ESMO 2026

#ESMO26 | TALENT Neoadjuvant T-DXd showed very low pCR rates in HR+/HER2-low early breast cancer: - T-DXd: 7% - T-DXd + anastrozole: 3% - T-DXd → chemotherapy: 9% We should remember that pCR is a limited surrogate endpoint in HR+ disease. However, these results do not support T-DXd as an alternative to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Moreover, given the heterogeneity of HER2-low disease, I find it unsurprising that the success of T-DXd in the metastatic setting does not translate into similar outcomes in early-stage disease, despite the lower tumor burden.

#ESMO26 | TALENT Neoadjuvant T-DXd showed very low pCR rates in HR+/HER2-low early breast cancer: - T-DXd: 7% - T-DXd + anastrozole: 3% - T-DXd → chemotherapy: 9% We should remember that pCR is a limited surrogate endpoint in HR+ disease. However, these results do not support T-DXd as an alternative to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Moreover, given the heterogeneity of HER2-low disease, I find it unsurprising that the success of T-DXd in the metastatic setting does not translate into similar outcomes in early-stage disease, despite the lower tumor burden.

🚨 ESMO 2026 | TOP 15 BREAST CANCER TRIALS TO WATCH! 🎗️ Breast cancer takes center stage at #ESMO26! From selective CDK4 inhibition and next-generation ADCs to immunotherapy, treatment sequencing, and long-term survival updates, these are the 15 studies I’m watching most closely. 👇 🔴 HR+/HER2− BREAST CANCER 1️⃣ FOURLIGHT-1: Can selective CDK4 inhibition with atirmociclib + fulvestrant improve outcomes in second-line metastatic disease? 2️⃣ PANKU-Breast01: Can the EGFR×HER3 bispecific ADC izalontamab brengitecan outperform standard chemotherapy? 3️⃣ KEYNOTE-B49: Could pembrolizumab + chemotherapy establish a role for immunotherapy in PD-L1+ HR+/HER2− metastatic breast cancer? 4️⃣ NATALEE: Will the 6-year follow-up strengthen the case for adjuvant ribociclib in early breast cancer? 5️⃣ FINER / MA.40: Does ipatasertib + fulvestrant deliver an overall survival benefit after CDK4/6 inhibitor exposure? 6️⃣ NSABP B-42: What do the final long-term results tell us about extended adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy? 7️⃣ TALENT: Can neoadjuvant T-DXd sequencing with chemotherapy improve outcomes in HR+/HER2-low early breast cancer? 8️⃣ SWITCH: Can switching ADC targets while retaining a TOP1 inhibitor payload overcome resistance to prior ADC treatment? 🔵 HER2-POSITIVE / HER2-LOW BREAST CANCER 9️⃣ BRIDGET: Can tucatinib-based treatment improve disease control after isolated progression in HER2+ metastatic breast cancer? 🔟 DESTINY-Breast09: What do the CNS analyses reveal about first-line T-DXd + pertuzumab in HER2+ metastatic disease? 1️⃣1️⃣ HORIZON-Breast06: Can trastuzumab rezetecan establish a new treatment option in HER2-low metastatic breast cancer? 1️⃣2️⃣ APEX-Breast01: Could another novel TOP1 ADC challenge standard chemotherapy in HER2-low disease? 🟢 TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER 1️⃣3️⃣ TROPION-Breast02: What do the CNS outcomes reveal about datopotamab deruxtecan in metastatic TNBC? 1️⃣4️⃣ POP-DURVA: Can short-course neoadjuvant durvalumab produce meaningful pathological responses in selected stage I TNBC? 1️⃣5️⃣ OptiTROP-Breast01: Will the final overall survival analysis strengthen the evidence for sacituzumab tirumotecan in metastatic TNBC? 🔬 ALSO ON MY RADAR VIKTORIA-1, postMONARCH, lidERA, DESTINY-Breast05, GIM3 FATA, MRD studies and CHARISMA. 🔥 THREE BIG QUESTIONS FOR ESMO 2026 🔹 Will next-generation ADCs redefine treatment sequencing? 🔹 Can immunotherapy and selective CDK4 inhibition expand therapeutic options in HR-positive disease? 🔹 Will mature survival and CNS outcomes change clinical practice? 📌 This is a pre-congress watchlist ranked and grouped for clinical relevance, not a summary of established positive results. Which breast cancer trial are you most excited about, and which has the greatest potential to change your practice? 👇 @myesmo @ESMO_open @ASCO @oncoalert #ESMO26 #BreastCancer #Oncology #ClinicalTrials

#ESMO26: Final results from the TALENT #ClinicalTrial show low pathological complete response rates with the antibody–drug conjugate (#ADC) trastuzumab deruxtecan in HR-positive, HER2-low #EarlyBreastCancer, as discussed by @breastDoktor #InsightsbyESMO ➡️ https://ow.ly/ZBwi50ZZXLm