Jacek Jassem1, Jin Ye Yeo2
1Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk 80-211, Poland; 2TBCR Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company
Correspondence to: Jin Ye Yeo. TBCR Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company. Email: tbcr@amegroups.com
This interview can be cited as: Jassem J, Yeo JY. Meeting the Editorial Board Member of TBCR: Dr. Jacek Jassem. Transl Breast Cancer Res. 2025. Available from: https://tbcr.amegroups.org/post/view/meeting-the-editorial-board-member-of-tbcr-dr-jacek-jassem.
Expert introduction
Dr. Jacek Jassem (Figure 1) is a professor of medicine at the Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland. He is a past chairman of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Breast Cancer Group and the EORTC Executive Committee, the chairman of the Central and East European Oncology Group, past chairman of the American Society of Clinical Oncology International Affairs Committee and a past president of the Polish Cancer Society. He is a member of the Academia Europea, the European Academy of Cancer Sciences, and the Polish Academy of Art and Sciences. He has authored or co-authored over 800 full articles, books, and book chapters, as well as 11 patents or patent applications. The cumulated impact factor of his full publications is 2,902, and he has an h-index of 80. Since 2020, he has been listed at the Stanford University World’s Top 2% Scientists. He is the recipient of many Polish and International scientific awards, including the Polish Prime Minister’s Scientific Award, the President of Vienna Award for Innovative Cancer Research, and the Joseph W. Cullen Prevention/Early Detection Award of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.
Figure 1 Dr. Jacek Jassem
Interview
TBCR: Can you share your journey in oncology and leadership roles within organizations like the EORTC and the Polish Cancer Society?
Dr. Jassem: My journey in oncology has spanned several decades. I chose this specialty when there were more failures than successes in treating cancer patients. However, it turned out to be a good choice, as oncology appeared to be one of the fastest-growing fields of medicine.
My foreign contacts began in the early 1980s, first with the South-East European Oncology Group (SEEOG, currently Central and East European Oncology Group) and then with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the most prestigious European scientific oncology organization. I participated in the lung and breast cancer cooperative groups, which were my areas of interest.
In 1981, the head of my clinic in Gdansk died suddenly, and the department remained without a head for several years. Consequently, a few years after graduation, I had to carry out scientific and clinical studies without a mentor. One of them was coordinating a nationwide government project on lung cancer, which resulted in several good publications and a habilitation. These achievements were recognized nationally and internationally, and I was later invited to leadership positions in CEEOG, EORTC, and the Polish Cancer Society. Over the past 15 years, I have also carried out several important projects with partners in the United States and had the opportunity to participate in ASCO activities. This experience has also been very fruitful.
TBCR: How has your involvement in various international oncology organizations influenced your perspective on cancer research and treatment?
Dr. Jassem: I started international cooperation when Poland was in a difficult political and economic situation, and our contacts with the best centers in Europe were limited. In a way, I was a pioneer among Central and Eastern European institutions and an ambassador for this region at EORTC. On the other hand, participation in such valuable research and direct contact with the top scientists in Europe allowed me to accelerate scientific development. An important part of my scientific path was a one-year stay at the National Cancer Institute, where I completed several projects. This collaboration is still ongoing and being developed. Currently, many centers from our part of Europe cooperate with the EORTC and other international oncology organizations, with mutual benefit. Nowadays, it is impossible to progress in medicine without working in large teams. International cooperation has given me this opportunity, and I have tried to make the most of it.
TBCR: Could you highlight any significant findings from your research in lung and breast cancer?
Dr. Jassem: I have been fortunate to work with outstanding teams in Poland and abroad. Apart from international projects that have changed cancer treatment standards, I have conducted several translational studies. Among others, these included the development of molecular predictive and prognostic molecular signatures in breast and lung cancers, expanding our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of brain metastasis in breast, lung, and ovarian cancers, demonstration of delta-like protein 3 expression in small cell lung cancer, which later resulted in the development of the first targeted drug in this malignancy, studies on clinical activity and mechanisms of resistance of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, and demonstration of resistance of colorectal cancer harboring various RAS family genes mutations to anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies.
TBCR: With over 800 publications and numerous patents, what do you consider your most impactful contributions?
Dr. Jassem: Naturally, multicenter studies have had the most significant clinical impact and have changed clinical practice. In lung cancer, these included the studies we conducted in the 1990s on new cytotoxic drugs and, later, on targeted therapies and immunotherapies. In breast cancer, our team demonstrated for the first time the superiority of a regimen consisting of an LHRH analog and tamoxifen over either drug used alone in premenopausal advanced breast cancer patients and the superiority of exemestane over tamoxifen in the postoperative setting. In head and neck cancer and colorectal cancer, the most impactful were projects demonstrating the activity of anti-EGFR antibodies in various clinical settings. Regardless, I also consider the aforementioned translational studies as my best achievements.
TBCR: What trends do you see emerging in breast and lung cancer research?
Dr. Jassem: Oncology is developing into precision medicine. Targeted drugs and immunotherapy are rapidly replacing traditional chemotherapy. Breast cancer and lung cancer are prime examples of this trend. This progress is due to the development of knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of cancer. I still see huge potential for further development here. I also have great hopes for the use of artificial intelligence in oncology. It has already found practical applications in diagnostic imaging and pathology, but this is only the beginning of this chapter.
TBCR: How has your experience been as an Editorial Board Member of TBCR and what are your expectations for TBCR?
Dr. Jassem: TBCR is a relatively young journal. I have been cooperating with it for a few years and have been pleased to see its growth. My attention has been drawn to the great care in selecting and editing submitted papers and the very efficient publishing process. I read the articles published there with interest. The journal's prestige is also demonstrated by its internationally respected Editorial Board members. TBCR is gaining an international reputation and will likely join the major breast cancer journals shortly. A lot is going on in breast cancer, which is reflected in the number of publications on the subject, so I am not worried about the lack of new topics here.