ESMO 2026 in Madrid: new trials show survival gains in lung, rectal and endometrial cancer

Lung cancer trials

Two phase 3 lung cancer studies were presented at the ESMO 2026 congress in Madrid, which closes on 27 October. The Saffron trial tested osimertinib with savolitinib in patients whose disease had progressed on osimertinib alone. The combination cut the risk of progression or death by 45% against platinum-based chemotherapy, with progression-free survival of 7.6 months versus 5.4 months. Overall survival also improved, with a 32% lower risk of death and median survival longer by 4.9 months.

Osimertinib plus savolitinib7.6

Platinum chemotherapy5.4

Osimertinib plus savolitinib

7.6 months

Platinum chemotherapy

5.4 months

Data from the article text

Antonio Passaro of the European Institute of Oncology in Milan said the findings matter for patients whose disease progresses on osimertinib.

“These results mark a decisive step towards a new standard of care for patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer.”

Passaro estimated that MET alterations drive about a third of acquired resistance to osimertinib, and no oral targeted drug yet acts on that cause.

Oral drug for KRAS G12C lung cancer

Krascendo 1 enrolled 338 patients with advanced or metastatic lung cancer carrying a KRAS G12C mutation who had already received at least one therapy. Oral divarasib was compared with sotorasib or adagrasib. After a median follow-up of 14.3 months, divarasib cut the risk of death by 44%, and the response rate was 58.4% against 32.3% for the comparison drugs. Patients stayed on treatment about twice as long, with fewer stops caused by side effects. Roche describes divarasib as a next-generation, highly selective oral inhibitor.

Divarasib58.4%

Sotorasib or adagrasib32.3%

Divarasib

58.4 %

Sotorasib or adagrasib

32.3 %

Data from the article text

Immunotherapy for rectal cancer

The Azur-1 study enrolled 154 patients with locally advanced dMMR/MSI-H rectal cancer and tested dostarlimab. Lisa Salvatore of the Gemelli polyclinic reported a complete clinical response in 71% of patients.

“Achieving a complete clinical response in 71% of patients means these people do not need radiotherapy, chemotherapy or surgery.”

The primary endpoint was keeping that response at 12 months, which held in 68% of evaluable patients. Chiara Cremolini of the University of Pisa noted that the standard path of chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery can leave lasting effects on fertility, sexual function and stomas. The FDA has approved dostarlimab for this use, but the EMA has not yet. In Italy it is listed under Law 648, so it is not reimbursed by the national health service, yet it can be given to these patients without them paying.

Endometrial and stomach cancer

The TroFuse-005 phase 3 trial tested sacituzumab tirumotecan in 776 women with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer whose disease had progressed after chemotherapy and immunotherapy, at 242 centres in 31 countries. The drug cut the risk of death by 32% and extended median overall survival by 7 months, while reducing the risk of progression by 41%. Domenica Lorusso, the global lead investigator, said the findings could change how such patients are treated, and the results appeared in The Lancet. In the Keynote-C93 study, pembrolizumab alone reached a median progression-free survival of 38 months at a 36-month follow-up in patients with mismatch repair deficiency. For stomach cancer, Sara Lonardi of the Istituto Oncologico Veneto in Padua said sonesitatug vedotin halved the risk of death in very advanced patients who test positive for Claudin 18.2.

Pope Leo XIV's surgery and travel

The Holy See Press Office said on Monday, 26 October, that the Pope's recovery after surgery to remove a lung adenocarcinoma is progressing. The operation at the Gemelli hospital in October 2026 was successful without complications.

“The recovery of the Holy Father is proceeding, in line with favourable assessments communicated by the medical team following him.”

The tumour was found after tests prompted by stomach problems lasting a couple of days during his trip to France. Massimo Di Maio, president of AIOM, noted that lung nodules do not cause symptoms, so they are often found by chance. The Press Office also confirmed that the apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, scheduled for 6 to 17 November 2026, will follow the programme already published.