For many years, platinum-based chemotherapy has been the cornerstone of systemic treatment for advanced urothelial cancer, such as bladder cancer. However, the release of clinical research data on antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), such as enfortumab vedotin (EV), has brought new treatment options for patients. During the 31st Urology Academic Conference held recently in Tianjin, Dr. Xin Yao from Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital shared insights on “Focusing on Drug Safety Management in the Era of Combined Targeted and Immunotherapy.” After the session, Urology Frontier invited Professor Yao to discuss the value of combined targeted and immunotherapy in treating urothelial cancer and the management strategies for ensuring treatment safety.

The 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting was held from September 13 to 17 in Barcelona, Spain. Key research in the field of urologic oncology garnered much attention, particularly in the area of prostate cancer. The EORTC-GUCG 1333/PEACE-3 clinical trial (LBA1 - A randomized multicenter open label phase III trial comparing enzalutamide vs a combination of Radium-223 (Ra223) and enzalutamide in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with bone metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC): First results of EORTC-GUCG 1333/PEACE-3) evaluated the efficacy of Radium-223 (Ra-223) combined with enzalutamide compared to enzalutamide alone in patients with bone metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms. The promising results sparked widespread interest. Urology Frontier invited the lead investigator of the study, Dr. Silke Gillessen from the Medical Oncology of the Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) and Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), to share her insights on this important research and discuss the potential treatment outlook for bone metastatic mCRPC patients.

With the rapid advancement of medical technology, the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer has entered a new chapter. In recent years, the emergence of anti-HER2 targeted drugs and new ADC (Antibody-Drug Conjugates) drugs has not only enriched the treatment options but also brought unprecedented hope to patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. At CSCO 2024, Oncology Frontier invited Dr. Yongmei Yin from Jiangsu Provincial Hospital to review the evolution of HER2-positive breast cancer medical treatment. From single-target therapy to dual-target treatment, and now into the era of TKI (Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors) and ADC therapies, every step reflects the wisdom and efforts of the medical community. Professor Yin also commented on the remarkable efficacy of T-DXd in brain metastasis patients, as seen in the DB-12 study presented at the 2024 ESMO conference, and shared valuable insights on balancing efficacy and safety in clinical practice.

The 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting took place from September 13 to 17 in Barcelona, Spain. At the event, Dr. Liangyou Gu from the Urology Department of Chinese PLA General Hospital shared findings from the Phase II NEOTAX study on neoadjuvant therapy for renal cancer patients with venous tumor thrombus. The study demonstrated that preoperative treatment with toripalimab combined with axitinib successfully downgraded the level of inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus in some patients, significantly improving perioperative outcomes. Urology Frontier had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Liangyou Gu at the event for an in-depth analysis of the NEOTAX study, treatment strategies for renal cancer with venous tumor thrombus, and future research directions.

The 27th National Clinical Oncology Conference and 2024 CSCO Annual Meeting, jointly hosted by the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) and the Beijing Xisike Clinical Oncology Research Foundation, took place from September 25 to 29, 2024, in Xiamen. During this prestigious event, CSCO awarded Academician Binghe Xu with the “2024 Annual Achievement Award” in recognition of his leadership in the groundbreaking multi-center PHILA study, which has rewritten domestic and international breast cancer treatment guidelines. In an interview with Oncology Frontier at the conference, Professor Xu shared his reflections on the award and insights into China’s progress in clinical drug research.

As antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and precision medicine continue to develop, breast cancer is entering a new era of treatment. At the 2024 CSCO Annual Conference, Dr. Jian Zhang from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Dr. Nadia Harbeck from LMU University Hospital, Munich,Germany engaged in a deep discussion about the latest developments in breast cancer treatment. The two professors shared insights into the remarkable efficacy and safety management strategies of ADC drugs in treating HR+ advanced breast cancer patients, while also exploring the critical role of genetic testing in guiding individualized treatment. This dialogue not only reveals the global cutting-edge trends in breast cancer treatment but also provides valuable guidance for future clinical practice, leading the field towards more precise and individualized treatment approaches.