This week in oncology was shaped by big-stage policy conversations, long-awaited events in geriatric and European cancer care, fresh regulatory decisions, and a powerful close to OncoDaily’s 2025 “100 Influential Women in Oncology” initiative. OncoDaily was right in the middle of it all – on the ground, online, and on screen.
World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day 2025
The week began with the World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day. On 17 November the world marked the first official global day dedicated to ending cervical cancer. The WHO-led campaign, under the theme “Act Now: Eliminate Cervical Cancer,” renewed focus on HPV vaccination, high-performance screening, and timely treatment to meet the 90-70-90 targets by 2030 and advance women’s health and equity.
OncoDaily amplified voices from across regions – from national teal ribbon ceremonies to advocacy messages – showcasing how words can turn into action.
Global Events in the Spotlight
World Cancer Leaders’ Summit – From Declarations to Children’s Medicines
At the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit (WCLS) 2025 in Melbourne, two stories defined the week’s global agenda:
The new World Cancer Declaration 2025–2035 from UICC introduced a “5×5×5 by 2035” framework – five global targets (including a 25% reduction in cancer mortality and 60% of cancers diagnosed early), five domains for national action, and five core principles to guide equitable, evidence-based, sustainable cancer control.
From adults to pediatric cancer care – world healthcare leaders discussed major issues offering possible solutions some of which you can follow with the WCLS2025 page in OncoDaily.
“Delivering Innovation with Integrity” – ACT 4 Children Initiative at the 2025 WCLS
SIOG 2025 – Geriatric Oncology at the Center
Older adults with cancer took center stage in Ghent as the SIOG 2025 Annual Conference celebrated 25 years of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology under the theme “Bridging Research and Clinical Practice in Geriatric Oncology.” OncoDaily joined as an official media partner, highlighting daily sessions, interviews, and take-home messages directly from the Ghent ICC.
To help readers catch up, we curated 27 Posts Not to Miss from SIOG 2025, spotlighting everything from comprehensive geriatric assessment to ADCs in older patients and the call for universal integration of geriatric principles into routine oncology care. Follow the thorough scientific developments in OncoDaily’s “Special Focus” Series of Articles and exclusive interview with attendees with OncoDaily TV.
European Cancer Summit 2025 – Policy, Power and Commitments
In Brussels, the European Cancer Summit 2025 brought together more than 600 participants from 44 countries under the theme “Cancer in a Changing Global Landscape: Challenges and Commitments.” Organised by the European Cancer Organisation, the summit focused on sustaining political and financial commitments to Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the Cancer Mission.
OncoDaily’s 15 Posts Not to Miss from European Cancer Summit 2025 captured key messages from MEPs, commissioners, clinicians, and advocates pushing to protect cancer care in the face of global disruptions and Special Focus Articles discuss key developments from the sessions.
Regulatory Milestones and New Treatment Pathways
The regulatory landscape continued to shift this week with several important approvals and updates:
Pembrolizumab + Enfortumab Vedotin in Cisplatin-Ineligible MIBC
The FDA approved pembrolizumab (or pembrolizumab-Qlex) plus enfortumab vedotin-ejfv in a perioperative strategy for cisplatin-ineligible adults with muscle-invasive bladder cancer – as neoadjuvant therapy before cystectomy, followed by adjuvant combination and then pembrolizumab maintenance. The decision, based on KEYNOTE-905/EV-303 and reviewed under Project Orbis, reflects meaningful improvements in event-free and overall survival in a population with limited options.
Epcoritamab for Follicular Lymphoma
The FDA granted approval to epcoritamab-bysp (Epkinly) in follicular lymphoma based on the EPCORE FL-1 trial both as:
- Combination therapy with lenalidomide and rituximab (R²) in adults with relapsed or refractory FL
- Traditional monotherapy approval for adults with relapsed or refractory FL after ≥2 prior lines of systemic therapy
Sevabertinib in HER2-Mutant NSCLC
In thoracic oncology, the FDA’s granted accelerated approval to sevabertinib for HER2-mutant non-squamous NSCLC in previously treated patients with no prior anti-HER2 targeted therapy based on the SOHO-01 study.
