“AI can transform our immense body of medical knowledge into tangible outcomes for patients and healthcare professionals.”
Robin
“Virtual visits allow patients to … participate in shared decision-making with their cancer care providers — all from the comfort of their
Soon, you may notice a surge of exciting news about cancer. That’s because today kicks off one of the world’s largest gatherings for cancer research, the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.
When I became president of ASCO, a global organization of more than 50,000 oncology professionals, I chose to focus on the future of cancer care. My theme became “Driving Knowledge to Action: Building a Better Future.” As a community oncologist for more than 25 years, I’ve seen firsthand how knowledge drives positive change. When the entire cancer community works together to solve problems, we are stronger than cancer.
However, knowledge alone cannot conquer cancer. We must apply what we know, using every available tool to benefit all patients. Emerging technology — specifically artificial intelligence (AI) — is one such tool shaping the future of cancer care.
The promise of AI New AI-driven applications launch seemingly every day, offering endless possibilities. AI can transform our immense body of medical knowledge into tangible outcomes for patients and healthcare professionals.
AI can help patients learn more about cancer. A study released in January found that an AI chatbot could accurately answer general questions about colon cancer symptoms, screening, and prevention. That’s good news for the growing number of people who seek health information online before visiting their doctor. It’s important to note that the AI chatbot was less helpful in responding to questions about colon cancer diagnosis and treatment.
AI can help doctors diagnose cancer more precisely. At ASCO’s meeting, researchers will present new findings that show that AI-powered software improved the detection of HER2-positive breast cancer by 13.3%. AI made the biggest difference in pinpointing cases where expression of the HER2 biomarker is very low and challenging for humans to detect. Correctly classifying cases of breast cancer will help more patients access targeted therapies.
Hope for the future
At ASCO, we embrace innovation for improving and saving more
lives, so AI will be a hot topic at our meeting. Each discovery is a beacon of hope, ushering in a future where reliable cancer information is more available, where cancer diagnoses are more accurate, and where high-quality cancer care is the standard in every community.
I invite you to read ASCO’s patient summaries covering this week’s impactful research updates. Another trusted resource is cancer.org, which, through collaboration between the American Cancer Society and ASCO, provides one of the largest and most comprehensive online resources for credible
cancer information, available for free to the public.
In my career, I’ve been lucky to see tremendous progress in cancer research, but there has never been a moment quite like this thanks to the power of emerging technologies. I can’t wait to have a front row seat this week as the global cancer community comes together to drive knowledge to action.
WRITTEN BY Robin T. Zon, M.D., FACP, FASCO, 2024-2025 President, American Society of Clinical Oncology
BostonGene, a leader in AI-powered solutions for drug discovery and development, is transforming how pharmaceutical companies develop, target, and deliver cancer therapies — making precision medicine a reality at scale.
Today, bringing a new cancer drug to market takes an average of 10.5 years, costs more than $2.5 billion, and succeeds only 8% of the time. BostonGene is changing that reality. Powered by advanced AI and multiomic analysis — integrating molecular and immune system data — BostonGene accelerates development, identifies high-value therapies and matches them to the patients most likely to respond.
Outsmarting cancer’s complexity with a digital twin of each patient
In the past, most targeted drug development efforts relied on single biomarkers, but cancer is far more complex. BostonGene’s AI platform combines multiomic profiling — integrating DNA and RNA sequencing, immune system profiling, and tissue architecture to deliver a complete biological portrait of each tumor and its microenvironment.
BostonGene turns blood into a full biological blueprint — matching tissue-level insight without the need for an invasive biopsy. This supports continuous monitoring and the creation of a “digital twin” — a dynamic model of each patient’s disease and likely treatment responses.
This multidimensional view uncovers patterns and relationships traditional approaches miss — sharpening drug targeting, optimizing
trial design, and driving faster, more predictable success.
Unlocking new indications and new markets
BostonGene’s proprietary AI models, trained on billions of human biology data points, identify cancers that express a drug’s target and flag potential off-target risks in healthy tissues. The platform benchmarks candidate therapies against the current standard of care, leveraging a curated integration of real-world clinical data, internal lab analytics, and peer-reviewed scientific literature.
Underpinned by foundation models trained across vast molecular and clinical datasets, BostonGene delivers scalable insights into rare and complex cases, bringing data-driven clarity to development decisions.
This data-driven approach enables pharma companies to prioritize indications, avoid costly failures, and accelerate time to market.
Effective combination therapies are transforming cancer care, but identifying the right combinations requires deep biologic insight. BostonGene’s AI models predict therapeutic responses and help partners design combination strategies, pairing targeted
therapies like antibody-drug conjugates with immunotherapies.
This precision guidance improves trial efficiency, raises success rates, and accelerates the delivery of more effective treatment options to patients.
Delivering results — with foundation model intelligence and real-world impact
BostonGene’s platform is already transforming development pipelines. Its insights have validated novel targets, stratified patient populations, and uncovered new uses for existing therapies. By building on foundational models, digital twins, and immune system profiling, BostonGene helps pharmaceutical companies de-risk programs, reduce patient burden, and accelerate clinical timelines.
With deep biological intelligence, powerful AI, and a proven track record, BostonGene empowers pharma innovators to move smarter, faster, and with greater certainty into the future of cancer care.
