In the field of immunotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC), ADAR1, an essential RNA-editing enzyme, has gained significant attention in recent years. At the 2024 ESMO Asia Congress, Dr. Da Kang from Dr. Zhizhong Pan’s team at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center presented their latest findings on ADAR1 expression in T cells and its impact on immunotherapy resistance in CRC (Abstract No. 95P). Digestive Oncology Frontier interviewed Dr. Da Kang at the conference to delve deeper into this groundbreaking research.

Previous Phase II NEOTAX study results demonstrated that neoadjuvant therapy with toripalimab combined with axitinib effectively downstaged inferior vena cava tumor thrombi in some patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), significantly improving perioperative outcomes. However, resistance to therapy remains a challenge for some patients, necessitating further investigation. At the 2024 ESMO ASIA Congress, Dr. Liangyou Gu and Dr. Yaohui Wang from the Department of Urology at the Chinese PLA General Hospital shared insights into overcoming treatment resistance, providing valuable strategies for improving patient prognosis. Urology Frontier invited Dr. Yaohui Wang to offer an in-depth perspective.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations are the most common oncogenic driver mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in China, with a significantly higher incidence compared to Caucasian populations. At the recent ESMO Asia Congress 2024, Dr. Li Zhang from the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center presented results from the Phase II BOOSTER clinical trial investigating Becotarug (JMT101) combined with Osimertinib for the treatment of classic EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients. Oncology Frontier interviewed Professor Zhang to discuss the background and key findings of this study.

Facing the global challenge of breast cancer in women’s health, China is advancing the standardization and quality control of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment with unprecedented determination. At the recent 2024 Straits Breast Cancer Forum and the Annual Meeting of the Breast Disease Branch of the Fujian Medical Association, Oncology Frontier invited Dr. Fei Ma, Vice Chair and Secretary-General of the Breast Cancer Committee of the National Cancer Quality Control Center and a leading expert from the National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Professor Ma shared insights into the significant progress China has made in improving standardized breast cancer treatment and reducing disparities between urban and rural areas. He also discussed future directions for breast cancer quality control initiatives.

Precision treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer has long been a focal point and challenge in breast cancer research. Recently, the DTP study (Abstract No.: RF1-07), presented at the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), offers new insights into addressing this challenge. This study aims to explore the efficacy and safety of combining durvalumab immunotherapy with dual-targeted therapy in the neoadjuvant treatment of early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer. The goal is to discover new diagnostic and therapeutic directions for HER2-enriched breast cancer driven by precision medicine. Oncology Frontier invited Professor Feng Jin fromThe First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University and Dr. Xiaoman Jiang from The Second Hospital of Jilin University to provide an in-depth analysis and commentary on the DTP study.

With continuous advancements in immunotherapy research, significant progress has been made in improving survival outcomes for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Recently, based on the results of the KEYNOTE-671 study, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab for perioperative treatment in patients with resectable stage II, IIIA, and IIIB NSCLC. What is the clinical significance of this newly approved indication for perioperative treatment in NSCLC? What key considerations should clinicians focus on in practice? How will perioperative immunotherapy for NSCLC evolve in the future?

Breast cancer patients may experience overweight or obesity during treatment due to medication side effects and hormonal fluctuations. What impact does being overweight or obese have on patient prognosis? At the recent San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), numerous new research findings, clinical practices, and treatment advancements were presented. One study from the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group (EBCTCG) analyzed the relationship between overweight/obesity and prognosis in early-stage breast cancer patients. Oncology Frontier invited Dr. Cuizhi Geng from The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University to summarize this relationship and share clinical intervention strategies.

The 47th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) successfully concluded in San Antonio, USA. On December 11 (local time), during the second day of the conference, Academician Binghe Xu from the Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences delivered a significant presentation in the "General Session 1," unveiling the latest data from the PHILA study (Abstract No.: GS1-03). This nationwide, multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluated the remarkable efficacy of Pyrotinib combined with Trastuzumab and Docetaxel as a first-line treatment for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. Results showed a striking progression-free survival (PFS) of 22.1 months in the Pyrotinib group, significantly longer than the 10.5 months in the HT group.Oncology Frontier interviewed Academician Binghe Xu on-site to gain in-depth insights into the latest PHILA study data and explore the profound impact of the Pyrotinib combination regimen on the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer.

At the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), Dr. Icro Meattini from the University of Florence, Italy, presented significant findings from the EUROPA trial. This Phase III randomized controlled trial focused on women aged 70 and above with Stage I Luminal breast cancer. The study aimed to compare the effects of radiation therapy (RT) alone versus endocrine therapy (ET) alone on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR). Oncology Frontier interviewed Dr. Icro Meattini to discuss the study design and future research directions.

The 14th Shanghai Urologic Oncology Academic Conference and the Annual Meeting of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association Male Reproductive System Tumor Committee (CACA-GO) took place from December 6–8,2024 in Shanghai. The conference invited several internationally renowned experts in urologic oncology for academic lectures and surgical demonstrations.Dr. Stephen Freedland from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in the United States delivered two impactful presentations titled “EMBARK and Something Related to BCR” and “Race and Prostate Cancer – Access to Care vs. Biology or Both?” In an interview with Urology Frontier, Dr. Freedland further discussed the latest progress in the treatment of biochemical recurrence (BCR) in prostate cancer and topics related to racial disparities in healthcare.