Peter Mac expertise front and centre at prestigious ESMO Congress
23 October 2025
Peter Mac researchers made a strong impression on the world stage at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Berlin, where their groundbreaking work in colon, breast, prostate and skin cancers was featured in high-profile presentations and simultaneous publications in Nature and Nature Medicine.
The ESMO congress, held from 17 to 21 October, attracted over 30,000 people from 150 countries and is one of the most influential oncology meetings for clinicians, researchers and patient advocates.
Professor Jayesh Desai, Peter Mac’s Associate Director of Clinical Research, said Peter Mac’s presence at ESMO reflected our strength across every stage of cancer research, from discovery through to clinical translation and implementation.
“Professor Jeanne Tie delivered a Presidential Symposium lecture to a full house on the role of circulating tumour DNA in helping to guide treatment choices in colon cancer,” he said.
“Her research was simultaneously published in Nature Medicine which highlights the significance and impact of her findings.
“Professor Sherene Loi also had a simultaneous publication in Nature and a high profile lecture where she presented her lab’s pertinent discovery on how breastfeeding confers protection against breast cancer.”
Professor Arun Azad’s reputation as a global leader in prostate cancer saw him invited as a discussant of a Presidential Symposium. Professor Azad also presented the first findings for a new treatment in metastatic prostate cancer that was conducted at Peter Mac.
“I was also delighted to share, in a proffered paper session, the preliminary results of a first in human trial for a new KRAS treatment to manage advanced or metastatic solid tumours,” said Professor Desai.
“Our knowledge and advances in melanoma and skin tumours also shone through with Professor Danny Rischin discussing new findings from his trial with an immunotherapy treatment for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. This trial, led by Professor Rischin, resulted in the treatment recently receiving FDA approval.
“Enlightening us all during his multidisciplinary session was Professor Shankar Siva who discussed the management of renal cell carcinoma using SABR radiation.”
Professor Linda Mileshkin, Director of Medical Oncology said she was delighted to see medical oncology fellow Dr Jason Qin and a number of our junior consultant medical oncologists including Dr Julia Lai Kwon, Dr Wanda Cui, Dr Kortnye Smith, Dr Roslyn Wallace, Dr Joanna Chan, Dr Jane McKenzie and Dr Louise Kostos all presenting posters at the congress.
“It is wonderful to see the next generation of researchers making an impact early in their careers, she said.