Written by BostonGene
At 26, an advanced testicular cancer diagnosis turned my life upside down. Surrounded by loved ones, I was grateful for their support, but something was missing — someone who truly understood what it felt like to walk this path.
Near the end of my cancer treatments, I was lucky to bump into and meet other young cancer fighters at my hospital. We were instant friends for a million reasons. We formed a group. We wanted to support each other, and share our lessons and experiences to help others. We began volunteering at the cancer center and saw firsthand how powerful it was when a survivor reached out to someone newly diagnosed. That connection, the bond between those who had been there before and those in the middle of the fight, was life-changing.
Oncologist Dr. Jason Westin discusses the possibilities of CAR T-cell therapy and its potential role in future cancer care.
What is CAR T-cell therapy?
That connection, the bond between those who had been there before and those in the middle of the fight, was life-changing.
CAR T-cell therapy stands for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. A T cell is an immune cell in our blood that protects us from infections, foreign invaders, and even cancers. CAR T-cell therapy weaponizes T cells, enhancing their ability to attack cancer. The process involves taking a patient’s own T cells, modifying them in a lab to better recognize and kill cancer cells, and then reinfusing them into the patient. This effectively turns the patient’s own immune system into a more powerful force against cancer.
What types of blood cancer patients are typically eligible for CAR T-cell therapy?
remarkable when conventional treatments have failed.
The risks include significant side effects. The main concern is cytokine release syndrome (CRS), where the immune system overreacts, causing fever, low blood pressure, and organ dysfunction. It looks similar to a severe infection and requires specialized care.
How do you see CAR T-cell therapy evolving in the future for blood cancer treatment?
In 2006, we co-founded a nonprofit called Imerman Angels, built on the belief that no one should have to face cancer alone. We provide free, one-on-one support for cancer fighters. We introduce each individual to a Mentor Angel, a survivor or caregiver who has faced the same type of cancer and understands the journey. These connections offer not just advice, but hope, strength, and the reassurance that no one is alone in this fight.
Written by Jonny Imerman, Co-Founder and Chief Mission Officer, Imerman Angels
Right now, it’s mainly used for certain blood cancers, particularly cancers of B cells, which are part of the immune system. B cells can become leukemia or lymphoma, and CAR T-cell therapy is FDA-approved for these conditions.
What are the potential benefits and risks of this treatment compared to other options?
The benefits can be life-changing. CAR T-cell therapy has saved patients who otherwise would not have survived aggressive blood cancers. Some of my patients are so healthy now that they don’t need to come back to my clinic. In some cases, CAR T-cell therapy can offer a cure, which is
One way CAR T-cell therapy is evolving is that we are now evaluating it for patients who have had fewer prior treatments and even for some newly diagnosed patients. Using CAR T-cell therapy earlier in treatment may lead to better outcomes.
Another important evolution is expanding access. Many physicians are still unaware of CAR T-cell therapy or do not refer patients to specialists. Financial and logistical barriers, like the need to travel to specialized centers, also limit access. We are working to ensure that more patients can receive this potentially life-saving treatment.
Dr. John Mellors, who heads the cell therapy discovery team for biotechnology company Galapagos, talks about the innovations the organization is making to improve delivery speed and access to CAR T-cell therapy for those who need it.
Can you talk a bit about Galapagos’ history and why you are now choosing to become singularly focused on CAR T-cell therapy?
Galapagos began as a novel target and small molecule discovery company primarily focused on autoimmune and fibrotic diseases. In 2022, with a change in leadership and the arrival of Dr. Paul Stoffels as CEO, Galapagos pivoted its portfolio ambitions to more effective cancer therapies and broader access to life-saving CAR T-cell therapies through decentralized manufacturing in areas of high unmet need.
What are some of the keys to success in globalizing treatments like CAR T-cell therapy?
Some keys to success are efficient, scalable, and lower cost CAR T-cell manufacturing that can be set up in multiple locations around the globe to increase access and affordability of CAR T-cell therapy. Currently, only a small fraction of individuals with cancer who would benefit from CAR T-cell therapy are able to receive it. Galapagos’ mission is to address this shortcoming.
Why is it so important to reduce the time it takes to deliver treatments to cancer patients?
Cancer grows continuously and progressively — it does not take off weekends or holidays. The longer it takes to provide cancer therapy, the higher the tumor burden at the start of therapy, which lowers the likelihood of achieving a complete response to treatment. Put simply, cancer therapy cannot wait, and our vein-to-vein time of seven days provides CAR T-cell therapy with unprecedented and unparalleled speed.
What is “Cocoon” and how is it helping people with cancer achieve sustained remission?
The Cocoon® (from Lonza) is a functionally closed, sterile, efficient
manufacturing platform, which combined with our decentralized manufacturing strategy and rapid release testing, enables delivery of fresh CAR T-cells to the patient with a vein-to-vein time of seven days.
The culture conditions used at Galapagos in the Cocoon® promote the outgrowth of CAR T-cells that have a less differentiated, naïve, and stem-like memory phenotype that show greater expansion and persistence of CAR T-cells following infusion, resulting in high efficacy and favorable safety in Phase 1-2 studies (Kersten, et al. ASH 2024, San Diego, CA).
How is Galapagos working to increase access to CAR T-cell therapy (i.e., reducing the time and cost it takes to receive this therapy no matter where you live)?
