Rare tumours have been neglected for decades, with lack of funding, lack of research and lack of visibility. It is encouraging to see how this is changing and how research in rare tumours is not only taking place, but also being highlighted in Presidential Symposium 3 at this year’s ESMO Congress.

Results show it may help to define more homogeneous subgroups of patients with grade II–III glioma for more timely and effective cancer care

Phase I/II trials also show these compounds have more convenient dosing and are well tolerated in both the early and advanced settings

Studies also suggest hope for TKI inhibitor combinations in patients with symptomatic brain metastases

An exploratory analysis from the IMpower010 trial adds support to the use of post-chemotherapy adjuvant immunotherapy for selected early stage non-small-cell lung cancer

Data from SECOMBIT provide useful insights to the optimal sequence of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and targeted treatment combinations for patients with BRAF-mutated, advanced melanoma 

Results from the ATALANTE-1 and MRTX-500 trials show efficacy improvements with immunotherapy in patients post-immune checkpoint inhibitor failure

Adding an immune checkpoint inhibitor to cetuximab plus radiotherapy does not improve outcomes versus standard of care in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Phase III data highlight the consistent benefit of anti-PD-1 therapy for oesophageal and gastric cancer patients, with greatest benefit in high PD-L1-expressing tumours