Podcasts about ctdna

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Best podcasts about ctdna

Latest podcast episodes about ctdna

Oncology Brothers
Camizestrant + CDK 46i FDA Approval in Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer SERENA-6

Oncology Brothers

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2026 20:54


Welcome to another episode of the Oncology Brothers! In this episode, we dived into the recent FDA approval of camizestrant for the treatment of hormone receptor–positive metastatic breast cancer, based on the SERENA-6 trial. We welcomed Dr. Erica Mayer, a breast medical oncologist from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who shared her insights on the trial's design, findings, and the significance of detecting ESR1 mutations before clinical progression. We discussed the implications of this approval, including the shift in treatment strategies, the importance of ctDNA monitoring, and the potential benefits for patient quality of life. Key topics covered in this episode: Overview of the SERENA-6 trial and its findings The role of ESR1 mutations in treatment resistance The efficacy and safety profile of camizestrant Practical insights on integrating next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing into clinical practice Management of side effects, including bradycardia and QT prolongation Whether you're a healthcare professional or simply interested in the latest advancements in oncology, this episode is packed with valuable information.   Listen us on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/31BXhY9FM4gPWG10WgE11o    Follow us on social media: ⁠X/Twitter: https://x.com/oncbrothers  ⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oncbrothers  Website: https://oncbrothers.com/    Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more updates from the Oncology Brothers! #Camizestrant, #SERENA6, #ESR1mutation, #BreastCancer, #OncologyBrothers  

All Talk Oncology Podcast
What Is ctDNA? Dr. Tiffany Pompa Explains the Future of Cancer Detection

All Talk Oncology Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2026 25:32


In this episode of All Talk Oncology, Kenny Perkins, AKA Your Cancer Guy, speaks with hematologist oncologist Tiffany Pompa about her journey from patient to physician, her compassionate approach to cancer care, and the future of circulating tumor DNA testing.   Dr. Pompa explains how surviving a severe asthma attack and experiencing the vulnerability of being critically ill influenced the way she cares for people with cancer. She also shares the story of a stage four melanoma patient whose final wish helped guide her toward oncology and taught her the importance of protecting quality of life.   The conversation explores ctDNA, a blood-based technology that may help physicians identify cancer-related DNA, personalize treatment decisions, and monitor for signs of recurrence in certain patients. Dr. Pompa discusses its potential role in stage II colon cancer and explains why patients should feel empowered to ask their physicians about emerging technologies and treatment options. Highlights: Dr. Pompa's journey from patient to hematologist oncologist. How a life-threatening asthma attack shaped her bedside manner. The patient experience that inspired her to enter oncology. What ctDNA, or circulating tumor DNA, means. How ctDNA may support personalized cancer treatment. The potential use of ctDNA in stage II colon cancer. Monitoring cancer recurrence through blood-based testing. The importance of early detection and informed patients. Building a collaborative relationship with your care team. Exercise, movement, balance, and patient-centered cancer care.   Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share to help spread cancer education and empower patients, caregivers, and families with information about compassionate oncology care.   Hashtags: #ctDNA #CirculatingTumorDNA #CancerCare #HematologyOncology #CancerEducation #CancerAwareness #EarlyDetection #PersonalizedCancerCare #ColonCancer #PatientEmpowerment #AllTalkOncology #YourCancerGuy

The Oncology Podcast
The OJC S4E7: Adjuvant Aspirin, ctDNA Controversy, AI Pathology + ASCO Guidelines

The Oncology Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2026 47:23 Transcription Available


Send us Fan MailIn this episode, the Oncology Journal Club team take a whistle-stop tour through some of the latest evidence in breast, colorectal, lung and thyroid cancer, with plenty to discuss around AI pathology, access to palliative care and the ever-changing world of ASCO Guidelines.We kick things off with a lively deep dive into SERENA-6 and the idea of switching treatment when an ESR1 mutation emerges — before the cancer has actually progressed — in first-line treatment of hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer. The team get into the biology behind the approach, the potential benefits for patients and, importantly, what we're really measuring when treatment changes halfway through the journey.Next up is a deceptively simple question with potentially big implications: could aspirin have a role as adjuvant treatment after colorectal cancer surgery? The ASCOLT translational work, alongside signals from other trials, raises the possibility that benefit may be concentrated in patients with particular PIK3CA mutations rather than applying to everyone. But that leads to a very real-world question: if the treatment is cheap but the testing isn't, how do we make precision prevention accessible — and when should we start?We then turn to PD-L1-high advanced non-small cell lung cancer, where a systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that chemoimmunotherapy may offer better survival than PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy. But, as always, the numbers are only part of the story — particularly when we're treating older or less-fit patients in the real world.And in our Quick Bites, we look at why so many patients never receive systemic treatment, why early palliative care is still underused, the potential of faster respiratory pathways to improve access, AI-powered pathology, and new ASCO Guidelines.If you enjoy sharp takes on new oncology papers — and  what they actually mean for patients and practice — subscribe, share the episode with a colleague and leave us a review to help others find the show.The Oncology Journal Club Podcast is hosted by Professor Craig Underhill, Dr Kate Clarke and Professor Chris Jackson, and proudly produced by The Oncology Network.Visit oncologynetwork.com.au for Show Notes, to send us Voice Notes and more information. 

BackTable OBGYN
Ep. 132 Gynecologic Cancer Surveillance: Best Practices & Updates with Dr. Ritu Salani

BackTable OBGYN

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2026 48:38


Does catching cancer earlier with surveillance always translate to better outcomes for gynecologic cancer patients? On this episode of BackTable Women's Health, hosts Dr. Mona Guo and Dr. Marcia Ciccone interview Dr. Ritu Salani, Professor of OBGYN at UCLA and lead author of the updated SGO surveillance clinical practice statements. They discuss how post–curative-intent surveillance has evolved amid limited prospective evidence, review the latest guidelines, and highlight the real-world challenges of balancing early detection, patient safety, and cost. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction03:05 - Evolving Guidelines and Consensus10:02 - Lead-Time Bias and Cost Considerations12:05 - Maintenance Therapy and Surveillance Nuances14:44 - Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer: Imaging vs Exam20:24 - Key Takeaways from the TOTEM Trial24:04 - Future Tools, Lifestyle Counseling, and Shared Care27:21 - Cytology, HPV Testing, and Post-Radiation Surveillance31:13 - Hormone Therapy Considerations34:37 - ctDNA and MRD Testing37:39 - Emerging Technologies and Limitations43:22 - Rapid Fire Takeaways45:33 - Closing Thoughts --- More about this episode The conversation explores practice variability, the lack of clear survival benefits from routine imaging and tumor markers, and the risks of cascade testing and lead-time bias. Dr. Salani reviews the TOTEM trial data for endometrial cancer, the importance of symptom review and pelvic exams (especially for lower genital tract cancers), and the reduced role of cytology, even in cervical cancer after radiation. They also discuss shared-care models, lifestyle counseling, hormone therapy considerations, and the promise and limitations of emerging technologies like ctDNA and MRD testing during maintenance therapy. --- Resources TOTEM Trialhttps://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/jco.22.00471 2010 Ovarian Cancer CA-125 Trialhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20888993/ Society of Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Practice Statement on Surveillancehttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41308226/ --- BackTable Women's Health is the go-to podcast for gynecologists, gynecologic surgeons, and other healthcare professionals focused on women's health. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

Lung Cancer Considered
Beyond Stage IV: Rethinking Oligometastatic Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Considered

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2026 47:30


In this episode, Dr. Narjust Florez is joined by Dr. Yasir Elamin and Dr. Liliana Faroni to explore the evolving management of oligometastatic lung cancer. They break down key definitions, discuss when and how to use consolidative therapies like radiation and surgery, and examine patient selection, limitations, and emerging tools such as ctDNA that are shaping a more precise approach to care. Guests: Yasir Elamin, MD Associate Professor of Thoracic Medical University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Liliana Faroni, MD, PhD Radiation Oncologist, Oncologia D'Or Rio de Janeiro

ASCO Guidelines Podcast Series
Breast Cancer Follow-Up and Surveillance After Primary Treatment Guideline Update

ASCO Guidelines Podcast Series

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2026 19:32


Drs. Zeina Nahleh and Maryam Lustberg join the podcast to discuss the updated ASCO guideline on breast cancer follow-up and surveillance after primary treatment. Drs. Nahleh and Lustberg explain the new risk-stratified approach, which personalizes surveillance intensity based on a patient's risk of recurrence, moving away from a one-size-fits-all model. They detail the recommendations for low, intermediate, and high-intensity surveillance groups, review the current role of blood-based biomarkers like ctDNA, and clarify the guideline's stance on supplemental imaging such as MRI and ultrasound. The co-chairs emphasize the importance of shared decision-making between clinicians and patients and discuss how these updated recommendations aim to improve quality of life and reduce unnecessary testing for breast cancer survivors. Read the full guideline, "Breast Cancer Follow-up and Surveillance after Primary Treatment: ASCO Guideline Update," at www.ascopubs.org/topics/asco-guidelines/breast-cancer" LINK TO FULL TRANSCRIPT

Breast Cancer Conversations
308. Can a Blood Test Detect Breast Cancer Recurrence? Two Patients Share Their Signatera Experience

Breast Cancer Conversations

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2026 49:21


Love the podcast? Send us a text!What if a blood test could detect signs of breast cancer at the molecular level?Circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA, is generating growing interest among people diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly those wondering about recurrence, treatment response, and what may be happening in the body before something appears on conventional imaging.One test you may have heard about is Signatera.In this episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, Laura Carfang talks with Shannon and Erin, two women with very different breast cancer experiences who both pursued Signatera testing.Erin was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer before her 35th birthday and began exploring Signatera after completing treatment and wondering how she would know if her cancer returned. Shannon was initially diagnosed with DCIS, later developed invasive disease, and is now living with oligometastatic stage IV breast cancer. Her Signatera results became one piece of a much larger diagnostic and monitoring picture.Together, they share the questions, emotions, uncertainty, and conversations with their healthcare teams that came with pursuing ctDNA testing.In this episode:What circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) isWhat the Signatera test is designed to detectWhy some breast cancer patients are asking about ctDNA testingErin's experience asking her oncologist for Signatera testingShannon's experience with changing Signatera resultsWhat can happen when blood test results and imaging don't seem to tell the same storyRecurrence anxiety and the desire for more informationAdvocating for yourself while still partnering with your medical teamWhat it means to live with oligometastatic breast cancerThe emotional impact of waiting for test resultsThe questions that remain as ctDNA testing continues to evolveThis episode isn't about telling you whether you should—or shouldn't—get Signatera. It's an honest conversation about why patients are interested in this technology, what two women experienced when they pursued it, and why understanding both the possibilities and limitations of emerging testing matters.Important: The experiences shared in this episode are personal stories and should not be interpreted as medical advice. Talk with your oncology team about whether ctDNA testing is appropriate for your individual diagnosis and treatment plan.Support the showListener FeedbackIf this episode resonated with you, we invite you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.You can also click the link in the show notes that says "Love this episode? Send us a text" to share feedback.Messages are completely anonymous.If you would like us to follow up directly, please include your email address in your message so we can respond.Latest News: Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources from SurvivingBReastCancer.org! Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work. 

The Oncology Podcast
The OJC S4E6: HIPEC Hits a Wall, Beyond Curative vs Palliative + ctDNA After Metastasectomy

The Oncology Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2026 39:55 Transcription Available


Send us Fan MailNegative trials matter. In this episode, the Oncology Journal Club team discuss research that challenges established practice, alongside thought-provoking papers exploring how we communicate treatment goals in the era of immunotherapy and precision oncology.Professor Chris Jackson reviews the PERISCOPE II trial, showing that adding gastrectomy, cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC to systemic therapy does not improve survival for patients with gastric cancer and limited peritoneal metastases, while substantially increasing treatment-related morbidity.Dr Kate Clarke examines the NeoSUMMIT-01 trial, which provides further evidence supporting perioperative PD-1 inhibition alongside chemotherapy for gastric and gastro-oesophageal cancers, with encouraging improvements in event-free and overall survival.Professor Craig Underhill leads a discussion on a JAMA Oncology viewpoint questioning whether the traditional "curative" versus "palliative" treatment framework remains fit for purpose in modern oncology, particularly as immunotherapy and targeted therapies create new patterns of long-term survival.The team also explores:Smoking cessation programmes that improve outcomes for patients with cancer New ctDNA data following colorectal liver metastasectomy Steroids to reduce morphine-induced nausea and vomiting Highlights from the ASCO Breakthrough meeting The Lancet Oncology Commission on the global cancer workforce crisis Tumour-agnostic therapies and the challenges of equitable implementation Five-year follow-up from TOPAZ-1 in advanced biliary tract cancer A comprehensive review of recent advances in prostate cancer The Oncology Journal Club Podcast is hosted by Professor Craig Underhill, Dr Kate Clarke and Professor Chris Jackson, and proudly produced by The Oncology Network.Visit oncologynetwork.com.au for Show Notes, to send us Voice Notes and more information. 

