Prof Solange Peters with convenor A/Prof Bryan Chan, and Mr Kelvin Lau
Held from July 30th to August 1st at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, TOGA’s Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) brought together over 400 professionals from across the lung cancer community. This year’s meeting, a collaborative effort between TOGA, convenor A/Prof Bryan Chan, and the Local Organising Committee, focused on the central theme: “Implementing Change in Thoracic Cancer Care Through Multidisciplinary Innovation.”
The ASM provided a vital platform for our multidisciplinary members to discuss recent advancements in quality thoracic cancer care and explore how to apply these innovations in their local settings. Attendees were primarily from respiratory medicine, oncology, surgery, nursing, and allied health. A highlight was Martha’s presentation, sharing her story of lung cancer and the impact of stigma, reminding us of the human side of the disease.
In this recap, we’ll dive into the highlights of the meeting, celebrate the contributions of our speakers and attendees, and look forward to the future of thoracic cancer care.
Evolving Strategies in Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)
The scientific program opened with a high-energy presentation by international guest Prof Solange Peters, who outlined recent advances in SCLC—historically a disease with limited treatment progress. Trials such as IMpower133 and CASPIAN have shown that adding immunotherapy to first-line chemotherapy offers modest survival benefits in extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC). Still, immune responses remain shallow and relapse rates high.
Second-line options under investigation include platinum rechallenge and novel agents like lurbinectedin, a DNA-damaging agent with tumour microenvironment-modifying effects. Antibody-drug conjugates (described by Peters as “chemotherapy on a stick”) are being explored as potential alternatives to traditional platinum chemotherapy. The most promising development, however, is the emergence of DLL3-targeting agents such as tarlatamab (DeLLphi-304 trial), which promote more durable immune responses by enhancing CD8+ T cell priming and infiltration. And this more durable immune response seems to be key for control of ES-SCLC disease.
Prof Ken O’Byrne expanded on strategies to deepen immune response, detailing emerging agents being trialled with PD-L1 inhibitors. These include anti-LAG-3 antibodies to reverse T cell exhaustion, anti-Fuc-GM1 antibodies targeting tumour-specific glycans, and STING agonists that convert immune “cold” tumours into “hot” ones by triggering innate immunity and T cell priming.
Both Peters and O’Byrne noted efforts to subtype SCLC using transcriptomics, though plasticity has so far limited clinical translation.
A/Prof Fiona Hegi-Johnson discussed the role of radiotherapy in limited-stage SCLC (LS-SCLC). Following the ADRIATIC trial, maintenance immunotherapy post-chemoradiotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy. Efforts to optimise radiation dose and fractionation have indicated that twice-daily regimens remain superior for survival. Toxicity and patient selection are under investigation in ongoing Phase III trials.
The 2025 Abstract Award Winners
To conclude the day portion of day 1, the Oral Abstracts session was chaired by Dr Lucy Corke and presented by several outstanding researchers. While we saw some insightful presentations, Ms Elizabeth Zemek won the New Investigator Award for her oral presentation on ‘Correlating Successful Targeted Therapy Testing with TBNA Cytology Samples in NSCLC Patients’.
We also congratulate Ms Jazmin Mireya Guayco Sigcha, Kelly Tian Mun Chee, Kwun Fong, Ian Yang, Henry Marshall on their Best Poster Win with ‘Descriptive Analysis of Screen-Detected vs Clinically Diagnosis Lung Cancer Cases: Evidence of Stage Shift and Treatment Differences’.
We congratulate all oral and poster presenters on the outstanding quality of their presentations.
Best Poster Winner: ‘Descriptive Analysis of Screen-Detected vs Clinically Diagnosis Lung Cancer Cases: Evidence of Stage Shift and Treatment Differences’
Robotic Bronchoscopy: Revolutionising Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
International guest and thoracic surgeon Dr Kelvin Lau highlighted the benefits of advanced bronchoscopic technologies—including navigation systems, robotic control, and image guidance—that enable precise access to small peripheral lung tumours. Early robotic bronchoscopy platforms, as trialled by Prof David Fielding, demonstrated the feasibility of controlled navigation deep into the peripheral bronchial tree. Building on this foundation, more recent systems like robotic-assisted shape-sensing bronchoscopy offer enhanced precision and real-time navigation, with Dr Lau emphasizing the integration of cone beam CT. This next-generation approach corrects for CT-to-body divergence and improves tool-in-lesion confirmation, achieving diagnostic accuracy of up to 90% and greater procedural efficiency. Focusing on the emerging field of bronchoscopic treatment delivery, Dr Lau discussed patient selection and detailed techniques such as pulsed electric field electroporation and bronchoscopic microwave ablation, showcasing promising outcomes with good local control and minimal adverse events.
