EDITORIAL
Should rare cancers still be (in) a niche of oncology?
ESMO is sustaining its efforts to give rare cancers a more prominent place in oncology
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ESMO SARCOMA and RARE CANCERS CONGRESS 2024
Studies provide further evidence to support continued imatinib in two different GIST indications
Uninterrupted imatinib is essential to optimise outcomes in metastatic and high-risk resected GIST
Can sarcomas benefit from targeted treatments active in other tumour types?
Two studies in sarcoma explore the promise of ADCs and theranostics realised in different tumours.
Desmoid tumours: nirogacestat improves quality of life also in stable disease
In a post hoc analysis of the DeFi trial, a reduction in symptom burden was reported, with benefits occurring early in treated patients
OTHER NEWS
BRCA mutations are associated with worse treatment outcomes in mCRPC
In patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, early genetic testing may help personalise treatments in the first-line as a study suggests
A multimodal liquid biopsy analysis shows promise in monitoring response to immunotherapy
A study shows that early kinetics in DNA methylation and fragment quantity in plasma can predict response to pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumours
Most women report poor sexual health after a diagnosis of breast cancer
However, patients’ sexual concerns are often unaddressed in oncology, a study suggests
Health emergencies: let’s get prepared without leaving cancer patients behind
ESMO is advocating for secondary and tertiary care levels to be included into international agreements and WHO’s documents to respond to pandemics
WHO-ESMO collaboration sets accessible cancer care, prevention and education as priority areas of intervention
In the period 2024-2026, the technical collaboration between the United Nations agency and the Society plans a series of evidence-based activities to improve global cancer care
COLUMNS
Use of ctDNA as a surrogate in early clinical drug development – nearing its end point?
Several key issues including standardisation and validation of ctDNA response criteria for predicting clinical outcomes in oncology still need to be addressed
A net-zero emission oncology is made by small actions
Green oriented practical tips encompass a reorganisation of waste disposal and pathology testing at single centres which may result in a reduction of the carbon footprint of cancer care globally
How to integrate the social determinants of health in cancer care
Increasing data show that they are indicators of inequitable environments which may negatively impact on cancer outcomes, but more efforts are needed to properly assess them in oncology