From October 20 to 24, 2023, the 47^th European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress was held in Madrid, Spain. Approximately 33,000 global oncologists attended the grand congress and published 2,563 research reports covering clinical, basic and translational research related to tumor prevention, treatment and prognosis, providing an international interactive platform for international researchers in the field of oncology.

Associate Researcher Zhang Huimin, Deputy Director of Department of Breast Surgery in our hospital, attended ESMO Congress 2023 and presented the results of a double-center retrospective clinical study led by the department entitled Effect of HER2 low expression on the efficacy and prognosis of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: a 10-year double-center retrospective study". Under the background of successful application of new ADC drugs, "low expression of HER2" has received unprecedented attention. In this retrospective multi-center cohort study, low expression of HER2 has been found to affect the pCR rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, whereas it is closely associated with the HR status of patients. Meantime, patients with low expression of HER2 obtain better prognosis. Nevertheless, multivariate analysis confirmed that low expression of HER2 is not an independent prognostic factor of breast cancer, which provides retrospective evidence for "low expression of HER is not a new molecular classification". The research results captivated widespread attention from participants. She also discussed with colleagues and peers at home and abroad during the poster presentation.

After returning to China, Deputy Director Zhang Huimin gave a report on "Summary of highlights of early breast cancer at ESMO" in the department, and summarized and shared the latest clinical research results of early breast cancer at ESMO Congress 2023, offering the latest information for subsequent clinical practice and research in the department. The core scientific researchers of Department of Breast Surgery actively discussed and put forward personal suggestions on clinical and translational research of the department, and further expanded the horizon of disciplinary research through academic exchange and sharing of ESMO Congress 2023.