At the 2026 Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, there was no shortage of scientific advancement. The meeting highlighted continued progress in precision oncology. Across multiple sessions, there was a strong emphasis on biomarker-driven care and the expanding role of targeted therapies. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) were a recurring focus, with emerging targets such as FOLR1, TROP2, CDH6, B7H4, and many others, offering new options for patients with recurrent or treatment-resistant disease across ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancers. These therapies are beginning to reshape treatment pathways and represent a meaningful step forward in translating tumor biology into actionable care.
In ovarian cancer, highlights included updated results from the KEYNOTE B96 trial (pembrolizumab and weekly paclitaxel +/- bevacizumab) and the ROSELLA trial (relacorilant and weekly nab-paclitaxel). Both of these trials have shown overall survival benefit in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and are now FDA approved! While questions remain about patient selection and durability of response, these studies reflect a broader shift toward revisiting previously challenging therapeutic areas with new strategies and combinations. Another focus at the conference was in novel strategies in low-grade serous ovarian cancer. Avutometinib and defactinib continue to show acceptable tolerability and durable results in the phase 2 RAMP 201 study and we eagerly await the phase 3 study results. We also learned that letrozole was not shown to be noninferior to carboplatin and paclitaxel followed by letrozole, which remains the standard of care.
In endometrial cancer, a phase 2 trial of abemaciclib plus letrozole in recurrent/persistent disease demonstrated clinically meaningful activity and potentially offers a novel treatment option for hormone-receptor-positive endometrial cancer. The SISTER study was also presented, which showed that social interventions for support can improve treatment outcomes in Black women with high-risk endometrial cancer.
In cervical cancer, exciting data was presented on novel combinations such as sacituzimab, tirumotecan, and pembrolizumab, and incorporating tisotumab vedotin into earlier lines of treatment. The emerging role of CAR T cell therapy was also presented with preclinical data showing promise.
As these advances continue to accumulate, new challenges will emerge: treatment sequencing, most effective combinations, management of new toxicity, etc. With multiple positive trials and new agents entering the space simultaneously, clinicians are increasingly faced with complex decisions about how to “stack” treatments in a way that maximizes benefit while minimizing toxicity. This requires not only an understanding of individual drugs, but also a broader view of patient context, prior therapies, and long-term quality of life, not to mention improving care from the patient perspective as well.
But some of the most memorable moments came from stepping back and reflecting on the patient experience alongside the rapid pace of innovation. One of the standout sessions was the keynote by Dr. Will Flanary — known widely as Dr. Glaucomflecken — who spoke about the role of humor as a coping mechanism in medicine. Drawing from his own experience as a patient, his talk resonated with many in the audience, particularly as it challenged us to think beyond treatment algorithms and consider how patients process and live through their diagnoses. A similar theme emerged in the patient speaker session featuring Jess Wedel, a mountain guide who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at a young age and later went on to summit Mount Everest. Her story underscored the variability of the cancer experience — not just in biology, but in resilience, identity, and life trajectory. Together, these sessions served as a reminder that while we focus heavily on improving outcomes, how patients experience their disease remains just as important.
Ultimately, SGO 2026 reflected both how far the field has come and how much nuance is still required in applying these advances. The science continues to move quickly, but the responsibility remains to integrate these developments thoughtfully — keeping patient experience, access, and real-world complexity at the center of care.
Dr. Ritu Salani, based in Los Angeles, CA, is a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology with a subspecialty in gynecologic oncology. She completed her residency at Emory University School of Medicine, followed by a fellowship at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Salani is a professor at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and is experienced in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hereditary cancers, among other areas. Dr. Salani has no conflicts of interest to report.
Vignesh Ramchandran, MD, is a resident physician in obstetrics and gynecology. He has no conflicts of interest to report.
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