This week’s oncology landscape was shaped by major global advocacy efforts, leadership voices, and forward-looking initiatives aimed at closing persistent gaps in cancer care.
OncoDaily Weekly presents from international calls to action such as Close the Gap Day 2026 to influential perspectives from global leaders and organizations, the overarching message was clear:
Progress in oncology is no longer defined solely by scientific breakthroughs, but by how equitably they are implemented worldwide.
Global Oncology, Equity and Public Health
Argentina has officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), a development that has drawn significant international attention. The announcement, made by Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno on March 17, 2026, marks the conclusion of a process that began a year earlier. The decision underscores Argentina’s growing dissatisfaction with the WHO’s policies, particularly regarding its handling of the COVID‑19 pandemic and signals a major shift in the country’s stance on global health cooperation.
The European Cancer Organisation launched the new European Women and Cancer Policy Index, a first-of-its-kind tool to highlight how countries across Europe are addressing women’s specific needs across the cancer pathway, calling for coordinated, system-level approaches to reduce inequalities across Europe.
Todd Harper outlined a new national initiative to reduce smoking rates – The Quitting Platform, positioning tobacco control as one of the most immediate and impactful cancer prevention strategies still underutilized.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has developed the Screening Disparity Atlas, an advanced geospatial dashboard designed to examine differences in cancer burden and screening across the United States. Created by its Geospatial Solutions Team in collaboration with the Early Detection Team, the Atlas brings together multiple high-quality datasets into a single platform that allows detailed exploration of patterns in cancer outcomes and access to care.
Leadership and Community
AACR named Robert H. Vonderheide as President-Elect for the 2026–2027 term, which will officially begin on April 20, 2026, during the AACR Annual Business Meeting of Members, held in conjunction with the AACR Annual Meeting in San Diego. He is expected to assume the role of President during the 2027 AACR Annual Meeting in Orlando.
Rob Winn was appointed as Director of NCI-Designated Fox Chase Cancer Center, reinforcing continued momentum in advancing equity-focused cancer care and research.
Dr. Winn is the kind of leader who accelerates progress and brings people together to solve the most complex challenges in cancer,
said Robert Uzzo, President and CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center.
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) launched Africa Community of Practice, a platform designed to connect passionate professionals, societies, and organizations across the continent who are committed to advancing cancer care.
Miriam Mutebi, Past President of AORTIC, released a new book called Stuff I’d Tell My Sister, a book “On Sisterhood, Surgery and Surviving Breast Cancer in Africa”.
After years of writing, rewriting, crying, laughing, and questioning whether I was brave enough. After decades of watching women die from preventable cancers because systems failed them.
The MOASC 2026 conference brought together clinicians and researchers to share updates across cancer care and innovation. Sumanta K. Pal, as the new president, shared insights from the meeting which we present at one place.
Regulatory Approvals and Scientific Advancements
AstraZeneca announced that the European Commission had approved durvalumab (Imfinzi) plus perioperative FLOT chemotherapy for adult patients with resectable early-stage and locally advanced (Stages II, III, IVA) gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancers. With this decision, durvalumab becomes the first and only perioperative immunotherapy regimen approved in this setting in the European Union.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to FG001, FluoGuide A/S’s investigational fluorescent imaging agent, for use as an intraoperative imaging guide during surgical resection of high-grade glioma (HGG). This announcement follows the FDA’s clearance of an investigational new drug (IND) application in February 2026, positioning the Danish biotech to initiate a U.S. Phase 2 registration trial in the second quarter of 2026.
OncoDaily TV Episodes
OncoDaily TV released new episodes past week highlighting scientific discussions and spiritual healing, global health and local initiatives to close the care gap.
by Elen Baloyan, MD, Managing Editor, OncoDaily