The international congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology, the ESMO Congress, is one of the leading meetings in medical oncology and one of the key forums for presenting the latest advances in clinical, translational and care-related research in the field. At the 2026 edition, the Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Centre (4CB) consolidated its international presence with broad scientific representation, ranging from new treatments and biomarkers to initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of people with cancer.
Compassion training: a new tool to improve the emotional wellbeing and quality of life of patients and families
One of the selected oral presentations was the study Compassionate Mind Training for Emotional Distress Management in Oncology Patients and Their Families: A Multicenter Prospective Study. It was led by Dr Begoña Mellado and Dr Tamara Saurí, with the participation of Dr Maria Vidal and psychologists Marcial Arredondo, Ruth Carpio and Clara López-Solà.
The study evaluated the efficacy, feasibility and safety of the Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) programme. CMT is a structured eight-week course that combines mindfulness and compassion training to help people affected by cancer develop tools to cope with the emotional distress associated with the disease.
A total of 503 people took part, including cancer patients, family members and caregivers. They were divided into three groups: one received the CMT intervention, a second followed a mindfulness programme and a third served as a control group with no intervention. The results show that the intervention is feasible and well accepted in routine cancer care: 75.8% of participants completed the CMT programme, a rate almost identical to that of the mindfulness programme (76.3%).
After the eight-week intervention, significant improvements were observed in several psychological indicators. These included the ability to distance oneself from negative thoughts and emotions, as well as levels of anxiety, depression, emotional distress and self-compassion. All of them improved to a greater degree than in the mindfulness programme and the control group. Quality of life also increased significantly, with notable improvements in common symptoms such as fatigue, pain and insomnia.
The study was led by the ONCOR Programme at Hospital Clínic Barcelona, in collaboration with the DOMUM Programme and researchers from IDIBAPS, the University of Barcelona, the Catalan Institute of Oncology and Dr. Josep Trueta University Hospital, among others. Beyond research, the initiative has a clear clinical focus.
According to Dr Mellado, “the results suggest that explicitly training compassion can become a useful, safe and applicable tool for promoting the emotional wellbeing and quality of life of people living with cancer. The next steps include consolidating the implementation of the programme in routine clinical practice and further studying the profiles of patients and caregivers who could benefit most.”
The LEAP-012 study provides new benchmark data in hepatocellular carcinoma
Another highlight of the 4CB’s contribution to the congress was the oral presentation of the final results of the LEAP-012 study, an international phase III trial led by Dr Josep M. Llovet that included 480 patients with unresectable, non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of the study was to determine whether adding lenvatinib and pembrolizumab to transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE), the standard treatment for patients with intermediate-stage disease, improved progression-free survival.
The results, presented by Dr Llovet himself, Professor of Medicine, group leader at IDIBAPS-Hospital Clínic and member of the 4CB research committee, correspond to the final overall survival analysis after a median follow-up of 44.2 months.
The study had already confirmed that the combination provides a significant benefit in tumour control. Progression-free survival was 14.6 months in the group treated with lenvatinib and pembrolizumab plus TACE, compared with 10.2 months in the group treated with TACE alone. A higher objective response rate was also observed: 71.3% compared with 49.4%.
However, according to the results now presented, this improvement in disease control did not translate into a statistically significant benefit in overall survival. Median overall survival was 40.4 months in the experimental group and 40.8 months in the control group.
According to Dr Llovet, “these results are particularly relevant because, on the one hand, they confirm the potential of combining locoregional therapies and immunotherapy to improve progression-free survival and increase antitumour activity, even though overall survival is not increased, and, on the other, they set a new benchmark for the design of future clinical trials in hepatocellular carcinoma.”
International recognition in integrated oncology and palliative care
The 4CB’s participation also coincided with an important institutional recognition: the award of the “ESMO Designated Centre of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care” accreditation for the 2027–2029 period. This distinction identifies centres that stand out for the effective integration of oncology and palliative care, promoting a care model centred on the needs of people with cancer throughout the entire course of the disease.
The recognition highlights the work of the Comprehensive Cancer Support Area (ASIC), coordinated by Dr Albert Tuca, medical oncologist at the 4CB. ASIC is a cross-cutting structure that provides coordinated, interdisciplinary care to patients with solid tumours and haematological malignancies.
The area includes the Palliative and Supportive Cancer Care Unit, which works in coordination with the Medical Oncology, Haematology and Radiation Oncology departments and other hospital and community services. The unit offers supportive and palliative care early and in integration with specific cancer treatments. Care is tailored to the clinical, physical, emotional and social needs of each patient and their family, through a specialised interdisciplinary team of oncologists, haematologists, expert nurses and psycho-oncologists.
A strong presence across the main areas of oncology
The 4CB’s participation at ESMO 2026 was rounded out by contributions in many tumour areas. Selected presentations included the quality-of-life results from the DESTINY-Breast05 study in breast cancer, with the participation of Dr Aleix Prat; the results of the PLUG-IN GEM 2301 trial in advanced melanoma, with Dr Fran Aya among the authors; a sub-analysis of the DAREON®-7 study in neuroendocrine tumours, in which Dr Núria Basté took part; and a phase II trial in glioblastoma involving Dr Estela Pineda.
In addition, the centre’s researchers presented numerous posters on breast cancer, gastrointestinal oncology, gynaecological cancer, molecular biomarkers, precision medicine and new treatments, consolidating the 4CB’s role as a leader in translational cancer research.
Scientific participation was completed by the presence of the centre’s professionals in expert sessions and high-level debates. These included Dr Teresa Macarulla, Dr María José Ribal and Dr Laura Mezquita, as well as Dr Francesco Schettini, who took part as speakers and discussants in several sessions of the official congress programme.
Participation at ESMO 2026 demonstrates the Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Centre’s capacity to generate and lead competitive research across different tumour areas, as well as its contribution to developing new diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic strategies. The centre’s continued presence in the congress’s main scientific sessions strengthens the 4CB’s international standing as one of Europe’s leading centres in cancer research and care.
