Expert Interviews

Erik Bengtsen, MD, shares a key depression screening question and explains when oncologists can start a low-dose antidepressant.

The faculty discuss the DREAMM-7 eligibility and exclusion criteria, including the exclusion of patients refractory to daratumumab or bortezomib. They consider how well the trial population reflects patients seen in practice, given limited prior anti-CD38 exposure. The conversation then turns to the enrolled population vs the approved indication of at least 2 prior lines, which was based on a subgroup. Finally, the faculty share their views on that restriction and discuss the survival benefit seen in the study.

Explore how menin inhibitors are managed in leukemia care, including key drug interactions, dosing adjustments, and realistic response timelines for patients.

Learn how clinicians recognize and manage drug-related differentiation syndrome, QTc prolongation, and dosing considerations when starting revimumab or ziftomainib in practice.

Al-Ola A. Abdallah, MD, highlights the data on etentamig, teclistamab/daratumumab, and iberdomide he found most impactful at IMS 2026.

Ralph V. Boccia, MD, FACP, discussed stopping therapy in patients with deep, sustained responses and the move toward fixed-duration multiple myeloma care.

Luis E. Raez, MD, of Miami Cancer Institute, summarizes the early COPERNICUS conclusions: enhanced prophylaxis with subcutaneous amivantamab plus lazertinib led to low rates of severe rash, thrombosis, and infusion reactions, though shorter follow-up limits inference.

Experts explain how myeloma regimens manage eye toxicity with baseline exams, dose holds, reductions, and longer belantamab dosing intervals to improve safety.

Practical guidance for starting belantamab: confirm eligibility, coordinate ophthalmology exams, manage reversible eye toxicity with dose holds, and educate patients for confident dosing.

Luis E. Raez, MD, of Miami Cancer Institute, and Wade T. Iams, MD, of Tennessee Oncology, consider how to interpret descriptive comparisons between COPERNICUS and MARIPOSA, given median follow-up of 4.9 vs 22 months and no formal statistical testing.

Ralph V. Boccia, MD, FACP, discussed how time since CAR T-cell therapy and toxicity profiles guide bispecific selection in relapsed multiple myeloma.

Al-Ola A. Abdallah, MD, explains a possible biological reason IMiD holding therapy benefited ide-cel but not cilta-cel recipients.

Ralph V. Boccia, MD, FACP, explained why CAR T-cell therapy followed by bispecific antibodies may be the preferred sequence at first relapse in multiple myeloma.

Estelamari Rodriguez, MD, MPH, of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center describes COPERNICUS, a pragmatic study of first-line subcutaneous amivantamab plus lazertinib with protocol-directed supportive care in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which was open at her own site.

Matthew Gumbleton, MD, PhD, of Huntsman Cancer Institute rejects the idea that a TP53 co-mutation points toward chemotherapy in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Allen Khodab, MD discussed how patients with larger prostates had reduced IPSS scores that normalized to the same level as those with normal-sized glands.

Jeffrey V. Matous, MD, explains why ramantamig’s MRD negativity rates are clinically significant in relapsed/refractory myeloma.

Jeffrey V. Matous, MD, discusses how to counsel patients on chronic, low-grade toxicities to support adherence to ramantamig.

This episode applies the discussion to two patients with HER2-mutant non–small cell lung cancer.

The panel applies the treatment framework to clinical scenarios involving patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (HR+/HER2− mBC) after progression on first-line CDK4/6 inhibitor plus endocrine therapy.

Melody Rasouli, MD, MBA, FACOG, explained how random-start ovarian stimulation and rapid sperm banking fit fertility preservation into cancer care.

The panel focuses on multidisciplinary monitoring and proactive toxicity management for patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (HR+/HER2− mBC), particularly as treatment moves into later-line targeted therapy.

This episode maps the early weeks of oral zongertinib and the real-world factors that threaten them.

Veronika Bachanova, MD, PhD, discussed how the favorable safety profile of CAR natural killer cell therapies may come with trade-offs in persistence and response durability.

Dan Costin, MD, discusses where personalized mRNA vaccines could fit into lung cancer care within 5 to 10 years.

Wade T. Iams, MD, of Tennessee Oncology, reviews early COPERNICUS safety data, in which patients receiving subcutaneous amivantamab plus lazertinib also received intensive skin prophylaxis.

Luis E. Raez, MD, of Miami Cancer Institute, reviews baseline characteristics from the early safety analysis of COPERNICUS, which tested subcutaneous amivantamab plus lazertinib in epidermal growth factor receptor–mutated lung cancer.

Melody Rasouli, MD, MBA, FACOG, discussed the system breakdowns that delay fertility referrals and how EHR triggers can automate the process.

In this closing segment, Elizabeth Bohannon reflects on what continues to give her hope while living with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Dan Costin, MD, describes counseling his first patient on a personalized mRNA vaccine vs observation in the INTerpath-014 trial.