JCO Precision Oncology Conversations
JCO PO: Article Insights: Clinical ctDNA Testing in Advanced Pediatric Solid Tumors

JCO Precision Oncology Conversations

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2026 8:39


In this episode of JCO PO: Article Insights, host Jiasen He summarizes the article, "Clinical Liquid Biopsy Testing for Detection of Actionable Genomic Alterations in Children and Young Adults With Advanced Solid Tumors on the GAIN Study," by Roberts and colleagues. LINK TO FULL TRANSCRIPT

ScienceLink
Lo mejor de Múnich 2026

ScienceLink

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2026 23:22


En este episodio de lo mejor de Múnich 2026, centrado en el análisis de las novedades del Congreso de Tumores Gastrointestinales de la Sociedad Europea de Oncología Médica, el Dr. Samuel Agredano, oncólogo médico del Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente en Guadalajara, modera una discusión con la Dra. Consuelo Díaz, oncóloga médica del Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan) en la Ciudad de México. El debate se enfoca en la evolución del tratamiento dirigido y la secuenciación terapéutica, evaluando los estudios clínicos recientes que plantean la redefinición de la práctica clínica diaria, particularmente en el cáncer colorrectal y el cáncer de páncreas.Durante la sesión, los expertos analizan el manejo del cáncer colorrectal metastásico a través de la medicina de precisión. Se discuten los hallazgos del estudio CAPRI-2 GOIM respecto a la utilidad del ctDNA para guiar el mantenimiento con cetuximab en pacientes RAS/BRAF wild-type, así como los resultados del estudio ATOMIC, el cual evalúa la adición de atezolizumab a la quimioterapia adyuvante en enfermedad etapa III con inestabilidad microsatelital (MSI), señalando la importancia de evitar el sobretratamiento. Asimismo, se explora el papel de la inmunoterapia neoadyuvante para lograr respuestas patológicas completas y promover la preservación de órgano en tumores localmente avanzados, contrastando esto con los desafíos evidenciados en el estudio KRYSTAL-10, donde la combinación de adagrasib y cetuximab se evaluó en la población con la mutación KRAS G12C refractaria.Finalmente, la conversación transiciona hacia el cáncer de páncreas, un área de intensa investigación en etapas tempranas. Se examinan los datos preliminares de estudios fase I/II con nuevos inhibidores orales de KRAS G12D combinados con quimioterapia y terapias multiselectivas, los cuales buscan superar los mecanismos de resistencia clásicos. De igual manera, se debate el impacto del estudio GLEAM en la evaluación de zolbetuximab y la expresión de claudina 18.2, concluyendo que, si bien algunos resultados fueron negativos, el futuro a corto plazo se vislumbra prometedor gracias al desarrollo de nuevas moléculas y anticuerpos conjugados.Preguntas realizadas durante el episodio:¿Cuáles fueron los trabajos más relevantes presentados en ESMO GI respecto a la secuenciación y tratamiento del cáncer de colon?¿Qué papel juega la duración de la quimioterapia en la eficacia de atezolizumab adyuvante para pacientes con cáncer de colon en etapa clínica III con inestabilidad microsatelital?¿Qué perspectivas ofrecen los nuevos abordajes dirigidos (como los inhibidores de KRAS G12D y la terapia anti-claudina 18.2 con zolbetuximab) en el tratamiento del cáncer de páncreas metastásico?Referencia:Este contenido se basa en la interpretación crítica de la evidencia científica disponible, así como en la experiencia clínica del o los ponentes como profesionales de la salud en instituciones de referencia.Para profundizar en los conceptos discutidos, se recomienda al profesional de la salud consultar literatura científica vigente, guías clínicas internacionales y la normatividad aplicable en su país.Material exclusivo para profesionales de la salud. Este material ha sido desarrollado únicamente con fines educativos e informativos y no tiene la intención de sustituir el juicio clínico de los profesionales de la salud. Las opiniones y declaraciones presentadas en este contenido son responsabilidad exclusiva de los ponentes y no reflejan necesariamente la postura institucional de ScienceLink ni de terceros mencionados. La información presentada se basa en el conocimiento y la experiencia profesional de los ponentes. La veracidad, exactitud y actualidad científica de los datos son de su exclusiva responsabilidad. Así mismo garantizan que el contenido utilizado no infringe derechos de autor de terceros y asumen toda responsabilidad por su uso.

Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast
Journal Review in Colorectal Surgery: ctDNA in Colorectal Cancer and Anal Squamous Cell Cancer

Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2026 41:33


Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), a minimally invasive blood-based biomarker, has emerged as one of the most promising advances in cancer surveillance. Today, we will explore how ctDNA is transforming the management of colorectal cancer and anal squamous cell cancer across the disease continuum—from risk stratification and adjuvant therapy decision-making to surveillance and early detection of recurrence. Through landmark clinical trials, real-world applications, and emerging research, we will examine how ctDNA is helping move cancer care closer to the goal of truly personalized medicine.Hosts: ·       Dr. Janet Alvarez - General Surgery Resident at New York Medical College/Metropolitan Hospital Center·       Dr. Wini Zambare – General Surgery Resident at Weill Cornell Medical Center/New York Presbyterian·       Dr. Philip Bauer, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital·       Dr. J. Joshua Smith MD, PhD, Chair, Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery at MD Anderson Cancer CenterGuests:Dr. Paul Romessor ·      Director of Colorectal and Anal Cancer, Department of Radiation Oncology·      Associate Attending Radiation OncologistMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterDr. Jeanne Tie ·      Medical Oncologist | Lower GI Unit ·      Lower GI Research Lead ·      Chair | Lower GI Working Party | GI Cancer TrialsPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre Dr. Takayuki Yoshino·      Professor, Global Center of Research Excellence for Advanced Medicine (G-CORE),Keio University School of Medicine·      Executive Advisor to Hospital East Director·      Director, Department of Global Oncology·      Chief, Department of Gastrointestinal OncologyNational Cancer Center Hospital EastLearning Objectives:·      Describe the biological basis and clinical applications of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a biomarker of minimal residual disease (MRD) in colorectal cancer.·      Interpret the prognostic significance of postoperative and longitudinal ctDNA testing and its role in predicting recurrence risk across stages of colorectal cancer.·      Evaluate evidence from landmark clinical trials, including DYNAMIC and GALAXY, supporting ctDNA-guided treatment de-escalation and escalation strategies in colorectal cancer.·      Discuss emerging applications of ctDNA monitoring in personalized cancer care, including surveillance, treatment response assessment, and future clinical trial directions. References:·      Ando, K. et al. (2026). Molecular Residual Disease and Recurrence in Rectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Upfront Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study. Annals of Surgery. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39854721/ (Note: If direct access is limited, the article is available via PMC: PMC12695342)·      Romesser, P. B. et al. (2026). Tumor-informed circulating tumor DNA stratifies recurrence risk and survival in anal squamous cell carcinoma. Nature Communications. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38347209/·      Tie, J. et al. (2025). Circulating tumor DNA analysis guiding adjuvant therapy in stage II colon cancer: 5-year outcomes of the randomized DYNAMIC trial. Nature Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39943485/·      Tie, J. et al. (2025). Circulating tumor DNA-guided adjuvant therapy in locally advanced colon cancer: the randomized phase 2/3 DYNAMIC-III trial. Nature Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39974258/Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://behindtheknife.org/listenBehind the Knife Premium: https://behindtheknife.org/premiumOral Board Review: https://behindtheknife.org/oral-boardOral Board Simulator: https://behindtheknife.org/oral-board/simulatorGeneral Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/general-surgery-oral-board-reviewTrauma Surgery Video Atlas: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/trauma-surgery-video-atlasDominate Surgery: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Clerkship: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-clerkshipDominate Surgery for APPs: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Rotation: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-for-apps-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-rotationVascular Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/vascular-surgery-oral-board-reviewColorectal Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/colorectal-surgery-oral-board-reviewSurgical Oncology Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/surgical-oncology-oral-board-reviewCardiothoracic Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/cardiothoracic-surgery-oral-board-reviewDownload our App:Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/behind-the-knife/id1672420049Android/Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.btk.app&hl=en_US

Speaking of Mol Bio
The tools, stories, and science behind Absolute Gene-ius

Speaking of Mol Bio

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2026 26:23


Molecular biology is more than a set of techniques. It is a toolkit for asking better questions. In this special crossover episode of Speaking of Mol Bio, Steve Lewis welcomes Jordan Ruggieri, Senior Marketing Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific and co-host of the Absolute Gene-ius podcast. Jordan shares how Absolute Gene-ius began with a focus on digital PCR and evolved into a broader celebration of molecular genetics, genomics, and the scientists using diverse tools across multiple research areas. From endpoint PCR and qPCR to digital PCR, sequencing, sample prep, and downstream analysis, the conversation highlights how different technologies work together to help researchers move from sample to answer. Jordan also reflects on memorable podcast stories, including Antarctic microbial research, transplant science, lab mishaps, and the ways PCR-enabled discoveries can have real-world human impact. The episode also explores themes that run through many scientific careers: curiosity, grit, mentorship, failure, and openness to unexpected opportunities. Jordan shares his own path from aspiring dentist to R&D scientist, marketer, and podcast host, while offering early-career scientists practical advice: stay open, keep learning, and make time for hobbies and life outside the lab. Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you're hearing we hope you'll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague.  Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology. For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

EAU Podcasts
ASCO26 Special: Assoc. Prof. Barata discusses ctDNA analysis from the KEYNOTE-564 trial

EAU Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2026 12:59


In this episode, UROONCO RCC chief editor Dr. Carmen Mir talks to Assoc. Prof. Pedro Barata from Case Western Reserve University, Ohio (US). They discuss the results of the ctDNA analysis in participants with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with adjuvant pembrolizumab or placebo in the KEYNOTE-564 trial and the potential impact of these results for clinical practice. Read the abstract of this trial to know more. For more updates on kidney cancer, please visit our educational platform UROONCO RCC.For more EAU podcasts, please go to your favourite podcast app and subscribe to our podcast channel for regular updates: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, EAU YouTube channel.

EAU Podcasts
2026 update on EAU Guidelines for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

EAU Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2026 11:42


In this EAU Podcast episode, Dr. Francesco Del Giudice (IT), Prof. Antoine van der Heijden (NL), Prof. Richard Cathomas (CH) and Dr. Laura Mertens (NL) discuss the latest updates in the 2026 EAU Guidelines on muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).They explore major changes in perioperative treatment strategies, including the introduction of immunotherapy-based combination treatments and evolving standards for cisplatin-eligible and ineligible patients. The speakers also discuss the growing role of ctDNA, mpMRI, and multimodal imaging in diagnosis, treatment response assessment, and bladder preservation strategies.In addition, they highlight the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, patient-centred care, psychological support, and shared decision-making in the rapidly evolving management of MIBC.For more EAU podcasts, please go to your favourite podcast app and subscribe to our podcast channel for regular updates: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, EAU YouTube channel.

the UK carnivore experience
ctDNA: The Cancer Discovery Nobody's Talking About

the UK carnivore experience

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2026 9:50


The conversation introduces CT DNA testing as a revolutionary method for cancer detection, highlighting its promise and potential, as well as the challenges and limitations associated with it. It explores the factors affecting the adoption of CT DNA testing and emphasizes the importance of interpreting and contextualizing the test results within the broader clinical picture.TakeawaysCT DNA testing for cancer detectionChallenges and limitations of CT DNA testingChapters00:00 Introduction to CT DNA Testing07:04 Interpretation and Context of CT DNA Testing

The Eye Believe Podcast
Eye on the Expert: Eye on ctDNA – What Doctors Are Learning in Uveal Melanoma

The Eye Believe Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2026 78:08 Transcription Available


Eye on the Expert: Eye on ctDNA – What Doctors Are Learning in Uveal Melanoma In this Eye on the Expert webinar, leading experts discuss the growing role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in uveal melanoma and what this emerging technology may mean for patients and providers. Joining the discussion are: Michael Krainock, Associate Medical Director of Oncology at Natera Dr. Kam Montazeri, Medical Oncologist Dr. Vincent Ma, Medical Oncologist Together, they explore: What ctDNA is and how it is detected through blood testing What doctors are learning about ctDNA in uveal melanoma How ctDNA may be used to monitor disease and treatment response The potential benefits and limitations of this evolving technology Questions patients should ask when considering ctDNA testing As research continues to advance, ctDNA is providing new insights into how cancer can be monitored and understood. This webinar offers an accessible overview of the science, current applications, and future possibilities for patients living with uveal melanoma. Thank you to our sponsors for making this webinar possible: Ideaya Biosciences Delcath Systems Aura Biosciences Castle Biosciences Immunocore Natera Rare Cancer. Resilient Hope. Revolutionary Research.

