Almaty, Kazakhstan — On September 4–5, 2025, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Association of Oncologists of Kazakhstan, in cooperation with the S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, hosted the International Oncology Summit “Best of ASCO Kazakhstan-2025.”

Best of ASCO is a global initiative of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), which grants leading countries the exclusive right to present the most significant reports and achievements showcased at ASCO’s Annual Meeting in the United States. Kazakhstan joined this prestigious international community in 2023 and is hosting the summit for the third time, bringing together top specialists from around the world.

In his welcoming remarks, Akylbek Kurishbayev, President of the National Academy of Sciences under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, emphasized that cancer remains one of the most pressing challenges of modern medicine and society at large. Each year, the disease claims approximately 9.7 million lives worldwide, underscoring the urgency and importance of collaborative efforts to advance cancer diagnostics and treatment.

The program of the summit covered key areas of modern oncology, including:

• The latest research on lung, gastric, esophageal, breast, reproductive and urinary system, head and neck cancers;

• Contemporary approaches to the treatment of hematological diseases;

• Innovations in immunotherapy and targeted therapy;

• Clinical case studies and exchange of practical experience.

The summit brought together more than 500 participants — oncologists, radiotherapists, chemotherapists, mammologists, surgeons, pathomorphologists, diagnosticians, and other experts from Kazakhstan as well as from neighboring and distant countries. Distinguished speakers included leading scientists and practitioners from the USA, Spain, Turkey, India, UAE, Israel, Georgia, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia. For the first time, Kazakhstan welcomed world-renowned experts such as Sophia Mikkelson (USA), Doug Pyle (USA), Felipe Cunhago (Spain), among others.

Academician Dilyara Kaidarova of the National Academy of Sciences under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan noted that hosting the Summit in Almaty is symbolic, as it is here that science, professionalism, and the unity of the medical community converge, creating a solid foundation for the further development of oncology services. The participation of leading experts in “Best of ASCO Kazakhstan-2025” is regarded as an important step towards improving the quality of medical care and achieving shared goals in the global fight against cancer.

Particular attention was drawn to the keynote lecture by Najat Mokhtar, Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), titled “Nuclear Medicine as an Integral Part of Modern Oncology: From Diagnosis to Accessible Treatment.”

“Best of ASCO Kazakhstan-2025” was not merely a scientific conference, but an international platform where new ideas were generated, professional alliances established, and opportunities opened for integrating the most advanced practices into oncology care.

As a result of the summit, an agreement was reached to sign a memorandum between the IAEA and the National Academy of Sciences under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on conducting joint scientific research in the fields of nuclear energy, nuclear physics, agriculture, medicine, water resources, and human capital development.

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International oncology summit “Best of ASCO Kazakhstan-2025”