We are delighted to announce Dr Elisa Agostinetto as a touchONCOLOGY Future Leader 2026, selected by her peers as a rising star poised to shape the future of breast cancer.
Dr Agostinetto is a medical oncologist and breast cancer researcher based at the Institut Jules Bordet–Université Libre de Bruxelles in Brussels, Belgium. After earning her medical degree at the University of Udine and completing oncology training in Milan, she moved to Brussels for advanced research training. She now works in the Clinical Trial Center and Breast Cancer Translational Laboratory, where her research focuses on advancing treatment strategies in breast cancer.
Dr Agostinetto has authored more than 90 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals and is an active member of several international oncology societies. She is also a young investigator in the EORTC Breast Cancer Working Group and has received multiple national and international awards for her research.
In this Future Leaders interview, Dr Agostinetto discusses the mentors who shaped her career, the value of combining clinical care with research, and why collaboration and mentorship are essential for the next generation of oncologists.
“It is an exciting time to be an oncologist, with new treatments constantly reshaping guidelines and improving patient survival”
Q: Can you tell us about a mentor who significantly impacted your career, and the most valuable lesson they have shared with you?
I had the opportunity to meet several outstanding mentors who helped shape my career and professional growth. One mentor I would like to acknowledge is Dr Evandro de Azambuja (Medical Oncologist and Head of the Medical Team of the Academic Trial Promoting Team at Institut Jules Bordet). Dr de Azambuja embodies all the qualities a good mentor should have. Beyond what I learned from him, he represents a role model who inspires me to become the best possible mentor to younger colleagues.
Q: What aspects of your work do you find the most fulfilling?
The aspect of my work that I find most fulfilling is its diversity, namely the opportunity to combine clinical practice and patient care with research activity and the education and training of younger colleagues. It is an exciting time to be an oncologist, thanks to the availability of new treatments that are constantly reshaping clinical guidelines and translating into significant improvements in patient survival.
Q: What advice would you offer to those just beginning their journey in your specialty?
I would recommend considering an experience abroad; for me, a research fellowship at Institut Jules Bordet in Brussels was a career-changing experience. More generally, a fellowship at an institute specialized in one’s field of interest can help broaden perspective, strengthen a CV and foster international collaborations that will last well beyond the experience itself.
Disclosures: This short article was prepared by touchONCOLOGY in collaboration with Dr Agostinetto. No fees or funding were associated with its publication.
Citation: Dr Elisa Agostinetto on mentorship, diversity and shaping breast cancer care: touchONCOLOGY Future Leaders 2026. touchONCOLOGY. 14th April 2026.
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