Galapagos’ decentralized manufacturing approach lowers the space, personnel, and other requirements and their associated costs that are needed to set up a CAR T-cell manufacturing site. These manufacturing sites are called decentralized manufacturing units, or DMUs. There are multiple DMUs already established in Europe and ones being set up in the United States. The first DMU in the United States, located in Boston, is manufacturing CAR T-cells
for a Phase 2 study in multiple subtypes of B-cell malignancies.
How is Galapagos innovating cancer treatments to help patients achieve sustained remission?
Galapagos is pioneering cutting-edge science aimed at creating CAR T-cells that accomplish more frequent and more durable remissions of both liquid and solid cancers, through several important approaches:
1. Targeting more than one cancer antigen on malignant cells to prevent down regulation of a single antigen as a mechanism of cancer escape from CAR T-cell therapy
2. Arming CAR T-cells with the ability to secrete growth factors that promote expansion and persistence of CAR-T in humans, and activation of non-CAR-T endogenous immune cells, including T-cells, NK cells, and macrophages, to kill cancer cells
3. Preventing CAR T-cell dysfunction and death from the hostile environment within a cancer mass
These innovations will be tested for efficacy and safety in preclinical models, and if successful, will be progressed to first in human clinical studies.
To learn more, visit glpg.com
Our panel of experts shares its opinions on the future of oncology and breakthroughs in cancer treatment.
Karin Tollefson Chief Oncology Medical Officer, Pfizer
Nathan Fowler, M.D. Chief Medical Officer, BostonGene
Stoffels Former CEO, Galapagos
What are the most significant recent breakthroughs in cancer treatment?
Karin Tollefson: One of the biggest breakthroughs in cancer has been the introduction and the evolution of next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). While the first ADC came to market in 2000, advances over the last decade have pushed the field forward. Pfizer’s ADC, in combination with a PD-1 inhibitor, more than doubled lifespan (overall survival) for people with advanced bladder cancer in a pivotal clinical trial — among the most significant advancements in the field for decades.
Nathan Fowler: The convergence of multiomics and AI is transforming how we understand, diagnose, and treat cancer. When harnessed effectively, these technologies can support the development of more precise, personalized therapies by integrating molecular, immune, and spatial data.
How is precision medicine changing diagnosis and care?
Paul Stoffels: We learned many lessons from the treatment of HIV, where approximately 600,000 patient genotypes were analyzed
for resistance. This showed us how to tailor combination therapies for optimal outcomes and invent new medicines where we were able to cover resistant strains and match the right patient to the right medicine. These lessons have been very useful for inspiring breakthroughs in oncology.
Gulzar Sandhu: Precision medicine has revolutionized cancer treatment by customizing therapies to a patient’s unique disease, making treatments more effective and potentially reducing side effects. This approach helps to ensure that the right treatment is selected for the right patient at the right time. Diagnostic tests play a crucial role in this process by identifying specific molecular profiles or biomarkers in a patient’s cancer. These profiles indicate whether a patient is likely to respond to a particular drug, leading to more personalized and effective treatment plans. As a result, patients may experience fewer side effects, improved quality of life, and better overall outcomes.
NF: Precision medicine is transforming patient care by replacing broad, population-based
decisions with approaches tailored to each individual. Instead of relying on single biomarkers or limited clinical indicators, today’s models integrate a wide range of data, including genomic, transcriptomic, immune, clinical, and imaging information. Advanced computational tools, including AI and digital twin technology, synthesize these inputs to reveal the unique biology of each patient’s disease. BostonGene’s proprietary platform leverages this multi-modal data to deliver more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatment selection, ultimately improving outcomes and quality of life for patients.
What barriers limit patient access to new therapies, and how can they be overcome?
KT: We know many patient populations, including people of color, and communities, such as those with lower socioeconomic status or people living in more rural areas, have limited access to quality healthcare, impacting their ability to detect cancer early and access standard-of-care treatments. These are significant challenges that can only be overcome through collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem.
Why are awareness, funding, and collaboration key to advancing research?
GS: Early detection of cancers is crucial for better patient outcomes, and raising awareness about the importance of early detection can lead to more timely diagnoses and treatments. International collaboration and knowledge sharing can significantly enhance cancer control efforts worldwide. Industry and academic partnerships can accelerate research and improve cancer outcomes by pooling resources, expertise, and data, as new therapies, technologies, and understanding of cancer biology often originate in academic labs.
PS: Awareness can help engage the public and policymakers, and drive advocacy toward advancing research. Funding is also key, especially since many national health institutes have been under significant financial challenges, putting pressure on research activities. Collaborations between the government, academic institutions, hospitals, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical companies can also lead to better outcomes in advancing research and treatments for patients.
Cancer patients might find that their sexual health is often overlooked during treatment and survivorship.
Sexual dysfunction is a common side effect of cancer treatment. Over 50% of women treated for breast cancer, 65-90% of women treated for gynecological cancers, and more than 60% of women treated for colorectal cancer report long-term changes in sexual function. Common issues include painful intercourse (dyspareunia), vaginal dryness, low libido, and difficulty achieving orgasm.
These problems can stem from various treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy, which affect the body in multiple ways. There are several barriers that prevent effective communication
and treatment of sexual health issues. Some oncologists might avoid discussing sexual health due to time constraints, biases, or assumptions that patients are not interested in sex. Patients might feel embarrassed or fear judgment, leading to reluctance in bringing up these concerns. Cultural and religious beliefs can also play a role in making these discussions uncomfortable.
