The 15th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC15) showcased a wave of research poised to reshape breast cancer care. From safely scaling back surgery in low-risk DCIS to targeted radiotherapy strategies, innovative implants and breakthrough therapies easing treatment side effects, these studies signal a shift toward more precise, patient-friendly care. Early findings also hint at the power of blood-based biomarkers to predict relapse, potentially transforming post-surgery monitoring. Below, we spotlight the key highlights from this year’s conference. Early data from the LORD trial (NCT02492607) suggest active surveillance may be a safe alternative to surgery for low-risk DCIS.1,2 In this multicentre study across ~60 Dutch hospitals, 1,423 patients (grade 1–2, screen-detected DCIS) were followed for ~2 years; most (1,025 vs 330) chose surveillance after an initial randomised phase. Invasive cancer occurred in 33/363 (9%) receiving surgery versus 63/1060 (6%) under surveillance. Tumours detected during surveillance were slightly larger (9mm vs 6mm) but not more aggressive. These findings indicate no worse short-term outcomes with monitoring, supporting de-escalation strategies, although longer follow-up is essential before practice changes. In the ADARNAT phase III pilot trial, axillary radiotherapy (ART) showed comparable cancer control to axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) while reducing lymphoedema risk.3-5 In this randomised study of 272 patients post-neoadjuvant therapy, outcomes were analysed in 46 ART and 56 ALND patients over two years. No axillary recurrences occurred with ART versus 1.8% with ALND; distant metastases were 4.4% vs 5.5%, with two deaths (4.3%) in the ALND arm. Lymphoedema rates were lower with ART (18.9% vs 26.7%). Despite higher acute skin toxicity (27.8% vs 13.3%), effects were transient. ART appears feasible, but definitive phase III data are needed before practice change. Polyurethane-coated breast implants may significantly reduce post-mastectomy complications in radiotherapy-treated patients, new EBCC15 data suggest.8,9 In this retrospective, multicentre analysis of 1455 women (2016–2024), outcomes were compared between polyurethane-coated (n=475) and standard implants (n=980). Capsular contracture occurred in 32.8% versus 47.5%, while reoperation rates were 9.3% versus 25.7%, respectively. Risks of major infection and implant removal were also lower with polyurethane coating. Follow-up lasted two-and-half to three years. Although non-randomised, the findings indicate implant type may meaningfully influence outcomes, supporting polyurethane-coated implants as a strategy to reduce complications and improve reconstructive durability after radiotherapy. The ten-year Dutch study shows breast cancer recurrence remains very low when radiotherapy is tailored to patients’ post-chemotherapy risk.10,11 Researchers followed 848 women with small tumours and limited lymph node involvement, categorising them into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups based on residual cancer in lymph nodes. Low-risk patients received minimal or no radiotherapy, intermediate-risk received breast-only radiotherapy, and high-risk received breast plus lymph node radiotherapy. Over ten years, just 24 of 838 patients (2.9%) experienced recurrence—2.4% low-risk, 3.2% intermediate, 2.8% high-risk. The findings support risk-adapted radiotherapy, reducing treatment burden without compromising safety. Fragments of tumour DNA circulating in blood can predict breast cancer recurrence, especially after neoadjuvant treatments.12,13 In a prospective study of 81 women (median age 48) with mostly lymph node–positive, triple-negative tumours, researchers analyzed ctDNA at treatment start, post-neoadjuvant therapy, and during ~7 years’ follow-up. ctDNA was detected in 57% of patients at baseline and fell to 17% after treatment. Patients with post-treatment ctDNA were 3.5 times more likely to relapse, even if imaging suggested complete tumour clearance. Findings suggest ctDNA could guide post-surgery therapy and identify high-risk patients for closer monitoring. References Cite: Key takeaways from EBCC15: Less invasive, more effective. touchONCOLOGY. 2nd April, 2026 Disclosure: This short article was prepared by touchONCOLOGY. The content was developed and edited by human editors. No fees or funding were associated with its publication. touchONCOLOGY utilize AI as an editorial tool (ChatGPT (GPT-4o) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat). Editor: Sophie Nickelson (Editorial Director) Already registered? Login below.
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