ASCO 2024 – The World's Largest Cancer Congress Begins – Key Highlights

The annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), to be held in Chicago from 31 May to 4 June 2024, will be attended by approximately 45 thousand people.

ASCO's annual event, which began in 1964, has grown into the world's largest clinical oncology meeting and attracts participants from around the globe.

This year's congress will address major advances and future directions in oncology, while also focusing on supporting people living with cancer and undergoing treatment.

A New Record: More Than 7000 Abstracts

More than 7000 scientific abstracts were submitted to ASCO this year, with over 5000 selected for presentation. This is the highest number recorded to date.

Dr Thomas LeBlanc, chair of the Education Committee for this year's annual meeting, said he had attended the event for more than 10 years. He noted that it offers an opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues, meet new ones and learn about the current state of oncology.

Themes and a New Presentation Format

This year's theme was chosen to encompass not only curing patients but also how to support them when we cannot cure them. Topics will include patient well-being, comfort measures and cancer survivors' quality of life.

ASCO President Dr Lynn Schucter announced this year's theme with the slogan: "The Art and Science of Cancer Care: From Comfort to Cure" (the art and science of cancer care, from comfort to treatment).

For the first time, Sunday's plenary session will include an abstract presentation on whether palliative care can be delivered effectively through telehealth.

ASCO is trying a slightly different format for research presentations this year. Speakers were asked to present the study's conclusions at the outset and repeat them at the end. The reason is that highlighting conclusions increases engagement and information retention.

Important Studies That Could Change Clinical Practice

• Immunotherapy combinations for surgically resectable melanoma
• Perioperative chemotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal cancer
• Osimertinib after definitive chemoradiotherapy for inoperable non-small cell lung cancer

Other Highlighted Sessions and Studies

1. ASCO Voices: In this session on Friday, 31 May, speakers will share personal experiences. It often features powerful narratives reminding clinicians of the importance of their daily work.
2. Educational Sessions on Monday and Sunday: The sessions entitled "Drugging the 'Undruggable' Target: Successes, Challenges, and the Road Ahead" and "Common Sense Oncology: Equity, Value, and Outcomes That Matter" may interest oncologists.
3. The ASC4FIRST Study: Pooled results for asciminib, a new kinase inhibitor in chronic myeloid leukaemia, will be presented on Friday, 31 May.

ASCO 2024 will provide an important platform for the latest developments and innovations in oncology. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about new approaches aimed not only at curing patients but also at improving their quality of life. The meeting will feature many new studies and findings that could lead to important changes in oncology.