ASCO Guidelines Podcast Series
Circulating Tumor DNA Testing in Solid Tumors and Lymphoma Guideline

ASCO Guidelines Podcast Series

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2026 17:31


Drs. Tina Lockwood and Stacy Gray share the newly released evidence-based guideline on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing from ASCO. They highlight recommendations on when ctDNA testing should be offered—including scenarios where tissue biopsies are challenging, unsafe, or unavailable in time to guide management—and explicitly outline situations where testing should not be utilized. They dive into the evidence evaluating ctDNA for treatment selection, molecular residual disease (MRD), and response monitoring across solid tumors and lymphoma. Drs. Lockwood and Gray explain the importance of balancing ctDNA's high specificity with its moderate sensitivity. They also touch on outstanding questions, including standardizing definitions for MRD, disease-specific applications, and the use of multi-cancer early detection (MCED) screening.  Read the full guideline, "Circulating Tumor DNA Testing in Solid Tumors and Lymphoma: ASCO Guideline" at www.asco.org/molecular-testing-and-biomarkers-guidelines" LINK TO FULL TRANSCRIPT

Oncology Brothers
ASCO 2026 GI Highlights: EMERALD-3, FIGHT-302, CIRCULATE, MATTERHORN

Oncology Brothers

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2026 23:30


Welcome back to the Oncology Brothers podcast! In this episode we are joined by Dr. Neena Vijayvergia from Fox Chase Cancer Center to discuss the latest highlights from ASCO 2026, focusing on gastrointestinal (GI) studies.   We discussed key studies: EMERALD-3 in HCC: Exploring the findings on combining TACE with Durvalumab and Tremelimumab, and the implications for patient outcomes. FIGHT-302 in Cholangiocarcinoma: The potential of FGFR inhibitors in frontline settings and the challenges of biomarker testing. CIRCULATE Update: The role of ctDNA in stage 2 colon cancer and how it influences treatment decisions. MATTERHORN Update: Benefits of perioperative chemotherapy and the importance of maintaining treatment regimens for better patient outcomes. We also touched on the evolving landscape of GI malignancies and the significance of multidisciplinary approaches in treatment planning. Tune in for an informative discussion that aims to enhance your understanding of the latest advancements in oncology and their practical applications in the clinic.    Listen us on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/31BXhY9FM4gPWG10WgE11o Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oncology-brothers-practice-changing-cancer-discussions/id1653340966 Follow us on social media: ⁠X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/oncbrothers ⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oncbrothers Website: https://oncbrothers.com/   Don't forget to subscribe for more updates on treatment algorithms, challenging cases, and conference highlights! #ASCO2026, #GIOncology, #ctDNA, #FGFRinhibitor, #OncologyBrothers

The Oncology Podcast
The OJC ASCO 2026 Special Part 2

The Oncology Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2026 49:30 Transcription Available


Send us Fan MailS4E5 The Oncology Journal Club Podcast The Oncology Journal Club team returns with Part 2 of its ASCO 2026 coverage, delivering a whirlwind tour through some of the most interesting studies presented across gastrointestinal, breast, lung, genitourinary, gynaecological, skin and haematological cancers.Craig Underhill, Kate Clarke and Christopher Jackson discuss emerging data on ctDNA-guided treatment strategies, exercise as adjuvant therapy, genomic testing in breast cancer, novel antibody-drug conjugates, immunotherapy advances, de-escalation studies and potential new standards of care. They also explore the growing role of precision medicine, evolving treatment sequencing strategies and the challenges facing the global oncology workforce.Along the way, expect the usual OJC banter, ASCO bingo, questionable drug pronunciations and a recurring tribute to Qantas pyjamas!The Oncology Journal Club Podcast is hosted by Professor Craig Underhill, Dr Kate Clarke and Professor Chris Jackson, and proudly produced by The Oncology NetworkVisit oncologynetwork.com.au for Show Notes, to send us Voice Notes and more information. And to download your bingo card if you'd like to play along with the team!

BackTable Urology
Ep. 308 Navigating Shared Decision-Making in Bladder Cancer Treatment with Dr. Kelly Bree, Dr. Meredith Donahue, and Dr. Saum Ghodoussipour

BackTable Urology

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2026 48:23


What matters most to patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Kelly Bree, Dr. Saum Ghodoussipour, and Meredith Donahue, N.P., join host Dr. Vignesh Packiam to discuss the power of shared decision-making across the NMIBC spectrum. They explore risk-adapted treatment selection, when to escalate or de-escalate therapy, and how to navigate conversations about recurrence risk, treatment burden, quality of life, and the possibility of cystectomy. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- This podcast is supported by an educational grant from Johnson & Johnson. --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction01:55 - Second Opinions and Patient Counseling06:08 - Intermediate Risk Stratification12:13 - Treatment Options for Intermediate Risk NMIBC16:20 - BCG and Alternative Treatments for High Risk NMIBC26:49 - Options for BCG-Unresponsive NMIBC31:42 - Sequencing and Cystectomy37:03 - Financial and Time Toxicity41:08 - Biomarkers and ctDNA44:04 - Future Trials and NMIBC Innovations --- More about this episode They also review emerging therapies such as ZUSDURI, the evolving role of intravesical treatments, and the promise of biomarkers and ctDNA for personalized care. The discussion covers practical strategies for patient counseling, key updates to clinical guidelines, and a preview of innovations shaping the future of NMIBC management. --- Resources Active Surveillance Versus Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin for High-grade T1 Bladder Cancer with Negative Second Transurethral Resection: The Randomized Noninferiority Phase 3 JCOG1019 Trial:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41571573/ Twelve-Month Results From the CISTO Study Comparing Radical Cystectomy Versus Bladder-Sparing Therapy for Recurrent High-Grade Non–Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancerhttps://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO-25-01324 CIRCULATING TUMOR DNA AS A BIOMARKER FOR UPSTAGING AND ADVERSE PATHOLOGY IN HIGH-RISK NON–MUSCLE-INVASIVE BLADDER CANCER:https://www.auajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1097/01.JU.0001191388.74345.c9.09 Preoperative Circulating Tumor DNA Predicts Upstaging and Recurrence in High-Risk Nonmuscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Undergoing Radical Cystectomyhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41843048/ --- BackTable Urology is the go-to podcast for urologists, urologic oncologists, and urogynecologists. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

Vanguards of Health Care by Bloomberg Intelligence
AstraZeneca's ASCO Readout on Oncology's Next Wave

Vanguards of Health Care by Bloomberg Intelligence

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2026 57:59 Transcription Available


“I think it’s the most exciting period in cancer discovery and development that I’ve experienced over the last 25 years,” says Susan Galbraith, executive vice president of oncology R&D at AstraZeneca. Galbraith joins Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Sam Fazeli fresh from the ASCO conference to unpack how ctDNA, earlier intervention and next-generation oncology platforms could reshape cancer care. They discuss AstraZeneca’s Stride regimen in liver cancer, Serena-6 in breast cancer, progress in pancreatic cancer and the company’s push across ADCs, bispecifics, CAR-T and radio conjugates.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research To Practice | Oncology Videos
Genitourinary Cancers — 5-Minute Journal Club Issue 2 with Professor Thomas Powles: Current and Future Role of Tumor-Informed Circulating Tumor DNA Assays

Research To Practice | Oncology Videos

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2026 22:38


Featuring perspectives from Prof Thomas Powles, including the following topics: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analyses with adjuvant nivolumab for MIBC in the CheckMate 274 study (0:00) Use of ctDNA to guide response-adapted bladder preservation for patients with MIBC (2:27) ctDNA response-adapted treatment de-escalation for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma: The CT-READ trial (10:26) Emerging data and studies regarding urinary tumor DNA (18:04) CME information and select publications

Oncology Peer Review On-The-Go
S1 Ep216: How the Landscape of GI Oncology is Evolving | A 2026 ASCO Preview

Oncology Peer Review On-The-Go

Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2026 29:06


In a recent interview with CancerNetwork®, Nicholas Hornstein, MD, PhD, an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine of Hofstra University and Northwell Health, discussed emerging data and clinical shifts in the care of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers ahead of the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.Advancements in Colorectal CancerHornstein highlighted the increasing integration of targeted therapies into the first-line setting for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). For those with BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic disease, data from the phase 3 BREAKWATER trial (NCT04607421) support moving targeted therapy into the first line.1 He noted that initiating these therapies early is critical, as a significant percentage of patients may experience rapid clinical decline and lose the opportunity for second-line treatment if targeted options are delayed.In the HER2-positive space, clinicians currently utilize tucatinib (Tukysa)-based regimens or fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu). Hornstein also anticipated the arrival of bispecific antibodies, such as zanidatamab-hrii (Ziihera), which are expected to gain approval in upper GI cancers before moving into the CRC landscape.The Role of ctDNA and Pancreatic CancerRegarding localized disease, Hornstein discussed the potential for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to guide adjuvant therapy for patients with stage II colon cancer. Data from trials like CIRCULATE (NCT05174169) are expected to further clarify how ctDNA can assist in the escalation or de-escalation of treatment.2 In pancreatic cancer, the phase 3 RASolute 302 trial (NCT06625320) investigating daraxonrasib is poised to change the standard of care for patients with second-line pancreatic cancer immediately upon an anticipated regulatory approval.3Barriers to Precision MedicineA primary unmet need that Hornstein identified was the low rate of biomarker testing; currently, only about half of patients with metastatic disease receive necessary sequencing or microsatellite instability testing. Hornstein emphasized that multidisciplinary cooperation and improved systems are essential to ensure all patients with targetable mutations receive appropriate care. Finally, he highlighted the development of large language model tools to assist clinicians with data ingestion and clinical trial matching.References1.        Kopetz S, Wasan HS, Yoshino T, et al. BREAKWATER: primary analysis of first-line (1L) encorafenib + cetuximab (EC) + FOLFIRI in BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). J Clin Oncol. 2026;44(suppl 2):13. doi:10.1200/JCO.2026.44.2_suppl.132.        Dasari A, Yu G, Kopetz S, et al. NRG-GI008: colon adjuvant chemotherapy based on evaluation of residual disease (CIRCULATE-NORTH AMERICA). J Clin Oncol. 2026;44(suppl 16):TPS3686. doi:10.1200/JCO.2026.44.16_suppl.TPS36863.        Wolpin B, Wainberg ZA, Hendifar A, et al. Daraxonrasib, a RAS(ON) multi-selective inhibitor vs chemotherapy in previously treated metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPDAC): Primary and final analysis from the phase 3 RASolute 302 study. J Clin Oncol. 2026;44(suppl 17):LBA5. doi:10.1200/JCO.2026.44.17_suppl.LBA5

Research To Practice | Oncology Videos
Genitourinary Cancers — 5-Minute Journal Club Issue 1 with Professor Thomas Powles: Current and Future Role of Tumor-Informed Circulating Tumor DNA Assays

Research To Practice | Oncology Videos

Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2026 29:57


Interview conducted on March 11, 2026, by Dr Neil Love, including the following topics: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-guided adjuvant therapy with atezolizumab for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) (0:00) Use of ctDNA in guiding systemic treatment selection for patients with urothelial bladder cancer (10:03) ctDNA analyses with perioperative durvalumab for MIBC in the Phase III NIAGARA study (16:51) New research advances in the monitoring and management of urothelial bladder cancer (22:21) CME information and select publications  

OncoPharm
BCL2 & HER2 Targeting Agent Updates

OncoPharm

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026 13:45


The FDA has been a bunch of busy bees with new approvals: 1. Sonrotoclax, an exciting new BCL2 inhibitor approved for 3rd-line Mantle Cell Lymphoma 2. An all PO regimen of decitabine/cedazuridine + venetoclax is approved for AML. 3. Zenoctuzumab gets an FDA approval for cholangiocarcinoma with an efficacy patient population = 19 4. T-DXd is a good drug and continues to pile on FDA approvals 5. Adjuvant atezolizumab in bladder cancer is approved in conjunction with ctDNA serial monitoring to determine who gets treatment Check out the Oncology Insights Newsletter: www.kelleycpharmd.com/newsletter-oncopharm

BackTable Podcast
Ep. 644 Optimizing Liver Transplant Pathways and Decision-Making with Dr. Neil Mehta and Dr. Ari Cohen

