Audio Journal of Oncology Podcast

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As the leading authoritative, peer-reviewed audio source of oncology clinical news for clinicians and healthcare professionals, the AJO Podcast regularly brings you exclusive interviews with the world's leading researchers and clinicians responsible for pushing out the boundaries of science and practice. Medicine, screening, radiotherapy, surgery, clinical trials, cancer care, epidemiology and prevention are covered impartially to give busy cancer professionals access to conversational spoken comments on the clinical implications of cancer developments in the real-world context, as practiced by cancer doctors and clinicians around the globe. The AJO Podcast originates from the Audio Journal of Oncology staffed by ex-BBC professional journalists, and mentored by world-leading cancer practitioners from bodies including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research UK, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, and Action Radiotherapy. Each podcast is produced to the highest standards of audio recording and journalism and is subject to editorial appraisal to maintain that content, balance and clinical relevance of news and comment are delivered in a manner that's easy and enjoyable for listening while travelling, taking exercise, working or just relaxing. Please contact Audio Medica with your comments and make your contribution to supporting a vibrant community of clinical cancer communicators!

  1. Fleur Mauritz MD; EBCC 2026: RAPCHEM Study Shows Risk-Based Radiotherapy De-Escalation is Safe After Primary Systemic Therapy for Early Breast Cancer

    1D AGO

    Fleur Mauritz MD; EBCC 2026: RAPCHEM Study Shows Risk-Based Radiotherapy De-Escalation is Safe After Primary Systemic Therapy for Early Breast Cancer

