In the Spotlight

ESMO developed a classification to assess the risk-benefit ratio of treatment intensity modulation by a three-tiered approach 

Experience in breast cancer shows that treatment de-intensification must follow robust evidence, but also values and preferences to generate acceptance 

In neighbouring countries, oncologists are seeing a growing number of female refugees with breast cancer whose treatment may have started before they left Ukraine and urgently needs to be continued for good outcomes to be achieved. 

In her Keynote Lecture at ESMO Breast Cancer 2022, Prof. Sibylle Loibl looks at neoadjuvant therapy and the fertility and pregnancy issues facing young women with breast cancer 

In recent conflicts, good response to the health needs of refugees with cancer in receiving countries is consequence of an analysis of local cancer centres capacity and special measures to avoid fragmented care  

In his Award Keynote Lecture at the European Lung Cancer Congress 2022, Prof. Fred R. Hirsch describes how ‘the tissue is still the issue’ 

In her keynote lecture at the ESMO Targeted Anticancer Therapies Congress 2022, Prof. Lesley Seymour stresses the importance of sharing ideas and resources between academia and industry 

Research is ongoing to investigate influencing factors of immune checkpoint inhibition, encouraging a more holistic understanding of individual characteristics to improve clinical outcomes

Oncologists are aiming to capitalise on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and design more inclusive clinical trials, optimise trial endpoints and make better use of real-world evidence.

Despite the encouraging findings of a new global survey demonstrating a high rate of uptake of the ESMO/ASCO Global Curriculum in Medical Oncology, resource limitations in lower-income regions as well as country-specific political circumstances may be hindering its implementation locally.