UroStream

The 2026 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO GU 2026) has successfully concluded. As the premier annual academic event in the field of genitourinary oncology, the meeting brought together leading experts from around the world and showcased numerous cutting-edge studies and breakthroughs with the potential to reshape clinical practice.

The 2026 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO GU 2026) was held in San Francisco, USA, from February 26 to 28, showcasing some of the most innovative scientific advances in the field and exploring future directions in the treatment of genitourinary malignancies. In recent years, research and clinical practice in urologic oncology in China have advanced rapidly. More than 70 studies led by Chinese experts and investigators were presented at the meeting. Among them, the Department of Urology at West China Hospital of Sichuan University contributed 10 studies, including six in prostate cancer, two in upper tract urothelial carcinoma, and two in renal cell carcinoma, highlighting the growing impact of Chinese research on the global stage.

The 2026 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO GU) was held in San Francisco, bringing together leading experts from around the world. As one of the most influential academic meetings in genitourinary oncology, the landmark studies presented each year at ASCO GU often directly shape the evolution of clinical practice globally.

Everything that has passed is but a prelude. Reflecting on the progress made in urologic oncology in 2025, the field witnessed the release of numerous landmark study results alongside a series of high-level international conferences. These developments have significantly expanded the boundaries of knowledge and provided invaluable platforms for researchers worldwide to exchange ideas and strengthen collaboration.

Prostate cancer remains the most prevalent genitourinary malignancy among men worldwide. Early and accurate diagnosis is fundamental to comprehensive disease management, long-term survival improvement, and reduction of the societal burden of disease. As the pathological gold standard for prostate cancer diagnosis, biopsy continues to serve as the central arena for technological innovation and clinical investigation in precision oncology.

In 2025, the field of prostate cancer management advanced steadily and decisively. From increasingly precise detection of localized lesions and function-preserving radical surgery, to intensified combination strategies for advanced metastatic disease, progress spanned the full continuum of care.

The year 2025 marked a pivotal turning point in the management of urothelial carcinoma (UC). Nowhere has this transformation been more striking than in high-risk non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), where long-standing limitations of bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) therapy are finally being challenged by innovative strategies—most notably immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs).

In 2025, the field of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) advanced decisively along the dual pathways of precision and combination therapy. Landmark developments reshaped clinical practice across disease stages: perioperative targeted–immunotherapy combinations that altered surgical paradigms for locally advanced disease; long-term survival data confirming the durability of first-line immunotherapy-based regimens; innovative later-line strategies overcoming therapeutic resistance; and biomarker-driven approaches enabling molecularly guided treatment for rare non–clear cell subtypes.

With the continuous advancement of scientific research, treatment strategies for urologic malignancies have evolved far beyond traditional chemotherapy. Targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and radioligand therapies are now reshaping the therapeutic landscape.

In recent years, the combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy has substantially improved systemic outcomes for patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). However, whether these regimens can be effectively deployed in the preoperative setting as conversion therapy—enhancing surgical resectability and nephron preservation—has lacked prospective real-world validation. Furthermore, their impact on the tumor immune microenvironment remains incompletely understood.