How a sexual health clinic can help
Sexual health clinics like the one at UPMC Magee Cancer Center can help patients with:
• Sexual dysfunction
• Decreased libido and desire
• Decreased genital sensation
• Vaginal dryness and decreased lubrication
• Vaginal pain with intercourse
• Difficulty achieving orgasm
Patients might feel embarrassed or fear judgment, leading to reluctance in bringing up these concerns.
Treatment may include referrals to other specialists, including pelvic floor physical therapy, sex
therapy, and urology, urogynecology, and/or menopause specialists.
Sexual health is a vital part of patient-centered care. While patients generally prefer that cancer care providers initiate conversations about sexual health to help normalize the topic, I encourage anyone who is bothered by sexual dysfunction to feel empowered to ask their medical provider questions and to never stop advocating for themselves.
During the last two decades, technological advancements have delivered groundbreaking new insights into the molecular activities of cancerous cells. We have learned that every person’s cancer has unique biomarkers that, when measured, can help physicians design the best prevention and treatment plan based on a patient’s individual cancer.
Biomarkers are biological molecules or indicators that can be measured to provide information about a patient’s cancer status, disease progression, or response to treatment. In personalized medicine, they are used to target treatment strategies to individual patient characteristics, optimizing efficacy and minimizing adverse effects. Biomarkers help in treatment selection and in monitoring disease progression.
Targeted therapies
Targeted therapies are designed to disrupt the activity of mutated proteins that promote cancer growth.
Cancer occurs when genes mutate inside otherwise healthy cells. The mutations cause cancerous cells to produce dysfunctional proteins, called oncoproteins, that lead to uncontrolled cell growth in tumors. The
rapidly spreading tumor cells crowd out healthy ones, disrupting the body’s ability to function normally.
Oncologists can use biomarker tests to identify the unique set of oncoproteins fueling the growth of each patient’s cancer. Targeted therapies disrupt specific oncoproteins.
Multi-cancer early detection testing
Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests can spot cancer-associated biomarkers circulating in the bloodstreams of seemingly healthy people. Such testing promises to deliver unprecedented benefits to patients and health systems by finding cancers at earlier stages, when they are easier and less expensive to treat.
Health systems across the world are studying the long-term effects that broadbased MCED biomarker testing may have on
Sponsored
healthcare costs and patient outcomes. Some providers have become early adopters.
The impact of personalized medicine
Targeted therapies and MCED tests are hallmarks of biomarker testing in an era of personalized medicine in cancer care. By providing physicians with new opportunities to alleviate the root causes of cancer and detect cancers at earlier stages in their development, personalized medicine can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of cancer care.
Companion diagnostics are a powerful tool in the fight against cancer. One company’s mission has led the way.
Never has there been more information to enable a patient’s fight against cancer, but how does one select the right treatment? This is how companion diagnostics fit with precision medicine.
Patients first
Advances have made cancer therapies more effective through targeting specific molecules. Companion diagnostics (CDx) are tests that provide information that is essential for the safe and effective use of these targeted therapies. This is the foundation of precision medicine. “The promise of precision medicine is to have treatments that are tailored to the patient’s needs,” noted Mark Verardo, head of Agilent’s Science Office.
Leading the way
Agilent broke new ground with HercepTestTM — the first CDx approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Fast-forward 15 years, Agilent also received the first FDA-approved CDx for PD-L1. This led to a change in cancer treatment driven by immunotherapies targeting PD-1/PD-L1. The success of PD-L1 has prompted investments into other targeted drugs and companion diagnostics, where simultaneous development is ideal.
Companion diagnostic development necessitates close collaboration between diagnostic and pharmaceutical partners, regulatory expertise, and global capability — all strengths of the Clinical Diagnostics Division at Agilent.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all on how to develop a drug,” explained Grant Toland, Agilent’s senior scientific program manager. “We can adapt our CDx development to support our pharma partners.” This collaboration allows Agilent to develop and commercialize companion diagnostics efficiently. Ultimately, a drug and CDx can be approved concurrently, and patients can be tested the same day.
Written by Jeff Somers D0131439_1.00
For more information, scan the QR code, or visit Agilent at booth 36076 at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.
“The hope is that you will never hear the words ‘You have cancer’ in your lifetime,” Katrina Johnson said. “But that’s not how my story goes. I’ve heard that sentence five times.”
Johnson found a lump in her left breast when she was just 28 years old. Fortunately, the cancer was caught early and treated effectively, but her journey with cancer was just beginning. As Johnson navigated recurring diagnoses, she saw firsthand how the cancer care landscape was evolving.
Twenty-three years ago, when Johnson was facing her first diagnosis, the thought of a world without cancer was nothing more than a dream. Today, thanks to a surge in cancer research, significant advances in science and technology are converging to bring us closer to long-promised cures for certain cancers.
Significant progress — but much more to do
Cancer remains one of the biggest health challenges of our lifetime. Millions of people globally receive a cancer diagnosis each year — in the United States, that’s about one diagnosis every 30 seconds.