BackTable Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2026 37:30


A high-functioning HCC tumor board can turn complex transplant decisions into coordinated treatment plans that account for liver reserve, tumor biology, and evolving biomarkers. In this episode of the BackTable Podcast 2026 HCC Creator Weekend™, abdominal transplant surgeon Dr. Ari Cohen (Ochsner Health) and transplant hepatologist Dr. Neil Mehta (UCSF) join host Dr. Kavi Krishnasamy to map out strategies for effective multidisciplinary treatment and transplantation planning in HCC. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- This podcast is supported by an educational grant from Sirtex and Boston Scientific. --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction00:51 - Starting a Tumor Board06:39 - Building Referral Streams09:03 - Academic and Community Practice Integration14:31 - Treatment Selection Criteria20:38 - Modern HCC Biomarkers25:24 - Role of ctDNA and Biopsy29:37 - Bridging Therapy on Transplant Waitlist32:34 - Downstaging Strategy and Risks39:25 - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks --- More about this episode The physicians discuss what it takes to build a robust tumor board, from fostering hospital buy-in to engaging leaders across specialties and utilizing virtual formats for consistent participation. The conversation explores clinical decision-making, emphasizing the integration of AFP-L3 and DCP biomarkers alongside AFP to better understand tumor biology and predict post-transplant recurrence. Dr. Mehta and Dr. Cohen also share their patient selection criteria, discussing how bilirubin, liver disease etiology, and INR influence decisions. While radiographic guidance remains central to HCC management, they highlight the growing potential of reliable ctDNA analysis and other biomarkers. The specialists conclude by emphasizing that an integrated, communicative tumor board is the most effective way to navigate the nuances of liver reserve and HCC biology to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. --- Resources Sustained AFP-L3 or DCP expression is associated with progression risk and inferior outcomes in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10238-025-01877-8 --- BackTable Vascular & Interventional (VI) is the go-to podcast for interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional cardiologists. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

The Eye Believe Podcast
Through a Patient's Experience | The Eye Believe Podcast

The Eye Believe Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2026 27:11 Transcription Available


In this episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, we're joined by Wendy Carpenter, a metastatic ocular melanoma patient who is currently NED (No Evidence of Disease). Wendy shares her personal experience using ctDNA (circulating tumor DNA) testing as part of her ongoing surveillance and care. She discusses how this blood-based testing helps monitor disease activity, informs conversations with her medical team, and provides another tool for navigating life after treatment. In this conversation, Wendy opens up about: What ctDNA testing is and how it works How she incorporates ctDNA into her surveillance plan The emotional realities of monitoring after metastatic disease Living with hope, uncertainty, and gratitude as an NED survivor Register for Eye on ctDNA Webinar on May 22! https://events.zoom.us/ev/AvuhW89ZCjUP5wdMLqfUIHZv66yDDvXNS4Cws4X9M9okF1pnf-ax~AsOT8AphEb5PJVQjLmAyI6LsBZCgLhHe0tWYJREvI-AbmKVVmO-VUGyvCA   Hear more of Wendy's story:    Enucleation 101 Panel: https://youtu.be/fmzI_QeB5mM   Eye on Mental Health 2026 - patient panel participant (omit this if you can't find the recording or its not up)    Information on Signatera: https://www.natera.com/info/monitor-cancer/?utm_source=goog_na_sem&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=4440280632&utm_keyword=bladder-cancer-check&utm_content=natesign_ubr_bladder_na&utm_id=natesign86421&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23805042236&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh-HPBhCIARIsAC0p3cdRcVraC3zQMJmLaetu_jgIX2Bt12wY5vs5I6sd8YB13rK8GI-VBnMaAuDVEALw_wcB   This episode offers a patient-centered perspective on an evolving area of cancer care and highlights how new technologies are helping empower patients in their journeys.

OncLive® On Air
S17 Ep20: Biomarker-Directed Therapies Move the GI Oncology Paradigm Beyond a One-Size-Fits-All Approach: With Michael J. Pishvaian, MD, PhD

OncLive® On Air

Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2026 22:55


Welcome to OncLive On Air®! I'm your host today, Courtney Flaherty.OncLive On Air is a podcast from OncLive®, which provides oncology professionals with the resources and information they need to provide the best patient care. In both digital and print formats, OncLive covers every angle of oncology practice, from new technology to treatment advances to important regulatory decisions. In today's episode, Michael J. Pishvaian, MD, PhD, sat down to discuss the evolving role of biomarker-directed strategies in gastrointestinal (GI) oncology, as well as the importance of early comprehensive testing to identify molecular drivers and resistance mechanisms when approaching frontline treatment selection and sequencing. Pishvaian serves as director of the Gastrointestinal, Developmental Therapeutics, and Clinical Research Programs for the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in the National Capital Region.Pishvaian began the discussion by highlighting the shift from a disease-site-specific approach to a molecularly defined paradigm, noting that microsatellite instability–high status and NTRK fusions now dictate therapy regardless of tumor origin. He reviewed the transformational data from the phase 3 HERIZON-GE-01 trial (NCT04276493), positing that zanidatamab (Ziihera) could become the new standard of care for HER2-positive upper GI cancers due to unprecedented survival outcomes. He also emphasized the emergence of Claudin 18.2-directed therapies, noting that data from the phase 2 ILUSTRO study (NCT03505320) demonstrates remarkable progression-free survival when adding zolbetuximab (Vyloy) to mFOLFOX6 and nivolumab (Opdivo) for high-expressing subgroups.The conversation then shifted to colorectal cancer, where Dr. Pishvaian detailed how data from the phase 3 BREAKWATER trial (NCT03845036) has "locked in" a paradigm requiring frontline testing for BRAF V600E mutations to guide the use of encorafenib (Braftovi) plus cetuximab (Erbitux). He also discussed the "care revolution" in KRAS inhibition, spotlighting the significant survival benefits seen with daraxonrasib in pancreatic cancer and the potential for novel allele-specific inhibitors to combat disease resistance.Finally, Pishvaian addressed the practicalities of implementation, noting that testing rates in the community remain low. He advocated for prioritizing testing, including liquid biopsies and ctDNA, at the time of initial diagnosis to ensure no patient is left behind.This content is a production of OncLive; this OncLive On Air podcast episode is supported by funding, however, content is produced and independently developed by OncLive.

Lung Cancer Considered
LCC Beyond Stage IV: Rethinking Oligometastatic Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Considered

Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2026 47:30


This episode of Lung Cancer considered explores the evolving management of oligometastatic lung cancer. They break down key definitions, discuss when and how to use consolidative therapies like radiation and surgery, and examine patient selection, limitations, and emerging tools such as ctDNA that are shaping a more precise approach to care. Guests: Dr. Yasir Elamin is a thoracic/head and neck medical oncology fellowship director and associate professor in the department of thoracic/head and neck medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Lilian Faroni is a thoracic radiation oncologist atClínica São Vicente - Oncologia D'Orfrom Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She specializes in the care of patients with oligometastatic lung cancer from oligopersistent to oligoprogressive disease.

Research To Practice | Oncology Videos
Localized Colorectal Cancer — Microlearning Activity 3: Proceedings from a Session Held Adjunct to the 2026 ASCO GI Cancers Symposium

Research To Practice | Oncology Videos

Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2026 18:12


Featuring perspectives from Dr Stacey A Cohen, Dr Christopher Lieu and Dr Jenny Seligmann, moderated by Dr Lieu, including the following topics: Role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing in the escalation of treatment for Stage II and deescalation for Stage III colon cancer (0:00) Impact of timing on the clinical relevance of ctDNA minimal residual disease test results in localized colorectal cancer (8:58) Approach to managing Stage III colon cancer with ctDNA-positive results after adjuvant treatment (13:35) CME information and select publications

OncLive® On Air
S17 Ep13: Cases and Conversations: Translating ctDNA Into Clinical Decisions in Breast Cancer

OncLive® On Air

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026 25:59


In this podcast, experts Neil Iyengar, MD; Kelly Elizabeth McCann, MD, PhD; and Wassim Mchayleh, MD, MBA, FACP, discuss the clinical applications and current evidence for using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing in early-stage and metastatic breast cancer.

Oncology Brothers
How to Treat Colorectal Cancer – Treatment Algorithm with Dr. Smitha Krishnamurthi

Oncology Brothers

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2026 25:08


In this episode of the Oncology Brothers podcast, we kicked off a three-part series on colorectal cancer, starting with the current treatment algorithm. They are joined by Dr. Smitha Krishnamurthi, a GI medical oncologist from the Cleveland Clinic, who walks through the evolving standard of care from early-stage disease all the way to refractory metastatic settings. Listen us on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/31BXhY9FM4gPWG10WgE11o Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oncology-brothers-practice-changing-cancer-discussions/id1653340966 Follow us on social media: •⁠  ⁠X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/oncbrothers •⁠  ⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oncbrothers •⁠  Website: https://oncbrothers.com/ Key topics discussed included: • The evolving role of ctDNA as both a prognostic and predictive tool in stage two and three colon cancer, including its utility in oligometastatic disease surveillance. • Neoadjuvant versus adjuvant immunotherapy in MSI-high resectable colon cancer, comparing the NICHE-2 and ATOMIC trial approaches and when to use each. • Single-agent versus dual checkpoint inhibition with Nivo-Ipi for MSI-high metastatic disease, based on CHECKMATE-8HW data showing a PFS hazard ratio of 0.21. • Sequencing strategies in RAS-mutant and RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer, including the role of sidedness, anti-EGFR therapy, and refractory options like fruquintinib, TAS-102, and regorafenib. Join us for this comprehensive discussion on colorectal cancer management in 2026. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and check out our other episodes for more insights on oncology! #ColorectalCancer, #MSIHigh, #BRAFV600E, #ctDNA, #GIOncology, #OncologyBrothers

Research To Practice | Oncology Videos
Lung Cancer — 5-Minute Journal Club with Dr Natalie Vokes: Current and Future Role of Tumor-Informed Circulating Tumor DNA Assays

Research To Practice | Oncology Videos

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2026 27:12


Featuring an interview with Dr Natalie Vokes, including the following topics: Perioperative minimal residual disease (MRD) detected by circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing in patients with lung cancer (0:00) Ohara S et al. Clinical significance of perioperative MRD detected by ctDNA in patients with lung cancer with a long follow-up data: An exploratory study. JTO Clin Res Rep 2024;6(3):100762. Abstract Masuda K et al. MRDSEEKER (JCOG2111A): A prospective study to evaluate MRD and its association with prognosis in curative-intent NSCLC. World Conference on Lung Cancer 2025;Abstract P3.18.04.  Zhou C et al. IMpower010: Biomarkers of disease-free survival in a phase 3 study of atezolizumab vs best supportive care after adjuvant chemotherapy in stage IB-IIIA NSCLC. ESMO IO 2021;Abstract 2O. MRD analysis of adjuvant therapy with osimertinib for resected EGFR-mutated Stage IB to IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (8:28) Herbst RS et al. Molecular residual disease analysis of adjuvant osimertinib in resected EGFR-mutated stage IB-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer. Nat Med 2025;31(6):1958-68. Abstract MRD analyses of perioperative chemoimmunotherapy for resected NSCLC (15:12) Forde PM et al. Overall survival with neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy in lung cancer. N Engl J Med 2025;393(8):741-52. Abstract  ctDNA dynamics in advanced NSCLC treated with immunotherapy (20:56) Vokes NI et al. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamics and survival outcomes in patients (pts) with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) and high (>50%) programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, randomized to cemiplimab (cemi) vs chemotherapy (chemo). ASCO 2023;Abstract 9022. Anagnostou V et al. ctDNA response after pembrolizumab in non-small cell lung cancer: Phase 2 adaptive trial results. Nat Med 2023;29(10):2559-69. Abstract Anagnostou V et al. A biomarker-directed, multi-center phase II/III study of ctDNA molecular response adaptive immuno-chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (BR.36). ASCO 2025;Abstract TPS8669. CME information and select publications

Research To Practice | Oncology Videos
Localized Colorectal Cancer — Microlearning Activity 2: Proceedings from a Session Held Adjunct to the 2026 ASCO GI Cancers Symposium

Research To Practice | Oncology Videos

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2026 15:06


Featuring perspectives from Dr Stacey A Cohen, Dr Christopher Lieu and Dr Jenny Seligmann, moderated by Dr Lieu, including the following topics: Adjuvant treatment planning for Stage II or III microsatellite instability-high colon cancer (0:00) Roles of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), POLE mutations and advanced age in adjuvant treatment planning (6:08) Role of ctDNA in adjuvant treatment planning for Stage III colon cancer (12:31) CME information and select publications

The Uromigos
Episode 492: Novel Biomarkers and Targets in Germ Cell Tumors

The Uromigos

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2026 33:25


This podcast features Dr. Mike Glover from MDACC discussing recent advances in germ cell tumor research, focusing on novel biomarkers like microRNA and ctDNA, and emerging therapies targeting Claudin-6. The conversation explores how these innovations could transform diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment strategies.

