ABC INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS CONFERENCE – PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
From 6–8 November 2025, leading clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates gathered at the Advanced Breast Cancer (ABC) International Consensus Conference — the premier global meeting dedicated to improving care and outcomes for people living with advanced breast cancer. This conference brought together evidence-based science, clinical practice updates, and collaborative discussions to shape international treatment standards and quality-of-life care across healthcare settings worldwide. 
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
OPENING PLENARY & GLOBAL ABC LANDSCAPE
The meeting opened with an international overview of advanced breast cancer — examining current survival trends, emerging treatments, and remaining challenges in global care. Experts highlighted progress in targeted therapies and antibody-drug conjugates, as well as the persistent need for equitable access to diagnostics and medicines. 
SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS ON TREATMENT ADVANCES
A series of scientific talks focused on the latest clinical evidence across key ABC subtypes, including;
- Hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer
- HER2-positive disease treatment strategies
- Triple-negative ABC research and novel approaches
These sessions showcased the rapid evolution of personalised medicine in metastatic care and the ongoing importance of biomarker-driven treatment decisions.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE & SUPPORTIVE PRACTICE WORKSHOPS
Interactive workshops brought together clinicians, nurses, and allied health professionals to discuss:
- Best practices in multidisciplinary team coordination
- Managing side effects and long-term therapy support
- Integrating psychosocial care into routine clinical practice
PATIENT VOICES & ADVOCACY PANELS
True to the ABC Global Alliance’s ethos of patient-centred care, sessions included patient advocates sharing lived experience and priorities. Topics covered communication strategies, navigating work and daily life with advanced cancer, and improving dialogue between patients and health teams.
INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS GUIDELINES UPDATE
A core component of the programme was the consensus guideline sessions, where experts reviewed evidence and drafted updates to the ABC International Consensus Guidelines — a globally recognised set of recommendations used by clinicians to inform optimal ABC management across diverse care settings. 
IMPLEMENTATION & EQUITY IN CARE
The programme also included panels on health systems, focusing on disparities in care access, real-world implementation challenges, and strategies to translate research into practice in low- and middle-income regions.
PARTICIPATION & PRESENCE FROM OUR TEAM
We are proud that Dr Burow, Dr Lee, and our Patient Advocate, Jane Rogerson-Gleave participated actively throughout the programme. They attended scientific sessions and guideline discussions, bringing insights from both clinical practice and patient experience. They met with presenters and conference organisers to exchange perspectives on patient priorities, communication challenges, and real-world care gaps. Jane Rogerson-Gleave’s voice reinforced the importance of living with advanced breast cancer as a partnership between patients and clinicians — not just a medical condition.
Their engagement helped ensure that patient perspectives were represented alongside scientific progress, and that conversations at the conference remain grounded in improving everyday care for people affected by advanced breast cancer.
WHY THIS MEETING MATTERS
The ABC Consensus Conference programme reflects the state of the art in advanced breast cancer care and sets the direction for practice and policy in the years ahead. Key takeaways include:
- Continued progress in targeted treatment and symptom management
- A strong global focus on equity, access, and patient-centred communication
- Updates to international guidelines that clinicians will use to guide care
This year’s programme reaffirmed that advancing outcomes requires science + systems + lived experience — and that progress grows stronger when patients and clinicians work together.
