Oncology Expert Insights

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 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.

Dr Velcheti discusses planned research into whether mobile technology services can improve patient outcomes for underserved and underrepresented patient populations.

Dr Patel discusses post-transplant complications in myeloid disorders, the prevalence of these complications, and the most common ones that may arise, including primary disease relapse, graft-vs-host disease, infection, organ toxicity, persistent cytopenias, and immunosuppression.

Dr Leal discusses the symptoms commonly associated with Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome, the prevalence of this disorder in concurrence with underlying cancers, and how amifampridine can help manage this disease by improving motor and autonomic symptoms.

Dr Elamin discusses results from a phase 2 study of poziotinib efficacy in EGFR exon 20–mutant non–small cell lung cancer and highlights the agent’s sensitivity in relation to insertion location.

Dr Chen details the findings from a study of patients with transformed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, gives her perspective on findings from the FLASH trial, and discusses the need for more research funding in this disease.

Drs Bekaii-Saab, George, and von Mehren discuss patient-reported outcomes from the INTRIGUE trial, the rationale for a phase 1/2 study investigating DCC-3116 in patients with RAS or RAF–mutated solid tumors, and how vimseltinib may alleviate unmet needs in the tenosynovial giant cell tumors population.

Dr Petrylak discusses current issues with genetic testing and disease management in prostate and bladder cancer, some of the reasons for poor testing rates, and the importance of proper multidisciplinary management during testing and when seeking to mitigate adverse effects.

Dr Katz discusses the implications of a recently published phase 2 study investigating neoadjuvant mFOLFIRINOX with or without hypofractionated radiation therapy results for patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Dr Gradishar emphasizes the importance of defining metastatic breast cancer subtypes, the implications of molecular testing on treatment decisions, and the need for comprehensive patient-provider communication about therapeutic options and clinical trial opportunities throughout the course of disease.

Michael J. Wagner, MD, talks about the struggle to investigate angiosarcoma, the ways research cooperatives have had recent success in driving the science forward, and the potential for immunotherapy in this disease.