The 28th Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) will be held in Jinan, Shandong, from September 10–14, 2025. This year’s meeting, themed “Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment, Innovation-Driven Progress,” will bring together world-renowned oncology experts to share cutting-edge research findings and clinical experience, promote academic exchange and collaboration, and advance continuing medical education. In the field of hematologic malignancies, top experts from China and abroad will present a rich scientific program covering lymphoma, myeloma, leukemia, and other core diseases. The agenda will feature sessions on innovative drug development, optimization of treatment guidelines, advances in cellular therapy, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier invited Professor Ma Jun, Director of the Harbin Institute of Hematology & Oncology, to share key highlights of the upcoming meeting, helping participants grasp the academic priorities and maximize the value of this scientific gathering.
Q1: Key Highlights in Hematologic Oncology at CSCO 2025
Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier: This year’s CSCO Annual Meeting is themed “Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment, Innovation-Driven Progress.” In recent years, we have seen the emergence of innovative therapies such as CAR-T cells, bispecific antibodies, and antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). Could you share some of the key agenda highlights in hematology and explain how these sessions will help clinicians strike a balance between “standardization” and “innovation”?
Prof. Ma Jun: CSCO has undergone 27 years of development, adhering to the mission of “unity, collaboration, innovation, and pragmatism.” It has remained patient-centered and committed to advancing innovation in cancer diagnosis and treatment.This year’s theme emphasizes both standardization and innovation. Hematologic malignancies have consistently played a pioneering role in oncology: the world’s first small-molecule targeted drugs, monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, CAR-T cell therapy, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation all originated from hematology, collectively ushering oncology treatment into a new era combining standardization, personalization, precision, and immune targeting.The hematology program at CSCO 2025 will feature dedicated tracks for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and drug innovation, as well as a special session for young physicians. Young investigators will be encouraged to present their work in concise five-minute talks, with expert commentary and interactive discussions, fostering deep academic exchange and professional growth.Given China’s internationally leading position in monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, ADCs, and CAR-T therapies, the meeting will focus on clinical progress and breakthroughs in these areas. Notably, bispecific antibodies — representing a new generation of immunotherapy — are propelling oncology into a new immunotherapy era.In recent years, median survival for multiple myeloma patients has increased dramatically from about three years to over ten years, reflecting a shift to chronic disease management. Chronic myeloid leukemia patients can now achieve functional cure, and survival rates for myeloma and lymphoma patients have risen significantly, with some achieving cure as well. These advances are largely attributed to the introduction and widespread application of innovative therapies. For example, five-year disease-free survival rates after CAR-T therapy in late-line lymphoma exceed 40%, and when used in the second line, outcomes improve even further, moving closer to a curative paradigm.In multiple myeloma, the combined use of bispecific antibodies, CAR-T therapy, proteasome inhibitors, and anti-angiogenic agents — totaling 54 novel drugs — has extended median survival from 3 years to 10–12 years, achieving a chronic care model comparable to that of hypertension or diabetes. These achievements highlight the leading position of hematology in driving innovation in cancer therapy.This year’s CSCO will also feature top international experts, including Professor Owen A. O’Connor, Chair of Columbia University Medical Center and Chair of the Lymphoma Coalition, and Professor Franco Cavalli, former President of UICC and Chair of the Swiss Cancer Research Foundation, who will share global insights on lymphoma treatment. Experts from Japan, Singapore, and Korea will join to discuss global advances in hematologic malignancy care. The participation of world-renowned researchers and young scholars alike will make this meeting a unique opportunity for academic exchange and professional growth.
Q2: Landscape Shift in Hematologic Malignancy Treatment
Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier: You will be delivering a lecture on “Current Status and Prospects of Advanced Therapies for Hematologic and Lymphoid Malignancies.” Could you summarize the paradigm shift in drug therapy for hematologic malignancies, and which treatments you consider to be the new cornerstones of clinical practice?
