The 27th National Clinical Oncology Conference and 2024 CSCO Annual Meeting, co-hosted by the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology and the Beijing Health Management Development Foundation, took place in Xiamen from September 25-29, 2024. During the conference, several lung cancer-focused forums highlighted cutting-edge research and progress in the field both domestically and internationally. During the event, Oncology Frontier had the opportunity to interview Dr. Tony Mok from the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He shared his insights on the current role and future outlook of biomarker testing in clinical practice for lung cancer.

Anti-PD-(L)1 therapies have been approved for treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, due to limited options, most patients experience disease progression while on anti-PD-(L)1 therapy. At the 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting, Dr. Pascale Tomasini from the Multidisciplinary Oncology and Therapeutic Innovations department in Marseille, France, presented findings from the PIONeeR trial—a Phase Ib/IIa study targeting specific resistance pathways in PD-(L)1-resistant advanced NSCLC patients. Oncology Frontier interviewed Dr. Pascale Tomasini on the trial’s main findings, the current treatment strategies for advanced NSCLC patients resistant to PD-(L)1 inhibitors, and future directions.

With breast cancer incidence rates on the rise globally, it has become a major health threat to women. In China, the challenge of breast cancer control is equally significant, and improving the quality of diagnosis, treatment, and survival rates for breast cancer patients has become a critical task in healthcare. International cooperation has been a driving force in advancing breast cancer clinical research worldwide. At the 2024 Breast Cancer Standardized Diagnosis, Treatment, and Quality Control Conference, Academician Binghe Xu from the Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences delivered a report on the current state and future of breast cancer clinical research in China. Oncology Frontier had the privilege of interviewing Academician Xu, who shared insights on how Chinese scholars, by participating in international multicenter clinical trials, have not only gained experience in advanced research methods and management but also earned a prominent role on the global stage, contributing significantly to new treatment options for breast cancer patients worldwide.

Antibody-drug conjugates have expanded treatment options for patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, providing new options for those who have exhausted other treatments. Studies presented at the 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress (September 13-17, Barcelona) aimed to expand the current use of ADCs to a wider patient population and explore novel ADCs in advanced or metastatic breast cancer, shedding light on targeting HER2 and HER3 to improve patient outcomes.

The final results of the KEYNOTE-522 trial confirm the potential of pembrolizumab to change patient management, though careful patient selection and toxicity monitoring are essential.

The strength of artificial intelligence (AI) in precision oncology lies in its ability to unlock the value of real-world data from millions of cancer patients. In recent years, AI has empowered oncologists to analyze large datasets from multiple sources, including next-generation sequencing and medical imaging, aiding in cancer characterization and offering a more comprehensive understanding of the disease (NPJ Precis Oncol. 2023;7:43).

On October 18-19, 2024, the CACA Integrative Gastric Cancer Conference was held in Wuhan, bringing together multidisciplinary experts from around the world to discuss the latest advances, standards, and research developments in gastric cancer diagnosis and treatment.During the conference, Oncology Frontier interviewed Dr. Xiangdong Cheng, Secretary of Zhejiang Cancer Hospital. Professor Cheng shared insights into the role of the oral-gastric microbiome in gastric cancer and the progress of his research on clinical applications. Based on his extensive clinical experience, Professor Cheng also offered valuable career guidance for young physicians. Here are the highlights of the discussion: