Oncology Expert Insights

Dr Khouri discusses unmet needs in AL amyloidosis, the potential for birtamimab to become a new frontline standard of care, and the importance of confirming earlier post-hoc results from the VITAL trial in the AFFIRM-AL trial in patients with Mayo stage IV AL amyloidosis with cardiac involvement.

Dr Trent discusses the need for improved awareness around mutation testing in GIST, the limitations of current clinical trial criteria, and the potential for ctDNA to become a longitudinal cancer monitoring tool, helping to prevent invasive means of measuring disease progression.

Dr Bhatnagar discusses the prior and ongoing studies evaluating the addition of uproleselan to standard-of-care regimens for patients with AML, why uproleselan could affect the treatment paradigm across AML subtypes, and the rationale for pursuing minimal residual disease negativity as a clinical end point in AML.

Dr Danish discusses barriers to using radiotherapy for the treatment of patients with metastatic lung and bone cancers; the novel capabilities of SCINTIX biology-guided technology; and how John Theurer Cancer Center plans to use this technology and help advance its role in the field of radiation oncology.

Dr Trent discusses the current role and significance of using MRD in gastrointestinal stromal tumor, current guidelines around mutation testing, and research seeking to expand the targeted therapy armamentarium.

Dr Kremyanskaya discusses the results from cohort 1 of the MANIFEST trial in treatment-naïve myelofibrosis, differentiating features of pelabresib and recently approved JAK inhibitors, and next steps for the investigation of BET inhibitors in this population.

Dr Reuss discusses the development of LP-300 in advanced NSCLC, the mechanisms of LP-300 that may help synergize with the activity of platinum-based chemotherapy, and its ongoing investigation in the phase 2 HARMONIC trial.

Dr Holowatyj discusses symptoms associated with appendix cancer, challenges related to understanding the incidence and risk factors of this disease, and ongoing research regarding potential genetic links to this rare cancer.

Dr Andreeff discusses the evaluation of uproleselan for the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia, the rationale for targeting E-selectin in patients with this disease, how uproleselan could amplify the effects of chemotherapy in the treatment of these patients. 

Dr Kim discusses the evaluation of LP-300 for the treatment of patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma, the rationale for exploring this agent in combination with chemotherapy, and the ongoing HARMONIC trial investigating the combination of LP-300 plus carboplatin and pemetrexed.

Drs Gushchin and Diaz-Montes discuss findings from the HOT trial evaluating health-related quality of life outcomes after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with primary ovarian cancer.

Dr Kishan discusses the use of MRI-guided SBRT in prostate cancer to reduce acute genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity; findings from the MIRAGE study; and how MRI-guided SBRT allows for tighter planning margins, thereby reducing both physician-reported and patient-reported bowel and bladder toxicities.

Dr Raez discusses findings from a study of patients with newly diagnosed non–small cell lung cancer who received both liquid and tissue biopsy, the benefits of liquid biopsy’s relatively short turnaround time, and financial barriers to conducting multiple next-generation sequencing tests per patient.

Dr Mascarenhas discusses established standards of care and ongoing research with JAK inhibitors in patients with myelofibrosis; the available frontline treatment options in this disease; and the nuances of myelofibrosis treatment sequencing.

Drs Short and Reagan discuss risk factors that can contribute to patients’ likelihood of developing tumor lysis syndrome, preventive measures for patients most at risk, and the clinical implications of standard treatment options for patients with tumor lysis syndrome.

Dr D’Amato discusses research in sarcoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor, incorporating circulating tumor DNA analysis into routine reevaluation of patients with progressive disease, and the importance of establishing a drug’s clinical profile in non–trial target ethnic populations.

Dr Nair discusses a study evaluating the role of yoga as a complementary therapy in patients with breast cancer, how these results emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary breast cancer care, and the potential applications of these findings beyond breast cancer.

Dr Dy discusses the development of CEACAM5-directed antibody-drug conjugates in non–small cell lung cancer, ongoing research with tusamitamab ravtansine, and the potential role of competing docetaxel-based combination strategies in the second-line setting.

Dr Giacchetti discusses the findings from a study of patient-selected timing of the daily oral intake of adjuvant hormone therapy and everolimus in breast cancer and how this study highlights the need for further research combining the fields of chronobiology and oncology.

Dr Hilal discusses data with frontline ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, and zanubrutinib in chronic lymphocytic leukemia; remaining uncertainties regarding the use of BTK inhibitors to manage this disease; and how a patient’s minimal residual disease status influences their subsequent treatment options.

Dr Oppong discusses findings showing that Black and Hispanic women are more likely than their White counterparts to refuse surgery for nonmetastatic breast cancer, the reasons some patients refuse to undergo surgery, and potential strategies to overcome those objections.

Dr Somaiah discusses the excitement surrounding novel agents such as CSF1R inhibitors and ULK1/2 inhibitors, and the utility of broad spectrum TKIs such as ripretinib.

Dr Rugo discusses overall survival in the TROPiCS-02 trial, post-progression treatments after ribociclib and endocrine therapy in the MONALEESA-2, MONALEESA-3, and MONALEESA-7 studies, and what the AMALEE trial indicates about optimal doses of ribociclib in hormone receptor–positive breast cancer.

Dr Blum discusses renal medullary carcinoma, the lack of approved systemic therapy for these patients, and findings showing a correlation between CA-125 levels and increased tumor burden and treatment response in this disease.

Dr Leone discusses the distinguishing features of male breast cancer, the benefits and limitations of current treatments, and the importance of raising awareness about this breast cancer subset to propel further research.

Dr Florez discusses why cancer care equity and survivorship should be a priority for all physicians, the steps the health care system needs to take to address disparities in these areas, and specific ways that Dana-Farber is working to close these gaps.

Drs Sauter and Hill discuss the use of CAR T-cell therapy in patients with lymphomas, the potential for allogeneic CAR T cells, and ways to expand access and address financial toxicity.

Drs Mikhael and Cole discuss ways to help reduce disparities in myeloma by delivering culturally relevant care and highlight the importance of implementing shared decision-making, creating a well-informed multidisciplinary staff, and meeting patients where they are.

Drs Ramkumar and Morganstein discuss the challenges they face with integrating and organizing molecular testing results into electronic medical records, how they address non–small cell lung cancer test results with patients, and their hopes for the future of pathology at their institutions.

Dr Brentjens discussed targeting the “enigmatic” GPRC5D protein, safety results with MCARH109, and the appropriate sequencing for the agent.