The 19th Annual Meeting of the Korean Society of Medical Oncology and 2026
International Conference, held with the 14th International FACO Conference, brought
2,300+ experts from 51 countries to the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, September 2–4, 2026, under the theme
“Advancing Cancer Care, Restoring Hope and Lives.” KOL Pulse captured the meeting’s key presentation
slides — perioperative immunotherapy, EGFR-mutant NSCLC, David Hong’s RAS plenary,
ctDNA/MRD and cancer vaccines — as shared and discussed by the physicians in the room.
Concluded · September 2–4, 2026Seoul, Korea#KSMO2026With the 14th FACO Conference
6
Slide Sessions
23
Slides Transcribed
16
Posts Captured
4
Physician KOLs
11.7K
Total Impressions
What Seoul Talked About
Sessions & themes
Click a card to see the physician posts behind each theme. The corpus is
small and curated — a focused international meeting, not a firehose — and the value
is in the slides below.
Six slide sessions photographed and shared by the physicians in the room,
led by Stephen V. Liu and Young Kwang Chae. Every data slide
below carries a “View slide text” transcription so the tables and endpoints are
readable — and machine-searchable. Slide content belongs to the presenters credited on
each slide.
[RAS inhibitors — mechanisms of action]
What are learning - beyond KRAS G12C?
1. Many ways to skin a cat! RAS inhibitors: distinct mechanisms of action
Mutant-selective off-state inhibitors: Adagrasib, sotorasib (KRAS G12C) · LY3962673, MRTX1133 (KRAS G12D)
Pan-KRAS off/on-state inhibitors: BI 3706674, LY4066434
Mutant-selective on/off-state inhibitors: VS-7375/GFH375, INCB161734
KRAS-targeted proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs): ASP3082, PT0253
Tri-complex mutant-selective on-state inhibitors: Elironrasib/RMC-6291 (KRAS G12C), Zoldonrasib/RMC-9805 (KRAS G12D)
Tri-complex RAS-multi on-state inhibitor: RMC-7977, daraxonrasib/RMC-6236 (RAS WT + RAS Mut)
Courtesy of C. Der · * = covalent modification · approved / terminated / clinical candidate / preclinical
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[What we know and need to know]
What we know and need to know!
What have we learned? (from KRAS G12C inhibitors)
1. Drug development is not easy!
2. First-in-class is not always best-in-class!
3. History never repeats but often rhymes!
4. Resistance is not simple!
5. Combinations are not straightforward
What are we learning? (beyond KRAS G12C inhibitors)
1. Many ways to skin a cat!
2. Drug development is not easy!
3. Resistance is not easy!
4. The Final Frontier - frontline maybe near!
[Beyond genotyping — clonal phylogenetics]
Beyond Genotyping: Spatial & Temporal Clonal Phylogenetics
Use of ctDNA in DREAM NSCLC study
JAMA Original Investigation: Lung Transplant for Refractory Lung-Limited Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Ankit Bharat, MD; ... G. R. Scott Budinger, MD; Young Kwang Chae, MD (Bharat/Chae et al. JAMA 2026)
Pre-DLT vs Post-DLT CT chest; overall survival after transplant.
Chae et al. ASCO 2026; Bharat (Chae) et al. JAMA 2026; Abbosh et al. Nature 2023
---
[ctDNA take-home messages]
Take-Home Messages
01 The ctDNA application landscape and testing platforms are evolving rapidly. It is our essential tool in cancer treatment.
02 ctDNA testing for tumor genetic alterations may be used as first assessment, replacement, or as additional testing to tissue-based testing (ASCO guideline). ctDNA can be used for detection of emergent resistant clones and to evaluate treatment response.
03 ctDNA use for MRD surveillance is now a standard practice in bladder cancer. Other tumor types will follow.
04 The future of cancer treatment will increasingly involve ctDNA-adaptive strategies across both targeted therapy and immunotherapy settings.