    RAPCHEM Study Shows Risk-Based Radiotherapy De-Escalation is Safe After Primary Systemic Therapy for Early Breast Cancer An interview with: Fleur Mauritz MD, Resident in Radiation Oncology, MAASTRO Institute of Radiation Oncology and Research, Maastricht, Netherlands BACELONA, Spain—Radiation therapy after primary systemic therapy for early breast cancer can be safely de-escalated according to risk in the light of 10-year follow-up findings from the RAPCHEM study reported at the 2026 European Breast Cancer Conference. First author Fleur Mauritz MD, who is a resident in radiation oncology at the MAASTRO Institute of Radiation Oncology and Research in Maastricht, Netherlands, gave the Audio Journal of Oncology’s Peter Goodwin the latest: AUDIO JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY; Fleur Mauritz MD IN: [GOODWIN]”….Welcome to the ….. OUT:   ….for the Audio Journal of Oncology, Goodbye.” 6:08secs EBCC 2026 Abstract no: 1, ‘Radiotherapy Long term results of Radiation therapy de-escalation in cT1-2N1 breast cancer After Primary CHEMotherapy (RAPCHEM: BOOG 2010-03): 10-year follow-up results of a Dutch, prospective, registry study’ Authors: Mauritz1,, L. de Munck2,, J. Simons3,, J. Verloop2,, T. van Dalen4,, P. Elkhuizen5,, A. Scholten5,, R. Houben1,, A.E. van Leeuwen6,, S. Linn7,, R. Pijnappel8,, P. Poortmans9,10, L. Strobbe11,, J. Wesseling12,, A. Voogd2,13, L. Boersma1,. 1Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Dept. of Radiation Oncology Maastro- GROW Research Institute for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht, The Netherlands. 2Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Dept. of Research and Development, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 3Erasmus MC, Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 4Erasmus MC, Dept. of Surgery, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 5Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 6f Dutch Breast Cancer Research Group, BOOG Study Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 7Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Dept. of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 8University Medical Centre Utrecht, Dept. of Radiology, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 9Iridium Netwerk, Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Wilrijk-Antwerp, Belgium. 10University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wilrijk-Antwerp, Belgium. 11Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital Nijmegen, Dept. of Surgery, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 12Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Dept. of Pathology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 13Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Dept. Epidemiology- GROW Research Institute for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht, The Netherlands. BACKGROUND The five-year results of the RAPCHEM study (De Wild et al, 2022) and the recently published NSABP-B51 trial (Mamounas et al, 2025) suggest that locoregional radiation therapy (RT) can be tailored to the ypN-status in cT1-2N+ breast cancer (BC) patients treated with primary systemic treatment (PST). However, long-term results are lacking. Here we present the 10-year results of the RAPCHEM study, a prospective registry study, evaluating the long-term safety of tailoring locoregional RT to the nodal response after PST, for locoregional recurrence rate (LRR), recurrence free interval (RFI) and overall survival (OS). MATERIAL AND METHODS From January 2011 to January 2015, cT1-2N+M0 (4 suspicious nodes at imaging) BC patients were prospectively included. Patients were treated with PST followed by lumpectomy or mastectomy in combination with a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNLB) and/or removal of marked axillary lymph nodes (MARI), or an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). cN+ status was histologically confirmed. Three risk groups were defined based on ypN-status, with corresponding RT strategy. Low-risk group (ypN0): whole breast RT (WBRT) after lumpectomy, no RT after mastectomy. Intermediate-risk group (ypN1): WBRT or chest wall RT, and in case of no ALND, RT of axillary levels 1-2. High-risk group (ypN2+): WBRT or chest wall RT, RT of the non-resected part of the axilla (levels 3-4 after ALND, and levels 1-4 if no ALND) with/without internal mammary nodes RT. The endpoints of the current analysis were 10-year LRR, RFI and OS. RFI was defined as time between primary diagnosis until first event (either local, regional, or distant recurrence, or death from BC). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used, and log-rank test to compare differences between groups. RESULTS Of the 848 included patients, ten were lost to follow-up. Twenty-four patients had a LRR without synchronous distant metastases. The 10-year LRR was 2.7% for the total cohort, and 2.1%, 3.2% and 2.8% respectively, for the low-, intermediate- and high-risk group. The 10-year RFI was 79.2% and the 10-year OS was 83.0%, both with significant differences between risk groups (Table 1). CONCLUSION De-escalation of locoregional RT after PST appears to be safe in terms of LRR. Stratification in risk groups seems appropriate, even when omitting regional RT (and chest wall RT in case of mastectomy) in the low-risk group, and RT of levels 3-4 in the intermediate-risk group. 00080-8/abstract PRESS RELEASE: Breast cancer recurrence remains low, even after ten years, with radiotherapy tailored to patient’s individual risk Barcelona, Spain: The chances of breast cancer recurring remain very low when patients are treated with radiotherapy that is tailored to their individual risk following chemotherapy and surgery. These are the findings of a ten-year study presented at the 15th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC15) in Barcelona today (Wednesday). In the study, radiotherapy treatment was selected according to whether there were still signs of breast cancer cells in patients’ lymph nodes after chemotherapy and surgery. For women with no signs of cancer remaining in the lymph nodes, this approach meant minimal or even no radiotherapy. Scaling treatment down can in turn reduce side-effects for patients. The research was presented by Dr Fleur Mauritz, a radiation oncologist in training at Maastro, Maastricht Radiation Oncology Institute, The Netherlands. She said: “For many patients with breast cancer, the first treatment is chemotherapy. This can shrink the tumour and kill off any cancer cells that are starting to spread into the body, before surgery. “We know that radiotherapy reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence, especially when patients have had surgery to remove a tumour, rather than the whole breast, and when there are signs of cancer in the lymph nodes. This study examined whether it’s possible to scale back radiotherapy in patients whose cancer shows a good response when chemotherapy is given prior to surgery.” The study included 848 patients who were treated at 17 cancer centres in The Netherlands between 2011 and 2015. Each patient had a small breast tumour (measuring under five centimetres) with signs of cancer spread in only one, two or three lymph nodes. Following chemotherapy and surgery, the patients were categorised into three different risk groups. Patients who no longer had signs of cancer in their lymph nodes were categorised as low risk and were given radiotherapy to the breast if their surgery removed the tumour, or no radiotherapy if they had their breast removed (mastectomy). Patients who had signs of cancer in only one to three lymph nodes were categorised as intermediate risk and treated with radiotherapy to the breast area without irradiating the nearby lymph nodes. Patients with signs of cancer in four or more lymph nodes, were categorised as high risk and treated with radiotherapy to the breast area and the lymph nodes in the surrounding area. In the following ten years, only 24 out of all 838 patients who completed follow-up (2.9%) experienced a recurrence in the breast, chest wall or lymph nodes (without signs of cancer spread elsewhere in the body). In the low-risk group, seven out of 291 patients (2.4%) developed a recurrence; in the intermediate-risk group, 12 out of 370 patients (3.2%) developed a recurrence; and in the high-risk groups five out of 177 patients (2.8%) developed a recurrence. [1] Dr Mauritz said: “The results of our study show that tailoring the extent of radiotherapy according to how well the chemotherapy has worked to treat cancer in the lymph nodes, leads to very low and reassuring recurrence rates in the breast and surrounding area. In a selected group of patients, we see very low recurrence rates even when we leave radiotherapy out completely. “A major strength of our study is that it’s the first to demonstrate the benefits of tailoring radiotherapy for this group of patients over a ten-year period. It is important to note that most patients in the study underwent axillary lymph node dissection, a procedure that was common ten years ago but is used less often in current practice. This study did not compare patients treated with and without radiation therapy. For the final conclusion, we will have to wait for the results of a randomised trial from the USA, which are expected in three years.” [2] Dr Mauritz and her colleagues plan to study more about the risk factors for breast cancer recurrence, for example looking at tumour characteristics, and precisely where cancer recurs, to help refine radiotherapy in the future. The Chair of EBCC15, Professor Isabel Rubio, Head of Breast Surgical Oncology at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra in Madrid, Spain, was not involved in this research. She said: “Reducing radiotherapy after chemotherapy appears safe in terms of the risk of recurrence. Choosing the amount of treatment based on the risk of recurrence also seems appropriate: radiotherapy may be omitted in low-risk patients after mastectomy, while in intermediate-risk patients, targeted radiotherapy remains advisable. Overall, this study reinforces that stratifying patients by risk, which supports more personalised treatment, helps to ensure the

