The ESMO Congress 2021 has started today with three sessions on developmental therapeutics, including immunotherapy. The overarching theme in these sessions is the improvement of checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy and a new flavour of synthetic lethality in molecularly pre-defined solid tumours.

Findings from three studies highlight that selecting patients for de-escalated treatment is still challenging

Manageable toxicity profile and signs of clinical benefit seen with gavocabtagene autoleucel in treatment-refractory mesothelin-expressing solid tumours

Genomic landscaping suggests molecular divergence between cancer subtypes and across disease stages, but molecular similarities between White and Asian populations

Prospective evidence from a multicentre study support the need for a more personalised immuno-oncology approach based on sex and gender differences

Preliminary data indicate tolerability and disease control with bexmarilimab in hard-to-treat solid tumours

A significant progression-free survival improvement after re-treatment with olaparib was reported in the OReO/ENGOT Ov-38 trial

Research and treatment approaches have come a long way since triple-negative breast cancer was first recognised, but there is still progress to be made, according to Associate Prof. Rebecca Dent 

We were hoping to be in Paris for the ESMO Congress 2021, but the event will be virtual for the second consecutive year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this annual Congress will confirm that cancer research is blooming again, despite the current health crisis and its remarkable consequences on people, healthcare system, and, not the least, research