The ESMO Congress 2025 took place in Berlin from 17-21 October, marking its 50th anniversary.
The Royal Marsden is revolutionising the way cancer is diagnosed and treated for patients at the hospital and beyond.
At The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, your donations help to support life-saving research at the hospital. Together, we’re developing the next generation of cancer treatment. We support research across a range of cancer types, carried out by experts at The Royal Marsden to develop better, personalised treatment for people with cancer.
Read more about key studies that we supported in highlights from the ESMO Congress 2025.
New hope for lung cancer patients with a HER2 genetic mutation
Using a targeted drug called zongertinib, the Beamion LUNG-1 study has shown incredible results, shrinking tumours for 77% of lung cancer patients with a HER2 genetic mutation. When cells carry a HER2 mutation, they grow and divide faster than healthy cells. Incredibly, using this drug as a first line of treatment helped 96% of patients in the study to keep their cancer under control.
“The results of this study are highly significant and means new hope for lung cancer patients with the HER2 genetic mutation. Previously there has been no targeted therapy for these patients and they’re often put on intense treatment plans with chemotherapy with a lot of side effects. We have a new opportunity to improve patient outcomes and also enable them to have a better quality of life.”
- Professor Sanjay Popat, Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden and UK trial lead of the Beamion LUNG-1 study.
With your support, we fund the West Wing Clinical Research Centre at The Royal Marsden where the Beamion LUNG-1 study took place.
“I have been on the trial drug for over two years, my cancer has shrunk, and the side effects have been minimal, allowing me to have a much better quality of life. Thanks to this trial I have seen my first granddaughter go off to university in September and I hope to see her graduate in three years' time.”
- Susan, a patient at The Royal Marsden and participant of the Beamion LUNG-1 study, with her eldest grandchild.
Read more about the results from the Beamion LUNG-1 study at The Royal Marsden.
High-risk kidney cancer patients could remain disease-free for longer
Results from the RAMPART trial showed that a new combination immunotherapy treatment could improve survival for certain kidney cancer patients after surgery. Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that works by helping the immune system to find and destroy cancer cells as they spread.
This international trial involved nearly 800 patients from across 80 sites worldwide, including The Royal Marsden.
Using a combined approach gave a stronger and longer-lasting immune response. After three years, 81% of the participants receiving combined immunotherapy treatment remained disease-free. The findings also revealed that patients at the highest risk of disease relapse (based on stage of cancer at diagnosis, size of the tumour, and if the cancer had spread) showed the greatest benefit from this treatment.
“In a subgroup of patients facing a high risk of cancer returning after surgery, we saw a remarkable result. These are very promising findings that confirm the benefit of immunotherapy in the treatment of high-risk renal cell carcinoma.”
- Professor James Larkin, Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden.
Your donations help to support immunotherapy research at The Royal Marsden by funding facilities like the West Wing Clinical Research Centre, where trials like RAMPART take place. Find out more about the RAMPART clinical trial at The Royal Marsden.
“When I was diagnosed I didn’t even know if I’d see Christmas, so every day is a bonus, and I feel very lucky. I’ve been in remission ever since joining the trial so it’s amazing to be on the other side.”
Clinical Research Fellow, Laura Marandino is awarded EMSO José Baselga Fellowship 2025
Congratulations to Laura Marandino, Clinical Research Fellow at The Royal Marsden, who has been awarded the prestigious ESMO José Baselga Fellowship 2025.
The José Baselga Fellowship supports physicians in their progression as clinician scientists. The Fellowship also honours the memory of Dr José Baselga, a prominent clinician scientist who inspired many young oncologists in this field.
“I am truly honoured to receive the ESMO José Baselga Fellowship. This award will be fundamental for the realisation of my project on the study of the tumour microenvironment in kidney cancer, with a special focus on patients with rare kidney cancers, who are an underrepresented group in research.
“I am grateful for the support of the Renal and Melanoma Team at The Royal Marsden and the Turajlic Lab at The Francis Crick Institute, as well as The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, who supported my work over the past years. I am most grateful for the exceptional mentorship of Professor James Larkin, who has had an invaluable impact on my professional growth.”
- Laura Marandino, Clinical Research Fellow at The Royal Marsden.
Your donations are funding life-saving cancer research
Your support helps to diagnose cancer earlier and provide better, more personalised treatments to patients at The Royal Marsden and beyond. We’re funding clinicians, scientists and researchers at the hospital as well as state-of-the-art equipment and technology needed for this research.
Find out how to support us today.