The final day of the 8th Advanced Breast Cancer International Consensus Conference, ABC8 2025 Day 3 marked the culmination of three transformative days of scientific dialogue, patient advocacy, and collective purpose. On Saturday, 8 November 2025, the spotlight turned to the Consensus Sessions the defining heart of the ABC meetings, where months of evidence review and expert discussion converge into updated global recommendations for the management of advanced and metastatic breast cancer.
Chaired by the ABC8 Scientific Committee, these sessions gathered more than 50 experts and patient advocates representing all continents. Topics covered included optimal treatment sequencing, integration of biomarkers such as ESR1 mutations and PIK3CA testing, management of brain and leptomeningeal metastases, and supportive care for long-term survivors. The committee also addressed real-world barriers to access reaffirming that guidelines must serve not only high-resource settings but also regions with limited infrastructure.
At 11:00, Rania Azmi, Chair of the ABC Patient Advocacy Committee, delivered a passionate report emphasizing that advocacy and science must move forward hand in hand. She called for universal access to palliative care, reduction of financial toxicity, and the inclusion of patients in clinical trial design, reminding the audience that “patients are not endpoints of research they are its partners.” Her remarks received a standing ovation.
The second consensus session finalized recommendations on emerging systemic therapies, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), novel endocrine agents, and immunotherapy combinations highlighting both opportunities and unmet needs in ensuring equitable availability across countries.
As the conference drew to a close, Prof. Fatima Cardoso reflected on a decade of unified progress under the ABC Global Alliance, announcing that the newly ratified ABC Global Charter 2025–2035 will guide the movement’s vision for the next ten years. Her closing message captured the essence of ABC8:
“Our mission is not only to extend life but to ensure that every person with advanced breast cancer can live with dignity, meaning, and hope — wherever they are in the world.”
Applause filled the Centro de Congressos de Lisboa as participants rose together researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates united by one purpose: to continue transforming evidence into empathy, and science into survival.
A Look Back: The Journey to Consensus Day 2: Science, Systems, and Survivorship Toward Integrated Progress
As the foundation for the final consensus, Day 2 explored the intersection of biology, systemic therapy, and global health equity. The morning session on brain and leptomeningeal metastases, chaired by Laura Biganzoli and Eva Schumacher-Wulf, featured insights from Nancy Lin, Orit Kaidar-Person, and Javier Cortés, who discussed new radiotherapy techniques, systemic agents with intracranial activity, and the persistent challenge of the blood-brain barrier.
Later sessions examined the clinical integration of ctDNA, NGS, and liquid biopsies, led by François-Clément Bidard and Lisa Carey, emphasizing how molecular tools are reshaping precision oncology.
Panels on accessibility and affordability, moderated by Hesham Elghazaly and Sarah Kutika Nyagabona, took on the global disparities in cancer care, exploring how AI, telemedicine, and initiatives like the ATOM Coalition and Max Foundation can bridge gaps between innovation and access.
Experts including Volkmar Müller, Tanja Spanić, Joseph Gligorov, and Eric P. Winer debated the role of maintenance therapy — whether future strategies should emphasize escalation, de-escalation, or long-term disease control.
The day ended on a human note, with Ranjit Kaur, Fran Boyle, Tanja Spanić, and Claire Myerson leading a discussion on stigma, misconceptions, and quality of life, reminding attendees that medical success must be matched by social understanding and patient empowerment.
You Can Also Read ABC8 2025 Day 2 Highlights: From Molecular Frontiers to Quality of Life and Equity in Care by OncoDaily
Day 1: Laying the Foundation Oral Therapies, Supportive Care, and Global Priorities
The conference began with Prof. Fatima Cardoso’s welcoming address, celebrating ten years of the ABC Global Alliance and introducing the Global Decade Report 2.0 and ABC Global Charter 2025–2035.
These landmark documents showed meaningful gains in survival with median overall survival rising from 26 to 33 months globally and exceeding 50 months in some subtypes where therapies are widely available.
Throughout the day, experts including Eva Schumacher-Wulf, Volkmar Müller, Janice Tsang, and Amanda Drury addressed the evolving role of oral therapies, discussing adherence, patient autonomy, and digital support.
Further sessions focused on supportive and palliative care, underscoring the urgent need for equitable access to psychological, social, and financial support systems worldwide.
The day concluded with a landmark lecture by Dr. Larry Norton, who reflected on his pioneering work in dose-dense chemotherapy and mathematical modeling in oncology illustrating how evidence-based precision and compassion together pave the way from progression-free survival to cure.
You Can Also Read ABC8 2025 Day 1 Highlights: Key Advances Every Oncologist Should Know by OncoDaily
A Decade Forward: From Consensus to Commitment
As ABC8 2025 closed its doors at the Centro de Congressos de Lisboa, one message echoed through every hall: the next decade of advanced breast cancer care must unite science, policy, and humanity.
With the updated consensus statements, renewed advocacy goals, and an unwavering focus on quality of life, the ABC community reaffirmed its mission to ensure that progress in cancer care is not limited by borders or bias.
From researchers decoding molecular resistance to survivors leading advocacy and policy reform, ABC8 2025 will be remembered not only as a scientific milestone but as a testament to unity proving that in the fight against advanced breast cancer, every discovery, every dialogue, and every act of compassion brings the world closer to hope, access, and equity for all.
You Can Also Read Larry Norton Receives the ABC8 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Oncology by OncoDaily
Written by Aharon Tsaturyan, MD, Editor at OncoDaily Intelligence Unit