While the cancer-related death rate has fallen in recent years, troubling trends make it clear that continued innovation is urgently needed. Cancer is rising in younger adults at an alarming pace, with early onset cancers
increasing by 79% from 1990 to 2019.i In addition, young women are now almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with cancer than men — women under 50 had an 82% higher cancer rate in 2021 than men of the same age, compared with a 51% higher rate in 2002.ii
Breakthroughs aren’t just about the science. They represent the chance to live longer, to have a better quality of life, to see your kids grow up — and they will only have that impact if they reach the people who need them.
Scientists are working hard to overcome these challenges, and there has been a significant rise in cancer research, with several thousand active clinical trials currently underway.iii Yet, even with resources and years invested in
the research process, most drug discoveries do not reach patients. As many as 90% of research projects fail. Why? Cancer is one of the most complex diseases known to mankind.
There are more than 200 types of cancer, each presenting very differently. Cancers also arise from cells in our own body, when abnormal cells grow out of control and spread to other areas. For this reason, cancer evolves at a pace that’s faster than most diseases, and treatments need to be able to separate healthy cells from cancer cells. And although there have been major improvements in cancer treatments, many cancers can still become resistant to treatments and recur or come back, and some treatments can cause difficult side effects. These complexities make the disease a challenge to stay ahead of, and continued innovation is needed.
A bold ambition: Eight cancer breakthroughs by 2030
One pharmaceutical company invested in the fight is Pfizer. According to its 2024 Annual Report, the company spent more than $10 billion on research and development (R&D) in 2024 — over 40% of it directed toward cancer research. The company has committed to delivering eight breakthrough cancer medicines by 2030.
“Given cancer’s complexities, every breakthrough in cancer isn’t just a step forward — it’s a leap that redefines how we understand, treat, and ultimately prevail over cancer,” said Chris Boshoff, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer and president, R&D at Pfizer. “Despite progress, too many people with cancer still face limited treatment options or hear their current treatment has stopped working. The potential breakthroughs we are advancing at Pfizer represent potential new medicines that we believe could be truly groundbreaking — helping people live longer, with the goal of improved quality of life — and bringing us closer to ending cancer as we know it today.”
Pfizer is advancing one of the largest oncology R&D programs, with more than 80 clinical trials ongoing in some of the most common cancer types, including breast, bladder, prostate, lung, and blood cancers. Boshoff believes the science will power the breakthroughs, adding: “Our team, which has decades of scientific expertise and a legacy of innovation, is leading the charge to push boundaries in cancer care.”
to deliver cancer-killing drugs directly to tumors, while limiting damage to healthy cells. This technology enables powerful treatments across a broad range of cancers and has the potential to be more effective and less toxic than traditional chemotherapy. Today, about half of ADCs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration either come from Pfizer or use its technology.
In addition to ADCs, Pfizer is advancing other novel technologies, including bispecific antibodies which use the body’s immune system to attack cancer, and next-generation small molecules, oral medicines that are small enough to enter cancer cells and are targeted to slow or stop tumor growth. Pfizer is using all three of these technologies to attack cancer from every angle and has more than 25 potential new medicines in development.
Bringing treatments and support to people who need it, faster
A breakthrough medicine for a patient can mean not only more, but better, years. Pfizer notes it is moving with speed to bring potential new medicines to the world as quickly as possible, by working to remove some of the barriers that can slow scientific progress. This includes integrating digital tools, such as artificial intelligence, to advance science more quickly, and with greater quality and accuracy.
have that impact if they reach the people who need them.”
Understanding the individual needs of people with cancer is an important part of developing new treatments, as well as supporting them and their loved ones throughout their cancer journey. Pfizer partners with over 100 advocacy organizations around the world to listen and learn from the patient community, and to address the things that matter most to them.
Our team, which has decades of scientific expertise and a legacy of innovation, is leading the charge to push boundaries in cancer care
Over the past 20 years, Pfizer has developed numerous medicines that revolutionized care in several difficult-to-treat cancers, including the first personalized medicine in lung cancer. More recently, the company achieved groundbreaking progress in bladder cancer — an area that had seen little progress for decades. Its treatment doubled lifespan (overall survival) in clinical trials, delivering an unprecedented result that offered real hope for the first time to people with advanced bladder cancer.
Pfizer is staying at the forefront of innovation with new technologies like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), one of the most exciting and promising treatment types in cancer today. Acting like guided missiles, ADCs are designed
The company is innovating with digital to better understand what causes cancer, identify potential drug targets, and design and carry out clinical trials more efficiently. Research projects that once took months or years can potentially move forward in a fraction of the time. The goal is smarter, more accurate, and faster scientific progress — bringing new, and better, treatment options to people with cancer sooner.
The fight against cancer is personal For Johnson, the fight against cancer has become her life’s work. After facing cancer multiple times, she transitioned into the pharmaceutical industry and is now a director of advocacy and professional relations for Pfizer Oncology, using her voice to help improve the system for others.
She added, “For many of us at Pfizer, the fight against cancer is deeply personal — we’ve felt its impact. Breakthroughs aren’t just about the science. They represent the chance to live longer, to have a better quality of life, to see your kids grow up — and they will only
One example is Change the Odds™, an American Cancer Society initiative with funding from Pfizer designed to bridge the gap in cancer care disparities. The initiative aims to improve health outcomes in underserved communities across the United States by enhancing awareness of and access to cancer screenings, clinical trial opportunities, and patient support and comprehensive navigation.
And for Katrina, and millions like her, each breakthrough brings us closer to a future where the words “You have cancer” no longer hold so much power. It’s a future worth fighting for.
