Prof Gordon McVie discusses the advances presented at this years ASCO conference. These include: the development of Ipilimumab, an antibody against the molecules that suppress T-cells; the development of anti-BRAF agents for lung cancer patients with the BRAF mutation; the increase in progression free survival in ovarian cancer patients treated with Bevacizumab; Zoledronic acid as treatment for prostate cancer; the benefits of local radiotherapy in addition to hormonal treatment when treating prostate cancer.