I remember thinking on the day I turned 60, May 10, 2021, “This is going to be the best year of my life.” I couldn’t have been more wrong. Within weeks of feeling that swell of optimism about my future, I began experiencing a series of odd, and, seemingly unrelated symptoms leading to my eventual...
This year has marked unprecedented progress against cancer—as well as challenges. According to findings in the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics, 2026 report, the 5-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined has reached a milestone of 70% for individuals diagnosed between 2015...
During her Presidential address at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting, Robin T. Zon, MD, FACP, FASCO, assessed how artificial intelligence (AI) is driving knowledge into action in the field of oncology, and acknowledged that “we are now at the crossroads of long-imagined possibilities and actionable...
Growing up as an American in Mexico City, I couldn’t have grasped how that upbringing would eventually shape my professional identity. While a career in oncology was far from my mind then, that cross-cultural foundation deeply influenced my approach to medicine and my leadership as ASCO’s 62nd...
After finishing her academic studies, Dr. Mittendorf enlisted in the U.S. Air Force—an experience that would propel her into the field of oncology. “My second day on active duty was September 11, 2001,” said Dr. Mittendorf. “I was an attending surgeon at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (now called...
In the final analysis of the phase III EORTC 1333/PEACE-3 trial, with a median follow-up of 58 months, the addition of radium-223 to the androgen receptor inhibitor enzalutamide significantly prolonged overall survival in patients with bone-dominant metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer...
Early exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of widely used compounds known as “forever chemicals,” may be associated with a higher risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), according to findings published by Vieira et al in the Journal of Exposure Science...
Updated results from the phase II BRCAAway trial showed that first-line treatment with abiraterone and prednisone plus olaparib resulted in a median overall survival of more than 5 years in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer harboring BRCA1/2 and/or ATM alterations.1...
A single infusion of the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy ciltacabtagene autoleucel led to a 100% measurable residual disease (MRD)-negativity rate in patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma, according to results from CAR-PRISM, a phase II clinical trial, presented at the...
Researchers leading the LORD trial of active surveillance for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) described early results as “reassuring” in a presentation to the 15th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC15) in Barcelona (Abstract 2LBA). People diagnosed with DCIS have abnormal cells inside the milk ...
In patients with CALR exon 9–mutated myelofibrosis who were resistant or intolerant to prior Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor therapy, or ineligible for such treatment, the first-in-class mutant calreticulin–specific monoclonal antibody INCA033989, given as monotherapy or in combination with...
Three education sessions presented during the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting showcased how artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly transforming cancer care from clinical trial planning and ambient scribes transcribing physician-patient conversations to therapeutic decision-making. The meeting also...
In February, ASCO and Conexiant launched ASCO AI in Oncology (ascoai.org), a digital platform dedicated to understanding how artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting cancer care. “Our goal with this hub is to empower oncology professionals with knowledge and the tools to adapt to a rapidly...
The addition of the BRAF inhibitor encorafenib and the EGFR antibody cetuximab to chemotherapy with FOLFIRI (leucovorin, fluorouracil, and irinotecan) in the first-line treatment of BRAF V600E–mutated metastatic colorectal cancer led to a significant improvement in overall response rate—compared...
In the phase III COMMIT trial, a regimen combining atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and standard chemotherapy significantly improved progression-free survival and response rates over atezolizumab monotherapy in patients with previously untreated mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite...
In patients with CALR exon 9–mutated myelofibrosis who were resistant or intolerant to prior Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor therapy or ineligible for such treatment, the first-in-class mutant calreticulin–specific monoclonal antibody INCA033989 as monotherapy or in combination with ruxolitinib...
Testing menstrual blood for human papillomavirus (HPV) could be a “robust alternative or replacement” for current cervical cancer screening by a clinician, according to findings from a Chinese study published by Tian et al in The BMJ. The researchers say using menstrual blood for HPV testing is...
Editor’s note: On November 22, 2025—the 62nd anniversary of her grandfather President John F. Kennedy’s assassination—Tatiana Celia Kennedy Schlossberg published an essay in The New Yorker detailing her diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia with chromosome 3 inversion, a rare and aggressive subtype...
Although it’s been widely reported for years that colorectal cancer incidence has been increasing among younger adults under age 50 by between 1% and 2% annually since the mid-1990s,1 two new studies by Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH, Associate Chief of the Division of Gastrointestinal Oncology and Founding...
It is estimated that hereditary factors play a role in about 5% to 10% of colorectal cancer cases, with a higher prevalence of hereditary factors seen in younger patients. Many colorectal polyps are considered potential precursors to cancer: at least 10 polyps in individuals younger than 60 years...
Higher intake of food preservatives, widely used in industrially processed foods and beverages to extend shelf life, is associated with a modestly increased risk of cancer, according to the results of a French study published by Hasenböhler et al in The BMJ. While further research is needed to...
Greater levels of physical activity in the first 2 years after a colorectal cancer diagnosis were associated with reduced cancer-related fatigue and improved quality of life in patients with nonmetastatic disease, according to findings from a prospective, multicenter, longitudinal analysis from a...
ASCO’s mission to conquer cancer through research, education, and promotion of the highest quality patient care requires curiosity, open-mindedness, and an evidence-based approach to emerging technologies. ASCO is committed to helping the oncology community understand, develop, apply, and monitor...
On October 30, 2025, Google Cloud held its second annual Cancer AI Symposium to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment, in unparalleled ways. Held at Google’s St. John’s Terminal office in New York City, the event brought together leaders in...
