Oncology Conference update 

Highlights from ESMO 2025

Experts join us at ESMO 2025 to share their views on new data on GU, lung, breast, gynecological and upper GI cancers

Dr Herbert Loong

Dr Herbert Loong
Prof. Thomas Powles

Prof. Thomas Powles
Dr Elisa Agostinetto

Dr Elisa Agostinetto
Prof. Nicoletta Colombo

Prof. Nicoletta Colombo
Dr Elizabeth Smyth

Dr Elizabeth Smyth
Prof. Viktor Grünwald

Prof. Viktor Grünwald
Publication Date

Oct 2025

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Prof. Thomas Powles, renowned Professor of GU Oncology and Director at Bart's Cancer Centre, London, joined us at ESMO 2025 to share an update on bladder cancer.

Prof. Powles reviews the latest data from the congress, and reveals his expert views on the potential impact on clinical practice.

 

Prof. Powles talks us through data from the following studies:

 

  • KEYNOTE-905: Perioperative enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab in participants with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who are cisplatin-ineligible: The phase 3 study. Vulsteke C, et al. Abstract LBA2, ESMO 2025
  • ALBAN: A phase 3, randomised, open-label, international study of intravenous atezolizumab and intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vs BCG alone in BCG-naïve high-risk, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Roupret M, et al. Abstract LBA107, ESMO 2025
  • IMvigor011: a phase 3 trial of circulating tumour DNA-guided adjuvant atezolizumab vs placebo in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Powles T.B, et al. Abstract LBA8, ESMO 2025

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Dr Herbert Loong joined us in Berlin to share his perspectives on the latest data on oncogene-addicted non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) presented at ESMO 2025.

 

Dr Loong reviews data from the following studies:

  • OptiTROP-Lung04: Sacituzumab tirumotecan vs platinum-based chemotherapy in EGFR-mutated NSCLC following progression on EGFR-TKIs: results from a randomised, multi-centre, phase 3 study. Zhang L, et al.  Abstract LBA5, ESMO 2025 
  • SOHO-01: Sevabertinib (BAY 2927088) in advanced HER2-mutant NSCLC. Le X, et al.  Abstract LBA75, ESMO 2025 
  • Beamion LUNG 1: Zongertinib as 1st line treatment in patients with advanced HER2-mutant NSCLC. Popat S, et al.  Abstract LBA74, ESMO 2025 
  • LOXO-RAS-20001:  Intracranial efficacy of olomorasib, a 2nd generation KRAS G12C inhibitor, in patients with KRAS G12C-mutant NSCLC who have active, untreated brain metastases. Cassier P, et al.  Abstract 1846MO, ESMO 2025
  • FURMO-003: Phase 2 study of firmonertinib in patients with previously treated advanced or mNSCLC with EGFR Exon 20 insertion mutations. Liu Y, et al.  Abstract 1848MO, ESMO 2025

 

Clinical Takeaways

  • SOHO-01: Sevabertinib produces rapid, durable, and clinically meaningful responses with manageable toxicity in pretreated and treatment-naïve patients with advanced HER2-mutant NSCLC. These results support sevabertinib as a potential new oral targeted therapy for this molecular subset
  • Beamion LUNG1: Zongertinib demonstrates strong and clinically meaningful efficacy with manageable toxicity, supporting its role as a targeted treatment option for HER2-driven NSCLC
  • LOXO-RAS-20001: Olomorasib provides evidence of meaningful intracranial activity, highlighting progress in addressing brain metastases in patients with KRAS G12C-mutant NSCLC and active, untreated brain metastases
  • FURMO-003: Firmonertinib continues to show promising clinical activity in EGFR exon 20 insertion (ex20ins) NSCLC, with an acceptable safety profile and ongoing phase 3 development
  • OptiTROP-Lung04: Sacitizumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT) demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in PFS and OS compared to platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) providing support for sac-TMT as a potential new treatment option for patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC and EGFR-TKI resistance

View or download Dr Loongs's accompanying slides for more detailed insights.

  • Understand the clinical trial data and emerging profiles of therapies for the treatment of molecularly driven lung cancer, including treatments for HER2-directed NSCLC

Dr Herbert H. Loong holds conjoint appointments of Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Oncology and Deputy Medical Director of the Phase 1 Clinical Trials Centre of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

 

Dr Loong obtained his medical degree with a Distinction in Surgery from The University of Hong Kong in 2003. He has completed a Fellowship in Drug Development at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada with a focus on Experimental Therapeutics. His clinical and research interests include Thoracic Oncology, Sarcoma Medical Oncology and Health Economics.

