Tony S. Mok, MD, FRCPC, FASCO
THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has recognized Tony S. Mok, MD, FRCPC, FASCO, with the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions in lung cancer.
Dr. Mok, who is a Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation Endowed Professor and Chairman of the Department of Clinical Oncology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, has focused his research on biomarker and molecular targeted therapy in lung cancer. He was principal investigator of the first study confirming the application of precision medicine in advanced lung cancer and has led or co-led multiple international phase III studies that have defined the current management of advanced lung cancer.
“[Dr.] Mok is a legend in medical oncology,” said Evandro de Azambuja, MD, PhD, Chair of the ESMO Fellowship and Award Committee. “He was the first one to really put in practice precision medicine in advanced lung cancer with the use of targeted agents. Much of his research has led to a change of treatment paradigm for our lung cancer patients and helped to define the current practice.”
Dr. Mok’s work on precision medicine in lung cancer encompasses clinical research on oncogene-driven lung cancer and immunotherapy. He has helped develop the clinical research infrastructure in China and Asia by cofounding the Lung Cancer Research Group, the Chinese Thoracic Oncology Research Group, and the Asia Thoracic Oncology Research Group.
On receiving the award, Dr. Mok said: “My gratefulness is beyond words. I am deeply indebted to all my local and global collaborators for their selfless support over the past two decades, and more so, to the ESMO leadership for [its] generous endorsement. This award is also acknowledging researchers in Asia and their significant contribution to personalized medicine.”
Dr. Mok is an ESMO Faculty Member in the Lung and Other Thoracic Tumours Faculty Group. He is Treasurer and Past President of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and serves on the ASCO Board of Directors. ■