    6 min
  2. Jelle Wesseling MD PhD; 2026 EBCC: ‘Lord’ Trial Finds Active Surveillance for Estrogen-Receptor-Positive, HER2- Negative, Grade 1–2 DCIS Just As Effective as Standard Therapy

    2D AGO

    Jelle Wesseling MD PhD; 2026 EBCC: ‘Lord’ Trial Finds Active Surveillance for Estrogen-Receptor-Positive, HER2- Negative, Grade 1–2 DCIS Just As Effective as Standard Therapy

    ‘Lord’ Trial Finds Active Surveillance for Estrogen-Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative, Grade 1–2 DCIS Just As Effective as Standard Therapy An interview with: Jelle Wesseling MD PhD, Pathologist, Medical Director, Early Cancers Detection Centre, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Division of Molecular Pathology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. BARCELONA, Spain: Because low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is often unlikely to progress to breast cancer, de-escalating therapy was on the agenda of the Lord trial of active surveillance, that was reported at the 2026 European Breast Cancer Conference. The findings were reassuring: So much so that randomization was stopped early. The lead study author, pathologist Jelle Wesseling MD PhD who is Medical Director of the Early Cancers Detection Centre at the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam, gave the details to the Audio Journal of Oncology’s Peter Goodwin. AUDIO JOURNAL OF ONCOLGY: Jelle Wesseling MD PhD IN: [GOODWIN]” I am at the European Breast …. OUT:  ….of Oncology, I’m Peter Goodwin 10:34secs EBCC 2025 Abstract no: 2LBA: “De-escalating treatment for low-risk Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: early safety of active surveillance without endocrine therapy in the prespecified interim analysis of the LORD-trial* (BOOG 2014-04)” Authors: Wesseling1,2,3,4, M. Nieberg1, S. Aleikhaneshir1, L. Elshof1, R. Schmitz1, C. Sondermeijer5, S. Balduzzi5, K. Pengel5, J. Weiner1, M. Gerritsma6, E. Engelhardt6, E. Bleiker6, E. Verschuur7, I. Langerak8, R. Mann9, E. van Leeuwen-Stok10, E. Lips1, N. Bijker11, F. van Duijnhoven12 1The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Division of Molecular Pathology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Leiden, The Netherlands 3 The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Center of Early Cancer Detection, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 4The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Department of Pathology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 5The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Biometrics Department, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 6The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 7Europa Donna & Dutch Breast Cancer Patient Association BVN, Patient Advocacy, Utrecht, The Netherlands 8Dutch Breast Cancer Patient Association BVN, Patient Advocacy, Utrecht, The Netherlands 9The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Department of Radiology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 10BOOG Study Center, National Breast Cancer Trial Coordination, Utrecht, The Netherlands 11The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Depratment of Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 12The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Department of Surgical Oncology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Background Active surveillance has been proposed as a de-escalation strategy for women with low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The LORD-trial evaluates the safety of active surveillance compared with standard treatment in women with estrogen-receptor-positive, HER2- negative, grade 1–2 DCIS. Methods The LORD-trial is a multicentre study that followed a patient-preference design after initial randomization proved infeasible. The primary endpoint is ipsilateral invasive breast cancer (iiBC)-free rate at 10 years. A prespecified, non-binding interim futility analysis was planned after 60 iiBC events. Results DSMB prespecified interim analysis 1,423 women had been enrolled with a median follow-up of 23 months. The first n=73 were randomized between the two arms. After transforming to a patient preference design, n=1,025 patients opted for active surveillance and n=330 for standard treatment. No patients received endocrine therapy. On an intention-to-treat basis, iiBC occurred in 4/363 (1%) women allocated to standard treatment and 63/1,060 (6%) women undergoing active surveillance. Based on these findings, the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) advised cessation of registration and recruitment, while continuing follow-up of enrolled patients. Cohort analysis When iiBCs detected at primary surgery in the standard-treatment group were additionally considered, cumulative iiBC incidence was similar between strategies: 33/363 (9%) in the standard-treatment arm and 63/1060 (6%) in active surveillance. Cases with full pathology characteristics available – for 31 and 55, respectively – were compared between the two arms (Table 1). Conclusions The prespecified DSMB interim analysis resulted in a recommendation to stop inclusion for reasons of futility, leading to early closure of trial inclusion. Follow-up of included women was recommended and is ongoing to assess long-term outcomes and inform the safety of de-escalation strategies for DCIS. Table 1. Comparison iiBCs with fully known pathology characteristics per arm in the cohort analysis https://cm.eortc.org/cmPortal/Searchable/ebcc15/config/Normal#!abstractdetails/0000992920  https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02492607 Jelle Wesseling Audio Journal of Oncology TEXT April 2nd, 2026

    11 min
  3. Elisa Agostinetto MD; 2026 EBCC: Circulating Tumor DNA Trumps Clinical Prognostic Markers After Neoadjuvant Therapy for Patients with Early Breast Cancer

    3D AGO

    Elisa Agostinetto MD; 2026 EBCC: Circulating Tumor DNA Trumps Clinical Prognostic Markers After Neoadjuvant Therapy for Patients with Early Breast Cancer