Prof. Ma Jun: This year’s CSCO will feature an Innovation Drug Forum highlighting the status and future of advanced therapies in hematology. These therapies fall into three main categories:1. Cell Therapy: including T-cell therapies, CAR-T cells, and TCR-T engineered T cells.2. Gene Therapy: encompassing gene editing and gene replacement strategies for leukemia, lymphoma, and rare diseases.3. Stem Cell Therapy: covering hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and regenerative medicine applications.Together, these three categories form the cell and gene therapy (CGT) ecosystem.
Although China started later in this field, significant progress has been made, positioning the country among international leaders. China and the United States now stand side by side in CAR-T therapy development. China has also achieved multiple breakthroughs in gene therapy for rare diseases, with hemophilia B gene therapy already approved for market use. To date, the National Medical Products Administration has approved seven CAR-T products for hematologic malignancies and one mesenchymal stem cell therapy. These achievements mark China’s transition from a “follower” to a “parallel runner” — and in some aspects, even a “pioneer” — in advanced therapy development.
At international meetings such as ASCO 2025 and ICML, Chinese scholars have reported numerous pivotal studies in cell therapy, providing world-class clinical evidence and demonstrating strong innovation capabilities. As global experts have noted, China’s contributions in advanced therapies are shaping the international landscape. Moving forward, we must continue to absorb mature international experience from Japan, the US, and Europe while upholding independent innovation, ensuring that all efforts are driven by the principle of “innovation for the patient,” ultimately contributing Chinese solutions to the global oncology arena.
Q3: Cultivating Young Clinicians and Fostering Innovation
Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier: The program includes sessions such as “Pathway to Growth for Young Physician-Scientists” and “Bridging Basic and Clinical Thinking.” How do you approach training young doctors in clinical decision-making and research innovation? What advice would you give to those new to hematology for identifying meaningful research directions in the era of rapidly evolving therapies like CAR-T?
Prof. Ma Jun: Chinese hematology has a history spanning 120 years. The field’s milestones — from the pioneering discovery of arsenic trioxide differentiation therapy to the world’s first haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation technique, and the iterative optimization of CAR-T therapy — are the result of five generations of hematologists working tirelessly, passing on their dedication from one generation to the next.
Our predecessors laid the foundation of the discipline with their lifelong efforts, while the Party and the country have created an unprecedented environment for research and clinical practice. Today, we stand on a higher starting point, bringing Chinese concepts and innovation to the international stage. Young physicians must work diligently, uphold the fine traditions of previous generations, maintain scientific rigor and independent thinking, and always remember that “we bear the mission of protecting life.”China’s presence on the global hematology stage is now indispensable: at ASH, EHA, and ICML, Chinese researchers account for 17–24% of plenary, oral, and poster presentations — second only to the United States. This reflects the deep integration of senior, mid-career, and young researchers: senior experts provide strategic direction, mid-career leaders coordinate resources, and young scholars push technological boundaries. The core values of “unity, collaboration, pragmatism, and innovation” are both a tribute to the past and a commitment to the future.Looking ahead, we must continue to align patients, medicine, and policy, achieving synergy between clinical practice, pharmaceutical innovation, and healthcare governance.
Only then can we ensure that “patients receive the best treatment in the world” becomes a reality rather than a slogan. As we embark on the next 120 years, we will continue to integrate the collective strength of all generations, bringing China’s hematology expertise to global health governance and ensuring that the belief that “life comes above all else” shines through in every precise diagnosis, every successful transplant, and every newly approved therapy.
Expert Profile
Professor Ma Jun- Director, Harbin Institute of Hematology & Oncology
– Professor, Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor
– Chair, CSCO Board of Supervisors
– Vice-Chair, Asian Clinical Oncology Society
– Head, Lymphoma Specialty Construction Project Expert Group, National Health Commission
– Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma
– Former Chair, CSCO- Former Vice-Chair, Hematology Branch, Chinese Medical Association
