The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2025 congress brought over 100 late-breaking abstracts, 250 sessions, 600 expert speakers and 33,800 delegates to Berlin in October. The meeting highlighted innovations ranging from novel agents to real-world evidence and patient-centred care. In this article, hear from the experts on the key breakthroughs and clinical insights set to shape the future of oncology practice.

Breast cancer

At ESMO25, the landscape of early and advanced breast cancer management was powerfully reshaped, with new data spanning hormone-receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive and triple-negative subtypes. Several late-breaking and proffered papers presented practice-changing signals. Dr Ana Tecic Vuger (University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Croatia) breaks down the most practice-changing trials – and what they mean for patient care.

Read the full article: ESMO25 breast cancer round-up: What’s new and what matters?

Bladder cancer

At ESMO25, advances in bladder cancer took centre stage. From perioperative antibody–drug conjugates in cisplatin-ineligible patients, to ctDNA-guided adjuvant therapy and optimized MRI-based diagnostics, a series of late-breaking presentations showcased important new data. Prof Axel S Merseburger and Dr Petros Grivas share their insights into the most exciting advances across the field of bladder cancer, drawing on the key trials that are redefining standards of care. From combination immunotherapies to biomarker-driven personalization and bladder preservation strategies, these two articles outline where the field stands – and where it’s heading next.

Read the full article: ESMO25 GU round-up: Trials shaping the future of bladder cancer

Read the full article: Neoadjuvant therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Where we’re at and where it’s heading

Lung cancer

ESMO25 pushed lung cancer forward: FLAURA2 confirmed an OS gain for osimertinib plus chemotherapy, and PD-1×VEGF bispecifics emerged as a smarter immune–vascular strategy than simple add-ons. The ADC wave gathered pace, pointing to promising therapeutic options in the near future. From upfront combination therapy and local consolidation in EGFR-mutant disease, to antibody–drug conjugates for resistant disease and long-term adjuvant ALK inhibition, the data presented at ASCO25 reinforce the shift toward more personalized, precision-based approaches.

Read the full article: Lung cancer round-up: What ESMO25 told us

Prostate & kidney cancer

Radioligand therapy is moving upfront in prostate cancer, targeted treatment is finally paying off for PTEN-deficient disease and a long-debated hormonal agent just earned its place as a new standard of care. From the landmark PSMAddition and CAPItello-281 trials to the contrasting results of ENZARAD and EMBARK, this year’s ESMO25 meeting delivered pivotal updates that could reshape prostate cancer management across disease stages.

From long-awaited second-line clarity to a new contender in adjuvant therapy, this year’s data could reshape the renal cancer treatment landscape. The LenCabo trial delivered the first head-to-head evidence post–immunotherapy, with lenvatinib plus everolimus cutting progression risk nearly in half versus cabozantinib. Meanwhile, the RAMPART study brought fresh hope for resected RCC, as durvalumab plus tremelimumab significantly improved disease-free survival in high-risk patients.

Read the full article: ESMO25 GU round up: Breakthroughs in prostate and kidney cancer