X (twitter) @youngkwangchae
---
[SWOG MRD Restart design]
Multi-histology Adjuvant therapy Reinitiation Study (SWOG MRD Restart)
[Design schema, headline values as legible on the slide:]
Total N = 224 · 8 baskets · n=28 per basket
NeXT MRD LOD 3.45 PPM at 95% confidence
SWOG ETRC trial; Chae & Moon PIs (as shown on slide footer)
[Next neoantigen classes]
Future plans — Incorporation of additional classes of Neoantigens
• Endogenous human retroviruses (ERV): Jiang et al. HIF regulates multiple translated endogenous retroviruses: Implications for cancer immunotherapy. Cell 2025
• nuORFs: Ouspenskaia et al. Unannotated proteins expand the MHC-I-restricted immunopeptidome in cancer. Nat Biotechnology 2022 Feb
• Fusion antigens such as in NUT carcinoma
• Viral cancer antigens such as Merkel Cell Polyoma Virus
• MS detected epitopes
---
[Vaccine conclusions]
Conclusions
• Current Epitope selection criteria at DFCI generated immune responses to many tumors.
• Immune response to the vaccine improved overall survival and progression free survival in patients in these small cohorts.
[Why LA EGFR-mutant disease is distinct]
Why EGFR-mutant locally advanced disease is distinct
40–50% EGFR mutation prevalence in Asian NSCLC (vs ~15% Western)
CNS: dominant relapse pattern — shorter PFS, distant & brain recurrence
Low benefit from immunotherapy — oncogene-addicted, low-TMB "cold" tumors
Two clinically distinct populations under one label:
(1) Resectable / operable: early-stage & selected Stage III → surgery-centered pathway (neoadjuvant / adjuvant)
(2) Unresectable Stage III: definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) pathway
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[LAURA — PFS and CNS benefit]
LAURA: PFS and CNS disease-free survival benefit
Median PFS 39.1 months vs 5.6 with placebo
Hazard ratio, PFS: 0.16 — 84% risk reduction
ORR 57% vs 33% placebo
New brain lesions: 8% vs 29% with placebo
• Pneumonitis overlaps with radiation — any-grade radiation pneumonitis 48%; grade 3 pneumonitis 2%
• Indefinite therapy until progression — QoL burden and cost
• A PFS gain is not yet an OS gain
Lu S, et al. N Engl J Med 2024;391:585–597; CNS and distant progression analyses: Ann Oncol 2024; Updated OS: Ramalingam SS, et al. ELCC 2025 LBA4.
---
[ADAURA — is three years arbitrary?]
Is three years arbitrary? (ADAURA)
DFS by timepoint (stage II–IIIA), osimertinib vs placebo:
24 mo: 90% vs 46% (+44 pt)
36 mo: 84% vs 34% (+50 pt)
48 mo: 70% vs 29% (+41 pt)
• The slope bends at 36 mo — the 36→48 mo fall is far steeper than 24→36. Placebo has already plateaued; the closing gap is driven by late events in the osimertinib arm.
MRD data prove it directly (ctDNA):
• MRD event: osimertinib 13% (15/112) vs placebo 49% (53/108)
• 68% (19/28) of osimertinib-arm events occurred after stopping the drug — 58% (11/19) of those within 12 months of stopping
• event-free rate 80%, 66% at 12, 24 months after stopping
Updated analysis (Herbst JCO 2023): Stage II–IIIA DFS HR 0.23 (95% CI 0.18–0.30); Stage IB–IIIA at 48 mo 70% vs 38%, HR 0.27.
Herbst JCO 2023 / Tsuboi NEJM 2020 (ADAURA updated DFS); ADAURA ctDNA MRD analysis, Nat Med 2025 (n=220). DFS values read from the updated KM curve shown.
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[NeoADAURA — major outcomes]
NeoADAURA: Major outcomes
Major pathologic response (MPR): Osi + CTx 26% · Osi mono 25% · PBO + CTx 2%
pathCR: 4% · 9% · 0% (osi + CTx / osi mono / PBO + CTx)
EFS HR vs PBO + CTx — interim EFS (15% maturity):
Osi + CTx: 0.50 (99.8% CI 0.17–1.41)
Osi mono: 0.73 (95% CI 0.40–1.35)
• Resectable Stage II–IIIB EGFRm; ≥9 weeks neoadjuvant osimertinib ± chemo vs chemo
• First randomized proof that neoadjuvant TKI markedly improves pathologic response
• Not FDA-approved in the neoadjuvant setting and not in NCCN
He J, Tsuboi M, et al. NeoADAURA. J Clin Oncol 2025;43:2875–2887. Blakely JCO 2024 (single-arm neoadjuvant osimertinib).