Toward Preventive Vaccines for Lung Cancer
Cancer Research UK announced support for the world’s first trial of “LungVax,” an experimental vaccine designed to prevent lung cancer in people at high risk. Developed by teams at Oxford and UCL, LungVax is intended to prime the immune system to eliminate abnormal lung cells before they become malignant – an ambitious attempt to change the story of the world’s deadliest cancer from late diagnosis to true prevention.
And the next big discovery could be yours! Gilead’s Research Scholars Program is providing $180,000 USD awards to support independent early-career investigators in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), with applications open until April 6, 2026. Follow OncoGrants at OncoDaily for more funding and career opportunities.
Innovation, Technology and Markets
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre celebrated the installation of the world’s first GE HealthCare Omni 128 cm total-body PET scanner. Michael Hofman, Director of Prostate Cancer Theranostics and Imaging Centre of Excellence (ProSTIC) at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, emphasized that with ~50× the sensitivity of existing PET systems and the ability to scan faster with less radiation and greater clarity, this technology opens doors for new research and more precise imaging-based care pathways.
Chemotherapy Compounding: From Niche to Core Service
A public-health-focused feature on the compounding chemotherapy market projected growth from about $5.3 billion in 2024 to $9.8 billion by 2034, driven by demand for tailored dosing, sterile preparation, and automation. The article underscored how gravimetric robotics, sterile compounding standards, and customized preparations are becoming central to delivering safe, precise chemotherapy – particularly for children, frail older adults, and patients needing non-standard formulations.
Top Growing Medical Universities in USA and Canada: 2025 Edition by BIGR
Another highlight this week came from the analytics side of the field. The Boston Institute for Global Rankings (BIGR) released its 2025 USA & Canada Top Growing Medical Universities list, revealing which institutions are rapidly expanding their scientific footprint.
Not limited to growth, this edition of the ranking provides a list of “All Timw Giants” – reflecting on institutions that have and continue to dominate the medical research field. At a time when academic velocity shapes everything from industry partnerships to the diffusion of new technologies, the BIGR data offers a sharper lens on which universities are quietly becoming powerhouses.
OncoDaily TV: Conversations to Watch
This week’s OncoDaily TV episodes blended science with industry, and policy with real-world storytelling:
“How Slovenia Achieved the Highest Cancer Screening Rates in the EU”
A World Health Voices exploration of how Slovenia built one of Europe’s strongest cancer screening systems – from political commitment and organized programs to data, communication, and public trust with Valentina Prevolnik Rupel.
“Breaking Ground in Cold Tumors: Dr. Michael Gordon on C800-01 Trial of Botensilimab + Balstilimab”
A deep dive into how the C800-01 trial is testing BOTBAL in traditionally “cold” tumors, exploring mechanisms, early signals, and what comes next for patients with immunologically difficult-to-treat cancers.
“The Next Level of Personalized Cancer Treatment with Laura Towart, CEO of Vivan Therapeutics”
Laura Towart discusses how Vivan Therapeutics is pushing the boundaries of personalized cancer care and what “next-level” really means for patients, clinicians, and trial design.
“Empowering Oncologists: How We Culminated Our Passion into a Successful Learning Platform?”
A conversation about turning passion for education into a global learning platform for oncologists – from concept and curriculum to community, impact, and sustainability in digital oncology education with Dr Jasmine Kamboj, Dr Rahul Gossain and Dr Rohit Gossain.
Closing the Week: 100 Influential Women in Oncology
We close this week – and an important chapter of 2025 – with the publication of the final 2025 list of “100 Influential Women in Oncology: Key Opinion Leaders to Follow on Social Media.”
What began in 2023 as a weekly spotlight on 10 remarkable women has grown into a global tradition, honoring leaders across research, policy, advocacy, clinical care, philanthropy, and survivorship. The 2025 edition brings the project full circle with a consolidated list of 100 women shaping the future of oncology – from early-career innovators to world-renowned changemakers – and invites the community to help shape the 2026 cohort.
As the oncology world looks ahead to the next set of meetings, elections, and regulatory decisions, this list is a reminder of the voices driving progress every single day.
Stay tuned with OncoDaily Weekly – on the ground at key meetings, curating the latest approvals, amplifying global voices, and celebrating the people who make oncology move forward.