Welcome to OncoDaily Weekly Updates – everything you need to know to stay up to date with oncology.
This week the oncology community witnessed a wave of major announcements, inspiring milestones, and practice-changing updates across the globe.
The week began with the announcement of daratumumab’s approval in Europe and USA for high-risk smoldering myeloma, marking a significant advancement for patients at risk of progression to multiple myeloma.
The U.S. FDA made headlines by announcing new steps to accelerate the development of lower-cost biosimilars, alongside updated draft guidance aimed at improving affordability.
The agency also awarded six additional National Priority Review Vouchers, reinforcing its commitment to expediting critical therapies.
Meanwhile an historic moment was coming to live in the other part of the world as Kenya was announced to be the host of the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit (WCLS) in 2027. The announcement by Dr. Zainab Bagudu, President-Elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) marks a pivotal step forward for cancer control efforts across Africa.
15 Posts Not To Miss From AORTIC 2025
While on the subject of “historic”, OncoDaily TV explored How Australia Became the #1 Country to Eradicate Cervical Cancer through our new series World Health Voices with Dr. Tamamyan featuring Prof. Greg Hunt.
Maldives banned smoking for future generations making a landmark step in global cancer prevention policy.
ASCO too, continues to be at the center of innovation and leadership.Dr. Clifford Hudis shared a glimpse into ASCO’s evolving AI journey, emphasizing that the AI-powered Guidelines Assistant is just the beginning of the Society’s digital transformation in oncology.
Meanwhile, the 2025 ASCO Election introduced a remarkable slate of candidates vying for leadership positions across the Society’s governance. These 13 distinguished oncology experts are poised to shape the future of ASCO, driving policy, research, and education for the next generation of cancer care.
The week also saw a major event in China: the CACA–SPCC–OncoDaily Summit, held on November 8, 2025, at Magnolia Hall, Haigeng Auditorium. The meeting brought together leading experts and organizations to discuss progress in cancer prevention, treatment, and supportive care. The session was chaired by Prof. Ziyu Li (Beijing Cancer Hospital), Prof. Matti Aapro (SPCC), and Prof. Gevorg Tamamyan (OncoDaily), with moderation by Ziyu Li, Gevorg Tamamyan, Kaichun Wu, and Huanmin Wang.
The breast oncology community gathered in Lisbon this November for the 8th edition of the Advanced Breast Cancer International Consensus Conference (ABC8), a landmark meeting dedicated to shaping the future of advanced/metastatic breast cancer care. Taking place from 6 to 8 November 2025 at the Centro de Congressos de Lisboa, this conference brought together clinicians, researchers, patient advocates and policymakers to translate cutting-edge evidence into worldwide practice.
The ABC8 Conference made the headlines with daily highlights from Day 1 to Day 3, featuring awards and key discussions.
ABC8 2025 Day 1 Highlights: Key Advances Every Oncologist Should Know
ABC8 2025 Day 2 Highlights: From Molecular Frontiers to Quality of Life and Equity in Care
ABC8 2025 Day 3: A Decade of Progress, Unity, and Vision in Advanced Breast Cancer Care
During the meeting, Dr. Larry Norton was honored with the ABC8 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Oncology cheered by his nowadays expert mentees from around the world who thanked his mentorship for their careers.
Congratulations are also in order for our partner organization SIOG, celebrating 25 years of leadership in geriatric oncology ahead of the SIOG 2025 Annual Conference, set to take place 20–22 November in Ghent, Belgium.
Industry achievements were also spotlighted, as Servier Pharmaceuticals received the 2025 Prix Galien USA Award – focusing on targeted treatments that reflect ongoing advances in medical research.
In the world of radiotherapy and science, this week carried both celebration and reflection.
On November 7, the global oncology and physics communities honored the birthday of Marie Curie, the pioneering scientist whose groundbreaking discoveries in radioactivity laid the foundation for modern radiotherapy. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of researchers, clinicians, and medical physicists committed to harnessing science for healing.
Marie Curie: The Mother of Radiotherapy Whose Light Still Guides Cancer Medicine
Yet just a day before this commemoration, on November 6, the scientific world mourned the passing of another legend — James Watson, a key figure behind the discovery of the DNA double helix. His work sparked the genetic revolution, transforming our understanding of life and disease and paving the way for genomic and precision medicine.
Together, these two names – Curie and Watson, remind us how science evolves from atoms to genes, from energy to information, forever shaping the way we diagnose and treat cancer.
James Watson and the Genetic Revolution: From DNA to Genetic Medicine
Science kept going. During the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting 2025, on November 7, 2025, MiNK Therapeutics reported updated clinical results evaluating agenT-797, alone and in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy, in patients with advanced solid tumors refractory to all approved treatments presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting 2025 (Late Breaking Abstract 1344).
Phase II data on NALIRIFOX was published showing durable disease control and improved quality of life in locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma (LAPC) .
The research spotlight also shone on the DISCUS Trial, earlier presented during ESMO25, that is redefining the optimal duration of platinum chemotherapy in advanced urothelial cancer. And GI community celebrated NCCN releasing new clinical practice guidelines for appendiceal cancer.
DISCUS Trial: Redefining the Duration of Platinum Chemotherapy in Advanced Urothelial Cancer
The week concluded with several inspiring updates from OncoDaily itself. Another 10 of 100 influential women in oncology were announced leaving the last ten to be spotlighted in 2025 next week.
100 Influential Women in Oncology: Key Opinion Leaders to Follow on Social Media in 2025” (Part 9)
And the special week is concluded with OncoDaily Magazine and Cancerworld releasing their November issues, featuring legacy in fair cancer care, passion for work and endless hope that continue to drive oncology forward. Make sure to read the cover stories below and stay tuned until next week.
The Physician Who Made Equality His Mission – Jean-Yves Blay’s Legacy in Fair Cancer Care
Lykke Hinsch Gylvin: I Am Passionate. I Care Deeply About What I Do
And in the end, CancerWorld #109 (November 2025) brought it all together, where leadership, legacy, and discovery meet the future of care. This powerful issue celebrates visionaries who turn science into humanity: HRH Princess Ghida Talal, transforming loss into a mission for equitable cancer care; and the enduring influence of Prof. Umberto Veronesi, whose belief that medicine must be taught as a human science still guides the European School of Oncology. From AI breakthroughs in Sweden to fertility preservation in Uganda, it reminds us that true progress in oncology is measured not only in survival, but in the quality and meaning of life restored.
