Editor’s Note:
The 2023 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Congress was held in Madrid, Spain from October 20th to 24th. The Oncology Horizon team went deep into the front lines, capturing international advancements and witnessing the progress of cancer research in China on the global stage. Professor Xu Ruihua from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center delivered a significant oral presentation at this year's congress. In an interview with "Oncology Horizon," Professor Xu shared highlights from the field of gastrointestinal oncology at ESMO and provided insights into the congress. This article compiles relevant content for our readers.
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Oncology Frontier: This year marks the second year after the pandemic, and many renowned Chinese experts have attended the ESMO Congress, presenting excellent research results. As a leading figure in the field of gastrointestinal oncology in China, could you share your thoughts on this phenomenon and your experience at the conference?
Professor Xu Ruihua: This phenomenon is quite interesting. Some experts may have attended specialized conferences in Europe before, but this year’s ESMO Congress is likely the first comprehensive oncology conference that many have attended abroad since the pandemic. Many Chinese experts who attended this conference came with academic missions, and, based on incomplete statistics, more than 40 abstracts from China were selected for the ESMO Congress’s Proffered Paper session (abstracts with prefixes LBA or suffix O) and Mini Oral session (abstracts with suffix MO). This sets a new record for the field of oncology in China, reflecting the rapid progress in clinical oncology in our country. Over the past few days, I’ve had discussions with several key members of ESMO, and they highly value and appreciate some of the Chinese research. Some important members of ESMO told me, “Doctor Xu, this year ESMO received the most abstract submissions from China.” We’ve achieved more than 40 oral presentations this time, with original research reports accounting for more than 10%, which is no small feat. Chinese colleagues are working very hard, investing a lot of effort in the development of oncology. This also reflects that Chinese enterprises are making continuous progress in drug innovation, going international, and allowing Chinese scholars to present more research to the world and gain recognition.
The conference experience has been excellent. Firstly, we brought some excellent research to the conference. One of my studies (abstract number: LBA80) was selected for a Late-breaking abstract (LBA), and another study (abstract number: 550O) was selected for an Oral presentation, both of which were presented in the Proffered Paper session. My two students, Professors Wang Feng and Luo Huiyan, as well as my colleague Professor Li Yuhong, also had research selected for oral presentations. Our Digestive Team at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center has achieved a historic breakthrough, and I am very pleased about that. Secondly, in recent years, we have been increasingly participating in international exchanges and research. This has enabled the field of oncology in China to have excellent interactions with the international oncology community, including well-known experts from Europe, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and others. I had the opportunity to meet with leaders of research and development departments from major companies during this conference, and we discussed plans for new research, including research led by China or with significant Chinese participation. I’m thrilled to meet many old friends, which not only deepened our friendships but also fostered a willingness to collaborate further. Thirdly, Chinese scholars have a strong academic interest; most of us are immersed in learning and exchanging knowledge all day at the conference. This indicates an unprecedented level of academic engagement among Chinese doctors and professors.
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Oncology Frontier : Could you please share the highlights of this year’s ESMO Congress in the field of colorectal or gastric cancer?
Professor Xu Ruihua: In the field of gastric cancer, the RATIONALE-305 study, the Glow study for which I serve as the leading Principal Investigator (PI), and other significant studies have released new data. The latest updates from the Glow study, reported by Professor Florian Lordick from Germany, provide new insights into the treatment of gastric cancer. In the field of colorectal cancer, there have been new data releases from studies such as the CONVERT study led by Professor Ding Peirong at our hospital, the UNION study led by Professors Zhang Tao and Tao Kaixiong from Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and the study I presented on KRAS G12C inhibitors in combination with cetuximab for the treatment of KRAS G12C mutant colorectal cancer. These studies have garnered significant attention. As I was heading to the next session, many people asked me about the next steps for KRAS G12C inhibitor research. The session moderators also asked this question, indicating that innovative Chinese drugs are receiving high international recognition.*
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Oncology Frontier : In recent years, our national enterprises have made numerous research achievements on the international stage, showcasing the capabilities of Chinese scholars and Chinese drugs. Could you share your thoughts on the current state of Chinese-origin drug development and your expectations for the future?
Professor Xu Ruihua: I highly appreciate the strategic approach of national enterprises. They started laying the groundwork for KRAS G12C inhibitors many years ago when the industry was not particularly confident about conducting international research. Several factors have led to the current situation, and Chinese investigators have given national enterprises confidence. If Chinese investigators have a low level of expertise and are not recognized by international peers, how can they conduct research? To develop a leading Chinese study on a global scale, we first need excellent Chinese researchers. If national enterprises have the means and capabilities, they should make every effort to use a global strategy for product development, which will undoubtedly contribute to the further advancement of cancer prevention and treatment. The products developed by national enterprises are becoming more and more impressive. Sometimes we may have started in a certain area relatively late, but the products we produce may be just as good as international ones, or they may have certain unique features or advantages. I hope that capable national enterprises will internationalize and participate more in international research.
