Editor’s Note: The 28th Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), themed “Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment, Innovation-Driven Progress,” will be held from September 10–14, 2025, in Jinan, Shandong. On this occasion, Oncology Frontier invited Professor Jun Guo, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of CSCO and Professor at Peking University Cancer Hospital, to share his insights on the highlights of this year’s conference, the latest advances in domestic innovative treatment strategies for melanoma and genitourinary tumors, and the continued development of CSCO guidelines.CSCO’s Growing Influence and Global Engagement
Oncology Frontier: Over the years, CSCO has seen its academic influence steadily rise — helping Chinese experts “go global” while increasingly attracting international experts “to come in.” What are the key highlights of this year’s conference that have drawn so many international participants, and what do you hope to see from this meeting of global minds? Professor Guo: In recent years, CSCO’s annual meetings have grown in scale, with record-breaking attendance and growing popularity among both domestic and international oncology experts. Chinese experts, in particular, are increasingly eager to participate. CSCO continues to uphold the values of academic rigor, public good, and collaboration, attracting leading Chinese clinical oncology researchers. This year, we have invited numerous world-renowned international experts in lymphoma, lung cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, and other fields to share their insights and engage in deep academic exchanges during the conference. I believe this success is closely tied to the rise of China’s biopharmaceutical industry over the past decade, along with the many new clinical studies it has generated, which have steadily strengthened China’s academic voice on the global stage. We are also witnessing Chinese innovative drugs gaining international recognition and increasingly stepping onto the world stage. CSCO continues to use drug innovation and clinical research as its driving force, constantly pushing forward the level of clinical research in China. Whether in targeted therapies, immunotherapy, oncolytic viruses, or cell-based treatments, we have made significant progress and are now moving to the forefront of global oncology.
Global Impact of Chinese Innovations in Melanoma and Genitourinary Tumors
Oncology Frontier: As a leading expert in melanoma and genitourinary tumors who has presented China’s innovative drugs and research internationally, how do you view the progress China has made in these two fields, and how has its global influence evolved? Professor Guo: Looking back, China’s research in melanoma once lagged significantly behind the global standard — more than 20 years ago, some even claimed China made “almost zero contribution” to international melanoma research. But today, the situation is completely different. In recent years, at CSCO, ASCO, ESMO, and other major international oncology conferences, Chinese scholars have presented at least one oral report on melanoma each year, and our poster presentations have also gained increasing global attention. One example is the clinical research protocol we proposed — combining axitinib with toripalimab as a first-line treatment for advanced mucosal melanoma — which has received broad international recognition. At this year’s ASCO meeting, U.S. researchers even adopted our axitinib + PD-1 inhibitor approach to conduct clinical studies in American patients with mucosal melanoma. In patients who had failed PD-1 therapy, they explored combinations with stereotactic radiotherapy and other immunotherapies. In the past, we followed the research trends set by others; today, in some areas, international colleagues are drawing inspiration from our studies. This is a remarkable achievement and a source of pride for us. In the field of genitourinary tumors, we have also achieved globally leading breakthroughs — take HER2 antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) as an example. Urothelial carcinoma was previously considered a “no-go zone” for HER2-targeted therapy, as all prior trials of HER2-targeted antibodies or tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) had failed. Chinese researchers were the first to demonstrate that HER2 ADCs could deliver impressive efficacy in urothelial carcinoma — comparable to enfortumab vedotin (EV)-based regimens.
Guideline Development and Future Directions for CSCO
Oncology Frontier: With cancer incidence in China continuing to rise, this year’s conference focuses on “standardized diagnosis and treatment, innovation-driven progress,” highlighting new therapeutic strategies and concepts. Which of these do you see entering clinical practice soon, and how will CSCO further promote the implementation of these strategies at the grassroots level? Professor Guo: CSCO updates its clinical practice guidelines every year. There are now more than 40 CSCO guidelines that are continually refined and improved. These updates are based primarily on Chinese evidence — including data from international multicenter studies with Chinese participation — while also appropriately referencing large-scale international studies. This combination ensures that CSCO guidelines are supported by both domestic and international evidence, with a strong emphasis on data derived from Chinese patient populations, making them highly relevant and practical. Grassroots physicians appreciate this approach, often calling CSCO guidelines their “pocket books” for clinical work — easy to carry and consult. By following the disease classifications and tiered recommendations (first-, second-, and third-line) outlined in the guidelines, physicians can precisely assess the disease stage and choose the most appropriate treatment for each patient. Thanks to the widespread adoption of these 40+ guidelines, clinical oncology practice in China has become increasingly standardized. Looking ahead, CSCO will continue to prioritize the updating and standardization of its guidelines. These guidelines are supported by solid evidence generated through clinical research conducted and coordinated by CSCO experts. As guidelines continue to evolve, new treatment concepts will gradually be incorporated into standard practice, improving key outcomes such as response rates, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) — truly benefiting Chinese cancer patients.