    Circulating Tumor DNA Trumps Clinical Prognostic Markers After Neoadjuvant Therapy for Patients with Early Breast Cancer An interview with: Elisa Agostinetto MD, Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium BARCELONA, Spain—Among patients being treated with neoadjuvant therapy for their early breast cancers, circulating tumor DNA performed better as an independent prognostic marker for predicting relapse and disease progression than clinical markers such as pathological complete remission. This was according to prospective study data from Belgium and Italy reported at the 2026 European Breast Cancer Conference by Elisa Agostinetto MD, a medical oncologist from the Institut Jules Bordet in Brussels. She discussed her findings with Audio Journal of Oncology reporter, Peter Goodwin: AUDIO J0URNAL OF ONCOLOGY: Elisa Agostinetto MD IN: [GOODWIN] “I’m here at the …… OUT:  ……of Oncology, I’m Peter Goodwin  10:04secs EBCC 2026: Abstract no: 12 Circulating tumor DNA at completion of neoadjuvant therapy is an independent prognostic marker: an individual patient-level pooled analysis of two prospective studies Agostinetto1, V. Appierto2, P. Minicozzi3, C. Sotiriou1, F. Rothé1, E. Tamborini2, F. Lebrun4, Belfiore2, D. t’Kint4, L. De Cecco5, L. Buisseret4, M.C. De Santis6, A. Gombos4, G. Bianchi7, Aftimos4, P. Verderio3, D. Vincent4, G. Pruneri2, M. Ignatiadis4, S. Di Cosimo MD2 1Institut Jules Bordet- Université libre de Bruxelles ULB- Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles H.U.B, Breast Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Brussels, Belgium 2Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Advanced Diagnostics, Milan, Italy 3Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Epidemiology and Data Science, Milan, Italy 4Institut Jules Bordet- Université libre de Bruxelles ULB- Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles H.U.B, Medical Oncology, Brussels, Belgium 5Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Experimental Oncology, Mian, Italy 6Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Radiation Oncology, Milan, Italy 7Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Medical Oncology, Milan, Italy Background: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising biomarker in early breast cancer. However, limited sample sizes in available clinical studies weaken neoadjuvant evidence. Materials and methods: Data from two independent prospective observational studies, one at the Institut Jules Bordet (Brussels), and one at the Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori (Milan), were pooled at the individual patient level for joint analysis. In both studies, women with early breast cancer received neoadjuvant therapy and underwent primary tumor-informed ctDNA assays at predefined time points: baseline (before initiation of neoadjuvant therapy), end of neoadjuvant therapy before surgery (EoT), and during follow-up. Associations between ctDNA detection and clinico- pathological variables (age, tumor size [e.g. T ≤5 cm vs. >5 cm], hormone receptor status, HER2 status, and pathological complete response (pCR) were evaluated using χ2 or Wilcoxon tests, as appropriate. The effect of ctDNA on event-free survival (EFS) was analyzed by univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for relevant covariates. A two-sided p value 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 81 patients were analyzed. Median age was 48 (range 27-75) years at diagnosis; most had T≤5 cm (72%), node positive (68%) and triple negative (60%) disease. Breast cancer events were 26 throughout a median follow-up of 7 years (IQR 5.3-8.8). ctDNA was detected in 31/54 (57.4%) plasma samples at baseline, and in 11/64 (17%) plasma samples at the EoT. The detection of ctDNA was significantly associated with hormone receptor-negative status both at baseline and at the EoT (p0.05). No association with pCR was observed at any time point. Patients with baseline ctDNA detection showed a non significant trend toward worse EFS (HR 1.56, 95% CI 0.58-4.22). Notably, detection of ctDNA at the EoT predicted breast cancer events and remained independently associated with decreased EFS even after adjustment for all other clinicopathological variables including pCR (HR 3.58, 95% CI 1.33-9.60). Conclusions: This individual patient-level pooled analysis includes one of the largest numbers of events reported to date in the ctDNA literature. ctDNA predicted breast cancer relapse, particularly when detected at the end of treatment, supporting the use of ctDNA for post-neoadjuvant risk stratification and subsequent therapeutic strategies.

    10 min
  4. Kerstin Wimmer MD; 2026 EBCC: Polyurethane-Coated Implants Reduce Capsular Contracture Risk after Mastectomy with Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer

    4D AGO

    Kerstin Wimmer MD; 2026 EBCC: Polyurethane-Coated Implants Reduce Capsular Contracture Risk after Mastectomy with Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer

    Polyurethane-Coated Implants Reduce Capsular Contracture Risk after Mastectomy with Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer An interview with: Kerstin Wimmer  MD, Medical University of Vienna, Department of General Surgery, Vienna, Austria; Post-Doctoral Researcher, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden BARCELONA, Spain—Women who had mastectomy with immediate pre-pectoral breast reconstruction followed by radiotherapy had less risk of capsular contracture when polyurethane-coated breast implants were used rather than un-coated implants. This finding from the OPBC-09 PRExRT study was reported at the 2026 European Breast Cancer Conference by Kerstin Wimmer MD, from the Medical University of Vienna’s Department of General Surgery in Vienna, Austria, who is currently doing post-doctoral researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. After her presentation, she discussed the findings with Audio Journal of Oncology correspondent Peter Goodwin: AUDIO JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY: Kerstin Wimmer MD IN: [GOODWIN]”Peter Goodwin here, reporting…… OUT: on Oncology, I’m Peter Goodwin 2026 EBCC: Barcelona Abstract no: 2 The impact of polyurethane coated implants on the risk of capsular contracture after immediate prepectoral breast reconstruction in the setting of postmastectomy radiotherapy: the OPBC-09 PRExRT study Wimmer1, R. Kiblawi2, F. Fitzal3, C. Kohl4, L. Stenman Skarsgård5, G. Franceschini6, D. Virzi7, Molska8, J.M. Broyles9, A. Agrawal10, G. Montagna11, M. Rivas Ibarra12, M. Banys-Paluchowski13, M. Knauer14, E. Gonzales15, J. Letzkus Berrios16, G. Karadeniz Çakmak17, D. Vorburger18, Ferrucci19, W.P. Weber20 OPBC study group 1Medical University of Vienna, Department of General Surgery, Vienna, Austria 2University Hospital Basel, Department of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Basel, Austria 3Hanusch Hospital, Department of Breast Reconstruction, Vienna, Austria 4Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Interdisciplinary Breast Center, Essen, Germany 5Oslo University Hospital, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oslo, Norway 6Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Department of Science and Health of Women- Children and Public Health, Rome, Italy 7Humanitas Istituto Clinico Catanese, Plastic Surgery Unit, Catania, Italy 8University Hospital Zielona Góra, Clinical Department of General and Oncological Surgery, Zielona Góra, Poland 9Dana Farber/Brigham Cancer Center, Division of Breast Surgery- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, USA 10Cambridge University Hospitals, Department of Breast Surgery, Cambridge, United Kingdom 11Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Breast Service- Department of Surgery, New York, USA 12Arturo López Pérez Foundation, Department of Breast Surgery, Santiago, Chile 13University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein- Campus Lübeck, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Lübeck, Germany 14Tumor and Breast Center Eastern Switzerland, Tumor and Breast Center, St.Gallen, Switzerland 15Sanatorio Modelo Quilmes, Department of Senology, Buenos Aires, Argentina 16San Borja Arriarán Clinical Hospital-Clínica MEDS, Breast Surgical Unit, Santiago, Chile 17Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery, Zonguldak, Turkey 18University Hospital Zurich, Breast Cancer Center- Department of Gynecology, Zurich, Switzerland 19IRCCS, Veneto Institute of Oncology, Padova, Italy 20University Hospital Basel, Breast Clinic, Basel, Switzerland Introduction Patients with breast cancer undergoing mastectomy with implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR), who are at high risk of locoregional recurrence, often require postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT), which increases the risk of capsular contracture (CC). The present study assessed the association between use of polyurethane coated (PUc) versus non-PUc implants and the need for surgical revision due to CC in the setting of PMRT. Material and methods This international multicenter retrospective real-world study included patients with breast cancer who underwent nipple- (NSM) or skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) with prepectoral IBBR with or without PUc implants followed by PMRT. Primary endpoint was surgical revision due to CC and was analyzed using Cox regression models. Results 1183 women treated between 2016 to 2022 at 19 sites in 13 countries (4 continents) were included. Of them, 773 (65.3%) underwent non-PUc IBBR and 410 (34.7%) PUc IBBR. Median age was 47 years (IQR 41-54) and median BMI was 24.4 kg/m2 (IQR 22- 27.6). Median follow-up was 30.8 months (IQR 18.4-45.4) in the non-PUc group and 37.4 months (IQR 30-46.2) in the PUc group (p0.001). Of 1183 patients, 863 (73%) had invasive ductal carcinoma and 654 (55.3%) hormone receptor–positive/HER2 negative disease, with a median Ki-67 of 25% (IQR 12-44%). Compared to PUc IBBR, use of non-PUc implants was associated with less frequent NSM (32.5% vs. 73.7%, p 0.001), more frequent use of synthetic mesh (20.3% vs. 1%, p 0.001) or acellular dermal matrix (20.3% vs. 1.2%, p 0.001), and with one-stage IBBR (76.6% vs. 92.2%, p 0.001). Compared to PUc IBBR, use of non-PUc implants was associated with a higher rate of surgical revision due to CC (35.7% vs. 10.1%; hazard ratio [HR] 3.7, 95%CI 2.6-5.4, p 0.001). The rate of any CC was also significantly higher in the non-PUc compared to the PUc group (58.7% vs. 33.3%; HR 1.9, 95%CI 1.5-2.4, p 0.001). The likelihood of major infection (OR 3.9, 95%CI 2.2-7.6, p0.001), implant loss (OR 11, 95%CI 6.7-19.1, p0.001), reoperation (OR 3.3, 95%CI 2.4-4.6, p 0.001) and implant exposure (OR 7.9, 95%CI 2.6-35,p=0.001) was also higher in the non-PUc group. Conclusions This study showed a strong association between use of non-PUc vs. PUc implants and higher likelihood of surgical revision due to CC, as well as higher risk of complications, in the setting of PMRT. These findings may inform implant selection and reconstructive planning for irradiated patients. Kerstin Wimmer EBCC 2026 A. J. Oncology, March 31, 2026

