Expert Interviews

Chinmay Jani, MD, discusses ASCO 2026 data on lung cancer trends in younger adults and why this group has been overlooked.

Chinmay Jani, MD, explains how air pollution and asbestos contribute to lung cancer deaths beyond tobacco.

Adam C. Olson, MD, MSc-GH, discussed letting patients choose between modalities with comparably strong evidence and the data that shaped his approach.

In this segment, the panel reviews the phase 3 TROPION-Breast02 trial evaluating first-line datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) versus investigator’s choice of chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced, inoperable, or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) for whom immunotherapy was not an option.

In this introductory segment, Dr. William J. Gradishar of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine welcomes viewers to Cancer Network’s Face-Off and introduces the evolving treatment landscape in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

The faculty discuss how CAR T-cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, and an antibody-drug conjugate differ in infection management and in how often patients need to be seen. They review the restricted access program and the eye exam before dosing, and a short segment covers working with an optometrist or ophthalmologist, and how brief the exam and form are. The panel then looks ahead to dosing schedule evolution, earlier-line use, and patient convenience. The panel closes with key takeaways on the head-to-head DREAMM-7 results, ocular monitoring, differences between the trial and the label, and room for different options in practice depending on the patient.

Tyler J. Wilhite, MD, discussed coordinating with rheumatology, orthopedic surgery, and primary care when treating patients with osteoarthritis with low-dose radiation therapy.

The program concludes with panelists discussing what would improve deliverability of the regimen in the community.

In this segment, Dr. Joseph Mikhael and Dr. Scott Goldsmith discuss how T-cell fitness may influence treatment sequencing in multiple myeloma, particularly as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies become increasingly important treatment options.

In this segment, Dr. Joseph Mikhael asks Dr. Scott Goldsmith to explain the evidence supporting the use of minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity as an endpoint for regulatory decision-making in multiple myeloma.

In this segment, Dr. Joseph Mikhael, Dr. Paul Richardson, and Dr. Scott Goldsmith introduce the relationship between minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity and cereblon E3 ligase modulators (CELMoDs) in multiple myeloma, highlighting the role of MRD-negative complete response as an emerging regulatory endpoint.

Sunnie Kim, MD, outlined how she monitors for endocrine, renal, pulmonary, and other immune-related adverse events during adjuvant durvalumab.

In this segment, Dr. Joseph Mikhael and Dr. Scott Goldsmith introduce cereblon E3 ligase modulators (CELMoDs) and discuss their dual activity in multiple myeloma.

Rutika Mehta, MD, MPH, shares her framework for growth factor support, global dose reductions, and dropping agents during FLOT therapy.

Sunnie Kim, MD, explains how she uses baseline and postsurgical ctDNA to guide de-escalation conversations for patients struggling after surgery.

Siddhartha Devarakonda, MD, of Providence Swedish Cancer Institute describes what it takes to deliver combination therapy for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) outside a trial, crediting financial advocates, social workers, nurses and pharmacists.

Moshe C. Ornstein, MD, MA, of Cleveland Clinic and Terence W. Friedlander, MD, of UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center describe the data that would sharpen first-line decisions in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), in a discussion moderated by Elizabeth R. Plimack, MD, MS, of Fox Chase Cancer Center.

Estelamari Rodriguez, MD, MPH, of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center presents a 74-year-old woman with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), no central nervous system involvement, limited mobility, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis, who lives alone an hour from the cancer center and depends on others for transportation.

Terence W. Friedlander, MD, of UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center explains why he does not save effective drugs for later in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), responding to Elizabeth R. Plimack, MD, MS, of Fox Chase Cancer Center.

Rutika Mehta, MD, MPH, discusses perioperative durvalumab plus FLOT and first-line options for patients with low or negative PD-L1 gastroesophageal cancer.

Sunnie Kim, MD, discusses postoperative management for patients without a pathologic response after neoadjuvant durvalumab plus FLOT.

Rutika Mehta, MD, MPH, explains how she sequences MSI, HER2, claudin 18.2, and PD-L1 testing when tissue is limited in gastroesophageal cancer.

Dirk Schadendorf, MD, outlineed which patients with BRAF V600–mutant melanoma, including those with brain metastases, may be candidates for triplet therapy.

Heath Skinner, MD, PhD, discussed the 3 considerations that determine which new radiation oncology service lines his network chooses to build.

Dwight H. Owen, MBBCh, MS, discussed why severe immune-related toxicities remain hard to predict as immunotherapy combinations expand in lung cancer.

Mingjia Li, MD, discussed the limitations of current biomarkers in selecting patients with resectable NSCLC for neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy.

Black women die from breast cancer at rates 40% higher than white women — and are still missing from the trials that could help. Dr. Coral Omene on why.

Dirk Schadendorf, MD, reviewed final STARBOARD data for encorafenib, binimetinib, and pembrolizumab in first-line BRAF V600–mutant melanoma.

Zev A. Wainberg, MD, MSc, discussed why neither the first-line regimen nor the second-line chemotherapy comparator altered the benefit seen with daraxonrasib in RASolute 302.

The faculty consider how to apply belantamab mafodotin in community practice, where clinicians typically see fewer patients with myeloma and want clear guidance and quick decisions. They discuss the therapy options available to patients and how access and distance from an academic center may shape the choice. They note that antibody-drug conjugates are familiar from other cancers, such as solid tumors and lymphomas, and proceed to describe an approach of assessing response and eye side effects after the first doses and then delaying or spacing doses as needed if the patient is responding to treatment.