Dear Colleagues,
Something extraordinary is unfolding in oncology. Within a single year, AI-powered diagnostic systems have matched expert radiologists in tumour detection accuracy, adaptive radiation platforms now reshape treatment fields in real time, PROTAC degraders have advanced into Phase 3 trials for previously undruggable targets, and personalised neoantigen mRNA vaccines are moving from proof-of-concept to clinical practice. The pace of change has never been greater - and neither has the need to gather, debate, and learn together.
We are privileged to invite you to the MAX Cancer Congress 2026, hosted by the Nanavati Max Institute of Cancer Care (NMICC) - Western India's most advanced quaternary cancer centre, now on track to 900 plus beds. From 2nd to 4th October 2026, Mumbai will become the country's most important meeting point for the oncology community.
Why 2026 Is Different
This congress is built around the most consequential advances reshaping cancer care right now -not aspirational futures, but technologies and therapeutics that are arriving in clinics this year:
- AI auto-contouring has compressed radiation planning from hours to minutes - with peer-reviewed data showing segmentation time reduced from 30 minutes to under one minute while maintaining clinical accuracy.
- Over 70% of FDA oncology approvals in 2025 were immunotherapy or targeted agents - including ADCs, bispecific T-cell engagers, and next-generation checkpoint inhibitors - signalling a complete paradigm shift in drug design.
- Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR/SBRT) now has over 40 active oligometastatic trials globally, with 2025 data from BONEY-M, RADIOSA, and BRALIBREAST expanding its reach into new disease sites.
- Liquid biopsy has entered the mainstream: ctDNA-guided treatment switching (SERENA-6 trial) has doubled survival in a subset of breast cancer patients, and multi-cancer early detection tests are now in clinical evaluation.
- Radiopharmaceuticals are the fastest-growing modality in oncology - now the second most common treatment in metastatic prostate cancer - with pipeline expansion into lung, breast, and neuroendocrine tumours.
- Personalised mRNA cancer vaccines, building on COVID-19 platform success, are showing durable immune responses in early trials for melanoma, lung, and GI cancers.
Scientific Programme at a Glance
Three days of high-impact science across five parallel tracks - curated around what matters most right now:
- Medical Oncology
- ADCs & bispecific antibodies
- KRAS-targeted PROTACs
- mRNA cancer vaccines
- ctDNA-guided therapy switching
- CAR-T in solid tumours
- next-generation sequencing in routine practice
- Radiation Oncology
- AI auto-contouring & adaptive radiotherapy
- SABR/SBRT in oligometastatic disease
- radiopharmaceutical therapy
- MR-Linac & real-time adaptive delivery
- FLASH radiotherapy horizons
- Surgical Oncology
- AI-assisted robotic surgery
- intraoperative navigation & margin detection
- minimal access techniques in complex resections
- cytoreduction & HIPEC
- organ preservation strategies
- Precision Diagnostics
- Digital pathology & AI image analysis
- liquid biopsy & multi-cancer early detection
- spatial transcriptomics
- tumour microenvironment profiling
- next-generation sequencing workflows
- Allied Specialties & Supportive Care
- Onco-anaesthesia & critical care
- psycho-oncology & rehabilitation
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- palliative care innovations
- primary care integration & AI-assisted screening
Special Sessions
- Innovator Summit 2026 - Where Med-Tech meets clinical reality: live demonstrations of AI tools in surgical planning, pathology, and treatment decision-support.
- Multidisciplinary Onco-Radio-Path Tumour Boards - Real cases, real disagreements, real-time consensus with AI-pathology overlays.
- The Ethics of Intelligent Medicine - A frank debate: algorithmic bias, data privacy, and preserving the doctor-patient bond in a digital era.
- Family Physician Oncology Track - AI-assisted early detection algorithms, red-flag recognition, and referral pathways for primary care practitioners.
- Operative Video Workshops - Recorded and live-assisted demonstrations by national and international surgical faculty.
For Residents & Fellows
The next generation of Indian oncologists deserves the best launchpad. We offer:
- Abstract submissions for poster and free paper presentations with a new Digital Excellence Award for AI-validated or technology-innovation abstracts.
- Grand Oncology Quiz 2026 featuring live digital rounds, clinical acumen challenges, and exciting prizes.
- Dedicated mentorship sessions and networking with national and international faculty.
About NMICC
The Nanavati Max Institute of Cancer Care is Mumbai's destination for 360° oncology from prevention and early detection to the most complex tertiary and quaternary interventions. Our multidisciplinary team operates at the intersection of evidence-based medicine and innovation, supported by advanced robotic theatres, next-generation radiation facilities, molecular precision oncology platforms, and a culture of continuous learning. The MAX Cancer Congress is an expression of that culture our commitment to the broader oncology community.
With warm regards,
Organizing Committee
Nanavati Max Institute of Cancer Care, Mumbai