Oncology Brothers
How to Treat Bladder Cancer – Drs. Stephanie Berg (Medical Oncologist) & Joshua Meeks (Urologist)

Oncology Brothers

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2026 25:21


Welcome to the Oncology Brothers podcast! In this episode, we dived into the evolving treatment algorithms for bladder cancer following the latest data presented at GU ASCO 2026. Listen us on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/31BXhY9FM4gPWG10WgE11o Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oncology-brothers-practice-changing-cancer-discussions/id1653340966 Follow us on social media: X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/oncbrothers ⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oncbrothers Website: https://oncbrothers.com/ Join us as we explore: The role of immunotherapy in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, highlighting the recent positive trials: CREST with Sasanlimab and POTOMAC with Durvalumab. Insights on the current standard of care and the implications of combining BCG with immunotherapy. The shift in treatment strategies for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, including the new standard of care with the EV-Pembro combination and its impact on pathologic complete response rates. The challenges and considerations in managing side effects associated with new therapies, as well as the importance of patient selection and coordination between urologists and medical oncologists. The emerging role of ctDNA in guiding treatment decisions and the ongoing discussions around the sequencing of therapies in refractory settings. Hope you enjoy this informative discussion that aims to keep you up to date in the world of cancer treatment, here focusing on bladder cancer. Subscribe to our channel for more episodes and discussions on the latest in oncology! #BladderCancer, #NMIBC, #MIBC, #Immunotherapy, #GU26, #OncologyBrothers

OncLive® On Air
S16 Ep33: Real-World Data Support ctDNA-Guided Treatment Strategies in FGFR2-Altered Cholangiocarcinoma: With Marina Baretti, MD

OncLive® On Air

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2026 19:41


Welcome to OncLive On Air®! I'm your host today, Ashling Wahner.OncLive On Air is a podcast from OncLive®, which provides oncology professionals with the resources and information they need to provide the best patient care. In both digital and print formats, OncLive covers every angle of oncology practice, from new technology to treatment advances to important regulatory decisions.In today's episode, Marina Baretti, MD, discussed the real-world utilization of tissue-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Baretti is an assistant professor and the Jiasheng Chair in Hepato-Biliary Cancer Research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, as well as co-director of the Liver and Biliary Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in Baltimore, Maryland. In the exclusive interview, Dr Baretti discussed multiple potential roles for ctDNA testing in CCA management, including the detection of minimal residual disease following curative-intent surgery, longitudinal monitoring of treatment response in advanced disease, and identification of emergent resistance mechanisms with targeted therapy.Baretti also reviewed findings from a small real-world observational analysis of 44 patients, in which a tissue-free ctDNA assay demonstrated high sensitivity, detecting variant allele frequencies as low as 0.2% and identifying actionable alterations in most patients; ctDNA dynamics also correlated with response and enabled early detection of resistance alterations, including secondary FGFR2 mutations, prior to radiographic progression in select cases.Lastly, Baretti contextualized these findings within the broader treatment landscape by reviewing data from the phase 2 FIGHT-202 trial (NCT02924376), which supported the FDA approval of pemigatinib (Pemazyre) in patients with previously treated CCA harboring FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements. Real-world data have confirmed the efficacy and safety of this agent observed in clinical trials, reinforcing the importance of comprehensive molecular profiling._____That's all we have for today! Thank you for listening to this episode of OncLive On Air. Check back throughout the week for exclusive interviews with leading experts in the oncology field.For more updates in oncology, be sure to visit www.OncLive.com and sign up for our e-newsletters.OncLive is also on social media. On X and BlueSky, follow us at @OncLive. On Facebook, like us at OncLive, and follow our OncLive page on LinkedIn.If you liked today's episode of OncLive On Air, please consider subscribing to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and many of your other favorite podcast platforms,* so you get a notification every time a new episode is posted. While you are there, please take a moment to rate us!Thanks again for listening to OncLive On Air.*OncLive On Air is available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, RadioPublic, and TuneIn.This content is a production of OncLive; this OncLive On Air podcast episode is supported by funding, however, content is produced and independently developed by OncLive.

The Eye Believe Podcast
How “Cancer Poop” Is Changing Cancer Care | The Eye Believe Podcast

The Eye Believe Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2026 38:22 Transcription Available


In this episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, Danet sits down with Dr. Vincent Ma to discuss an emerging and exciting tool in cancer monitoring: ctDNA (circulating tumor DNA)—or as Dr. Ma memorably calls it, “cancer poop.”   Dr. Ma breaks down this complex topic in a way that's easy to understand, explaining: What ctDNA is and how it works How it can be tested and monitored over time How he's using ctDNA in his practice to better track disease and guide care for his patients   This conversation offers a unique look at how innovative science is becoming more accessible—and how tools like ctDNA may help improve early detection, monitoring, and personalized treatment strategies.   Whether you're a patient, caregiver, or simply curious about the future of cancer care, this episode provides valuable insight into a rapidly evolving area of research.   Tune in to learn how something as unexpected as “cancer poop” could play an important role in advancing cancer care.

OncLive® On Air
S16 Ep31: ctDNA Testing At Progression May Help Detect Resistance and Guide Sequencing in GIST: With Drs Jonathan Trent, MD, PhD, and Neeta Somaiah, MD

OncLive® On Air

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2026 26:26


In today's episode of OncLive On Air®, Jonathan Trent, MD, PhD, and Neeta Somaiah, MD, sat down to discuss the evolving role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), as well as the importance of identifying both initial drivers of disease and secondary resistance mechanisms when approaching frontline treatment selection and overall therapeutic sequencing.Trent is a professor of medicine, associate director of Clinical Research, and director of the Sarcoma Medical Research Program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, in Florida. Somaiah is a professor and chair of the Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology in the Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.Drs Trent and Somaiah began their discussion by highlighting the rarity of GIST, underscoring the importance of evaluation at specialized sarcoma centers and comprehensive molecular testing to identify driver alterations.Somaiah then reviewed the molecular landscape of GIST, noting that approximately 70% to 80% of tumors harbor activating mutations in the KIT gene, while additional cases involve rarer alterations such as BRAF or NTRK fusions. Of note, resistance to imatinib (Gleevec) frequently emerges through secondary mutations in KIT exons 13 or 17, which can influence sensitivity to subsequent TKIs.ctDNA testing may help detect these resistance mechanisms, particularly at progression or when tissue is limited, enabling clinicians to refine sequencing strategies, both experts explained. They also discussed how mutation-informed approaches may guide treatment selection, including emerging strategies such as combining sunitinib (Sutent) with bezuclastinib to address resistant clones involving KIT exon 13 or 17 alterations.This content is a production of OncLive; this OncLive On Air podcast episode is supported by funding, however, content is produced and independently developed by OncLive.

ASCO Daily News
Navigating Therapeutic Advances in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC

