Each year, researchers from around the world gather at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) meeting to share the newest discoveries in cancer care. The 2025 conference brought exciting news for people living with breast cancer — including advances in treatments that may soon become part of everyday care.

Here’s a quick guide to what’s new, what’s promising, and why it matters for you.

1) Trastuzumab deruxtecan emerges as a game-changer for early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer

Results from the DESTINY-Breast05 and DESTINY-Breast11 trials showed that trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd or Enhertu), a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), can dramatically improve outcomes for patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer. In patients with residual disease after pre-surgery therapy, T-DXd reduced the risk of recurrence by more than half compared with the previous standard, T-DM1, and also delayed brain metastases. Earlier in treatment, before surgery, T-DXd combined with standard HER2-targeted therapy significantly increased the rate of complete tumor response while reducing toxicities, including heart-related side effects, compared with traditional chemotherapy. 

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Why this matters: These findings suggest that T-DXd could become a new standard of care for both pre- and post-surgery treatment, offering safer and more effective options for a breast cancer subtype once considered highly aggressive.

2) Long-term benefits seen with ribociclib in early-stage HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer

The four-year analysis of the NATALEE study found that adding ribociclib (Kisqali) to standard hormone therapy helped patients stay cancer-free longer than hormone therapy alone, reducing the risk of recurrence by nearly 30%. The benefit continued even after patients stopped taking ribociclib, showing that the effects of treatment may last well beyond the three-year course. The safety profile also remained consistent, with no new concerns reported.

Why it matters: This suggests that ribociclib, when added to hormone therapy, may provide long-term protection against cancer returning, which is especially important since recurrences can still happen years after diagnosis in this type of breast cancer.

3) Better outcomes for first-line metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

Data from the Phase 3 ASCENT-03 study show that sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy) significantly delays disease progression compared to standard chemotherapy in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who cannot receive immunotherapy. The study found a 38% lower risk of disease progression or death, with median progression-free survival of 9.7 months versus 6.9 months for chemotherapy. The drug also provided longer-lasting responses, with a median duration of 12.2 months compared to 7.2 months for chemotherapy. 

Why it matters: Treatment options for TNBC have been limited, and these findings represent the first significant advance in first-line therapy for this patient group in decades.

4) Abemaciclib shows long-term survival benefit in high-risk early breast cancer

Results from the Phase 3 monarchE trial show that adjuvant abemaciclib (Verzenio) combined with endocrine therapy significantly reduced the risk of death by nearly 16% compared with endocrine therapy alone in patients with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative, high-risk early breast cancer. After more than six years of follow-up, survival rates remained higher for patients who received abemaciclib, even though all had completed treatment at least four years earlier. 

Why this matters: This is the first time a CDK4/6 inhibitor has demonstrated a clear overall survival benefit in this patient population. Experts say these findings could change the standard of care for high-risk early breast cancer by providing a long-term survival advantage.

5) Datopotamab deruxtecan shows major survival benefit in first-line treatment for TNBC

Results from the Phase III TROPION-Breast02 trial show that datopotamab deruxtecan (Datroway) significantly improved both overall survival and progression-free survival compared with standard chemotherapy in patients with locally recurrent or metastatic TNBC who could not receive immunotherapy. Patients treated with datopotamab deruxtecan lived a median of 23.7 months versus 18.7 months with chemotherapy, and their risk of disease progression or death was reduced by 43%. 

Why this matters: These results highlight a meaningful new treatment option for patients with TNBC. This advance is especially important for patients who are not eligible for immunotherapy, offering hope for longer, better-quality survival.

If you’re living with breast cancer, this research is a reminder that the field is moving fast. Talk to your oncologist about whether you might be eligible for a clinical trial or if any of these new treatments could soon be available to you.