Trastuzumab has transformed the prognosis for women with HER2+ breast cancer. On the occasion of the ESMO Breast Cancer Virtual Congress 2021, leading oncology experts recall with enthusiasm the pioneering work of researchers like José Baselga in this field and push for continuous research to investigate how to further improve the treatment of this cancer sub-type

With multiple new therapies available, Prof. Johan Vansteenkiste says the search is on for biomarkers to better match patients to treatments 

According to Prof. Urania Dafni, high quality real-world evidence can provide broader information and more generalisable conclusions to verify the clinical applicability of evidence from RCTs 

Promising results with cancer vaccines based on specific antigen mutations in individual tumours, and typically used in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, are fuelling an upsurge of interest in cancer vaccination for patients with established cancer, explains Prof. Pedro Romero. 

This year’s recipient of the TAT Honorary Award Prof. Ruth Plummer, retraces the most significant milestones of her career in early phase studies 

At an ESMO Live Roundtable, a panel of experts discussed the benefits and risk of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with cancer, the practicalities of vaccinating those undergoing immunosuppressant treatment and the potential advantages and disadvantages of flexible dosing intervals.

Despite alternative modes of administering anticancer medicines have reinforced the idea that at-home cancer care may be sometimes feasible as well as preferred by patients, there are concerns about costs of and accessibility to these new opportunities. 

Sex- and gender-sensitive medicine postulates that differences in biological sex, gender identity, role and relations all impact health and disease, and may have implications for prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment. Its goal is to learn from these differences to improve care and treatment for men and women.