At the ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) Congress 2023 held from 20-24 October in Madrid, Spain, 11 clinical research achievements from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) were included as oral presentations. Among them, three studies on colorectal cancer (CRC) / non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were further selected as proffered papers, attracting attention of the international oncology community.

Prof. Xu Ruihua from SYSUCC gave an oral presentation during a proffered paper session on October 21, 2023, entitled “Safety and efficacy of D-1553 in combination with cetuximab in KRASG12C mutated colorectal cancer: A phase II study”. This is the first global multicenter clinical trial of KRASG12C inhibitor with data from a large sample size of Chinese CRC patients. As a highly selective and potent KRASG12C inhibitor, D-1553 exhibits encouraging anti-tumor activity in CRC patients with KRASG12C mutations. By pushing back the survival horizon, this targeted therapeutic approach exhibits great potential in changing the CRC treatment landscape.

Prof. Xu Ruihua gave an oral presentation at the ESMO Congress on Oct 21, 2023

In the same session, another study entitled “Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with CAPOX versus chemoradiation for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) with uninvolved mesorectal fascia (CONVERT): Final results of a phase III trial” was presented by Prof. Ding Peirong through online reporting. Results of the trial indicate that neoadjuvant chemotherapy offers comparable therapeutic effects while mitigating the burden of toxicity as compared to chemoradiation therapy, shedding light on a potential paradigm shift in the treatment of LARC patients.

The third proffered paper was presented by Prof. Zhao Zerui on October 20, 2023, with a talk entitled “Stereotactic body radiation therapy with sequential immunochemotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy in resectable non-small cell lung cancer.” Results of this phase II trial reveal that neoadjuvant SBRT followed by immunochemotherapy yielded a high major pathological response rate, with improved long-term survival and prognosis for resectable NSCLC patients.

In the ESMO Congress 2023, one of the foremost forums on oncology, latest advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer were announced and discussed within the oncology community. This year, over 2,500 studies were presented in ESMO, including 147 proffered papers set to change clinical practice. Among them, there were a total of 16 proffered papers from China, three of which authored by SYSUCC researchers.

Over the last five years, more than 70 clinical research achievements from SYSUCC have been recognized and adopted by international treatment guidelines. As one of the top academic cancer centers in China, SYSUCC will continue to make unremitting efforts to provide personalized and high-quality diagnosis and treatment services for cancer patients.