The ESMO 2025 Congress is a major global oncology event organized by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).
It is taking place at Messe Berlin in Berlin, Germany, from October 17 to 21, 2025. The congress features a comprehensive scientific and educational program designed to foster exchange and debate in translational cancer science, showcasing potentially practice-changing data, and stimulating multidisciplinary discussions to improve cancer treatment options.
ESMO:
“Results from phase III Clinical Trials have highlighted both progress and ongoing challenges in the treatment of HER2-positive upper GI Cancers. A HER2-targeted bispecific antibody showed extended survival in pre-treated Gastric Cancers, but immunotherapy plus TKI combinations failed to confer a survival benefit. Given the heterogeneity of GI cancers, future advances in treatment may rely on precision-guided biomarker strategies.
Read the full commentary in the ESMO Daily Reporter.”
“Great opening session and amazing start to an amazing ESMO25! Amazing forward-looking Presidential address, Fabrice Andre, and awesome intro by scientific co-chairs Toni Choueiri, Myriam Chalabi, and amazing award session by Rebecca Dent! Thanks for the shoutout on the NEW TUMOUR AGNOSTIC track.”
“NATALEE Adj Ribo shows sustained improvement in IDFS. Hot take (the dreaded cross trial comparison):
NATALEE is a lower risk population, so that long slow follow-up is critical with 50% of HR+ recurrences happening >5 years, and that OS trend is promising.”
“KC-WISE: Anbenitamab plus chemotherapy for HER2-positive GC/GEJC after Trastuzumab treatment
ORR: 55 vs 10.8%
mPFS: 7.1 vs 2.7 mo
mOS: 19.6 vs 11.5 mo
Bi-specific antibody with significant benefit in HER2 pretreated patients.”
“One of the highlights of ESMO25: adjuvant abema significantly improves OS in high-risk ER+ eBC (1.8% OS delta at 7 years). Benefit enriched in premenopausal pts & those with >10 positive nodes. Updated iDFS curves denote persistent benefit. Practice-confirming.”
“Official Opening Ceremony | ESMO 2025
Berlin Auditorium (HUB 27)
This year marks a record-breaking participation at hashtag#ESMO25, over 35,000 oncology professionals from across the globe, reflecting the unstoppable momentum of cancer research and collaboration.
By the numbers:
- 5,677 abstracts submitted – double compared to 2016!
- 2,926 abstracts selected for presentation
- 3 Presidential Symposia
- 12 presentations with dedicated discussants
- 264 experts serving on the Scientific Committee
New scientific tracks unveiled this year:
1. Tumour Agnostic
2. AI and Digital Health
3. Prevention, Early Detection, and Intervention
Cross-cutting themes shaping the future of oncology:
- Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs): Can they cure early-stage cancer?
- Circulating Tumour DNA (ctDNA): Can we select patients for systemic therapy through liquid biopsy?
- Radioligand Therapies (RLT): What’s new – and how early can they be used in the disease course?
- Novel Cellular Therapies: Are we finally ready for prime time?
- Opportunities in Rare Cancers
The atmosphere at HUB 27 is electric, filled with inspiration, discovery, and the shared mission of advancing cancer care.
Berlin is ready. Oncology is evolving. The future starts here.”
“Another intensification regimen improves clinical outcomes of patients with metastatic EGFRmut lung cancer. This time with surgery/radiotherapy. NorhtStar randomized trial improved PFS regardless of type of mutation or number of metastases.”
“Two giants of the lung cancer community are honoured at ESMO25 Prof. Rolf Stahel — ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award, and Dr. Natasha Leighl — Women for Oncology Award, awarded by Prof. Rebeca Dent. So well deserved!!!”
“The results of POTOMAC trial are out in The Lancet simultaneously released with ESMO25 presentation.
Happy to share our thoughts on this also out in the accompanying editorial.
Front-line durvalumab and BCG in the treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer – The Lancet.”
“Dr. Zosia Piotrowska discusses NORTHSTAR ESMO25 – impressive PFS benefit in #EGFR NSCLC when local consolidation therapy added, but notable heterogeneity. Pt selection important, need uniform definitions, biomarkers (radiomics?). Encouraging results here.”
“Pleased to shared with the Universe HOT OFF THE PRESS Simultaneously published with the NEW ESMO25 Tumour Agnostic Tack “Rethinking Cancer Drug Development through Tumor-Agnostic Precision Medicine” AACR
journal.
Read this paper that will be presented at the special session at ESMO.”
“Presented at ESMO25 and simultaneously published in Annals of Oncology, the updated data from monarchE showing overall survival benefit with addition of abemaciclib to endocrine therapy in high-risk HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer.”
“Updated safety and the first efficacy data from the PETRANHA trial (Saruparib (AZD5305), a PARP1-selective inhibitor, plus ARPI) in pts with castration-sensitive mPC (mCSPC) and mCRPC excellent talk by Arun Azad at ESMO25.”
“RIBOLARIS – high risk ER breast cancer, 24 wks of letrozole + ribo -> surgery -> if ROR got chemo, if ROR continued ET + ribo.
40% node + 52.6% patients were ROR low
Not much use of ROR in USA. Could be helpful for older, maybe chemo unfit.”
“ESMO25 the new fellows of ESMO! Congratulations and thanks to Rebecca Dent for her service leading the nomination committee!”
“Median overall survival for newly diagnosed metastasic ALK+ lung cancer patient treated with alectinib is ….
81 months.”
ESMO:
“Glenda Ramos Martínez receives the first ESMO Oncologist of the Year Award at ESMO25.
This newly established award honors exceptional contributions to oncology practice. It was presented to Dr. Ramos Martinez in recognition of her pioneering role as the first female medical oncologist in Ecuador, as well as for her outstanding advocacy work for improved access to cancer medicines.
In an interview in the ESMO Daily Reporter, she discusses her inspiration and how she has improved Cancer Care and oncology training in her country.”
“Treatment for patients with ALK Positive.
NSCLC continues to redefine the standard of care in stage IV lung cancer, transforming outcomes. SEVEN-year overall survival rates from ALEX.”
“‘We made it!’
Fedro Peccatori presenting the updated results of POSITIVE.
After 71 months of median follow-up, temporary interruption of ET for pregnancy was not associated with worse BC outcomes. Super news for patients! groups & investigators for this academic effort.”
“NorthStar Study.
-Phase II.
-Randomized clinical trial.
Evaluating Osimertinib plus LCT.
Primary Endpoint PFS.
mPFS of 17.5 (Osi) vs 25.3 (Osi + LCT) HR 0.66.
Important points: Patients included not only with oligometastatic disease.
LCT may be added to some patients.”
“DISCUS tested 3 vs 6 cycles of platinum chemotherapy followed by avelumab in 1st line metastatic UC ESMO25. QOL was the primary endpoint showing better results with the 3 cycle arms. It also showed similar PFS,OS and RR in the 2 arms with OS at 18 months from the start of chemo.”
“If CDK4/6 inhibitors are used postoperatively, and even if the survival period after recurrence is shorter, if using them postoperatively results in a longer OS overall compared to the control group, that is also important. However, if there is a population that is becoming more malignant due to treatment modification, developing the optimal treatment for that would be the next challenge.”
ESMO:
“ESMO25 Day 1.
The latest from the congress and food for thought available in the ESMO Daily Reporter.”
During the Meeting ESMO Announces the 2025 Society Award Winners, celebrating remarkable contributions to cancer research, clinical innovation, and mentorship worldwide.