Sponsored by Pfizer
i. Zhao, Jianhui, et al. Global Trends in Incidence, Death, Burden and Risk Factors of Early-Onset Cancer from 1990 to 2019. BMJ Oncology, vol. 2, no. 1, 2024, p. e000049, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjonc-2023-000049.
ii. American Cancer Society. Cancer Incidence Rate for Women Under 50 Rises Above Men’s, https://www.cancer.org/research/acs-research-news/cancerincidence-rate-for-women-under-50-rises-above-mens.html.
iii. Izarn, F., et al. Globalization of Clinical Trials in Oncology: A Worldwide Quantitative Analysis. ESMO Open, vol. 9, no. 1, 2024, p. 104086, https://doi. org/10.1016/j.esmoop.2024.104086.
To learn more, visit cancer.pfizer.com
Jenna Fischer has a devoted community of fans, both from the enduringly popular show “The Office” and her more recent project, a rewatch podcast called “Office Ladies.” However, it wasn’t until Fischer, 50, was diagnosed with stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer that she realized the importance and impact of community in her private life.
It was one of those things where it was like, ‘in case of emergency, break glass,’” Fischer said, “and I broke the glass, and my community showed up. They carried me and my family through this, and I let myself be cared for. That was not something that I had ever really experienced before, and it really opened my eyes to the meaning of life. That’s kind of what we’re here for — to be someone’s ‘in case of emergency,’ if we can.”
Since announcing her diagnosis and remission news in an Instagram post in October 2024, and then winding down most of her treatment in early 2025, Fischer has built yet another community: women like herself who are going through a cancer journey.
She has also used her platform to raise awareness for cancer and advocate for patients who, like her, chose to work during their treatment.
That’s kind of what we’re here for to be someone’s ‘in case of emergency,’ if we can.
Jenna Fischer
Being well during a cancer journey
When Fischer was diagnosed with cancer, her personal health became the center of her life, as is true for many people who are diagnosed with a serious illness. However, Fischer took her focus on health a step further by complementing conventional cancer treatments with diet and lifestyle changes for better results.
For example, for the 12 weeks Fischer underwent
chemotherapy, she took walks, at whatever length she could, in the fresh air. Her oncologist recommended them to help reduce chemo side effects, and they helped.
“Sometimes, those walks were doing a circle in my backyard,” Fischer said. “Sometimes, they were a walk around my neighborhood with my family. One time, we did a 3-mile hike.”
During the three weeks of radiation Fischer completed, she stretched to help with recovery. Now, Fischer is on an oral hormonal therapy and research shows weightlifting can be an effective way to manage its side effects — a tactic that’s working for Fischer.
Nutritionally, one of the things Fischer did was sip bone broth in the days following chemo — a tip she received from another cancer survivor who is a chef.
“When I talk to other women, this is the stuff I talk to them about, because their doctors can talk to them about their treatment plan, but this is sort of the survival plan. This is how we survive and thrive during treatment.”
Existing as more than just a cancer patient
Initially, Fischer didn’t go public with her diagnosis. She feared doing so would have discouraged people from hiring her or led them to believe she couldn’t work. In reality, Fischer could work — she even shot a commercial during her third week of chemo.
“That’s not because I’m some extraordinary person,” she said. “It’s just that I could do more than I thought I could — and that I think most people think you can.”
She added, “Now listen, there are days that hit hard, and I just prayed that I wasn’t going to have a hard day on the days I had
signed up to do this commercial. I also tried to be strategic and place those days at the end of my recovery week, because those were generally my best days.”
Ultimately, for Fischer, working helped her stay grounded. To increase awareness of cancer patients’ potential, she decided to partner with Publicis on its “Working With Cancer” campaign to encourage companies whose employees have cancer to help them continue working if they wish.
For Fischer, the term “cancer survivor” is still a relatively new one. In February 2025, she got her treatment port removed, and she’s adjusting to a daily routine that doesn’t involve active treatment, except for the hormonal therapy.
If
I can get one person to make that doctor’s appointment, and they maybe get their diagnosis earlier or they get that clean bill of health, that means so much to me.
“There have been silver linings to this whole experience,” Fischer said. “We’ve grown closer as a family. And I don’t take anything for granted anymore. Being able
to get up in the mornings and get my kids off to school means so much to all of us now.”
Fischer feels driven to share her story because hearing others’ stories during her journey helped her. “If I can get one person to make that doctor’s appointment, and they maybe get their diagnosis earlier or they get that clean bill of health, that means so much to me,” Fischer said. “Because it was seeing other women post about their mammograms that made me realize, ‘Oh, my God, that’s right. I have to do that appointment.’ Once I was diagnosed, the more stories I heard of people who had survived cancer and were thriving, the less scared I felt, and so I want to be that for other people, if I can.”
Written by Melinda Carter
Stephanie Walker was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) nearly a decade ago — an experience she says transformed every part of her life.
Metastatic breast cancer is like a thread that has been woven through every aspect of my life: from my professional life to my personal life, to my emotional and financial life,” Walker said.
MBC, also known as stage IV breast cancer, occurs when cancer cells spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs, liver, or brain. While it is not considered curable, it is treatable — and advances in cancer research continue to help extend survival and strive to improve quality of life for people living with MBC.