National Implementation of Lung Cancer Screening: Best Practice in Action
With Australia’s National Lung Cancer Screening Program now underway, attention is turning to optimising early-stage diagnosis and treatment. Dr Tracy Leong presented practical guidance for nodule assessment, while Peter Bligh (NACCHO) and Ewan Wylie (Heart of Australia) shared models for delivering screening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and rural and remote communities. Prof Fraser Brims concluded with a review of multidisciplinary team (MDT) structures and the current state of MDT practice nationally.
Optimising Radiotherapy and Salvage Strategies Across the NSCLC Spectrum
Dr Mark Shaw addressed salvage options following stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for inoperable NSCLC, noting that while local recurrence occurs in around 10% of cases, timely salvage interventions—such as surgery, re-irradiation, thermal ablation, or systemic therapy—can significantly extend survival. Dr Yu Yang Soon explored the evolving role of radiotherapy in resectable NSCLC, particularly in cases with positive margins or following neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy, and highlighted emerging approaches including immune-sparing techniques and biomarker-guided personalisation.
Precision Medicine and Resistance in NSCLC
In oncogene-driven NSCLC, first-line outcomes continue to improve, but resistance remains a key clinical challenge. Prof Nick Pavlakis outlined current options, including next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). A/Prof Malinda Itchins highlighted how genomic profiling and liquid biopsies now allow for more precise characterisation of resistance mechanisms, supporting increasingly individualised treatment strategies.
Prof Tom John discussed the prognostic potential of ctDNA—particularly its presence and clearance—in EGFR-mutated NSCLC, while combination approaches are emerging as key to overcoming resistance. Prof Ben Solomon introduced the upcoming ASPiRATION-2L trial, which will explore more flexible second-line precision strategies beyond monotherapy.
In non-oncogene-driven NSCLC, immunotherapy remains the foundation of treatment across stages. Prof Solange Peters took the audience on a cook’s tour of immunotherapy in mNSCLC, highlighting where the addition of chemotherapy is most likely required, the biomarkers where dual immunotherapy blockade incorporating an anti-CTLA4 inhibitor may be required, and the strategies currently being investigated to enhance the response to immunotherapy, including lung cancer vaccines.
Celebrating a Legacy: Honoring our Members
The first day of the conference was concluded by a celebratory reception to honour the hard work of members over the past year. This event celebrated Lisa Briggs, who was the recipient of the Jeannie Ferris Award for her outstanding contributions, and inducted three new Life Members: Prof Ken O’Byrne, Prof Michael Millward, and Ms. Joanne Wade. This honour recognises their profound and lasting impact on the field of thoracic cancer care.
Transforming Palliative Care through Personal Insight and Rural Telehealth
Despite advances in lung cancer care, it remains the leading cause of cancer-related death—underscoring the vital role of palliative care, with early referral shown to improve survival in metastatic NSCLC. One of the most impactful presentations came from Dr Prem Ram, a palliative care specialist whose personal experience caring for a loved one reshaped his clinical approach. He emphasised supporting carers with both emotional and practical guidance—covering symptom management, medication administration, and safe physical care. This experience informed the optimisation of SPaRTa, a rural telehealth program integrating specialist palliative care developed by Dr Ram.
Prof Nick Pavlakis and Prof Emily Stone
Leadership in Transition: A New Chapter for TOGA
The Membership Meeting marked a significant moment for the TOGA. After five years of dedicated leadership, Professor Nick Pavlakis announced he would be stepping down as Board Chair. His successor, Professor Emily Stone, was announced to take his place.
In addition, the organisation’s new strategic plan for 2025-2028 was unveiled. This plan will guide TOGA’s future with a focus on broadening and deepening research excellence, strengthening and mobilising membership, influencing future care, scaling and sustaining long-term impact, and raising the organisation’s profile and influence.
The success of this years ASM could not have been achieved without our conference convenor A/Prof Bryan Chan and the Local Organising Committee for their efforts to this successful event.
Local Organising Committee: Rachel Roberts-Thomson, Annie Wong, Lucy Corke, David Fielding, Stephen Barnett, Mel Moore, Naveed Alam, Abby Fyfe, Georgina Patterson, Melanie Rabbets, Peter Young, and Joanna Ludbrook.
Thank you to our Sponsors
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