Berlin, Germany, 12 November 2025 – The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) is set to make a transformative leap in the fusion of technology and cancer care with the inauguration of its first-ever Congress on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Oncology (AI&DO). Scheduled to take place in Berlin from the 12th to the 14th of November, this landmark event is anticipated to attract over 1,100 experts and practitioners from a broad spectrum of disciplines, spanning Europe and other global regions. This congress stands as a testament to ESMO’s unwavering dedication to propelling the integration of cutting-edge digital innovations responsibly and effectively into oncology practice.
At the heart of this congress lies the ambition to cultivate a dynamic community of practice dedicated to harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) for enhancing clinical decision-making in cancer treatment. This objective goes hand in hand with ESMO’s commitment to establishing and disseminating rigorous standards, alongside practicable guidelines, to ensure the safe and ethical application of AI technologies. This strategic vision is embodied by the ESMO AI and Digital Oncology Hub, a novel platform designed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, facilitate the sharing of critical resources, and guide oncological professionals through the multifaceted opportunities and risks associated with AI’s integration into their work.
The program curated for the AI&DO Congress reflects a sophisticated blend of innovative research and clinical relevance, structured to maximize participant engagement without the distractions of overlapping sessions. Attendees will delve into the frontier of multimodal AI applications for clinical decision support, with particular focus on molecular tumour boards. The capacity of AI systems to integrate and analyze real-world data to augment personalized treatment strategies promises to revolutionize patient outcomes and healthcare efficiencies.
A focal point of the congress will be the exploration of AI-driven biomarkers in precision oncology. This segment emphasizes the development of validation frameworks and predictive modeling techniques that enable accurate and timely identification of actionable biomarkers. A highlight of this discourse will be the imminent launch of the ESMO Basic Requirements for AI-based Biomarkers in Oncology (EBAI) framework, signifying the first comprehensive guidance specifically tailored for the clinical validation and application of AI-assisted biomarker analyses.
Moreover, generative AI technologies and large language models—exemplars of cutting-edge advancements in machine learning—will take center stage. Esteemed keynote speakers from preeminent institutions such as Google DeepMind and Harvard Medical School will provide deep insights into how these tools are reshaping research methodologies, clinical workflows, and patient communication within oncology. Their expertise will shed light on both the transformative potential and prudent considerations surrounding responsible AI deployment.
The congress further incorporates practical sessions on digital health innovations, spotlighting wearable technologies, telemonitoring, and decentralized clinical trials. These discussions will unpack how continuous patient data acquisition and remote health assessments translate to more adaptive and patient-centered cancer care models. By leveraging AI to interpret these rich data streams, clinicians can more accurately monitor disease progression and treatment responses.
Ethical concerns, regulatory frameworks, and patient perspectives form another pivotal theme of the event. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in oncology, establishing trust, ensuring explainability, and understanding societal implications are paramount. The congress will critically evaluate current policies and propose pathways to reconcile technological innovation with patient rights, data privacy, and equitable healthcare access.
The industry dimension of AI and digital oncology will also feature prominently, with leading technological innovators unveiling their latest advancements. This synergy between academic research and commercial development is poised to accelerate the translation of AI breakthroughs into everyday clinical tools, transforming cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy management.
One of the congress’s most anticipated milestones is the forthcoming publication of the ESMO Basic Requirements for AI-Based Biomarkers in Oncology (EBAI), destined to appear in the Annals of Oncology. This document represents the first comprehensive framework guiding the rigorous validation, clinical safety, and efficacy standards for AI biomarkers, bridging the gap between computational innovation and clinical utility.
The EBAI framework builds substantially on ESMO’s earlier efforts, including their pioneering ELCAP guidance, which set foundational standards for the safe use of large language models within oncology. These contributions reflect ESMO’s proactive and thought-leadership role in navigating the complexities of cancer care’s digital transformation, ensuring that AI adoption aligns with the highest standards of patient safety and clinical effectiveness.
Throughout the congress, attendees will have diverse opportunities to engage in high-level discussions, collaborate on new research agendas, and network with global experts spanning oncology, artificial intelligence, regulatory sciences, and bioethics. This gathering envisions a future where AI not only augments clinical intelligence but also democratizes access to cutting-edge cancer treatment worldwide.
ESMO’s commitment to seamless information dissemination is underscored by their provision of media engagement opportunities, allowing for broad public and academic outreach. This inclusive approach aims to spark further interest and investment in AI-driven oncology research, ultimately fostering innovations that can translate into improved patient survival and quality of life.
In essence, the ESMO Congress on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Oncology marks a pivotal chapter in the ongoing digital evolution of cancer care. By weaving together multidisciplinary expertise, rigorous scientific inquiry, and thoughtful ethical considerations, this event is positioned to usher in a new era where AI-powered precision medicine becomes an integral part of the oncology landscape—saving lives and redefining the possibilities of modern health care.
Subject of Research: Artificial Intelligence applications and digital innovations in clinical oncology.
Article Title: ESMO Launches Groundbreaking Congress on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Oncology, Setting New Standards for Cancer Care.
News Publication Date: 12 November 2025.
Web References:
– ESMO AI & Digital Oncology Congress 2025: https://www.esmo.org/meeting-calendar/esmo-ai-and-digital-oncology-congress-2025
– ESMO AI and Digital Oncology Hub: https://www.esmo.org/newsroom/esmo-ai-digital-oncology-hub
– ESMO Basic Requirements for AI-based Biomarkers in Oncology (EBAI) [forthcoming in Annals of Oncology]
– ELCAP guidance on large language models in oncology: https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/%20S0923-7534(25)04698-8/fulltext
Keywords: Artificial intelligence, Cancer, Precision oncology, Biomarkers, Digital health, Generative AI, Large language models, Ethics in AI, Clinical decision support, Molecular tumour boards, Remote monitoring, Decentralized clinical trials.