Living in a rural area of North Carolina, Walker spent eight years traveling 100 miles each month for treatment. This kind of travel burden is not uncommon for Walker and the estimated 168,000 women living with incurable MBC, and can significantly disrupt daily routines, professional commitments and personal relationships.i
For Walker, those long trips and extended appointments meant time away from her husband and missed moments with her grandchildren.
“I absolutely can say that I
had no control of my life at one point,” she said. “I was always going to the doctor’s office.”
Beyond the physical toll, many patients with MBC face emotional strain from the relentless cycle of appointments, scans, and treatments. Life can begin to feel divided into short intervals, waiting for the next scan or result.
For some, new treatments that seek to emphasize comfort, convenience, and flexibility offer hope — not only in improving physical outcomes but also in helping patients reclaim more of their everyday lives.
Dr. Lillian Smyth, senior vice president, global development head, breast cancer, is a medical oncologist and leads the development of breast cancer medicines at Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly). Her work plays a critical role in making today’s investigational treatments into tomorrow’s standard of care.
“Every day I have the ability to make a broader impact on patient outcomes,” she recalled. “I, like many other oncologists, just want additional treatment options for patients, and I want them urgently.”
For Dr. Smyth, advancing care for people with MBC is more than
Metastatic breast cancer is like a thread that has been woven through every aspect of my life: from my professional life to my personal life, to my emotional and financial life.
a profession — it’s a personal mission. She is dedicated to discovering and developing medicines that have the potential to meaningfully improve patients’ lives.
“More recently, the pace of drug development is greatly accelerating,” she shared. “Ultimately, that’s a good thing for patients — bringing more options to those who need them.”
Recent advancements in MBC treatments have focused on the development of targeted therapies to improve patient outcomes. For example, oral selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs), help treat estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-)—the most common subtype of MBC.
An estimated 50% of ER+, HER2- MBC patients may develop a mutation in the estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) gene after exposure to aromatase inhibitors, leading to estrogen-independent tumor
Patients like me just want their life to go back to as normal as possible, including work. Hopefully, we will get closer to that with the treatments being developed.
growth, accounting for acquired endocrine resistance.
Oral SERDs help address key challenges associated with treatment resistance, and may also provide a promising alternative to existing hormone therapy— which are often administered as an intramuscular injection— potentially allowing patients to take an oral medication at home.ii
Additionally, recent treatment advances for MBC provide the potential for increased patient comfort and convenience, and may also eliminate the time and travel burden associated with some doctor’s office visits.
Many of these advances mark a meaningful step forward in the treatment of MBC, especially for patients whose disease may no longer respond to traditional hormone therapies.
While the physical symptoms of an MBC diagnosis may be visible, the emotional and psychological toll often remains unseen — and overlooked. According to Lilly’s MBC survey, oncologists and nurses have reported a growing need for patient mental health support, with increases of 15% and 23%, respectively, between 2018 and 2024.
The results found a majority of people living with MBC and their loved ones reported developing or experiencing worsened mental health after their diagnosis. Across all three years of the study, more than half of patients’ friends and family reported feeling anxiety, and nearly 50%
experienced depression in 2024 alone.
From the long medical appointments to challenges in both professional and personal life—and the mental health impact that can follow—MBC remains a life-altering diagnosis that profoundly affects patients physically, emotionally and socially, and fuels a shared passion for better care among patients, advocates and healthcare professionals alike.
“Patients like me just want their life to go back to as normal as possible, including work,” Walker said. “Hopefully, we will get closer to that with the treatments being developed.” Walker’s resilience and Dr. Smyth’s unwavering dedication embody the strength of the MBC community. Whether it’s raising their voices in advocacy or advancing care in the lab, they represent a powerful force of unity and determination — leading the way toward a better future in the face of this disease.
Written by Eli Lilly and Company
i. Quick Facts on Metastatic Breast Cancer | NIH MedlinePlus Magazine. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 14 Oct. 2020, magazine. medlineplus.gov/article/quick-facts-on-metastaticbreast-cancer.
ii. Lloyd, Maxwell R, et al. “Next-Generation Selective Estrogen Receptor Degraders and Other Novel Endocrine Therapies for Management of Metastatic Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer: Current and Emerging Role.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, PubMed Central, 30 July 2022, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ articles/PMC9340905/.
A cancer diagnosis can turn a family upside down. It raises numerous questions about what will happen to the patient, as well as what this diagnosis could mean for their biological relatives.
Hereditary cancer risk assessment is an expanding science that offers a growing ability to look into the future and take some control. According to the National Cancer Institute, up to 10% of all cancers may have genetic causes. This has big implications for prevention, early detection, and treatment.
More and more people with cancer and their relatives want to know if they meet the criteria for testing for inherited cancer risk. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) Guidelines for Patients®: Genetic Testing for Hereditary Breast, Ovarian, Pancreatic, and Prostate Cancers shares detailed information on who would benefit from genetic testing across a variety of scenarios. This includes recommendations for testing everyone with pancreatic cancer, along with any first-degree blood relatives. Similar recommendations are made for everyone diagnosed with ovarian cancer, plus any first- or
second-degree blood relatives. For breast and prostate cancer, the decision to test is based on additional factors, including age, ancestry, and family history.
