Professor Xi Zhang: Unmet Clinical Needs in Chronic GVHD in China and Strategies to Address Them

Professor Xi Zhang: Unmet Clinical Needs in Chronic GVHD in China and Strategies to Address Them

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an important potentially curative treatment for hematologic diseases. However, chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a common post-transplant complication, continues to have a substantial long-term impact on patients' quality of life. In China, significant clinical challenges remain in understanding the underlying mechanisms of the disease, achieving accurate diagnosis, implementing risk-stratified treatment, and providing long-term management.
2026 IFSC | Professor Naoki Hosen Explores Novel Targets for Cell Therapy in Hematologic Malignancies: Balancing Efficacy and Safety and Advancing from CAR-T to CAR-NK

2026 IFSC | Professor Naoki Hosen Explores Novel Targets for Cell Therapy in Hematologic Malignancies: Balancing Efficacy and Safety and Advancing from CAR-T to CAR-NK

Basic stem cell research, regenerative medicine, cell therapy, and the application of clinical research guidelines are currently among the most closely watched frontiers in global hematology and translational medicine. With these topics at its core, the 10th International Forum on Stem Cells (IFSC) was successfully held, bringing together leading experts and scholars from around the world to explore scientific discoveries and technological innovation. The forum showcased the latest advances in basic, clinical, and translational research on hematopoietic stem cells, with the aim of promoting collaborative innovation in the global stem cell field. During the conference, Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier invited Professor Naoki Hosen of Osaka University, Japan, to share his latest research findings and academic perspectives on "Beyond CD19/BCMA: An Overview of Novel Targets for CAR-T and NK Cell Therapy in Hematologic Malignancies." The key insights are presented below.
Professor Bo Dai: Identifying the Right Patients and Timing for Earlier Prostate Cancer Treatment Intensification — From Perioperative Intensification and Long-Term Survival Evidence to Individualized Treatment Sequencing

Professor Bo Dai: Identifying the Right Patients and Timing for Earlier Prostate Cancer Treatment Intensification — From Perioperative Intensification and Long-Term Survival Evidence to Individualized Treatment Sequencing

The 2026 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) presented several advances in prostate cancer research, covering perioperative treatment for high-risk localized disease, long-term follow-up in metastatic disease, and the exploration of novel agents with new mechanisms of action. As treatment options continue to expand, understanding the evidence generated at different disease stages and using it to guide comprehensive treatment planning have become important clinical priorities.
Professor Hao Zeng: Precision Treatment of mCRPC Through the Lens of Mutation Profiles in Chinese Patients — Biomarker Analysis from TALAPRO-2 and Implications for First-Line Treatment Decisions

Professor Hao Zeng: Precision Treatment of mCRPC Through the Lens of Mutation Profiles in Chinese Patients — Biomarker Analysis from TALAPRO-2 and Implications for First-Line Treatment Decisions

At the 2026 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), a biomarker analysis of the Chinese cohort from TALAPRO-2 was presented as a poster. Understanding the differences in radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) between the Chinese cohort and the global population, and translating molecular testing results into treatment decisions, are important issues in the individualized management of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
ESMO 2026 | Professor Zhongguo Zhou: How Can “Dual Immunotherapy + Interventional Therapy” Achieve More Than the Sum of Its Parts in Later-Line Liver Cancer Treatment? Real-World Evidence Offers Clues

ESMO 2026 | Professor Zhongguo Zhou: How Can “Dual Immunotherapy + Interventional Therapy” Achieve More Than the Sum of Its Parts in Later-Line Liver Cancer Treatment? Real-World Evidence Offers Clues

The 2026 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) was held in Madrid, Spain. As one of the most influential academic events in global oncology, the congress brought together cutting-edge cancer research from around the world. Several clinical studies from China were selected for presentation, sharing the country's clinical explorations and insights with the international oncology community. Significant unmet clinical needs remain in the later-line treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and real-world studies can provide valuable evidence to inform clinical practice. At this year's congress, a real-world study conducted by Professor Zhongguo Zhou's team at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center was selected for poster presentation. To discuss the rationale behind the study, its clinical implications, and future research directions, Oncology Frontier invited Professor Zhou for an interview to share insights into this investigation of combination therapy for later-line HCC.
Making History Again! Three LBA Studies from Academician Xu Binghe’s Team Published Simultaneously in JAMA, The Lancet, and NEJM