    7 min
  5. Fatima Cardoso MD; 2026 EBCC: OASIS-4 Trial Finds Elinzanetant Cuts Vasomotor Symptoms (“Hot Flashes”) in Endocrine Therapy-Treated Patients with Breast Cancer

    5D AGO

    Fatima Cardoso MD; 2026 EBCC: OASIS-4 Trial Finds Elinzanetant Cuts Vasomotor Symptoms (“Hot Flashes”) in Endocrine Therapy-Treated Patients with Breast Cancer

    OASIS-4 Trial Finds Elinzanetant Cuts Vasomotor Symptoms (“Hot Flashes”) in Endocrine Therapy-Treated Patients with Breast Cancer An interview with: Fatima Cardoso MD, Medical Oncologist, Head of Clinical Research & International Collaboration in Breast Cancer, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France BARCELONA, Spain—Vasomotor symptoms, or “hot flashes”, were greatly reduced in the OASIS-4 phase three placebo-controlled trial among patients receiving endocrine therapy for their breast cancers who were randomized to treatment with the dual neurokinin receptor antagonist elinzanetant.  This was in data reported to the 2026 European Breast Cancer Conference by Professor Fatima Cardoso, a medical oncologist who is Head of Clinical Research and International Collaboration in Breast Cancer at the Centre Antoine Lacassagne in Nice, France. After talking at the conference she met up with the Audio Journal of Oncology’s reporter, Peter Goodwin: AUDIO JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY: Fatima Cardoso MD IN: [GOODWIN]”I am here now with Fatima …. OUT:  …..Oncology, I’m Peter Goodwin  10:30 EBCC 2026 ABSTRACT Abstract no: 3 Efficacy of elinzanetant for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms in women with breast cancer: subgroup analysis of the OASIS-4 trial by type of endocrine therapy Cardoso1, D. Brennan2, T. Simoncini3, L. Wahyudi4, K. Laapas5, C. Seitz6,7 1Champalimaud Clinical Center/Champalimaud Foundation and ABC Global Alliance, Breast Unit, Lisbon, Portugal 2UCD School of Medicine, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland 3University of Pisa, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Pisa, Italy 4Bayer CC AG, Medical & Evidence CGT- OPH & WHC CH, Basel, Switzerland 5Bayer Oy, Development- Pharmaceuticals, Espoo, Finland 6Bayer AG, Clinical Development, Berlin, Germany 7Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Medical Faculty, Berlin, Germany Background In the Phase III trial OASIS-4 (NCT05587296), elinzanetant (EZN), a dual neurokinin (NK)-targeted therapy (NK1 and NK3 receptor antagonist), significantly reduced vasomotor symptom (VMS) frequency vs placebo (PBO) in women taking endocrine therapy (ET) for hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer. This subgroup analysis evaluated EZN’s effects on VMS frequency and severity by type of ET in OASIS-4. Materials and methods Women aged 18–70 years experiencing ≥35 moderate-to-severe VMS/week caused by ET for HR+ breast cancer were randomized 2:1 to receive EZN 120 mg for 52 weeks or PBO for 12 weeks followed by EZN for 40 weeks. Mean changes from baseline in daily moderate-to-severe VMS frequency and severity to weeks 1 (frequency only), 4 and 12 were analyzed by ET type (tamoxifen [TAM], aromatase inhibitor [AI], ovarian function suppression [OFS; i.e., GnRH], no OFS). This post hoc analysis was not powered for statistical testing. Results Mean age (years) was 50.4 for TAM, 51.9 for AI, 45.2 for OFS and 53.4 for no OFS. At baseline, mean average daily moderate-to-severe VMS frequency ranged from 10.8-12.5 per day while VMS severity was 2.5 in all subgroups. Greater reductions in VMS frequency with EZN vs PBO were seen by week 1 across all subgroups (range EZN: -3.3 to -4.2; PBO: -1.6 to -2.1), with further reductions at week 4 (range EZN: -5.6 to -6.9; PBO: -2.5 to -3.7) and 12 (range EZN: -6.9 to -8.1; PBO: -3.0 to -5.8). A similar trend was observed for VMS severity at weeks 4 and 12 (Table). Reductions in VMS frequency and severity were maintained throughout the 52-week treatment period. Conclusions Consistent with results in the overall population, EZN had greater reductions in VMS frequency and severity than PBO with rapid onset and sustained effect over 52 weeks, irrespective of the type of ET. Fatima Cardoso MD at EBCC 2026 A J Oncology March 28, 2026

    11 min
  6. Elisabetta Bonzano MD PhD; 2025 EBCC: BRAVE-HEART Study Shows How Breath-Holding System Halves Coronary Radiation Dose During Left Breast Irradiation

