What are the most important advances in Oncology? How can the risk of developing cancer be reduced? And how might artificial intelligence transform patient care in the coming years?
These were some of the topics discussed by Prof. Dr. Paulo Hoff, Full Professor of Clinical Oncology at the Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Technical Director of the Oncology Division at the Cancer Institute of the State of São Paulo (ICESP), and President of Oncology D’Or, during an interview on Roda Viva, a television program produced by TV Cultura.
During the interview, Prof. Hoff discussed the challenges and future perspectives of Oncology while answering questions from the panel of journalists. One of his first points was the importance of understanding that the term “cancer” does not refer to a single disease, but rather to a group of diseases with distinct biological characteristics. Therefore, each type of cancer requires its own diagnostic, prevention, and treatment strategies.
Prevention and Lifestyle
Although it is not possible to completely eliminate the risk of developing cancer, Prof. Hoff emphasized that healthy lifestyle habits can significantly reduce that risk.
His main recommendations included maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, avoiding unprotected sun exposure, keeping vaccinations up to date, and participating in cancer screening programs whenever recommended.
Another key topic was tobacco control. Hoff noted that Brazilian public health policies have led to important progress over the past decades, contributing to a reduction in lung cancer incidence. At the same time, he expressed concern about the growing popularity of electronic cigarettes, particularly because of their potential to introduce adolescents and young adults to nicotine use and, eventually, conventional cigarettes.
He also highlighted that alcohol consumption combined with smoking represents a particularly dangerous combination, substantially increasing the risk of several types of cancer.
Research, Innovation, and Access
The interview also provided an overview of the main highlights presented at the 2026 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), one of the world’s largest oncology conferences.
Among the most promising results presented were advances in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, one of the most challenging malignancies in Oncology.
Prof. Hoff also discussed research involving cellular therapies, such as CAR-T cells, as well as the growing use of genetic testing to personalize cancer treatment.
Another topic was the challenge of expanding access to innovation. According to Prof. Hoff, there is still a significant gap between the development of new therapies, their regulatory approval, and their incorporation into Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS).
Artificial Intelligence in Oncology
When discussing the impact of artificial intelligence on medicine, Prof. Hoff stated that AI will increasingly serve as a tool to support physicians.
Its applications include interpreting medical images, automatically organizing clinical records, supporting clinical decision-making based on established medical guidelines, and accelerating the discovery of new drugs, including through computational models known as in silico testing.
According to Prof. Hoff, these technologies have the potential to make healthcare more efficient without replacing healthcare professionals or diminishing the importance of the physician-patient relationship.
The interview also addresses topics such as genetic testing, GLP-1 receptor agonists (“weight-loss injections”), patients’ rights, misinformation, and future perspectives for Oncology.
Watch the full interview to learn more about Prof. Paulo Hoff’s analysis of the challenges and advances in the fight against cancer.
