Highlights from ESMO 2024 as a young head and neck oncologist.

Attending the 2024 ESMO Congress as a young physician is an invaluable opportunity to establish the foundation for a successful and impactful career in oncology. This experience can be transformative for one's professional development. The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024, held in Barcelona, Spain, served as a platform for the presentation and discussion of substantial advancements across various oncology disciplines. Research presented at the congress highlighted the expanding role of immunotherapy across various cancer types, including cervical, endometrial, melanoma, and bladder cancers, underscoring its potential to enhance patient outcomes. KEYNOTE-522 Trial demonstrated that neoadjuvant pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy, followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab, significantly improved overall survival in patients with high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer [1]. As a young head and neck oncologist, I found the results of the Mythos Trial particularly noteworthy. These findings underscore the potential of T-DXd in treating HER2-positive salivary gland cancers, presenting a novel approach to targeted therapy in this rare malignancy. The results may well influence future treatment guidelines and stimulate further research into HER2-targeted therapies for head and neck tumors [2]. The congress presented significant findings from the EORTC 1206-HNCG trial, focusing on salivary gland cancers (SGCs) expressing androgen receptors (ARs). The trial demonstrated that androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a viable treatment option for patients with AR-expressing SGCs, offering comparable efficacy to traditional chemotherapy.These findings suggest that ADT could be considered a standard treatment approach for patients with recurrent and/ormetastatic AR-expressing salivary gland cancers, potentially improving patient outcomes and quality of life [3]. The EA3163 trial, which was presented at the 2024 ESMO Congress, investigated the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on organ preservation in patients with advanced sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma. The study compared two treatment approaches, and the results indicated that patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a 50% chance of preserving vital structures like the eye and skull base, compared to only 15% in the standard treatment group. Notwithstanding the study's challenges in patient accrual and its failure to reach its planned enrollment, the observed data suggest that neoadjuvant chemotherapy may enhance organ preservation without compromising survival [4]. Attending ESMO as a young doctor was an enriching and inspiring experience. The exposure to cutting-edge research, networking opportunities, and practical insights significantly enhanced my knowledge and career trajectory. I would strongly recommend this congress to other young doctors aspiring to excel in oncology.