ASCO Daily News

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2026 19:24


Dr. Monty Pal and Dr. Vamsi Velcheti discuss the evolving treatment landscape in EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer, including landmark trials like FLAURA2, novel drug therapies, and the growing importance of ctDNA and MRD testing. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Monty Pal: Hello, and welcome to the ASCO Daily News Podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Monty Pal. I'm a medical oncologist and professor and vice chair of academic affairs at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles. Today, I'm truly delighted to introduce Dr. Vamsi Velcheti, who's a professor of medicine and the chief of hematology-oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. We'll be discussing the expanding treatment landscape in EGFR-positive lung cancer and how to navigate the challenges of balancing treatment efficacy, toxicity, and patient quality of life in the EGFR-positive space.  Just FYI, our full disclosures are available in the transcript of this episode.  Vamsi, it's so great to have you on the podcast. Thank you so much for being here. Dr. Vamsi Velcheti: Thank you, Monty. It's a pleasure to be here with you. It's a really exciting topic and there are a lot of updates in the EGFR space. Dr. Monty Pal: So, I'm going to need your help with this because I'll be honest with you, I see very little lung cancer, if any, in my practice. I'm pretty much exclusively kidney cancer these days. I'm coming on 20 years at City of Hope now, and I still remember when trials like ECOG 1599 were presented with, you know, platinum doublets. And, of course, the field has changed a lot since then. But tell us a little bit about the first-line landscape, and I think just for the sake of time, we're going to stick with EGFR-positive disease here. What does it look like these days? Dr. Vamsi Velcheti: Monty, the foundation of care remains the third-generation EGFR inhibitors. These are selective EGFR inhibitors, like osimertinib. We've had an evolution of the development of these TKIs. Like, you know, we had the first-generation, second-generation, not-so-selective EGFR inhibitors. Now we have mutant-selective EGFR inhibitors in the clinic, and they're doing a really good job. And these are quite effective in patients who have classical activating mutations. But the reality is that these have not been transformative. These agents have fundamentally changed the response patterns, excellent CNS penetration, and very good tolerability profile. However, we don't see a lot of durability in terms of the response. So, what's different today is now there have been several trials in combination with these third-generation EGFR inhibitors that have really laid the foundation of how we kind of think about EGFR-positive disease. At the high level, there are a lot of challenges to selecting the patients for these combination-based modalities. I'm assuming we'll be talking more about these different trials and different approaches. Some of these combination-based strategies have really moved the needle in terms of improving overall survival and really improving long-term outcomes and durability in our patients. Dr. Monty Pal: And we are going to get into the weeds on this in just a moment. But I did kick off this podcast talking about chemotherapy, ECOG 1599. It does seem as though chemotherapy is still a component of management in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. So, can you tell us about, perhaps first, you mentioned osimertinib, you know, some of these next-generation EGFR inhibitors. Tell us about the role of chemo plus osimertinib. Dr. Vamsi Velcheti: That's exactly where I was going with the combination-based strategies. You know, we first started off with our earlier trials in the EGFR space evaluating the question of, are targeted therapies, are these highly effective, third-generation, EGFR-selective inhibitors, superior to platinum-doublet chemotherapy? And we've had multiple trials demonstrating that, like the FLAURA trial and in the past with second-generation EGFR inhibitors like erlotinib and gefitinib and afatinib. So, we know that these TKIs actually perform better than platinum-doublet chemotherapy. Now, we have a large, global, phase 3 trial data from the FLAURA2 trial, which looks at the question, "Hey, you know, osimertinib is better than chemotherapy, platinum-doublet chemotherapy. Can we do even better by combining osimertinib with platinum-doublet chemotherapy?" So, FLAURA2 answered that question. This is a large, phase 3 trial, and it's a positive trial with improved durability of disease control and improving overall survival with combination with chemotherapy. So, it's a very important and landmark trial, and essentially combining osimertinib with a platinum-based chemotherapy improved responses, deepened responses, and improved overall survival and really changing the disease trajectory. And this strategy is definitely compelling, especially in patients who have certain clinical high-risk features like, you know, patients who have high disease burden or patients who are sometimes having rapid disease progression early on osimertinib, especially with patients who have a lot of visceral disease burden. So, intensifying treatments up front could alter the natural trajectory of the disease. Dr. Monty Pal: So, you sort of alluded to this in that last part there, but is that kind of how you in clinical practice select? Is it based on, you know, visceral involvement? Is it based on rapidity of disease where you think about adding chemotherapy to osimertinib? Maybe you can give us the corollary. Which patients do you just use osimertinib alone in, for instance? Dr. Vamsi Velcheti: Definitely, there are some patients who have low disease burden and they have the classical mutations, like an exon 19 deletion. And these patients, especially if they don't have a lot of disease burden, they don't have CNS involvement, there may be a subset of patients who could just do fine on osimertinib of course, with close monitoring of the disease. I guess we'll get into that later, how do we do that with either ctDNA or like closer imaging or both. So, there may be some opportunity to kind of escalate patients' treatments based on certain clinical characteristics or radiographic characteristics or certain biological characteristics informed by ctDNA or other approaches. Dr. Monty Pal: No, that's interesting. And you're right, we will chat about ctDNA in just a bit. But before we get there, I think one of the big agents that has really sort of come to the fore in advanced non-small cell lung cancer is amivantamab. I've heard a lot about this in the context of even kidney cancer because in certain subsets, I'm interested in MET-directed therapies and so forth, right? So maybe tell us a little bit about the mechanism of amivantamab first, and then maybe tell us about this pivotal MARIPOSA trial where it's combined with lazertinib. Dr. Vamsi Velcheti: So, the MARIPOSA trial compared lazertinib alone with amivantamab plus lazertinib. And this trial demonstrated overall survival advantage, and there were key differences in terms of tolerability and the safety of amivantamab, which is an EGFR and MET bispecific, and there were certain kind of unique toxicity profiles that make it a little different than the intensification approach with chemotherapy through the FLAURA2 trial. So, there's a trade-off in terms of the toxicity profile. It's a different agent and a different management protocol in terms of dermatological toxicity management that clinicians need to be comfortable with. And also, there are certain unique issues in terms of amivantamab; there's a higher rate of infusion-related reactions, there's an increased risk for edema and VTEs because of amivantamab. Certainly a different toxicity profile, different management paradigm there in terms of longitudinal care of these patients requiring dermatological care and like, you know, close monitoring and prophylaxis VTEs. But having said that, definitely it's a different strategy, and it kind of changes the biology and the natural history of the cancers, and we do see some durability of responses that we see with the MARIPOSA. So, it's certainly a great alternative, at least for some patients. Dr. Monty Pal: That was a great overview of MARIPOSA. Now comes the really difficult question, which is, how do you choose between the two? You have these two great options, right, for EGFR-positive patients. You've already highlighted some of the distinctions in terms of toxicity. I think the audience is well aware of the side effects of chemo-doublet, perhaps even the EGFR-based therapies. Amivantamab is quite new. Give us a sense of how you in clinical practice decide between the two potential options here. Dr. Vamsi Velcheti: Yeah, I think that's the big challenge. I think these are two independent strategies that have evolved through the phase 3, and both of them have demonstrated overall survival benefit. So, the way I think about this is in three dimensions, right? Like, the disease biology, the patient priorities, and feasibility of care delivery. So, when I talk about the disease biology, you know, the mechanism is very different, and MET is a very dominant driver of disease in EGFR-altered patients and it's a significant mechanism of resistance, acquired resistance to TKIs. So, certainly I think there's a patient population that could benefit from a MET-directed therapy up front. However, we don't have great data to kind of really demonstrate how using amivantamab in the front line is going to change that. And are there like perhaps like some patients who we could identify who would benefit from such a strategy? Very recently, there have been some approvals in the second-line setting in lung cancer, not in the EGFR space, but like in generally in lung cancer, with the MET ADCs, and those drugs are approved with a companion diagnostic, which requires MET IHC testing. So, what has happened, at least in large academic practices and also I think in the community now, they have been checking for MET IHC expression more routinely in lung cancer. What we have been doing in our institution is we have been doing MET IHC as a reflex for all patients with EGFR, not just EGFR, but all non-small cell lung cancer patients. What that has done is now, like, we have been increasingly testing patients with EGFR for MET. And there's clearly a subset of patients who have de novo MET expression and a high MET expression. And those patients, I've been kind of like preferentially treating them with the MARIPOSA regimen. But again, I have to caution the audience that we still don't have data that MET IHC is going to help us make those decisions, whether it's better than like a FLAURA2 regimen. But however, in the second-line setting in the CHRYSALIS trial, we know that MET is a very powerful predictor of response to amivantamab. We really need more data there, but that's what I have been doing in my practice. But also, there's a lot of patient preference here. Like, there are some patients who don't want chemotherapy, and they want a non-chemotherapy approach. So, certainly there are some patients who prefer to have amivantamab. And now with the amivantamab, the subcutaneous version, the infusion reactions and the logistics of actual administration of amivantamab are more favorable with the subcutaneous approval. So, those are some of the elements that we need to take into account. Dr. Monty Pal: Well, I want to hone in on that because this subcutaneous administration route has been a big debate that I've seen on social media. Tell us, how much easier does it actually make the amivantamab experience? Does it cut down on the rash? Is it just infusion reactions? What's been your clinical experience? Vamsi Velcheti, MD: So, the subcutaneous administration of amivantamab has definitely improved the infusion reaction issue. Very rarely patients have infusion reaction now with the subcutaneous injections. And also, the infusion time is much, much shorter. Like we don't need a lot of infusion time, which is sometimes a challenge in busy infusion clinics. We need to take that into account. As far as the impact of the subcutaneous formulation on dermatological toxicity, we haven't really seen significant difference in terms of the intensity or rates of dermatological toxicity with subcutaneous. The benefits are really with the infusion reaction, the ease of administration. And interestingly, in the PALOMA trial, it also seems to be, even though this was not the primary endpoint of the study, there seems to be some suggestion that the subcutaneous amivantamab seems to have improved OS compared to the IV amivantamab. We don't really understand why, but that's a finding from the trial that's very intriguing. Dr. Monty Pal: That is really fascinating. I'm kind of curious to see how that's going to pan out. I'm going to shift gears a little bit here. And, you know, as we sort of close, I wanted to talk a little bit about biomarkers. I mean, this is obviously not a lung cancer-specific issue. It's something we think about across the board. But what I will say is that there are certain commonalities, and in bladder cancer, we think a lot now about ctDNA. But you've been way ahead of the game in lung cancer. Tell us how you guys use ctDNA, maybe both from the standpoint of monitoring for mutational status, but if you can, maybe offer some insights into some of these new MRD tests that are available too. Dr. Vamsi Velcheti: Yeah, it's rapidly evolving. Certainly, I think in the lung cancer space, you know, this has really kicked off in the lung cancer space with incorporating ctDNA into the workflow. Of course, you know, like baseline evaluation, we still kind of heavily rely on tissue genomic sequencing. But as you know, with targeted therapy, a lot of these patients have disease that evolves over time, and changes in terms of mutational pattern driving acquired resistance is a major issue across different molecular subtypes. And especially so in EGFR, when there are certain actionable opportunities associated with that transformation. So, we need to kind of have like a longitudinal snapshot of how we monitor these patients. So, the ctDNA has come to be like a tool that has now come to the forefront of clinical workflow, and almost all my patients who are having disease progression have ctDNA for kind of evaluating for resistance and informing treatment decisions, especially in EGFR. But having said that, there are a lot of challenges in terms of using ctDNA as a tool for monitoring. There are a lot of different types of assays and different platforms, and being able to use this as a quantitative tool that would be used along with the CT scans that we routinely use in clinical practice has been a challenge. And I think I would love to hear your perspectives as well, Monty, about how you're thinking about that in bladder and other disease contexts. But having said that, I think there's a lot of opportunity to incorporate ctDNA and MRD assays into clinical decision-making. Right now, in terms of clinical trials and clinical development, there have been some very interesting trials that are currently ongoing, especially in the EGFR space. We know that patients who clear ctDNA, based on some retrospective data and also like some retrospective-prospective data from trials that have already read out, that patients who clear ctDNA early with target therapy tend to do much better. They have a longer durability of response. There may be a subset of patients who have, even though they're having radiographic response, they have persistent ctDNA after a certain time point of initiation of targeted therapy. Those patients may require escalation of therapy. We don't yet know. I can't recommend that as a standard right now because we don't have clinical evidence to support that. But however, some of the clinical trials, like the ELIOS trial that's being done right now, that's actually completed enrollment, we'll hopefully see the results very soon. So, there is an emerging thought that instead of intensifying treatment for all patients with EGFR, there may be a population that may be just fine with frontline osimertinib monotherapy and introducing the intensification strategy at the time of emergence of MRD or progression on ctDNA before radiographic progression. So, there are a lot of adaptive molecular response criteria that we are kind of exploring in clinical trials that could inform how the future is going to look like for EGFR and other perhaps targeted therapies as well. So, it's fascinating, and I think there's a lot of opportunity there. Dr. Monty Pal: You know, you asked for my perspective. I actually think that what you highlighted there is the most interesting opportunity for ctDNA: the ability to de-escalate therapy. In terms of drug development, we've done so much to bring new therapies to patients, and now it's a bit of an embarrassment of riches, but the downside is that I feel like we tend to overtreat a lot of patients in the clinic. So, I definitely view MRD, you know, some of these other ctDNA techniques with methylation and so forth that may not be sort of tumor-dependent or bespoke could be incredibly, incredibly helpful. You touched on sort of the future, right, in this last section here with biomarkers. But give us a sense now in terms of novel drug therapies in the EGFR space. What are you most excited about moving forward in 2026 and beyond? Dr. Vamsi Velcheti: Yeah, I think there's a lot going on in this space, and not just this space, but across lung cancer and others as well. Like looking at the next generation of targets for ADCs. And I think a lot of these have to do with…so far in the drug development space, as you know, the improvements in clinical outcomes has been very incremental. So, we really need to make that big leap. And I think the big leap is not going to come from, in my opinion, from the next ADC, but it's going to come from how we tailor treatments and how we monitor disease better and how do we kind of incorporate the next treatment earlier and not wait for the radiographic progression. So, there's a lot of opportunity there to integrate biomarkers and dynamic biomarkers into clinical trial design and incorporating the recent advances in terms of drug design. You know, we have a lot of assets in the EGFR space, the next-generation EGFR inhibitors that are kind of designed with resistance in mind and rational combination, knowing when to introduce those combinations is also equally important. So, there's a lot going on, really exciting times to be in drug development. The one thing that I really hope will come to the forefront in drug development, not just for lung cancer, but all disease groups, is to kind of really be thoughtful about how we incorporate these really cool molecular monitoring tools and creating a composite score with imaging to be able to like really design the next generation of clinical trials. Dr. Monty Pal: You're so spot-on with that. I definitely think that we're getting to this point where, you know, we could think about the next BiTE, the next CAR-T, the next ADC. But, you know, maybe it's time for us to start really honing in on appropriate applications of these drugs, honing in on the right dose and what have you, because I definitely see some issues there.  Vamsi, this has just been terrific. I really want to thank you so much for sharing your fantastic insights with us today on the ASCO Daily News Podcast, and I really appreciate all your efforts to move the field of lung cancer forward. Dr. Vamsi Velcheti: Thanks, Monty. I really enjoyed the conversation. Dr. Monty Pal: Yeah, this was terrific.  And thanks to our listeners as well. If you value the insights that you hear from the ASCO Daily News Podcast, please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Disclaimer: The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. Follow today's speakers:     Dr. Monty Pal   @montypal  Dr. Vamsi Velcheti @VamsiVelcheti Follow ASCO on social media:          ASCO on X    ASCO on Bluesky         ASCO on Facebook          ASCO on LinkedIn          Disclosures:       Dr. Monty Pal:      Speakers' Bureau: MJH Life Sciences, IntrisiQ, Peerview     Research Funding (Inst.): Exelixis, Merck, Osel, Genentech, Crispr Therapeutics, Adicet Bio, ArsenalBio, Xencor, Miyarsian Pharmaceutical     Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Crispr Therapeutics, Ipsen, Exelixis   Dr. Vamsi Velcheti:   Honoraria: Galvanize Therapeutics  Consulting or Advisory Role: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, AstraZeneca/MedImmune, GSK, Amgen, Taiho Oncology, Novocure, Regeneron, Takeda, Janssen Oncology, Picture Health Research Funding (Inst.): Genentech, Trovagene, Eisai, OncoPlex Diagnostics, Alkermes, NantOmics, Genoptix, Altor BioScience, Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Atreca, Heat Biologics, Leap Therapeutics, RSIP Vision, GlaxoSmithKline

The Uromigos
Episodio 483: ASCO GU 2026 - KEYNOTE B15: EVP neoadyuvante vs Gem/Cis en cáncer de vejiga músculo-invasivo cisplatino elegible

The Uromigos

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2026 42:19


En este episodio, Brian, Tom y Matt Galsky analizan los datos del estudio B15 sobre terapia neoadyuvante para el cáncer de vejiga músculo-invasivo cisplatino-elegible, centrándose en la eficacia de EV-Pembro en comparación con cisplatino-gemcitabina. Exploran la SLE, SG y las implicaciones de la duración del tratamiento así como su individualización. La conversación también aborda el papel del ctDNA en las decisiones terapéuticas, las histologías alternativas y la importancia de la terapia sistémica neoadyuvante. El episodio concluye con reflexiones sobre las futuras direcciones en el tratamiento del cáncer de vejiga y la relevancia de los estudios en curso.

