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:
Addressing an ongoing unmet need to improve treatment outcomes in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC), early-phase Clinical Trials presented at ESMO25 reported promising efficacy and manageable tolerability with novel combinations.
The bispecific T-cell engager tarlatamab, in combination with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, demonstrated encouraging responses and initial progression-free survival as first-line treatment. The ATR inhibitor, ceralasertib, added to maintenance durvalumab, showed encouraging survival up to 2 years.
Read the full commentary in the ESMO Daily Reporter.”
“Dr. Noemi Reguart discusses tarlatamab in SCLC at ESMO25. Outlines rationale and is very reassuring to see consistency from other efforts. Will the use of T Cell engagers be the future for all eligible patients with SCLC?”
“Tarlatamab incorporated upfront with chemo-immunotherapy breaks all the known stats in first-line SCLC. No new data safety concerns. Awaiting data from randomized ph3 trial, but likely to be the next SoC.”
“ALBAN, POTOMAC, and CREST ESMO25 (atezolizumab/sasalimab/in MIBC) Annals of Oncology show a lot of variability. It is not easy to conclude exactly which NMIBC patients benefit from ICI therapy. There is over-treatment, and it’s not without toxicity.”
“My deepest congratulations to Matteo Lambertini for this Fellow of ESMO recognition
Proud of you.
Very much deserved for all you have done for ESMO (and will continue doing)
So glad that I was present to celebrate it with you – let’s keep going.”
“Thank you so much, my dear Angela Lamarca…your words really mean a lot to me! You are a role model for many, including me…so special to share this moment with you!”
ESMO:
“ESMO25: New evidence in favour of antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) moving into the curative setting has been presented.
Paolo Tarantino discusses the ‘unleashing’ of neoadjuvant and adjuvant ADCs in Breast Cancer and Bladder Cancer and how these agents are significantly reducing recurrence rates and improving survival. Managing toxicities and the identification of predictive biomarkers will be particularly important as ADCs move into earlier disease management.
Read his Editorial in the ESMO Daily Reporter.”
“CONNECT. ADVANCE. CARE.
Three words, one mission: bring science closer to people.
Oncology moves forward when innovation, practice, and compassion walk together.”
“In OPTICRCC, metastatic ccRCC patients with cluster 1/2 (angiogenic) tumors, tx with/ cabo/nivo showed 71% ORR (and 100% tumor reduction rate), an increase relative to unselected historical controls. Important trial evaluating biology and VEGF dependence of ccRCC.”
“Excellent talk from Dr Claire Gallois on the exciting landscape of RAS agents other than KRAS G12C, providing new options for patients. Highly recommend streaming this lecture for a great overview and hope for my RAS MT patients!”
“Impressive results from MDT-BRIDGE at ESMO25 from Dr. Martin Reck. Patients with resectable or borderline had 2 cycles of durvalumab + chemo, then reassessed at MDT. If resectable at start, 95% remained resectable. If borderline, 82% were then felt to be resectable.”
“Thanks to all who attended and supported Common Sense Oncology at ESMO25!
AMAZED by the presentations of 2 of the CSO fellows on ongoing projects:
- Chris Cronin – pragmatic clinical trials
- Dr. Samuel X Stevens – cancer care experience.”
ESMO:
“Small but clinically relevant benefits in progression-free survival have been reported in platinum-resistant Ovarian Cancer with pembrolizumab added to weekly paclitaxel with or without bevacizumab in the phase III ENGOT-ov65/KEYNOTE-B96 Clinical Trial. Overall survival was significantly improved in the PD-L1 CPS ≥1 population.
Find out more in the ESMO Daily Reporter.”
“Day 2 at ESMO25 began with an inspiring session for young oncologists who are current or future leaders, ‘Mentor the Mentor’, where 8 distinguished professionals shared practical advice on becoming better mentors and role models.
I joined the table with Dr. Helena Linardou (Greece) and Dr. Dario Trapani (Italy), an engaging discussion on what truly defines effective mentorship in oncology.
Key takeaways:
- A mentor and a sponsor are not the same. Both play distinct yet complementary roles.
- Mentorship isn’t a personality trait; it’s a skill that can be learned (though I do think personality still plays a part!).
- Commitment, availability, structure, and follow-up are the pillars of good mentorship.
