IOncology

The 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress took place from September 13 to 17 in Barcelona, Spain. As an annual highlight in the oncology field, ESMO attracts thousands of leading oncologists from around the world, providing a rich platform for global academic exchange. This year, multiple studies from Dr. Dingwei Ye’s team at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center were selected for presentation at ESMO. Among them, Professor Ye led the study on "BL-B01D1, an EGFR x HER3 bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC)," which received significant attention and discussions, showcasing Chinese expertise and innovation in urologic oncology on a global scale. Urology Frontier had the pleasure of inviting Professor Ye to share his insights on these landmark studies.

On October 19-20, 2024, the first stop of the "St. Gallen Breast Cancer Conference (SGBCC) China Tour" was held in Nanjing. This series of events, organized by the Breast Cancer Expert Committee of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), the Beijing CSCO Clinical Oncology Research Foundation, the Beijing Kexin Medical Development Foundation, and the Jiangsu Anti-Cancer Association, and hosted by Jiangsu Provincial  Hospital, facilitated the exchange of knowledge between Chinese and foreign experts and laid the foundation for updating the new "St. Gallen International Expert Consensus." As the first Chinese female expert to join the SGBCC expert team, Dr. Yongmei Yin from Jiangsu Provincial Hospital initiated and promoted the "SGBCC China Tour" series to elevate global standards in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, showcasing the strength of Chinese female experts. Oncology Frontier has invited Dr. Yongmei Yin to share her motivation behind organizing this series and her future plans.

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies among women globally, and continuous advancements in treatment modalities have brought new hope to many patients. At the 2024 SIBCS conference during the "Fourth 3C Summit Forum – Frontline Notes on the 2025 Breast Cancer Guideline Revision," Dr. Lei Fan from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center presented a report on the "Advances and Controversies in Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer," discussing the latest research findings and controversies in adjuvant therapy for different breast cancer subtypes. This article provides a summary of Dr. Fan’s lecture for our readers.

The 2024 CACA Integrative Gastric Cancer Conference was held in Wuhan from October 18-19, bringing together domestic and international experts across multiple disciplines in gastric cancer. Oncology Frontier had the privilege to interview Dr. Kaixiong Tao, Executive Chair of this year’s conference and Professor from Wuhan Union Hospital of China. Prof. Tao discussed the core principles of integrative medicine and highlighted the conference's major themes. His profound clinical expertise and insights offered invaluable guidance for advancing gastric cancer treatment.

From October 24-27, 2024, the 9th Academic Symposium of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) China Chapter took place in Wuhan. In the field of liver cancer adjuvant therapy, Dr. Minshan Chen from the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center presented new treatment strategies. Oncology Frontier invited Prof. Chen for an in-depth interview, where he shared insights on this topic. Prof. Chen highlighted that traditional postoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is becoming outdated, as it shows limited efficacy in addressing large liver tumors and residual micro-lesions. In contrast, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), validated through a decade of clinical research, has proven highly effective for advanced liver cancer. HAIC not only shrinks tumor size for resectability but also shows promising results for large tumors and patients with vascular invasion. Prof. Chen emphasized that in liver cancer treatment, patient survival and quality of life should be prioritized over the focus on recurrence alone.

Liver cancer is a major global health threat, and ongoing exploration into treatment strategies remains a focal point in medical research. From October 17 to 19, 2024, top experts and scholars in the field of liver cancer gathered in Toronto, Canada, for the 18th International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) Annual Meeting. This conference brought together leading researchers from around the world to discuss the latest progress and future directions in liver cancer treatment. Oncology Frontier invited Dr. Guohong Han, Executive Dean of the Digestive Hospital at Xi’an International Medical Center Hospital, to provide an insightful interpretation of the conference highlights.

From October 24 to 27, 2024, the 9th Academic Symposium of the Chinese Division of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) was held in Wuhan. Experts discussed pressing issues and innovations in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, exchanging diagnostic and treatment experiences, promoting new ideas and techniques, and advancing the management of hepatobiliary diseases in China. During the conference, a new professional organization, the Liver Tumor Committee of the IHPBA Chinese Division, was formally established, with Dr. Feng Shen from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital) appointed as the committee’s director. Oncology Frontier invited Dr. Feng Shen for an in-depth interview, where he highlighted the committee’s commitment to uniting research efforts, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and addressing the many challenges posed by liver cancer. Among these challenges, advancing multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) capabilities, particularly for complex diseases like intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), is paramount. Looking forward, the committee aims to broaden collaboration, foster research breakthroughs, and develop precise and effective treatment strategies, creating a robust defense line in liver cancer prevention and treatment.

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) is a validated treatment for liver cancer, yet the influence of the immune microenvironment on treatment response and survival remains unclear. At the 18th International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) Annual Conference, a recent study shed light on the complex relationship between the immune microenvironment in liver cancer patients prior to SIRT and its impact on treatment response and survival. Oncology Frontier invited Dr. Lin Zhang, from the Hepatobiliary Interventional Radiology Department at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, to provide an expert analysis. With a detailed breakdown of the data and expert interpretation, this study offers valuable insights into the role of the local immune state in liver cancer treatment, paving the way for personalized and combination therapy strategies.

From October 25 to 28, 2024, Wuhan hosted an enriching academic exchange – the 9th Academic Symposium of the Chinese Chapter of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (CCIHPBA), alongside the symposium commemorating the 110th birth anniversary of Academician Fazu Qiu and a tribute to Academician Yunyi Liu. Oncology Frontier, invited Prof. René Adam, current President of IHPBA from AP-HP Paul Brousse Hospital in Paris, France, and Academician Xiaoping Chen, President of the CCIHPBA from Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, to share insights on IHPBA's mission and the establishment and development of its Chinese chapter.

From September 25 to 29, 2024, the highly anticipated 27th Chinese Clinical Oncology Annual Conference and CSCO Annual Meeting took place in Xiamen. Dr. Rongbo Lin of Fujian Cancer Hospital shared key findings from his team’s research in gastric cancer. During the conference, Oncology Frontier conducted an in-depth interview with Professor Lin, discussing the clinical applications of the POFI and POF regimens for advanced gastric cancer.