 

Dr Loong is a recipient of the European Cancer Congress Fellowship Grant (2013), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting Merit Award (2014), the Hong Kong College of Physicians Young Investigators’ Award (2014). Dr. Loong led the Lung Cancer Team at CUHK to be bestowed the IASLC Foundation Cancer Care Team Award in recognition for providing the best thoracic oncology care in “Asia & Rest of the World” in 2018.

 

In recent years, Dr Loong has co-founded the Asia Pacific Oncology Drug Development Consortium (APODDC) and the Asia Pacific Coalition Against Lung Cancer (APCLC).

 

Dr Loong has served or continues to serve in various capacities in various professional international oncology bodies, including the International Affairs Committee and the Asia-Pacific Regional Council of ASCO, the Membership, Education and Communications Committees of the IASLC. He is the incoming Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of ASCO in 2024. He has been elected as a Board Member of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) for 2022-2024. In his prior appointment as a member of Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong, he oversaw the registration of medicinal products and clinical trials in the territory.

Dr Herbert Loong has received financial support/sponsorship for research support, consultation, or speaker fees from the following companies:

AbbVie, Amgen, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celgene, Eisai, Eli-Lilly, George Clinical, Guardant Health, Illumina, Janssen, Novartis, Merck Sereno, Pfizer, Takeda
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Dr Herbert H. Loong holds conjoint appointments of Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Oncology and Deputy Medical Director of the Phase 1 Clinical Trials Centre of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

 

Dr Loong obtained his medical degree with a Distinction in Surgery from The University of Hong Kong in 2003. He has completed a Fellowship in Drug Development at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada with a focus on Experimental Therapeutics. His clinical and research interests include Thoracic Oncology, Sarcoma Medical Oncology and Health Economics.

 

Dr Loong is a recipient of the European Cancer Congress Fellowship Grant (2013), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting Merit Award (2014), the Hong Kong College of Physicians Young Investigators’ Award (2014). Dr. Loong led the Lung Cancer Team at CUHK to be bestowed the IASLC Foundation Cancer Care Team Award in recognition for providing the best thoracic oncology care in “Asia & Rest of the World” in 2018.

 

In recent years, Dr Loong has co-founded the Asia Pacific Oncology Drug Development Consortium (APODDC) and the Asia Pacific Coalition Against Lung Cancer (APCLC).

 

Dr Loong has served or continues to serve in various capacities in various professional international oncology bodies, including the International Affairs Committee and the Asia-Pacific Regional Council of ASCO, the Membership, Education and Communications Committees of the IASLC. He is the incoming Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of ASCO in 2024. He has been elected as a Board Member of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) for 2022-2024. In his prior appointment as a member of Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong, he oversaw the registration of medicinal products and clinical trials in the territory.

Dr Herbert Loong has received financial support/sponsorship for research support, consultation, or speaker fees from the following companies:

AbbVie, Amgen, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celgene, Eisai, Eli-Lilly, George Clinical, Guardant Health, Illumina, Janssen, Novartis, Merck Sereno, Pfizer, Takeda
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Endorsement
Exon20group ICAN international cancer advocacy network
Biomarker Collaborative
Lung Cancer Europe
ISLB
Lung Cancer Research Foundation
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LUNG CONNECT

LUNG CONNECT is an initiative of COR2ED, supported by Independent Educational Grants from Bayer, Pierre Fabre Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim and AstraZeneca.

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Dr Elisa Agostinetto shares her perspectives on the latest breast cancer data emerging from ESMO 2025 as she reviews new data from the following studies:

 