An exploratory overall survival analysis of the phase III FLAURA2 trial confirmed the overall survival benefit of adding osimertinib to chemotherapy in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) not previously treated for advanced...
Until 3 years ago, cancer was so utterly frightening to me that I avoided discussing the disease or even mentioning the word as much as possible. I sympathized with a friend when she was diagnosed with lung cancer, but I never expected to be in her position. I’m a never-smoker, and except for a...
In 2016, Filippo Milano, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, and Director of the Cord Blood Transplant Program at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, published the results of his landmark study investigating whether an alternative stem cell donor...
In the United States, the incarcerated population is aging. About 15% of incarcerated adults, or approximately 175,000 people, are now 55 years or older. As the incarcerated population ages, cancer has become one of the greatest threats to their health. And despite the growing prevalence, cancer...
Although 2023 made headlines as the hottest year in human history,1 drawing the world closer to breaching the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to well below 2°C above preindustrial levels (and preferably to...
In the spring of 2024, I was preparing to compete in a Half Ironman triathlon and was not surprised when I began experiencing tightness in my groin. I just figured it was the byproduct of specific endurance training I was doing in each discipline, including running, biking, and swimming, to get...
A major study of three of the most common cancers in women, conducted by the Cancer Survival Group at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, found variations in the stage of disease at diagnosis, the type of treatment, and the extent to which treatment was consistent with...
In early 2023, I began experiencing serious symptoms that were not easily explained away, including deep vein thrombosis in my left leg, extreme weight loss, bruising, wheezing, and shortness of breath so severe that it was difficult to walk my dog more than a few feet without gasping for air. For...
Growing up in Draksharamam, a small village in India, Neelima Denduluri, MD, FASCO, was attracted to the field of medicine after witnessing her grandfather, a general practitioner in the village, care for patients so poor he often provided medical services at no cost. Although Dr. Denduluri’s...
New research published by Tohmasi et al in JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network has found that people with cancer who quit smoking had a much lower risk of dying within 2 years compared to those who kept smoking. Researchers followed more than 13,000 individuals with cancer,...
Studies show that if left untreated, between 20% and 40% of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lesions may evolve into invasive breast cancer over time. And, according to the American Cancer Society, women diagnosed with lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) have between a 7 and 12 times higher risk of...
Each year, nearly 90,000 adolescents and young adults (AYAs; aged 15–39) are diagnosed with cancer, and approximately 9,300 die of the disease.1 And although the 5-year survival rate among these young patients is approaching 80%, it lags behind that of the pediatric population, whose 5-year...
The outlook for adequate funding for federal health agencies has become more dire. In July, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced it is reducing the number of grant applications it will award for the remaining 2 months of fiscal year 2025 (FY2025), from 9% down to 4%.1 The result is that...
This past May, ASCO announced its collaboration with Google Cloud to launch the ASCO® Guidelines Assistant, a new interactive tool that allows clinicians to quickly access ASCO’s evidence-based clinical guidelines to facilitate critical clinical decision-making. Developed with Google Cloud’s Vertex ...
For individuals diagnosed with early breast cancer, the long-term risk of developing a second primary cancer is low—around 2% to 3% greater than the general population)—according to findings published by McGale et al in The BMJ. The researchers say this information can help reassure many breast...
After 2 decades of practicing medicine across multiple disciplines and health systems, I’ve witnessed the dramatic transformation of patient-physician interactions, and none more dramatic than what I’m seeing in this era of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on cancer care. Early in my...
July marks a significant transition for many professionals, particularly those beginning structured training programs on July 1. This article is designed to support new and current hematology-oncology fellows and trainees in making the most of their training experience. Although not all suggestions ...
The main symptom that eventually led to my diagnosis of stage IV adenocarcinoma non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) started in the fall of 2009. I was just 17 and in my freshman year at college when I began experiencing a persistent cough. The coughing became so unrelenting over the next month, I...
New survey findings highlight that the anxiety caused by a cancer diagnosis extends far beyond just the patient diagnosed. The emotional impact is shared by caregivers and loved ones, with stress, grief, and worry over treatments, pain, and life expectancy weighing heavily on these individuals,...
In a follow-up analysis of the pivotal TOPAZ-1 study, which established the combination of the PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin as the first-line treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC), researchers have shown that after 3 years, more than twice as many study...
Besides relapse of the malignant disease, graft-vs-host disease is still one of the greatest concerns, in terms of adverse effects, following a hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in a patient with a hematologic malignancy. To mitigate these concerns, investigators are continually analyzing ...
A common germline variant in the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) (rs562556, V474I) gene rather than a mutation in a breast cancer tumor may be the driving force in significantly increasing the risk of breast cancer metastasis and reducing survival in women with the disease....
The disparities in breast cancer incidence and mortality rates between Black and White women in the United States have been well documented. Studies over the past decade consistently show that although Black women have a 4% lower breast cancer incidence rate than White women, they are still between ...
Within hours of the start of his second administration, on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order proclaiming that the country would now recognize only two sexes, male and female, essentially rejecting transgender identity, and directing all federal agencies to use the...
Results from an international clinical trial demonstrated that DB-1310, a new antibody-drug conjugate, is showing early signs of effectiveness in patients with advanced solid tumors that have not responded to standard treatments, particularly those with EGFR-mutant non–small cell lung cancer...
At just 5 years old, Charu Aggarwal, MD, MPH, FASCO, already knew that she wanted to be a physician when she grew up, although she can’t explain where the idea came from. She just knows the desire to help others was ingrained in her from a very early age. Growing up in New Delhi, India, where...