Oncology: What You May Have Missed in 2024

Abstract

Over the past 5 decades, substantial advances in oncology have reshaped cancer care, reflecting the dynamic role of internal medicine physicians in patients' journey from screening to diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance. This review highlights 10 landmark studies from 2024 that address emerging therapies and evolving clinical standards. Immunotherapy remains a central focus, with checkpoint inhibitors redefining the management of solid tumors and showing expanded applications across disease sites and earlier stages of disease. Targeted therapies and antibody-drug conjugates, including trastuzumab deruxtecan and enfortumab vedotin, are enhancing precision treatment options in metastatic cancer. Meanwhile, advances in supportive care, such as magnetic resonance imaging-guided prostate cancer screening, ponsegromab for cachexia, and celiac plexus radiosurgery for pain, show enhanced symptom management and quality of life for patients. These innovations highlight the critical role of multidisciplinary approaches, where internal medicine physicians contribute to co-management and toxicity monitoring, ultimately optimizing patient care. By staying current with these developments, internal medicine physicians are positioned to navigate complex oncologic care, ensuring that the benefits of novel therapies are maximized while mitigating their challenges.