Celebrating a New Era in Oncology – ESMO Congress 2022

Recent advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment have deepened our understanding of disease mechanisms. Rapidly increasing use of molecular and digital tools has played a major role.

A New Era

"In modern oncology, we are entering an era in which drug data must be integrated with precision medicine, biomarkers, digital tools and artificial intelligence. Our discussions as oncologists about how to optimise the implementation of these advances are therefore truly important." said congress co-chairs from France, Prof. Fabrice André and from the United Kingdom, Prof. Charles Swanton, as they presented the scientific programme for ESMO Congress 2022.

After two years of virtual meetings and remote presentations because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual ESMO meeting returned to an in-person experience held in Paris, France, on 9-13 September 2022. Paris Expo Porte de Versailles will welcome thousands of delegates from around the world, while those unable to attend can follow online. The innovative LIVE Plus format, piloted in 2021, provides live-streamed sessions and online interaction through a fully featured virtual platform available to all registered participants.

"Understanding the Disease to Provide Better Care for Cancer Patients"

With 3,400 scientific submissions, including 1,913 abstracts and 76 late-breaking abstracts, the scientific programme turns this year’s theme, "Understanding the disease to provide better care for cancer patients", into more than a slogan. New drugs for solid cancers, which do not arise from blood or bone marrow, AI-driven tools, liquid biopsy and CAR T-cell therapy are among the treatment innovations that promise to improve cancer care in the future. Prof. Swanton said, "ESMO Congress 2022 will be a great opportunity to interact with key opinion leaders and discuss these pressing topics in oncology."

Sustainability in oncology will also be central to this year’s event. Action to prevent depletion of public healthcare resources will help keep them available in the long term and accessible to everyone who needs cancer treatment.

ESMO President Prof. Solange Peters said, "The first important way ESMO can and does contribute to the sustainability of the wider health system is by nurturing oncologists’ professional development and supporting their everyday practice." She added, "However, supporting doctors in their work cannot by itself ensure our profession’s sustainability if oncologist numbers in a health system do not match the needs of the patients they serve. ESMO therefore acts to minimise cancer’s overall impact on healthcare resources through a concrete commitment to prevention and screening, and by caring for the environment in which every oncologist works." In this context, the society has for several years been a principal strategic partner in developing and piloting the World Health Organization’s WHO-IARC National Cancer Control Priority Setting and Costing Tool, due to launch in 2023. It will help governments expand national cancer control plans, the backbone of cancer services affected worldwide by COVID-19. An educational session in collaboration with WHO on Monday 12 September will discuss the challenges and lessons of the pandemic.

Immediate, straightforward steps to improve oncology’s sustainability include digitising ESMO’s flagship journal, Annals of Oncology, along with reducing the use of paper and plastic materials at the venues of in-person events.

Beginning with the opening session on Thursday 9 September, ESMO Congress 2022 will feature proffered paper and mini-oral sessions, keynote lectures and debates on pressing oncology topics, exploring groundbreaking science over five days.

Registered participants can watch presentations live with interactive chat and question-and-answer sessions. Scientific sessions, ePosters, satellite symposia and post-event resources will be available on demand through OncologyPRO. Registration will remain open throughout the congress.