[4G EGFR-TKIs targeting C797S]
4G EGFR-TKIs targeting C797S under clinical development
BLU-945 · Blueprint Medicines · EGFR+/T790M, EGFR+/T790M/C797S · Discontinued
BBT-176 · Bridge Biotherapeutics · EGFR+/T790M/C797S · Discontinued · NCT04862780
JIN-A02 · J Ints Bio · EGFR+/T790M/C797S · Phase I/II · NCT04820023
Silevertinib · Black Diamond Therapeutics · Del 19/T790M/C797S · Phase I/II · NCT05394831
TQB3804 · Chia Tai Tianqing · EGFR+/C797S · Phase I · NCT05256290
HS-10375 · Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical · EGFR+/T790M/C797S · Phase I · NCT04128085
BAY2927088 · Bayer · EGFR+/T790M/C797S · Phase I, ORR: 4.8% · NCT05435248
BH-30643 · Blossom Hill · EGFR+/del 19/C797S · Developed as HER2 TKI · NCT05099172
DZ6008 · Dezal · EGFR+/T790M/C797S/Ex20ins · Phase I/II · NCT06706076
VRN110755 · Voronoi · EGFR+/T790M/C797X · Phase I · NCT06905197, NCT06813365 · Phase I/II · NCT07699328
Lim ASCO 2025, Zhan J Transl Med 2025, Spira AACR-NCI-EORTC 2025, Wang ASCO 2026, Hong ASCO 2026
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[MET inhibitor + osimertinib]
MET inhibitor + osimertinib
Selected trials of MET inhibitors + osimertinib in patients with advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC following first-line EGFR TKI therapy
INSIGHT 2 · n=128 · Phase 2 · plasma GCN ≥2.3; tumor GCN ≥5 and/or MET/CEP7 ≥2 · osimertinib + tepotinib · ORR 50% · PFS 5.6 m
INSIGHT 2 (tepotinib mono) · n=12 · tepotinib · ORR 8.3% · PFS 2.7 m
TATTON · n=69 · Phase 1b · GCN ≥5 or MET/CEP7 ≥2 · savolitinib + osimertinib · ORR 33% · PFS 5.5 m
SAVANNAH · n=80 · Phase 2 · OE IHC3+/≥90% and/or FISH10+ · savolitinib + osimertinib · ORR 56.3% · PFS 7.4 m
Arm E (NCT02099058) · n=38 · Phase 1b · IHC3+/≥25% · Teliso-V + osimertinib · ORR 50% · PFS 7.4 m
SACHI · n=211 · Phase 3 · GCN ≥5 and/or MET/CEP7 ≥2 · savolitinib + osimertinib vs chemo · ORR 58% v 34% · PFS 9.8 v 5.4 m
SAFFRON · n=324 · Phase 3 · OE IHC3+/≥90% or FISH10+ · savolitinib + osimertinib vs chemo · NA
Arter, Soo Med 2026
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[ADCs in pre-treated EGFR+ NSCLC]
Studies of ADCs in pre-treated EGFR + NSCLC
Some hits, some misses and some promising data
Trop2: ORCHARD module 10 (n=34) · OptiTROP-Lung03 (n=137) · pooled TROPION-Lung01/05 (n=117) · Phase III OptiTROP-Lung04 (n=376)
HER3: HERTHENA-Lung01 (n=225) · Phase III HERTHENA-Lung02 (n=586)
HER3xEGFR: BL-B01D1-101 (n=40) · BL-B01D1-203
cMET: Teliso V + osimertinib (n=38) · M21-404 (n=40)
Payloads: deruxtecan · KL610023 · ED-04 · vedotin · adizutecan
Free Access · KOL Pulse Intelligence
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Compiled and reviewed by the KOL Pulse research team, led by Brian Shields,
Founder, KOL Pulse. Slide transcriptions are verbatim reads of the photographed slides; slide
content and data belong to the credited presenters and sources. Last updated 2026-09-04.
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