World Cancer Congress in Chicago: "We are witnessing a revolution," according to Professor Italiano of the Bergonié Institute in Bordeaux

In less than five years, cancer treatments will be more effective, more reliable, and less invasive. These are the promises of the World Cancer Congress that just concluded in Chicago. An update from Professor Italiano, an oncologist at the Bergonié Institute in Bordeaux.

The largest world cancer conference is held each year in Chicago, providing an opportunity to take stock of scientific advances in treatment. Some 30,000 oncologists, physicians, and researchers from around the world are flocking to this ^61st meeting, where excellence responds to the soaring number of cancer patients worldwide. One in five people develop the disease at some point in their lives. By 2050, the burden is expected to increase significantly due to an aging population—cancer is fundamentally a disease of old age—but also to exposure factors: tobacco, alcohol, pollution, poor diet, etc. Professor Antoine Italiano, oncologist, researcher, and head of the medical department at the Bergonié Institute in Bordeaux, was in Chicago. We interviewed him.

How would you describe the tone of this ^61st edition of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco) congress in Chicago?

Over the past five years, we have witnessed a constant revolution. This edition was rich in therapeutic innovations, all of which will have a direct clinical impact on patients. This reflects a major step forward in new treatments. Only ten years ago, we would end the congress with one or two innovative treatments in mind. Today, there are dozens.

How do you explain this plethora of new treatments? What phenomenon is driving research?

The main reason for this proliferation of innovations is technological developments and the new tools at our disposal, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), which generates data in analyses extremely quickly. All of this leads to a better understanding of cancer biology.

"We are seeing a breakthrough in a new class of treatments: conjugated antibodies."

Can you describe an advancement that today's patients can count on?

First of all, we are seeing a breakthrough in a new class of treatments: conjugated antibodies . These antibodies will deliver chemotherapy to tumor cells in a very precise, targeted manner. The results are exciting; the therapy is more effective with far fewer side effects for the patient, since the injected chemotherapy does not spread throughout the rest of the body. The results on specific cases were presented at the congress; they demonstrate this increased effectiveness and reduced side effects, with a better quality of life for patients and greater tolerance to treatment. For the moment, only breast and lung cancers are affected; this treatment will be generalized to other cancers and very quickly replace current protocols. In just three years, they will be available, once validated by the European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration.

What about immunotherapy, which is already included in current treatments? Are we moving towards widespread access to this type of treatment?

Indeed. We are seeing the development of new immunotherapies to treat tumors that were previously ineligible . The data presented at Asco concern colorectal and pancreatic cancer, with results that are certainly still early, but promising. Immunotherapy will broaden its scope of expertise.

"At Bergonié, the Umbrella study will make it possible to detect DNA in patients treated for pancreatic, colon, lung or sarcoma cancer."

Another high-profile innovation has been discussed, which concerns so-called precision medicine. Can you explain it to us?

Yes, this is one of the major new developments at this conference, where a study of circulating tumor DNA was presented. It's based on the principle that cancer cells release DNA into the blood. Now, a tool can detect this DNA, which will help anticipate recurrences of certain cancers and limit relapses. This works with a simple blood test, whereas before, we used multiple radiological examinations, CT scans, or MRIs to monitor the patient after remission. By the time we discovered an abnormal image, it was already a little late.

Will patients at the Bergonié Institute be able to have this blood test?

Yes, because we are launching the Umbrella study, which will detect tumor DNA in patients being treated for pancreatic, colon, lung, or sarcoma cancer. This study is open to 700 volunteers at the end of treatment, who will benefit from this blood test.

What if the blood test is positive, revealing the presence of cancer cell DNA?

We are in the field of prevention: if the result is positive, patients will be entitled to immunotherapy treatment for a year, which, it is hoped, will be able to prevent a recurrence.