The ASCO Annual Meeting was held in Chicago, Illinois, from May 30 to June 3 at McCormick Place. The overarching theme for ASCO 2025 was “Driving Knowledge to Action: Building a Better Future.” The meeting featured over 450 oral presentations (across 24 Oral Abstract Sessions and 24 Rapid Oral Abstract Sessions), 13 Clinical Science Symposia, and 16 Case-Based Panels. The program included Plenary and Opening Sessions, ASCO Voices, and joint sessions with other organizations like AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) and ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) as well as over 2700 poster presentations. This meeting is a key event in the oncology community each year.
This years Annual Meeting was attended by our Clinical Trials Coordinator; Science Team Member and Board Member, Jim Hughes; TGCT Support Director, Dr. Sydney Stern; and LRG Executive Director, Sara Rothschild. Conferences like #ASCO are more than just annual gatherings for the cancer research community—they’re a window into what’s next. For The Life Raft Group, they are also a powerful platform to ensure that the patient voice is not just heard, but actively shaping the direction of research.
Attending ASCO is essential for The Life Raft Group because it strengthens our connections with leading experts, opens doors to new research collaborations, and deepens our understanding of emerging therapies. Every conversation, every connection made at ASCO ultimately feeds back to why we are here—to improve the lives of patients and ensure they have access to the best care and support possible. It is an honor to represent the LRG at these meetings. – Sara Rothschild, Executive Director
What sets the LRG apart is the data and patient-reported experiences that we bring to the table. Through our Patient Registry—one of the most comprehensive in the world—we offer real-world evidence that complements clinical trials and research studies. Our data helps researchers understand how treatments work beyond controlled settings, what side effects matter most to patients, and where gaps in care still exist.
By connecting directly with researchers, clinicians, and drug developers, we help focus the conversation on what truly matters to patients. Whether it’s identifying the needs of underrepresented subtypes, highlighting the urgency around resistance and progression, or advocating for smarter clinical trial design, our work helps push research in directions that have real, human impact.
At ASCO we have an opportunity to reinforce the value of the GIST research for our patients. And we gain knowledge about GIST treatment and management that we can translate for our members. – Jim Hughes, LRG Clinical Trials Coordinator, Board Member & Science Team Member
We’re not just observers of research—we’re active participants, collaborators, and catalysts. Every conversation we have, every data point we share, and every patient story we bring forward helps build a future where better outcomes are possible for everyone living with GIST. This mission applies to our other rare disease initiative as well which include TGCT Support, GCT Support, and the Liposarcoma Support Network.
It is important that patient advocates like TGCT Support attend and are key participants in ASCO because the voice of the patient strengthens the interpretation of the results. – Dr. Sydney Stern, Director, TGCT Support
Photo highlights from ASCO 25:
Dr. Herbert Loong of the Chinese University of Hong Kong will be presenting a webinar for The Life Raft Group on the GIST-related information presented at #ASCO25 on June 19 at 7PM ET.
About Our Presenter
Dr. Herbert H. Loong holds conjoint appointments of Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Oncology and Deputy Medical Director of the Phase 1 Clinical Trials Centre of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is also the current and founding convenor of the Prince of Wales Hospital Adult Sarcoma Multidisciplinary Team.
Dr. Loong has served or continues to serve in various capacities in various professional international oncology bodies, including the International Affairs Committee and the Asia-Pacific Regional Council of ASCO, the Membership, Education and Communications Committees of the IASLC. He has been elected as a Board Member of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) for 2022-2024. He is also a founding executive committee member of the newly formed Asia Pacific Oncology Drug Development Network (APODDC). He is also a Board Member in the specialty of Medical Oncology in the Hong Kong College of Physicians. In his appointment as a Registration Committee member of Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong, he helps oversee the registration of medicinal products and clinical trials in the territory.
