The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting recently wrapped up in Chicago, bringing together 44,000 cancer experts from around the world. Two significant announcements stole the show, highlighting promising breakthroughs in exercise and immunotherapy.
Exercise has been shown to outperform expensive chemotherapy treatments for patients with colon cancer. A Canadian study of nearly 900 patients found that a systematic exercise program, led by a personal trainer, improved disease-free survival rates by 7% after eight years – surpassing the 5% overall 10-year survival boost from traditional chemotherapy. This approach was shown to prevent high-risk stage 2 and stage 3 colon cancer from coming back, keeping patients alive.
In contrast, patients who received only general exercise advice experienced more cancer recurrence and deaths. The study’s lead researcher emphasized that knowledge alone is insufficient for meaningful change; a structured exercise program with a personal trainer is necessary.
AstraZeneca dominated the conference with its innovative approach to immunotherapy. The company presented results from the “Matterhorn” trial, which demonstrated significant improvements in gastric cancer patients’ two-year survival rates when treated with Imfinzi (durvalumab) after surgery. This breakthrough highlights a growing trend towards early immune therapy treatments that can complement or even replace traditional radiation and chemotherapy.
The goal of these advancements is to minimize the long-term side effects of toxic cancer treatment while improving outcomes. By harnessing the power of the immune system, doctors hope to create more effective and patient-friendly treatments for various types of cancer.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/biggest-cancer-innovations-asco-2025-exercise-as-drug-astra-zeneca-early-treatment-2025-6