The themed article of this edition of the BIG Research in Focus highlights the “The unmet needs of older patients with breast cancer”.

Medical journalist Jenny Bryan discusses this issue on the background of the APPALACHESclinical trial and the implications for breast cancer care with some of those closest to this important trial. The article is based on interviews with Professors Etienne Brain, Hans Wildiers, Masataka Sawaki, Laura Biganzoli and Nicolò Battisti. We’re very grateful for their valuable collaboration and contribution to our newsletter. Thank you!

The section “BIG Network” includes news on a new BIG member group: the Italian breast cancer research group Gruppo Italiano Mammella (GIM), represented by Dr Matteo Lambertini.

An important milestone is the publication of “Disparities in Access to Systemic treatment for Breast Cancer in Thailand and Major Asian Territories” in the Journal of Breast Cancer. This is a key achievement for the BIG-Asia Collaboration and we applaud the authors and members of the BIG-Asia network who contributed to completing the project.

Furthermore, we are proud to announce that three world-class breast cancer experts and long-time friends of BIG, Professors Martine Piccart, Etienne Brain and Fatima Cardoso, have recently been honoured with prestigious awards in the field of oncology.

For the fourth consecutive year, BIG and the EORTC are combining their efforts and expertise by organising an annual Pink October webinar for a scientific audience. For this year’s theme, we have also chosen to focus on “The unmet needs of older patients with breast cancer”. This BIG-EORTC webinar takes place on 19 October. Registration is free but mandatory. More information on the programme, speakers and registration can be found online:https://www.eortc.org/event/22441/.

The remaining sections of the publication cover updates about BIG studies and other trials and activities by BIG member groups.

As always, many thanks to the BIG Member Groups for their precious contributions and their help in compiling the BIG Research in Focus.

We hope you will enjoy the reading!