Research To Practice | Oncology Videos
Oncology Nursing Update: Colorectal Cancer — An Interview with Dr Christopher Lieu on Molecular Residual Disease Analysis

Research To Practice | Oncology Videos

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2026 59:00


Featuring an interview with Dr Christopher Lieu, including the following topics: Historical approach to the adjuvant treatment of localized colorectal cancer (CRC) (0:00) Perspectives on earlier-onset colorectal cancer and potential drivers; management of oligometastatic disease (13:16) Overview of cell-free DNA (circulating tumor DNA [ctDNA]) and techniques for its measurement (17:03) Reliability and prognostic capability of ctDNA as a biomarker for clinical status in patients with localized colorectal cancer (21:10) ctDNA assessment and treatment decision-making for patients with Stage II colon cancer (26:38) Potential incorporation of ctDNA assays into the management of metastatic colorectal cancer or microsatellite instability-high disease (34:29) Available clinical data with ctDNA assessment in localized rectal cancer (38:54) Current practice patterns with ctDNA assays for patients with localized colorectal cancer (41:17) Case: A woman in her early 40s with resected lower risk Stage III colon cancer requests ctDNA testing (45:47) Case: A man in his early 50s with Stage IIIB colon cancer wants to avoid adjuvant chemotherapy (50:39) Case: A man in his early 60s with Stage IV colon cancer receives a positive postoperative ctDNA assessment result (53:24) NCPD information and select publications

The Uromigos
Episode 486: ctDNA and utDNA Data in Peri-operative Urothelial cancer

The Uromigos

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2026 45:32


summaryThis episode explores the latest advances in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and urinary tumor DNA (utDNA) in bladder cancer management. Experts discuss how these biomarkers are transforming perioperative decision-making, prognosis, and personalized treatment strategies.

The Uromigos
Episode 483: ASCO GU 2026 - KEYNOTE B15: Neoadjuvant EVP vs Gem/Cis in Cis-eligible MIBC

The Uromigos

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2026 42:18


In this podcast , Brian, Tom and Matt Galsky discuss the B15 study data on neoadjuvant therapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer, focusing on the efficacy of EV Pembro compared to gem-cis. They explore event-free survival, overall survival, and the implications of treatment duration and individualization. The conversation also touches on the role of ctDNA in treatment decisions, alternative histologies, and the importance of neoadjuvant systemic therapy. The hosts conclude with reflections on future directions in bladder cancer treatment and the significance of ongoing studies.

BioCentury This Week
Ep. 351 - Gilead's Arcellx Buy. Plus: ctDNA as Surrogate Endpoint

BioCentury This Week

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 35:25 Transcription Available


Gilead is acquiring Arcellx for $7.8 billion up front three years after forging a partnership with the biotech around a cell therapy for multiple myeloma. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury's analysts assess what the deal does for the Foster City, Calif.-based biotech's pipeline.The analysts also discuss the case for using ctDNA as a surrogate endpoint for early cancer trials. Turning to Washington, Steve Usdin offers his takeaways from last week's PhRMA Forum, which focused on China and the Trump administration's most favored nation (MFN) drug pricing policy, and on the lessons that can be drawn from FDA's about-face on the recent vaccine application from Moderna.View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/658516#BiotechMA #MultipleMyeloma #ctDNA #DrugPricingPolicy #FDA00:00 - Introduction02:34 - Gilead's Arcellx Buy11:14 - ctDNA Surrogate Endpoints21:59 - PhRMA Forum Takeaways29:19 - FDA Moderna U-turnTo submit a question to BioCentury's editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at podcasts@biocentury.com.Reach us by sending a text

ASCO Daily News
Personalizing Treatment in Head and Neck Cancers

ASCO Daily News

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 20:51


Dr. Monty Pal and Dr. Ari Rosenberg discuss the evolution of treatment strategies in head and neck cancers, including the challenges of treating both HPV-positive and HPV-negative disease and the emergence of blood-based biomarkers to advance personalized therapy across different subtypes. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Monty Pal: Hello and welcome to the ASCO Daily News Podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Monty Pal. I'm a medical oncologist, professor, and vice chair of academic affairs at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles. Today, we're going to explore the evolving landscape of treatment strategies in head and neck cancer management, including locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, which happens to be on the rise in United States, in part due to spike in HPV-mediated oropharyngeal cancers. We're also going to discuss the emerging strategies of using blood-based biomarkers to really advance personalized therapy. Joining me for this discussion is Dr. Ari Rosenberg. He's a medical oncologist focused on head and neck cancer, and he's an associate professor – congratulations on the recent promotion – at the University of Chicago. The University of Chicago has really produced luminaries in this field, Dr. Rosenberg included. I've had the pleasure of getting to know Dr. Ezra Cohen over the years, who really had his grounding there, and of course Everett Vokes, former ASCO President. I'm really looking forward to this conversation, Ari. Thanks so much for joining us. Dr. Ari Rosenberg: Thanks, Monty. Thanks for the invitation. Dr. Monty Pal: You got it. And just a quick note for our listeners, our full disclosures are going to be in the transcript at the end of this episode. So let's start with the basics, if you don't mind. So, head and neck cancers are very diverse and they're challenging, right? In the sense that they're near vital organs, the treatments, you know, as we all saw during fellowship, if not now in clinical practice. They can really have such a major impact on vital organ function, speech, swallowing, et cetera. Can you just comment on head and neck cancers that are on the rise in the U.S.? I alluded to this briefly. Particularly, we've heard this in the context of colorectal cancer and so forth. Are you actually seeing younger adults being affected by this? Dr. Ari Rosenberg: Yeah, thanks for that. The vast majority of head and neck cancers are head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, as I'm sure many of the listeners recall as well from fellowship or their current training. And as you alluded to, the organ function, long-term and functional quality of life outcomes are quite important, particularly in the context that these develop in high value real estate, parts of our head and neck area that we use for speaking, swallowing, all sorts of other essential functions as well. As you also alluded to, we think of this in two different particular subtypes of head and neck cancer. The historical head and neck cancer from 50, 60 years ago was almost exclusively related to carcinogen exposure, tobacco, alcohol use, and that subtype of carcinogen-induced head and neck cancer has been slowly declining. However, over the last now several decades, we've been seeing an increase in primary oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, mostly tonsil, base of tongue. These are attributable to HPV, human papillomavirus exposure. And that's now the majority of the head and neck cancers that we tend to see in our clinic. As you also alluded to, these have very different prognoses as well. HPV-related head and neck cancer has a much more favorable prognosis where much of the interest has been in can we de-intensify to optimize long-term function? But then the non-HPV-related head and neck cancer, or what we call HPV-negative head and neck cancer, continue to be very, very challenging. We only managed to cure about half of these folks, with many of these patients developing the current disease. These patients, in addition to being difficult to treat, also have major impacts both in terms of the treatments they undergo as well as their disease that can impact their function and quality of life. And you hinted at this a little bit, but we have been seeing an increase in younger patients with HPV-negative head and neck cancer as well, which is quite concerning. Younger patients, oftentimes never smokers, never drinkers, who are developing non-HPV-negative head and neck cancer. And that's been a little bit of a more recent trend that we've been seeing as well. So, definitely a lot of work to be done to optimize and improve outcomes across all of these different head and neck cancer subtypes. Dr. Monty Pal: I mean, I'm just curious, you know, in the context of colorectal cancer, one of the things that we talk about is the potential role of the microbiome driving some of these young-onset cancers with, you know, perhaps there being an impact on, for instance, inflammation and the gut and what have you. Tell me about head and neck cancer. Is this anything known as to why younger patients might be getting diagnosed with non-HPV type cancers? It's odd to me. Dr. Ari Rosenberg: Yeah, it's a great question. A lot of people are working on it. I think we folks have hypotheses, but it hasn't totally panned out exactly what's going on there. It does have a little bit more of a tendency towards women, whereas historically head and neck cancer is much more common in men than it is in women. But lots of people working on that, whether it's related to chronic inflammation, whether it's related to the microbiome. Whether it's related to dental exposure, dental work. So, a lot of folks trying to parse that out because I agree with you, it needs to be identified alongside improving treatment paradigms for these patients, the young ones and the older patients as well. Dr. Monty Pal: Interesting, interesting. You know, one of the phenomena that was sort of coming around when I was in training 25 years ago was this role of sort of induction therapy for head and neck cancers. And of course, it's really come full circle now to include checkpoint inhibitors and so forth. Tell me a little bit about this and how you apply it, maybe in an HPV-mediated context, maybe in a non-HPV context. Dr. Ari Rosenberg: Yeah, absolutely. Induction chemotherapy, as you alluded to, or neoadjuvant chemotherapy, depending on what the locoregional treatment approach is. Similar to other cancer types where systemic control early on has many potential advantages in this setting. Now, in head and neck cancer, even though induction chemotherapy is quite active in head and neck cancer, both HPV-positive and HPV-negative with pretty good response rates. A survival advantage for all comers with local regionally advanced disease remains unproven. There's been two randomized trials, both underpowered, but essentially did not show a survival advantage, showing that induction chemotherapy for all patients with locoregionally advanced and neck cancer can't be justified for a survival advantage. That being said though, there remains a number of potential advantages of giving induction or neoadjuvant chemotherapy, of course, improving systemic control and debulking the disease early on has potential advantages, and predicting the responsiveness to subsequent radiation treatment. We know for some time in head and neck cancer that the percentage of shrinkage or the response to induction chemotherapy actually predicts outcome related to radiation as a dynamic biomarker where response can be used to select patients, for example, for de-escalated radiation has been an area of active investigation, active research. And it also remains a key opportunity to evaluate predictive biomarkers and understanding pre and post treatment to better understand the biology. I'll just add to your question that recently over this past year, we also saw phase 3 data for neoadjuvant immunotherapy for a subset of head and neck cancer that is surgically resectable. And so that's reintroducing the potential benefit in the immunotherapy era of incorporating immunotherapy in the neoadjuvant or the induction setting as part of the evolving treatment paradigm for these diseases. Dr. Monty Pal: That's really interesting. And you kind of alluded to already several topics that I plan to hit on, you know, for instance, the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors, induction, chemotherapy, and so forth. And you started to touch on biomarkers. And of course, I think that's something near and dear to many of us in academic oncology. One thing that we've started talking a lot about in the context of colorectal cancer is circulating tumor DNA. How do you think this might fit in the context of head and neck cancer? Can you give us a flavor for that? Dr. Ari Rosenberg: Yeah, absolutely. In head and neck cancer, the current landscape is most developed for circulating tumor DNA for HPV-related head and neck cancer. The advantage of HPV-related head neck cancer is that you have a distinctive HPV DNA that does tend to spill out into the peripheral blood and can be detected using various different blood-based assays. And because of that advantage as a tissue agnostic approach, it turns out that a number of HPV DNA plasma assays are actually quite sensitive and quite specific. And a number of them have indeed been commercialized. Of course, not only for detecting a baseline, but also grading responsiveness during treatment and probably most importantly in the post-treatment surveillance setting, the detection of HPV DNA in the plasma remains a very important and substantial predictor of developing recurrent disease. There's been a number of trials that have been emerging looking at ctDNA and HPV-related head and neck cancer, using it, for example, as a strategy to deescalate patients. That was something we saw this past ASCO from the Dana-Farber group, and also using it to early detect recurrence and potentially intervene earlier for patients with minimal residual disease positivity. So, that remains evolving and as many folks are, I think, already using it in the clinic. But ctDNA also has a lot of potential for HPV-negative head and neck cancer. This is actually a bit more challenging to develop because you don't have that HPV DNA that you can track predictably because the tumor is an HPV- negative disease are much more heterogeneous, but there are a number of data that are coming out both for personalized assays such as Signatera or some of the other assays that require tumor. Unlike colon cancer, which you referenced, where most patients get surgery upfront, in head and neck cancer, many of the patients receive non-surgical pre-chemoradiation. So sometimes the amount of tumor available to generate a personalized assay is more limited and can be one of the challenges that we see in head neck cancer. But certainly that also seems to be emerging. And there's also further assays that are being developed for HPV-negative head neck cancers, such as methylomic signatures and others that may be tissue informed or tissue agnostic. And these are also emerging, particularly in the post-treatment surveillance setting as strong predictors of recurrent disease. So while we're certainly behind some of these other more common tumor types, colon cancer, lung cancer, we're right there with them and more and more trials are going report out, including a number of trials in our upcoming [University of Chicago] Head and Neck Cancer Symposium where I'll be presenting some data and others in the field will be presenting some data looking at ctDNA both for HPV-positive and for HPV- negative to try to improve outcomes for these patients. Dr. Monty Pal: That's so interesting. I've got to tell you that in kidney cancer, what I deal with day to day is a very low shedding disease, right? So techniques as opposed to ctDNA looking for tumor-informed information, that might be less preferred to something like methylomics where you might not necessarily be so contingent on what's happening in the primary tumor. I'm really interested in you mentioning that. Just a point of clarification, this is something I'm trying to wrap my head around. You'd mentioned circulating tumor HPV DNA, right? I assume this is markedly different from just looking for HPV titers in the patient, right? So is this actually incorporated elements of HPV within, you know, essentially host genome, if you will? Dr. Ari Rosenberg: Yeah, correct. This is circulating tumor HPV DNA. And we think of it biologically as a plasma-based tumor DNA biomarker that's specific for HPV-related head and neck cancers. Dr. Monty Pal: Got it, got it. It makes me wonder whether or not this might be applicable to diseases like cervical cancer and so forth where there's also extensively, you know, biology driven by HPV. Is that fair? Dr. Ari Rosenberg: Yes, definitely. And in the head and neck cancer field, much of this ctDNA actually was derived from a different viral mediated head neck cancer, is less common in the U.S., but nasopharyngeal cancer, which is oftentimes associated with EBV. That has been a biomarker for quite some time in nasopharyngeal cancer. Of course, in places where EBV-associated nasopharyngeal cancer, is endemic, such as East Asia, this has been around for quite some time, but we've been using that in the U.S., and there's been trials that have used EBV DNA plasma to predict recurrence and stratify for adjuvant treatment, for example. And so now with HPV, it's much more applicable to our US population because the vast majority of our head and neck cancer patients that we see in the US that are viral mediated in the US tend to be HPV-related. So having assays that we can use to improve outcomes for that biological subset remains of particular interest for us. Dr. Monty Pal: Yeah, that's fascinating. By the way, for the fellows listening, there's tons of boards pearls here that Dr. Rosenberg shared, EBV-associated cancers, the role of HPV and treatment association. So if you're recertifying anytime soon, I definitely think there's notes to take from this conversation indeed. I wanted to shift gears a little bit. And obviously, you're a prolific researcher. I don't think anyone goes through their fellowship in medical oncology without recounting these experiences of our head and neck patients really suffering from treatment-related toxicities. It's a real challenge. And I'm just wondering, I know a big body of work that you're focused on is really using multimodality treatment paradigms to perhaps reduce the cumulative treatment burden of patients with head and neck cancers. Can you talk about that a little bit? Dr. Ari Rosenberg: Yeah, definitely. Thanks for the question. And before I start going into some of the strategies, I'll just say that head and neck cancer, this is particularly for the fellows that are listening as well, just in reference to your prior comment, that this is really a multidisciplinary disease. At our center, all head and neck cancer patients are seen upfront at that first visit by all three specialties, med onc, rad onc, and surgery, because the choice and sequencing of modalities to optimize not only survival, but also functional quality of life outcome is so critical. And I think that's probably the biggest takeaway for anyone who treats a lot of head and neck cancer or will be treating a lot of head and neck cancer in the clinic. But in terms of more specific attempts at trying to optimize some of those parameters that you described, we really think about these separately in terms of HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck cancer. For HPV-positive head and neck cancer, the cure rates are quite high with chemo radiation, although not for everyone. There's still about 15, 10 to 15 % of folks that will develop a recurrence. But for the vast majority of patients, standard chemoradiation is quite a cure to therapy, but the toxicity associated with that can be quite substantial. And so there's been a number of attempts to try to deescalate treatment. It turns out that deescalating everyone with locoregionally advanced HPV-positive head and neck cancer is not a good strategy because it's not able to select out the patients that really do need full dose treatment. And we have seen some negative trials that show inferior outcomes when everyone is deescalated. But what does remain promising is again, trying to select out who the best candidates are for deescalated treatment. The folks at MSK have hypoxia imaging that they're using in trials that looks quite promising to select for the more favorable deescalatable biology. At our center, we've been interested in using induction chemotherapy to stratify response and select patients for deescalated treatment with excellent survival outcomes and reduce toxicity with deescalated treatment. And more recently, ctDNA that us and other groups, such as the Dana-Farber group, is using. And that also looks quite promising. Again, how do you select the patient who will do well with less radiation versus the ones that really need the full doses and volumes of radiation? And then for HPV-negative head and neck cancer, this is a much trickier disease because already the survival outcomes are not like we want it to be. Trying to figure out how to improve survival outcomes remains an important thing. Using immunotherapy seems to be one of the key cornerstones to that. But these are patients that also suffer from a lot of toxicity related to their treatment. We completed a trial not too long ago that we published this past year where we, in HPV-negative head and neck cancer patients, de-intensified the radiation for responders to neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. And those patients did similar, if not even a little bit better, than the non-responders who got full dose treatment. So something that does warrant further investigation as well. How do we not only improve survival for those patients, but also reduce some of the long-term toxicities? Dr. Monty Pal: This is brilliant. I'm taking so many notes as you were mentioning these items. There are so many areas where I think the research crosses over. I already mentioned, know, ctDNA, for instance, and metabolomics and the places where that might apply to kidney cancer. The hypoxia imaging really caught my ear too. Obviously, kidney cancer is disease highly predicated on hypoxia. So thank you for all of this. We've got about a minute or so. So, I'm going to ask you for a really tall task here. Can you tell us what you foresee being some of the biggest challenges that sort of lie ahead and head and neck cancer. You've already kind of alluded to it with ongoing research, but if you had to pick maybe 2, 3 problems, the very most that we really need to get to and head and neck cancer, what would that be? Dr. Ari Rosenberg: Yeah, that's a great question. Obviously, lots of things to be done, but if I'm going to limit it to just a couple, I would say number one is really trying to improve the survival for HPV negative local regionally advanced head and neck cancer. We talked early on about how we are seeing, you know, of course we see many of these people that were smokers and drinkers, but also seeing these in younger patients, in patients without a history of tobacco use. Some of these are very biologically aggressive and we need better treatments beyond surgery, beyond chemo radiation, beyond immunotherapy to improve outcomes for these patients and cure more of them. So, I would say that's one big area. And the other is, which we didn't speak about so much in this talk, but remains one of the biggest challenges that we see in the clinic is the recurrent metastatic head and neck cancer patients. This is an incredibly challenging disease to treat, not only with poor survival, but also with substantial impacts on quality of life and function. mean, these are bad recurrences that cause a lot of pain, functional deficits, really impacts quality of life as well. So developing novel therapies, many of which are currently in clinical trials and many of which are currently continuing to be developed, remains so critical. How do we develop better systemic therapies, better targeted therapies, better biomarkers for recurrent metastatic head neck cancer to improve their survival and quality of life and functional outcomes. Those are the two big areas that require the most work at this time within the head and neck cancer field. Dr. Monty Pal: That's brilliant. I mean, I have to tell you I could probably talk to you all day about this, such a fascinating topic. It's a very exciting time in the field. Thank you, Dr. Rosenberg, for all your incredible contributions and thanks for sharing with us your insights on the ASCO Daily News Podcast. Dr. Ari Rosenberg: Yeah, and thanks for the introduction. Hope to do it again soon. Dr. Monty Pal: And many thanks to our listeners for your time today. If you value the insights that you hear from the ASCO Daily News Podcast, please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. More on today's speakers:      Dr. Monty Pal   @montypal  Dr. Ari Rosenberg @AriRosenbergMD Follow ASCO on social media:           ASCO on X     ASCO on Bluesky          ASCO on Facebook           ASCO on LinkedIn           Disclosures:        Dr. Monty Pal:       Speakers' Bureau: MJH Life Sciences, IntrisiQ, Peerview      Research Funding (Inst.): Exelixis, Merck, Osel, Genentech, Crispr Therapeutics, Adicet Bio, ArsenalBio, Xencor, Miyarsian Pharmaceutical      Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Crispr Therapeutics, Ipsen, Exelixis  Dr. Ari Rosenberg:     Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Privo Technologies Consulting or Advisory Role: Nanobiotix, EMD Serono, Vaccitech, Novartis, Eisai, Astellas Pharma, Regeneron, RAPT Therapeutics, Geovax Labs, Janssen, Summit Therapeutics Speakers' Bureau: Coherus Biosciences Research Funding (Inst.): Hookipa Biotech, EMD Serono, Purple Biotech, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene, BeiGene, Abbvie, Astellas Pharma, Pfizer, Janux Therapeutics

