St. Petersburg Hosted the 11th St. Petersburg International Oncology Forum "White Nights 2025"

On 2–5 July 2025, St. Petersburg hosted the 11th St. Petersburg International Oncology Forum "White Nights 2025." This major event in oncology and medical innovation brought together leading specialists from Russia and abroad. Held annually since 2015, the forum is a respected expert platform and a fixture in the annual schedule of research and practical events of Russia’s Ministry of Health. The National Medical Research Center of Oncology named after N.N. Petrov served as the main scientific partner, with the Association of Oncologists of the Northwest as the lead organizer.

This year, the forum attracted 7,712 registrations, and over 300 attendees joined the dedicated public session for patients. The hybrid event format successfully combined in-person and online participation.

The forum featured Russia's leading oncologists, including the chief external specialists of the Russian Ministry of Health and directors of the country's largest cancer centers Maintaining its tradition of global reach, the 2025 program included over 50 foreign speakers from 33 countries, cementing its role as a key international platform for medical dialogue. International participants joined from Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Serbia, Spain, the USA, and other nations.

The "White Nights 2025" program explored the most current topics in modern oncology and innovation.  Over four days, organizers held 139 sessions featuring 833 speakers.  This year's expanded agenda introduced new themes alongside dozens of specialized sessions, consilia, symposia, voting sessions, and master classes. Notable firsts included a session supported by the WHO on the "Commercial Determinants of Health" and a session focused entirely on medical blogging.  The forum also revived the poster session format and hosted the All-Russian Oncology Olympiad with international participation, titled "OncoOlympus: Beneath the Glow of White Nights." Another debut was the meeting of the St. Petersburg Oncology Society.

A central highlight were the live surgery sessions, which covered breast cancer, urologic, abdominal, and gynecologic oncology, as well as neuro-oncology and cryosurgery.  Live broadcasts from leading clinics gave participants a real-time view into the techniques of master surgeons. In total, the forum generated approximately 300 hours of online content, viewed by audiences across Russia and internationally.

Discussions emphasized implementing new diagnostic and treatment methods, including modern screening approaches, molecular diagnostics, innovative drug therapies, and advanced radiation technologies. Separate panels concentrated on applying artificial intelligence in clinical practice, advancing cellular immunotherapy, improving the organization of cancer care, and enhancing professional medical education.

Partner company participation grew by 25 percent from the previous year, underscoring the forum's expanding influence. "White Nights 2025" also strengthened international ties, with the exchange of memorandums of cooperation with India, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

Once again, the forum demonstrated how vital it is for the medical community to unite and share knowledge in the fight against cancer. This large-scale dialogue did more than just showcase the latest advances—it created a powerful, united front against one of the greatest threats to public health.

By bringing together doctors, scientists, and healthcare leaders, "White Nights" actively works to accelerate innovation, strengthen cancer care, and achieve its central mission: to improve treatment quality, reduce cancer incidence, and save more lives.