- Don’t let small issues grow; stay organized, calm, and listen actively before reacting.
- Trust + Promise + Dedication = Success
As an aspiring leader in oncology and global healthcare, this session was an invaluable reminder that true mentorship starts with empathy, structure, and consistency.
More updates and highlights from both the Young Oncologists sessions and the main symposium coming soon – stay tuned!”
“Introduction of ESMO Patient Advocates Working Group by Prof Jean-Yves Blay-Director Public Policy-ESMO, at a networking event of over 100 patient advocates.”
“Trial to show a survival benefit in essentially a cisplatin-ineligible MIBC population
EFS HR 0.40 (almost double event-free with EV Pembro at 24 months)
OS HR 0.50 (16.6% high at 24 mo)
pCR 8.6% vs. 57.1% with EV pembro.”
“Just presented at the ESMO25 presidential session by Nadia Harbeck, the first data from the DESTINY Breast11 trial investigating neoadjuvant TDXd to replace anthracycline-based chemotherapy in patients with early HER2-positive breast cancer.”
“Wonderful talk by Petros Grivas on neoadjuvant bladder cancer treatment with updates on NIAGARA, role of ctDNA, and ongoing neoadjuvant/adjuvant trials, his take-home message for our clinical practice.”
ESMO:
“Peri-operative enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab significantly prolonged event-free survival and overall survival when added to standard surgery compared with surgery alone in cisplatin-ineligible patients with muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC) in the phase III KEYNOTE-905/EV-303 trial. The field continues to evolve rapidly, with other phase III Clinical Trials ongoing.
Read more in the ESMO Daily Reporter.”
“Data on Radionuclide therapy for NETs at ESMO25
XT-XTR008-3-01 ( PRRT vs SSA) by Dr Liu in previously treated GINETs
Interim analysis PFS – HR 0.06
Subsequent analysis PFS – HR 0.14
OS not mature
ORR 55.6% vs 2.1%
QoL improved.”
“What would we give for pts with non-pCR post T-DXd and THP?
- more HP?
- T-DM1?
- more chemo? – if RCB 2/3?
My take:
4. novel compounds? – tucatinib? Immunotherapy? Zanidatamab?”
“Dr Jurgen Wolf at ESMO25 speaks on oncogene-driven lungcancer fusions like ALK and ROS1 and says a frequent question is:
Should we start with the best inhibitor or keep it for later?
‘With the best drug first strategy more patients have the chance of prolonged disease control.’ ”
“Presidential Symposium 1
DESTINY-Breast05
First interim analysis of adjuvant T-DXd vs T-DM1 in high-risk residual HER2+ early BC after neoadjuvant therapy
- IDFS: HR 0.47 (delta 8.7%)!
- Grade ≥3 TEAEs: 50.6% vs 51.9%
- ILD/pneumonitis: 9.6% (2 grade 5) vs 1.6%.”
“ChristofVulsteke presents awaited results of neoadj EVpembro for cisplatin ineligible bladder cancer. Improves EFS with HR 0.4, improves OS with HR 0.5 compared to cystectomy. New perioperative treatment for our patients.”
“DB11 trial in HER2+ high-risk HER2+ BC
- neoadj T-DXd->THP vs AC-THP increased pCR (11.2%)(immature, but promising EFS benefit!)
POSITIVE results - T-DXd mono is less effective than switching to THP
Non-cross-resistant therapy matters
Open question
DB11 vs DB05 strategy?”
“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!”
“Unveiled to applause!
KEYNOTE-905. LIVE ESMO25: Perioperative EV + pembro delivers game-changing results in cisplatin-ineligible MIBC:
- EFS HR: 0.40
- OS HR: 0.50
- pCR: 57.1% vs 8.6%
First-ever phase 3 trial showing perioperative benefit in this setting
A potential new standard of care is on the horizon!”
ESMO:
“Could thymus function represent a novel non-invasive precision biomarker to guide decision-making?
High versus low thymic health, assessed by an AI-derived algorithm, was associated with improved survival in a retrospective cohort of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immunotherapy. Positive associations were confirmed in a pan-cancer cohort in patients with melanoma, and breast and kidney cancers.
Find out more in the ESMO Daily Reporter.”
Follow the latest ESMO 2025 news on OncoDaily.
You can also find Part 1 of ESMO 2025.