  • monarchE: Primary overall survival results of adjuvant abemaciclib + endocrine therapy for HR+, HER2-, high-risk early breast cancer. Johnston S.R, et al. Abstract LBA13, ESMO 2025
  • DESTINY-Breast05: Trastuzumab deruxtecan vs trastuzumab emtansine in patients with high-risk HER2+ primary breast cancer with residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant therapy: Interim analysis. Geyer C.E, et al. Abstract LBA1, ESMO 2025
  • DESTINY-Breast11: Neoadjuvant trastuzumab deruxtecan alone or followed by paclitaxel + trastuzumab + pertuzumab vs SOC for high-risk HER2+ early breast cancer. Harbeck N, et al. Abstract 291O, ESMO 2025
  • ASCENT-03: Primary results from a randomised phase 3 study of sacituzumab govitecan vs chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated advanced triple-negative breast cancer who are unable to receive PD-(L)1 inhibitors. Cortés J.C, et al. Abstract LBA20, ESMO 2025
  • TROPION-Breast02: 1st line datopotamab deruxtecan vs chemotherapy in patients with locally recurrent inoperable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer for whom immunotherapy was not an option: Primary results from the randomised, phase 3 TROPION-Breast02 trial. Dent R.A, et al. Abstract LBA21, ESMO 2025

 

 

How will these data impact clinical practice? Watch the video to find out!

Dr Elisa Agostinetto is a medical oncologist and leading researcher in the field of breast cancer. She received her medical degree in Italy, at University of Udine. She completed her training in medical oncology in Milan, Italy, and afterwards she moved to Brussels, Belgium, where she is currently pursuing an advanced research fellowship at Institut Jules Bordet - Université Libre de Bruxelles.

Dr Elisa Agostinetto has received financial support/sponsorship for research support, consultation, or speaker fees from the following companies:

Eli Lilly, Sandoz, AstraZeneca; support for conference attendence from Novartis, Roche, Eli Lilly, Genetic, Istituto Gentili, Daiichi Sankyo, AstraZeneca and a research grant to her institution from Gilead.

Prof. Nicoletta Colombo joined us at ESMO 2025 to share her insights into gynecological cancer data as they were presented at the congress.

 

Prof. Colombo reports on endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer, and reviews the following key studies:

 

  • ENGOT-ov65/KEYNOTE-B96: Pembrolizumab vs placebo plus weekly paclitaxel ± bevacizumab in platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer: Results from the randomised double-blind phase 3 study. Colombo N, et al. Abstract LBA3, ESMO 2025
  • AtTEnd/ENGOT-EN7: Final overall survival results from the randomised double-blind phase 3 trial evaluating atezolizumab in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in women with advanced/recurrent endometrial cancer. Barrentina Ginesta M.P, et al. Abstract LBA39, ESMO 2025
  • REJOICE-Ovarian01: Raludotatug deruxtecan in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer: primary analysis of the phase 2 dose-optimisation part of REJOICE-Ovarian01. Ray-Coquard I.L, et al. Abstract LAB42, ESMO 2025

 

Watch the video to discover how these developments could change clinical practice!

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BREAST CANCER CONNECT

BREAST CANCER CONNECT is an initiative of COR2ED, supported by an Independent Educational Grant from Menarini Stemline Oncology, AstraZeneca and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

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Dr Lizzy Smyth joined us in Berlin to share her perspectives on the latest gastric and gastroesophageal data presented at ESMO 2025. 

 

Dr Smyth reviews key data from the MATTERHORN study and tells us how she thinks it will impact clinical practice:

 

  • MATTERHORN: Event-free survival with pathological outcomes: a randomised, phase 3 study of durvalumab plus 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin and docetaxel (FLOT) in resectable gastric/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. Tabernero J, et al. Abstract LBA81, ESMO 2025

 

 

Elizabeth (Lizzy) Smyth is a consultant in gastrointestinal oncology. Dr Smyth commenced her oncology training in Dublin, Ireland. In 2009 she was awarded a fellowship from the Irish Society of Medical Oncology to train at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Centre, New York. Following this, she worked at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London from 2011-2018. Her research focus is on clinical trials and translational research in gastroesophageal cancer, and she has worked on trial design and management of national and international trials. She is a member of the European Society for Medical Oncology GI Faculty and leads the EORTC GI Trials Group Gastric Cancer Taskforce. Dr Smyth is committed to furthering national and international collaboration in GI trials research.

Dr Elizabeth Smyth has received financial support/sponsorship for research support, consultation, or speaker fees from the following companies:

Grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Astra Zeneca, personal fees from Amgen, Astellas, Astra Zeneca, Beigene, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo, Merck, Mirati, Novartis, Pfizer, Viracta, and Zymeworks. Chair of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Gastrointestinal Group (2024–26), and has been trustee of the UK & Ireland Oesophagogastric Cancer Group since 2022; and is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre
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