    MAR 27

    Elisabetta Bonzano MD PhD; 2025 EBCC: BRAVE-HEART Study Shows How Breath-Holding System Halves Coronary Radiation Dose During Left Breast Irradiation

    BRAVE-HEART Study Shows How Breath-Holding System Halves Coronary Radiation Dose During Left Breast Irradiation An interview with: Elisabetta Bonzano MD PhD, IRCCS San Matteo Polyclinic Foundation, Radiation Oncology, Pavia, Italy BARCELONA, Spain—A system known as Active Breathing Co-ordination had a large, consistent and significant effect in reducing radiation dose to the heart and left anterior descending coronary artery in the BRAVE HEART study led by radiation oncologists from Pavia in Italy. Elisabetta Bonzano MD PhD, IRCCS San Matteo Polyclinic Foundation, Radiation Oncology, Pavia, Italy reported her group’s findings at the 2025 European Breast Cancer Conference. Afterwards she talked about more of the details for this edition of the Audio Journal of Oncology: AUDIO JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY: Elisabetta Bonzano MD PhD IN: [GOODWIN]” Peter Goodwin here at the…. OUT: ………of Oncology, I’m Peter Goodwin.  5: 54 secs EBCC Presentation number:PB-008 Abstract title: BRAVE-HEART: Clinical and dosimetric validation of Active Breath Control for cardiac sparing in breast cancer radiotherapy Bonzano1,, L. Squillace1,, A. Lancia1,, J. Saddi1,, S. Colombo1,, S. La Mattina1,, D.A. Santos1,, P. Pedrazzoli2,. 1IRCCS San Matteo Polyclinic Foundation, Radiation Oncology, Pavia, Italy. 2IRCCS San Matteo Polyclinic Foundation, Oncology, Pavia, Italy. Background: Cardiac exposure during left-sided breast cancer (LBC) radiotherapy remains a key determinant of long-term morbidity and mortality. The BRAVE-HEART trial explores the clinical and dosimetric impact of Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) using the Active Breathing Coordinator (ABC) system. This analysis quantifies the cardiac-sparing effect of ABC versus free-breathing (FB) across three fractionation schedules, validates its intrinsic benefit through intra-patient paired replanning, and assesses real-world feasibility. (ClinicalTrials.gov awaiting release) Methods: This ambispective single-center study included 400 patients with early or locally advanced LBC treated with 26 Gy/5 fx, 40 Gy/15 fx, or 50 Gy/25 fx ± SIB. Dosimetric parameters were extracted for the heart and LAD (Dmean, Dmax). Statistical analyses used the Shapiro–Wilk, Mann–Whitney U, and Wilcoxon tests; effect size was reported as Cohen’s d. Model-based estimation of cardiac mortality risk (NTCP) was performed for the replanning subgroup using the Gagliardi relative-seriality model. For this subgroup, paired FB and ABC-DIBH plans were generated on separate CT scans. Breath-hold performance (hold duration, threshold volume) was recorded to evaluate feasibility. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. Results: ABC significantly reduced cardiac and LAD exposure across all fractionations (all p 0.001), with large effect sizes (Cohen’s d ≥0.8) indicating a strong clinical impact (Tab. 1). In intra-patient replanning, ABC confirmed its dosimetric superiority over FB (p 0.05). Model-based NTCP for late cardiac mortality showed a halving of predicted cardiac risk with ABC (0.04 vs 0.08, p 0.001). Breath-hold metrics confirmed high feasibility (mean DIBH ≈ 25 s; threshold ≈ 1.4 L), including in elderly patients (mean age 75 years). Conclusions: ABC-assisted DIBH consistently and significantly reduced cardiac and coronary exposure across all dose regimens, with high reproducibility and feasibility. Model-based NTCP and intra-patient replanning analyses demonstrate a clinically and biologically relevant reduction in predicted long-term cardiac mortality, confirming ABC-DIBH as a reliable strategy to improve cardiac safety in left-sided breast cancer radiotherapy. Elisabetta Bonzano MD PhD

    6 min
  7. Philip Poortmans MD PhD; 2026 EBCC: European Breast Cancer Conference: Focus on Therapy De-escalation and Individualization

    MAR 27

    Philip Poortmans MD PhD; 2026 EBCC: European Breast Cancer Conference: Focus on Therapy De-escalation and Individualization

    European Breast Cancer Conference: Focus on Therapy De-escalation and Individualization An interview with: Philip Poortmans MD PhD, Radiation Oncology Department, University of Antwerp & Iridium Netwerk, Belgium  BARCELONA, Spain—One of the important themes at the 2026 European Breast Cancer Conference was to individualize therapy for every patient by de-escalating some modalities of treatment in the light of the increasing efficacy of others.  The Audio Journal of Oncology sought the opinion of one of Europe’s oncology leaders,  Philip Poortmans MD, PhD, researcher at the Iridium Netwerk and the University of Antwerp, in Belgium about findings from the EUROPA trial looking at older patients with early breast cancer, new date on omitting radiation boost to the tumor bed after breast conserving therapy, using axillary radiotherapy in place of axillary node dissection, and the case for watchful waiting in more patients with DCIS. AUDIO JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY PODCAST: Philip Poortmans MD PhD IN:  [GOODIN] “Now, Philip Poortmans is ….. OUT:  …….of Oncology, I’m Peter Goodwin  11:57secs Philip Poortmans MD PhD A J Oncology EBCC 2026

