The European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Congress took place on 17th-21st October, showcasing the latest advances and insights from the global oncology community. As Europe’s largest oncology meeting, ESMO brings together thousands of researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders for an exchange of cutting-edge research and clinical innovation.
Members of the Department of Oncology were in Berlin to present their research, chair sessions, and network with collaborators from across Europe and beyond. Below are some of the highlights from our department’s contributions to ESMO 2025.
CMV Serostatus and Response to Immunotherapy in Melanoma
Gusztav Milotay, DPhil student in the Fairfax lab, investigates immunological responses to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in melanoma. He was awarded a poster prize at ESMO 2025 for his work looking at the relationship between cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus and response to ICB in melanoma.
Predicting immune-related hepatitis in melanoma
Martin Little, Clinical Research Training Fellow, focuses on cancer immunogenetics, particularly the involvement of the immune system in melanoma. At ESMO 2025, Dr Little presented findings on the predictive relationship between pre-treatment serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and the risk of immune-related hepatitis in patients undergoing treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors for melanoma.
ICON8B: Quality of life impact of a dose-dense chemotherapy regimen in advanced ovarian cancer
Sarah Blagden, Professor of Experimental Oncology and Lead for the Oxford Cancer Trials Office, presented health-related quality of life data from ICON8B: a Phase III randomised trial comparing first-line weekly dose-dense chemotherapy plus bevacizumab to the standard three-weekly chemotherapy plus bevacizumab in patients with high-risk stage III-IV epithelial ovarian cancer.
Targeting the STING Pathway: First-in-Human Trial Results
Eileen Parkes, Associate Professor and Consultant Medical Oncologist, specialises in innate tumour immunology, and is an international expert on the cyclic GMP–AMP synthase (cGAS)-STING innate immune pathway. At ESMO 2025, Dr Parkes presented initial findings from a Phase I, first-in-human trial of novel STING agonist, BI 1703880.
Emerging Insights into Cancer Immunotherapy
Ben Fairfax, Professor of Cancer Immunogenetics and Consultant in Medical Oncology, leads a lab focused on genetic and epigenetic determinants of inter-individual variation in immune responses, particularly in the context of melanoma. At ESMO 2025 Prof. Fairfax was an invited discussant in the proffered paper session, which highlighted key basic science discoveries shaping oncology practice.