a focus of research. On December 11 (Central Time), during the 47th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), the results of the TOUCH study (Abstract RF1-02) were released, drawing significant attention. This international, open-label Phase II trial explored the efficacy of a chemotherapy-free approach in the neoadjuvant treatment of early HR+/HER2+ breast cancer. Dr. Feng Jin (The First Hospital of China Medical University), Dr. Diandong Zhang (Zhongshan Hospital, Dalian University), and Dr. Xinmiao Yu (The First Hospital of China Medical University) were invited to provide in-depth commentary on the study.

Global breast cancer researchers are tackling cutting-edge questions to inform clinical trial design and guide future treatment decisions. At the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), an internationally renowned panel of experts explored two of the most pressing topics in translational medicine—how to define triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the development of tumor-agnostic therapies.

The 47th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) will be held from December 10 to 13, 2024, in San Antonio, USA. As one of the largest and most prestigious scientific gatherings in breast cancer research, SABCS showcases the latest research findings, clinical practices, treatment advancements, and technological innovations in breast cancer from the past year.

Breast cancer remains a leading malignancy threatening women’s health, and optimizing treatment strategies continues to be a major focus of research. Neoadjuvant therapy, especially for HER2-positive breast cancer, plays a key role in improving survival outcomes and quality of life. The 47th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) will take place from December 10 to 13, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Professor Wenbin Zhou and his team from Jiangsu Province Hospital will present a study (Poster Abstract No: P3-11-24) evaluating the efficacy of pyrotinib combined with trastuzumab and nab-paclitaxel in HER2-positive breast cancer. The results demonstrate an impressive pathological complete response (tpCR) rate in HER2-enriched patients, with good tolerability and controllable safety. This innovative therapy offers new hope for HER2-positive breast cancer patients and supports precision treatment strategies.

The 47th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) will be held from December 10 to 13, 2024, in San Antonio, USA. A phase II prospective study led by Professors Huiping Li and Hanfang Jiang from Peking University Cancer Hospital will be presented as a poster (Abstract No: P1-02-12). This study explores the efficacy and safety of hetrombopag monotherapy in treating cancer therapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CTIT) in breast cancer patients. Preliminary findings show that hetrombopag achieves a high treatment response rate, rapidly improves platelet (PLT) levels, and demonstrates excellent efficacy and tolerance without severe adverse events, particularly no thrombosis. These results confirm the potential of hetrombopag as a novel therapeutic option for CTIT in breast cancer patients, providing new evidence-based data. As the research progresses, hetrombopag is expected to play a greater role in improving treatment outcomes for breast cancer patients undergoing antitumor therapy.