Strict testing criteria are necessary to make sure any test result can be followed up with concrete action. For instance, people who test positive for a cancer-causing variant in certain ovarian cancer susceptibility genes may want to talk to their doctor about having their ovaries and fallopian tubes surgically removed. For people with cancer-causing variants in certain breast cancer susceptibility genes, screening via breast MRI may be recommended in addition to mammograms. Riskreducing mastectomy may also be an option to consider for those at high risk of developing hereditary breast cancer. People with variants that increase risk for prostate cancer may want to undergo regular screening, like measuring prostate-specific antigen levels.
The patient guide from NCCN features a chart with more details on each potentially cancer-causing genetic variation and any next
steps that could be appropriate for lowering risk based on that variant. It also includes information on how genetic testing can help people who have been diagnosed with cancer and their providers make informed treatment decisions.
Ultimately, it’s crucial for any genetic testing to include a consultation with a healthcare professional trained in genetics who can recommend the best testing approach for any individual. These professionals can also help interpret the results and guide next steps.
Virtual care and telehealth are transforming the way cancer care is delivered, making treatment more accessible and convenient for patients and their families.
Leading cancer centers are pioneering home-based care models with impressive results. Since 2018, Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah has provided hospital-at-home care for patients through the Huntsman at Home™ model. This model uses specially trained home health nurses to help patients manage treatment-related symptoms like pain, nausea, vomiting, fevers, and infections. Experienced oncology nurse practitioners oversee patient care and communicate directly with oncologists and the patient’s primary oncology team. Bringing hospital-level care into the home reduced the need for travel and patient wait times. Since its launch in 2023, Shaw at Home has helped more than 123 patients in rural Colorado, providing 1,427 palliative care visits within homes and community clinics where these patients live and work. These visits have centered around goals of care discussions, advance care planning, transitions of care, symptom management, and psychological and spiritual exploration and support.
Remote patient monitoring
Remote patient monitoring means that cancer care teams track health and treatment progress without patients having to be physically present at the cancer center. Using devices that patients can use at home, like wearable devices or smartphone apps, cancer care teams can monitor vital signs, symptoms, and treatment responses. This real-time information helps cancer care providers catch issues early and adjust care plans promptly, ensuring patients get the best possible treatment while staying at home.
visits
Virtual visits allow patients to discuss concerns, receive education, and participate in shared decision-making with their cancer care providers — all from the comfort of their home. Virtual visits help connect patients with specialists like dietitians, genetic counselors, and patient navigators. These types of virtual visits eliminate the need for long and exhausting trips to the cancer center and are especially
beneficial for patients who live in rural areas or those with mobility issues.
Virtual expert consultations and second opinions
Telehealth facilitates collaboration among cancer care providers. Cancer treatment involves a team of specialists, and telehealth platforms enable them to work together more effectively, regardless of their physical location. Virtual tumor boards allow specialists to collaboratively review patient cases, discuss treatment options, and develop a comprehensive care plan. Other programs, like AccessHope, bring together academic programs, community programs, and employers to offer expert case reviews based on evidence-based recommendations.
Patients should discuss telehealth and virtual care options with their cancer care teams to explore how these services might enhance their cancer care journey. The future of cancer care isn’t just about new treatments — it’s about delivering those treatments in ways that respect patients’ lives, needs, and preferences.
WRITTEN BY Una Hopkins, D.N.P., M.S.N., FNP-BC, NE-BC, RN, FACCC Director of Nursing Research and EvidenceBased Practice, Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Montefiore Health System, Bronx, N.Y.; President, Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC)
Today some of the most aggressive solid tumor cancers remain stubbornly resistant to treatment. There are many reasons why these cancers are difficult to treat, including mutations they may express or where they are located in the body.
A t Novocure, our work is focused on advancing treatment for these cancers, the ones that, despite the advances in treatment, still have poor survival rates and remain difficult to treat.
Whether cells are healthy or cancerous, they all have parts that are electrically charged. In solid tumor cancer cells, these electrically charged components make them vulnerable to the treatment approach we have developed at Novocure called Tumor Treating
Fields (TTFields) therapy. It uses alternating electric fields that can kill cancer cells through a variety of mechanisms.
Tumors continue to grow or spread because cancer cells grow rapidly and divide into new cells. The process of cell division, also called mitosis, is directed by electrical charges in the cell.
TTFields therapy disrupts the electrical charges by delivering alternating electrical fields into tumors. In cell division, once the electrical charges in cancer cells are disrupted, cell division cannot be completed, which can result in cancer cell death.
Because cancer cells differ from healthy cells in many ways, including how quickly they reproduce and their electrical properties, TTFields therapy does
not generally affect healthy cells.
TTFields therapy is approved to treat multiple solid tumor cancers. It is delivered through a non-invasive, wearable medical device, and due to its multimechanistic actions, it can be added to other cancer treatments in approved indications and demonstrates enhanced effects across solid tumor types when used with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immune checkpoint inhibitors.
We continue to investigate the potential of TTFields to treat solid tumor cancers and have recently shared positive data from Phase 3 studies in pancreatic cancer and metastatic brain tumors caused by lung cancer.
The challenge of discovering and developing cancer treatment for solid tumor cancers is one we
share with a dedicated community of researchers, healthcare providers, investigators, and the patients and families who participate in and support clinical studies. We are grateful to these and the many other people supporting our patient-focused mission to extend the lives of those living with aggressive cancers.
Written by Novocure
For more information about TTFields therapy, the cancers it is approved to treat, and our ongoing clinical trials, visit Novocure.com