Making History Again! Three LBA Studies from Academician Xu Binghe’s Team Published Simultaneously in JAMA, The Lancet, and NEJM

At the 2026 ESMO Congress, Academician Xu Binghe’s team from the National Cancer Center/National Cancer Institute, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, achieved a historic milestone in Chinese breast cancer research: three original Phase III studies were selected for Late-Breaking Abstract (LBA) oral presentations at the congress and published simultaneously in three leading medical journals—JAMA, The Lancet, and The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The three studies were HORIZON-Breast06 (trastuzumab rezetecan, HER2-low advanced breast cancer), PANKU-Breast01 (iza-bren, HR-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer), and HEALER (anetumab combined with albumin-bound docetaxel as first-line treatment for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer). All three achieved their anticipated positive results and have the potential to establish new treatment standards in their respective breast cancer subtypes. The simultaneous selection of three studies from the same research team for ESMO LBA presentations, alongside publication in three leading medical journals, is unprecedented in the field of breast cancer in China and rare internationally. This achievement marks China's growing emergence as a global leader in the development of innovative breast cancer therapies.
Professor Tao Zhu: Two Systematic Reviews Suggest That BRCA Mutation Domains May Predict Benefit from PARP Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer

Professor Tao Zhu: Two Systematic Reviews Suggest That BRCA Mutation Domains May Predict Benefit from PARP Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer

The 2026 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) was held in Madrid, Spain, from October 23 to 27. As one of the world's most important annual meetings in clinical oncology, ESMO presents major research advances across multiple fields each year, including gynecologic oncology. PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy has significantly improved outcomes in patients with BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer. In clinical practice, however, eligibility for treatment is commonly determined using a binary classification based on the presence or absence of pathogenic BRCA mutations.
Professors Qi Zhou and Li Yuan Discuss Four Studies: ADCs Show Promise in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer, While New Breakthroughs Emerge in Precision Biomarker Development

Professors Qi Zhou and Li Yuan Discuss Four Studies: ADCs Show Promise in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer, While New Breakthroughs Emerge in Precision Biomarker Development

Ovarian cancer is often referred to as the "king of gynecologic cancers." Platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer (PROC) remains a major clinical challenge. Once platinum resistance develops, conventional single-agent chemotherapy offers low response rates and poor prognosis, leaving patients with limited treatment options. In recent years, the emergence of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and targeted small-molecule agents has begun to reshape the treatment landscape of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
ESMO Voices from China | Professor Jing Feng: Five-Year Real-World Data Highlight the Importance of Risk Stratification and Individualized Assessment in Selecting Treatment Strategies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

ESMO Voices from China | Professor Jing Feng: Five-Year Real-World Data Highlight the Importance of Risk Stratification and Individualized Assessment in Selecting Treatment Strategies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

From October 23 to 27, 2026, the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress was held in Madrid, Spain. At this year's congress, numerous studies from China were selected for oral presentations, posters, and e-posters, demonstrating the growing presence of Chinese oncology research on the international stage. Although a wide range of treatment options is available for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), long-term survival data comparing different treatment strategies in real-world settings remain limited. A real-world study conducted by Professor Jing Feng's team at Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital was selected for e-poster presentation at this year's ESMO Congress. Addressing practical challenges in HCC diagnosis and treatment, the study used a large cohort with long-term follow-up to investigate key factors affecting patient survival, offering new insights into clinical risk stratification and individualized treatment.
ESMO Voices from China | Academician Binghe Xu: Anetumab (KN026) Plus HB1801 Offers New Hope for First-Line Treatment of HER2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer

ESMO Voices from China | Academician Binghe Xu: Anetumab (KN026) Plus HB1801 Offers New Hope for First-Line Treatment of HER2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer

For many years, trastuzumab combined with pertuzumab and a taxane (the THP regimen) has been the standard first-line treatment for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. However, approximately half of patients experience disease progression within two years, highlighting the urgent need for more effective treatment options.