
Rare tumours make it to a Presidential Symposium
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.

Can DNA methylation improve prognostic models for glioma?
Results show it may help to define more homogeneous subgroups of patients with grade II–III glioma for more timely and effective cancer care

New drugs for an old target: oral SERDs are active in ER+/HER2– breast cancer
Phase I/II trials also show these compounds have more convenient dosing and are well tolerated in both the early and advanced settings

Adjuvant atezolizumab lowers relapse rate in resected NSCLC
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

A step closer to determining the best sequential approach for treatment of BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma?
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

Immunotherapy confirmed as standard of care for melanoma brain metastases
Studies also suggest hope for TKI inhibitor combinations in patients with symptomatic brain metastases

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

GORTEC-REACH study results fail to change the current standard of care for locally advanced SCCHN
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

Upper GI tumours: survival benefits with PD-1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy, but not nivolumab plus ipilimumab
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

The paradigm shift led by CDK4/6 inhibitors in breast cancer
The efficacy and overall good tolerability of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors have led to a change in the therapeutic algorithm of HR-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer and established these compounds as the gold standard option for any patient with metastatic disease, except those with visceral crisis.