Speaking of Women's Health
From genes to guidance: How ctDNA and MRD shape treatment choices

Speaking of Women's Health

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 37:32 Transcription Available


Send a textA drop of blood can change the course of cancer care. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Holly Thacker, MD sits down with variant curator Stetson Thacker, PhD to unpack how circulating tumor DNA and tumor‑informed minimal residual disease testing help clinicians see recurrence months before imaging, tailor adjuvant therapy, and track response in real time. Together, they translate complex genomics into clear choices: when a negative MRD result supports de‑escalation, when a persistent positive argues for chemotherapy and how colorectal and breast cancers have led the way in clinical validation.They also cover the guardrails. Not everyone has banked tissue for a tumor‑informed assay, and sensitivity and specificity vary by platform and cancer type. Early multi‑cancer detection tests promise a lot but risk overdiagnosis and anxiety if used without clear indications. The smarter path is matching the right test to the right person at the right time, ideally within guidelines and with an oncologist who can synthesize genomics, imaging, pathology, and patient goals. From colorectal screening shifts to balancing overtreatment in prostate and thyroid cancers, we focus on practical decisions that protect both survival and quality of life.If this deep dive helped you make sense of liquid biopsies and MRD, subscribe, share the episode with someone navigating cancer decisions and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.Support the show

BackTable Urology
Ep. 290 Urothelial Carcinoma: Consolidative Surgery & Treatment Approaches with Dr. Abhinav Khanna

BackTable Urology

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2026 59:12


What do you do when metastatic urothelial cancer responds dramatically to systemic therapy? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Abhinav Khanna (Mayo Clinic) speaks with host Dr. Daniel Roberson about the growing question of consolidative surgery after enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab. They discuss how EV-pembro has reshaped treatment expectations, why unexpected complete or near-complete responses are prompting tumor board debates about cystectomy, and how careful multidisciplinary decision-making guides which patients may be considered for surgery. --- SYNPOSIS The conversation reviews early outcomes showing high rates of pathologic downstaging and the possibility that many patients may avoid additional systemic therapy after surgery, while emphasizing this approach is not yet standard of care. Dr. Khanna highlights coordination with medical oncology, radiology, and pathology, postoperative considerations, and the potential future role of biomarkers such as ctDNA. Ultimately, the episode underscores the need for clinical trials and thoughtful patient selection as clinicians navigate integrating surgery into an evolving systemic therapy landscape. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction02:19 - The Evolution of Urothelial Carcinoma Treatment05:23 - Rationale for Consolidative Surgery12:32 - Patient Selection Criteria15:23 - Surgical Approach and Considerations23:58 - Pathologic Findings31:34 - The Role of Radiation39:38 - Biomarkers44:10 - Prospective Trials and Future Directions53:06 - Guidance for Urologists --- RESOURCES Consolidative Surgery for Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma Following Induction Enfortumab Vedotin and/or Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: A Multicenter Analysishttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40425390/ Enfortumab Vedotin and Pembrolizumab in Untreated Advanced Urothelial Cancerhttps://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2312117 Standard or Extended Lymphadenectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancerhttps://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMoa2401497

BackTable Urology
Ep. 287 Urothelial Carcinoma: Understanding CTDNA and Precision Medicine with Dr. Amanda Nizam and Dr. Brad McGregor

BackTable Urology

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2026 58:18


Is the era of cisplatin over, or are we simply becoming more precise about who benefits from it? As perioperative strategies in bladder cancer continue to evolve, emerging tools like circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) are playing a bigger role in how clinicians assess recurrence risk and tailor treatment. In this episode of BackTable Tumor Board, host Alan Tan, medical oncologist at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, is joined by bladder cancer experts Dr. Amanda Nizam and Dr. Brad McGregor to discuss recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of urothelial carcinoma. --- SYNPOSIS The doctors examine the evolving management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), including the role of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies, the integration of immunotherapy, and the recent approval of enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab. The discussion explores the rapidly changing perioperative landscape, the prognostic utility of ctDNA, and how biomarkers such as HER2 and FGFR are influencing treatment selection across disease states. They also address bladder preservation strategies, management of treatment-related toxicities, and the importance of multidisciplinary coordination. The episode concludes with a forward-looking discussion on emerging therapies and the potential to improve cure rates in bladder cancer. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction01:44 - Overview of Bladder Cancer Treatment04:54 - Patient Staging and Treatment Goals10:12 - Bladder Preservation vs. Radical Cystectomy16:39 - Emerging Trials and Future Directions22:40 - ctDNA and Precision Medicine33:50 - Metastatic Disease and Biomarker Strategies42:16 - Managing Neuropathy in Metastatic Treatment48:44 - HER2 and FGFR in Bladder Cancer54:15 - Future Directions in Bladder Cancer Treatment --- RESOURCES EV-302/303 Trialhttps://newsroom.astellas.com/2023-12-15-PADCEV-R-enfortumab-vedotin-ejfv-with-KEYTRUDA-R-pembrolizumab-Approved-by-FDA-as-the-First-and-Only-ADC-Plus-PD-1-to-Treat-Advanced-Bladder-Cancer NIAGARA Regimenhttps://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2408154 KEYNOTE-905 Studyhttps://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(25)04894-X/fulltext