    12 min
  8. Tess Snellen MD; 2026 EBCC: Molecular Test Distinguishes Ipsilateral Second Primary from Recurrent Breast Cancer

    MAR 25

    Tess Snellen MD; 2026 EBCC: Molecular Test Distinguishes Ipsilateral Second Primary from Recurrent Breast Cancer

    Molecular Test Distinguishes Ipsilateral Second Primary from Recurrent Breast Cancer An interview with: Tess Snellen MD, Netherlands Cancer Institute – Antoni van Leeuwenhoek hospital, Department of Surgical Oncology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. BARCELONA, Spain—A molecular test using next generation sequencing has proved able to distinguish swiftly, and with great accuracy, the recurrence of a patient’s ipsilateral breast cancer from a completely new primary tumor.  The 2026 European Breast Cancer Conference heard findings from researcher Tess Snellen from the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam, who then talked with our reporter, Peter Goodwin: AUDIO JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY: Tess Snellen MSc EBCC 2026 ABSTRACT: Distinguishing True Recurrence from Second Primary Breast Cancer by Molecular Clonality Analysis Snellen1,, E. Lips2,, L. Bosch3,, T. Wiersma4,, A. Scholten4,, M. Noë5,, M.J. Vrancken Peeters6,, V. Dezentjé7,. 1Netherlands Cancer Institute – Antoni van Leeuwenhoek hospital, Department of Surgical Oncology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Background A second breast cancer (BC) in the ipsilateral breast or regional lymph nodes may be a true recurrence (TR) or second primary (SP) tumor. This distinction is clinically relevant, as TRs are associated with a poorer prognosis and require a more challenging therapeutic approach compared to SPs. The aim of this study was to describe the findings and success rates of molecular clonality analysis (MCA) techniques used to distinguish a second ipsilateral BC as either a TR or a SP. In addition, a comparison between a MCA-based and a clinicopathological classification was made. Material and methods Through electronic patient files and pathology reports, data were collected from a historical cohort of patients who underwent MCA for a second ipsilateral locoregional BC at the Netherlands Cancer Institute between 2000 and 2024. The primary objective was to describe the findings and success rates of the different MCA techniques. The secondary objective was to compare molecular with clinicopathological classification using the Jobsen Morphology method. Results In total, 85 patients were included, in whom 99 MCAs were performed. Before 2017, all MCA involved loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis (100%), hereafter, targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel analysis and copy number variation (CNV) analysis were introduced. After 2017, targeted NGS panel analysis was most frequently applied (65.4%), followed by CNV (18.5%) and LOH analysis (16.0%). CNV analysis had the highest success rate (93.3%) yielding the most conclusive MCA results, followed by targeted NGS panel (73.6%), and LOH analysis (61.3%) (table 1). Of the 99 MCAs, 40.4% tumor pairs were classified as clonally related, 10.1% as likely clonally, 22.2% as not clonally related, 27.3% were inconclusive. A substantial discordance (29.6%) was observed between the MCA-based classification and Jobsen Morphology method, with clinicopathological assessment showing limited predictive value for MCA-determined TRs (PPV 78.7%, NPV 22.2%). Conclusion In conclusion, we demonstrate that MCA, especially targeted NGS panel and CNV analysis, is successful in distinguishing TRs from NPs. Clinicopathological classification using the Jobsen Morphology method however has limited value in predicting clonal relatedness. Therefore, we recommend implementing MCA in the diagnostic workup of second ipsilateral BC when the outcome may influence therapeutic decision-making, as part of a tailored treatment approach for BC recurrence. 260325 Tess Snellen EBCC 2026 Audio Journal of Oncology

    6 min
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As the leading authoritative, peer-reviewed audio source of oncology clinical news for clinicians and healthcare professionals, the AJO Podcast regularly brings you exclusive interviews with the world's leading researchers and clinicians responsible for pushing out the boundaries of science and practice. Medicine, screening, radiotherapy, surgery, clinical trials, cancer care, epidemiology and prevention are covered impartially to give busy cancer professionals access to conversational spoken comments on the clinical implications of cancer developments in the real-world context, as practiced by cancer doctors and clinicians around the globe. The AJO Podcast originates from the Audio Journal of Oncology staffed by ex-BBC professional journalists, and mentored by world-leading cancer practitioners from bodies including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research UK, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, and Action Radiotherapy. Each podcast is produced to the highest standards of audio recording and journalism and is subject to editorial appraisal to maintain that content, balance and clinical relevance of news and comment are delivered in a manner that's easy and enjoyable for listening while travelling, taking exercise, working or just relaxing. Please contact Audio Medica with your comments and make your contribution to supporting a vibrant community of clinical cancer communicators!

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