LAHORE, Aug 30 ( ABC): Leading cancer specialists from Pakistan and abroad gathered in Lahore for the Best of ASCO 2026 conference, aimed at bringing the latest global advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment closer to Pakistani healthcare professionals and patients.
Organised by the Society of Medical Oncology Pakistan (SMO-P), the conference was held at Nishat Hotel and focused on key research and clinical evidence presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
The conference provided Pakistani oncologists with an opportunity to review major developments in cancer treatment and examine how emerging therapies and research findings could be adapted to the country’s healthcare environment and available resources.
According to the organisers, cancer care in a low- and middle-income country such as Pakistan faces several challenges, including unequal access to specialists, limited availability of advanced treatments and medicines, and difficulties in introducing newer therapies into routine clinical practice.
Experts discussed equitable access to modern cancer medicines, emerging treatment approaches, multidisciplinary cancer care, vaccination of cancer patients and ways to translate advances in clinical research into everyday medical practice.
Special emphasis was placed on significant research data presented at the ASCO 2026 Annual Meeting. The discussions were designed not only to familiarise Pakistani oncologists with the latest evidence but also to assess its relevance and applicability to local patients.
The conference also provided young oncologists with opportunities to interact directly with international experts and exchange knowledge and professional experiences.
A range of educational and interactive activities, including Meet the Experts sessions, panel discussions, educational programmes and the RECON ONCO-thon, were organised as part of the event.
Dr Usman Amin Butt of Himmel Pharmaceuticals said the purpose of the conference went beyond bringing international experts to Pakistan and was focused on making the latest medical knowledge more accessible to patients who needed it.
He said that amid limited resources and a growing cancer burden, continuous medical education and improved access to advanced treatments were essential for strengthening cancer care in the country.
Dr Butt said the core objective of Best of ASCO 2026 was not to replicate the ASCO meeting held in the United States, but to identify the most important emerging global evidence in cancer treatment and determine how it could be translated into better outcomes for Pakistani patients.
He stressed that the adoption of new advances needed to take into account the realities of Pakistan’s healthcare system, including available resources and patients’ access to treatment.
