ESMO Congress 2021

Novel liquid biomarkers show promise in predicting clinical outcomes with immunotherapy
Although encouraging results are presented, standardisation of methodology and large-scale clinical trials are needed before potential candidates can be used in routine clinical practice

Early-stage HER2+ breast cancer may benefit from de-escalated treatment, but biomarkers are still required
Findings from three studies highlight that selecting patients for de-escalated treatment is still challenging

Novel approaches to improve immunotherapy and more news on synthetic lethality
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.

Positive preliminary data with the T-cell receptor fusion construct, gavocabtagene autoleucel
Manageable toxicity profile and signs of clinical benefit seen with gavocabtagene autoleucel in treatment-refractory mesothelin-expressing solid tumours

Two studies explore molecular divergence in gastric cancer
Genomic landscaping suggests molecular divergence between cancer subtypes and across disease stages, but molecular similarities between White and Asian populations

Women receiving immunotherapy may be at higher risk of adverse events than men
Prospective evidence from a multicentre study support the need for a more personalised immuno-oncology approach based on sex and gender differences

Bexmarilimab monotherapy shows promising anti-tumour activity in advanced solid tumours
Preliminary data indicate tolerability and disease control with bexmarilimab in hard-to-treat solid tumours