ESMO 2025 and new therapies in breast cancer: does society always benefit?
The 2025 ESMO Congress presented mature data that are redefining treatment standards across all breast cancer subtypes. In this Conference Report, published in Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, Nabil Ismaili (Mohammed VI Center for Research and Innovation, Rabat, Morocco) examines the societal impact of key presentations shaping the future of breast cancer care.
Abstract
The ESMO 2025 Congress delivered practice-defining data across breast cancer. Key results included the first overall survival benefit for an adjuvant CDK4/6 inhibitor in high-risk HR+/HER2− early breast cancer and T-DXd established as standard in high-risk HER2+ disease. Novel antibody-drug conjugates redefined first-line therapy for metastatic TNBC. Updated guidelines mandate broader NGS profiling for PALB2, AKT1, and PTEN alterations. A strong emphasis emerged on biomarker-driven de-escalation, strategic sequencing, and proactive endocrine resistance management. However, benefits must be balanced against cost, equity, and the need for academically derived biomarkers. This report summarizes pivotal presentations reshaping clinical decision-making while reflecting on societal impact.