Our panel of experts share their opinions on the innovations transforming cancer treatment and what it will take to ensure those advances reach every patient who needs them.
Rita Shaknovich, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Medical Officer, Agilent Technologies
What innovations are set to have the biggest impact on cancer care in the next few years?
We are at an inflection point in cancer care, driven by rapid progress in immuno-oncology and precision therapies. Our growing ability to engage the immune system, both innate and adaptive, to recognize and eliminate tumor cells is already transforming outcomes for many patients, and we are still early in that journey. Deeper biological insight, enabled by advances such as single-cell sequencing, spatial biology, and high-plex imaging, is revealing new therapeutic targets and mechanisms of resistance that were invisible just a few years ago.
At the same time, new therapeutic platforms are changing what effective — and tolerable — treatment looks like. Antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, and cellular therapies are delivering more targeted tumor killing with less systemic toxicity than traditional chemotherapy. In hematologic malignancies and an increasing number of solid tumors, these approaches are translating into longer responses and better quality of life. Taken together, these advances mark a fundamental shift from broadly cytotoxic treatment toward biologically precise, mechanism-driven care, which is a source of real optimism for patients and clinicians.
How are advances in diagnostics and precision medicine improving cancer treatment decisions?
Precision medicine is, at its core, about matching the right therapy to the right patient at the right time, and diagnostics make that possible. Modern cancer treatment increasingly depends on identifying specific biomarkers — whether they are protein expression levels, gene mutations, copy number changes, or immune signatures — that predict response to a given drug. As our understanding of tumor biology deepens, we are moving beyond single markers toward more sophisticated profiles that capture pathways, tumor heterogeneity, and the tumor microenvironment.
Diagnostics have evolved in parallel to support this complexity. Today’s assays are more sensitive, more reproducible, and better standardized, enabling confident treatment decisions across diverse care settings. Companion diagnostics linked to targeted therapies and immunotherapies — such as tests for HER2, EGFR, BRCA mutations, MSI-H status, or PD-L1 expression — are now routinely guiding clinical choice and regulatory approval. These tools ensure that patients most likely to benefit are identified upfront, sparing others from ineffective treatment and unnecessary toxicity. Precision diagnostics are therefore not an add-on to modern oncology care; they are foundational to delivering meaningful benefit.
What will it take to ensure more patients benefit from the latest advances in cancer care?
Despite remarkable progress, access to precision cancer care remains uneven. While education for physicians and patients is still important, information alone is no longer the primary barrier. Structural issues, particularly gaps in insurance coverage and reimbursement, continue to limit access to advanced diagnostics and novel therapies for many patients. Without consistent coverage, even the most effective innovation cannot reach those who need it most.
Resource constraints at the point of care are another critical challenge. Smaller community hospitals and clinics often lack the infrastructure, specialized equipment, and validation capabilities required to deploy complex molecular and immunologic tests, even as large reference laboratories help bridge part of that gap. Closing these disparities will require continued investment in scalable, easier-to-use technologies, along with policies that support fair reimbursement for both testing and treatment. As diagnostics become more streamlined and cost-effective, and as payment models evolve, I am optimistic that we can narrow these gaps and ensure that the benefits of precision oncology are shared more equitably.
Mark Lanasa, M.D., Ph.D.
Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Solid Tumors, BeOne Medicines
What innovations are set to have the biggest impact on cancer care in the next few years?
The next wave of impact in cancer care will be driven by advances in targeted therapies using novel modalities — such as protein degraders, novel antibody-drug conjugates, and multi-specific antibodies — alongside smarter combination approaches. These innovations are enabling researchers to more precisely match therapies to tumor biology and individual patient characteristics. At the same time, automation and AI are poised to further accelerate both discovery and development, improving the speed and quality with which new medicines reach patients.
What will it take to ensure more patients benefit from the latest advances in cancer care?
Reaching more patients requires both faster innovation and broader access. Our global development approach is designed to deliver innovation at scale and speed. Expanding clinical trials into traditionally underserved regions and engaging diverse patient populations to help shape study design around real patient needs are integral to this model. Since patients deserve access to the next wave of cancer innovation regardless of where they live, health systems and partners must work together to remove barriers and accelerate access.
Gursel Aktan, M.D., Ph.D.
Vice President, Global Clinical Development, Merck
What innovations are set to have the biggest impact on cancer care in the next few years?
Over the next few years, the most meaningful advances in cancer care will come from more precise, biology-driven approaches that reflect how complex and varied cancer truly is.
Immune-based therapies will continue to evolve as researchers gain a deeper understanding of how to boost antitumor immune responses and overcome resistance. Advances in cancer biology are also making it possible to address oncogenic drivers and pathways that were once considered beyond reach, opening new potential options for cancers that have historically been difficult to treat. Cancer’s complexity also demands more precise, tissue-specific approaches, with antibody-drug conjugates showing potential to enable more selective targeting of tumor cells.
How are advances in diagnostics and precision medicine improving cancer treatment decisions?
Advances in diagnostics and precision medicine are giving researchers a clearer picture of what’s driving each person’s cancer, helping to evaluate more individualized treatment decisions. Historically, conversations around cancer focused on tumor location and stage. Now, thanks to the evolution in tools and technologies, clinicians are able to gain insights that are reshaping how they think about disease and approach care.
Breast cancer research was among the first to establish that there are multiple cancer subtypes and that biomarker testing could help inform therapy. Biomarker testing and genomic analyses are medical tests that look for measurable indicators — such as genes, proteins, and other substances — that may provide information about a biological state or condition of the cancer. This understanding has since expanded to gynecologic cancers, where biomarkers are increasingly shaping personalized treatment strategies. Because cancer needs differ by tumor, biology, and patient, advancing research across tumor types is essential to matching the right therapy to the right patient across stages and settings.
