touchONCOLOGY

Prof Joanne Bowen, Chair of the 2025 and 2026 MASCC/ISOO Annual Meetings, reflects on the key themes and emerging developments from the 2026 meeting in Melbourne. She discusses the changing role of supportive oncology within modern cancer care and considers how the field can continue to respond to the needs of people living with and beyond cancer. She also highlights the importance of ensuring that advances are accessible and equitable for everyone affected by cancer.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as an innovative and minimally invasive tool in precision oncology. With a short half-life of 30–120 min, ctDNA provides real-time insight into tumor dynamics.1 In early-stage breast cancer, there is growing evidence supporting its potential for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection and recurrence monitoring.

Professor Giampaolo Bianchini is Head of Breast Oncology in the Department of Medical Oncology at IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele and Associate Professor at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Italy. Professor Bianchini manages and treats patients with early-stage and metastatic breast cancer and is internationally recognised as an opinion leader in the field of breast cancer.

New phase 3 data from the AIEOP-BFM ALL 2017 trial presented at EHA 2026 show one of the clearest demonstrations to date that frontline immunotherapy can outperform and out-safeguard conventional chemotherapy in pediatric ALL “We are not just adding something new; we are removing something toxic and replacing it with something more effective. The next question is how much further we can reduce chemotherapy.

Phase 3 data presented at EHA 2026 show a 25% reduction in the risk of progression or death with tafasitamab plus lenalidomide and R-CHOP in previously untreated high-risk DLBCL and HGBL, but patient selection is the next key challenge “Tafasitamab plus lenalidomide and R-CHOP is significantly better than R-CHOP for high-risk patients with aggressive lymphoma” Abstract EHA-2190: Lenz L, Trněný M, Burke JM, et al.

“This year at ASCO 2026 there were several pivotal studies presented for lymphoma. These studies will help continue to shape the future of treatment across the spectrum of indolent, intermediate or aggressive lymphoma” Several important lymphoma studies presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago provided new data across newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory disease settings.

Late-breaking phase 3 data show significantly improved spleen responses and an early survival signal with selinexor plus ruxolitinib, supporting a possible disease-modifying role in frontline myelofibrosis The addition of selinexor to ruxolitinib significantly improved spleen responses and generated an early signal for overall survival benefit in patients with JAK inhibitor–naïve myelofibrosis (MF).

The European Hematology Association (EHA) 2026 Congress brought together the global hematology community to unveil the latest practice-shaping advances in hematological malignancies and blood disorders. From plenary and late-breaking trial results to prestigious award winners, novel therapeutics, translational science and emerging technologies, the meeting delivered a vast volume of data.

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This video highlights the important distinction between how covalent and non-covalent BTK inhibitors bind in resistant CLL. Material destinado exclusivamente a profissionais da saúde prescritores e dispensadores de medicamentos. Material dirigido exclusivamente a profesionales de la salud. MMAT-05326; MMAT-05013; MMAT-05070 July 2026, Eli Lilly and Company. This video explores CLL treatment decisions that balance efficacy and safety for patients.