MAP Congress 2026 in London: Advances in Molecular Precision Oncology

On 10 and 11 September 2026, the Molecular Analysis for Precision Oncology Congress (MAP) took place in London. Dr Mohamed Ali Zayen met with experts from the fields of oncology, diagnostics, research and molecular biology to discuss the latest findings and techniques in precision oncology. The congress was jointly organised by Cancer Research UK, the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and Unicancer.

A central principle of modern oncology is that every cancer is different. Tumours can differ substantially at the molecular level, even when they arise in the same organ. Precision oncology examines the specific characteristics of a tumour in order to tailor diagnosis and treatment as precisely as possible to those characteristics. The new opportunities arising from this approach were a central theme of the congress. In this article, we summarise some of the key developments and explain what they may mean for patients.

What do these developments mean for patients?

A key foundation of precision oncology is the molecular analysis of a tumour. This involves investigating which genetic and other molecular changes are present in the cancer cells. Such information can help to characterise a tumour more precisely, identify potential targets for targeted treatment, assess the likelihood of response to a particular therapy, or monitor the course of the disease more closely. Which tests are appropriate always depends on the type of cancer and the individual clinical situation.

Liquid biopsy: analysing cancer through blood sample

One particularly innovative area of research is liquid biopsy. This approach analyses tumour-derived components that can be detected in the blood, such as circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA).

Whereas conventional tissue analysis often requires a biopsy, a liquid biopsy can be performed using a blood-based testing. This makes liquid biopsies potentially useful for a range of clinical questions, including the analysis of molecular alterations and monitoring how a disease changes over time.

However, not every liquid biopsy is suitable for every clinical question, and many of these methods are still being investigated in clinical research.

New approaches to early cancer detection

New methods designed to detect cancer at an early stage using a blood were among the approaches presented at the MAP Congress.

One example is an approach developed by Volition, which analyses specific DNA fragments in the blood that are protected by the protein CTCF. In a blinded validation cohort reported by the company in March 2026, 59 patients with colorectal or lung cancer and 22 healthy controls were included. Overall, 55 of the 59 cancer cases were detected, corresponding to a reported sensitivity of 93 per cent. Among the healthy controls, 21 of 22 were correctly classified as negative, corresponding to a reported specificity of 95,5 per cent. 

The evolution of precision oncology

For patients, the evolution of precision oncology means that medicine increasingly considers not only the type of cancer and the organ affected, but also the individual biological characteristics of the tumour.

Molecular testing already plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of many types of cancer. It can, for example, provide information on whether a particular targeted therapy may be an option. Whether molecular tumour profiling or a liquid biopsy is appropriate, however, cannot be determined in general terms. Important factors include the type and stage of the tumour, previous diagnostic tests and treatments, and the specific clinical question that needs to be addressed.

If you have questions about molecular testing or liquid biopsy, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will discuss with you which options may be appropriate for your individual situation.

Conclusion

The MAP Congress 2026 highlighted how rapidly precision oncology continues to evolve. New molecular tests may help to characterise tumours in increasing detail and support more targeted treatment decisions.

Liquid biopsy, in particular, offers promising opportunities for the future. Blood-based methods may make it possible to analyse molecular alterations more conveniently or to monitor changes in a disease over time. At the same time, new approaches to the early detection of cancer are being actively investigated.

We closely follow these developments and carefully evaluate new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, with the aim of providing our patients with scientifically sound, evidence-based and individually tailored care.