Expert Interviews

Matthew Matasar, MD, detailed how retrieval-augmented generation tools are already informing real tumor board decisions in hematologic malignancies.

The faculty discuss how to individualize the choice between chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies in relapsed multiple myeloma.

This opening segment introduces a discussion on ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) in multiple myeloma and frames the questions the program sets out to answer: how chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy should be sequenced among the available options, and how care can be coordinated across a network spread between referring practices and treating centers.

Dr. Mikhael begins the scientific foundation by asking Dr. Richardson to define CELMoDs and explain how they engage the cereblon E3 ubiquitin ligase complex to promote targeted degradation of Ikaros and Aiolos, key transcription factors involved in myeloma-cell biology.

Erica L. Mayer, MD, MPH, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, reviews the rationale for capivasertib in hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced breast cancer, noting phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway alterations in nearly half of patients, activation through PIK3CA or AKT alterations or PTEN loss, and guideline recommendations for capivasertib plus fulvestrant in altered disease after endocrine progression.

Experts unpack CAPITELLO‑291 survival data, guiding post‑CDK4/6 treatment choices with capivasertib, biomarkers, and evolving targeted options.

In the first clinical scenario of this Cancer Network Face Off on advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Team Deep-Dish Pizza manages a 67-year-old woman with hepatitis B cirrhosis and BCLC stage C disease, multifocal bilobar tumors with branch portal vein invasion (Vp3), Child-Pugh A6, ALBI grade 2, and an elevated alpha-fetoprotein level.

Dr. Joseph Mikhael welcomes the audience to the Cancer Network Training Academy program and introduces Dr. Paul Richardson and Dr. Scott Goldsmith, who bring clinical and research expertise in multiple myeloma.

Matthew Matasar, MD, discussed his role leading the division of blood disorders at Rutgers Cancer Institute amid a transformative era in immunotherapy.

Surbhi Sidana, MD, discusses how CELMoDs like iberdomide could complement CAR T and bispecific antibody therapies.

The FRα-directed ADC rinatabart sesutecan showed disease control regardless of biomarker status and is now under investigation in the phase 3 RAINFOL-03 trial.

Ayal Aizer, MD, MHS, describes an adaptive planning trial using synthetic CT to improve same-day treatment accuracy for anatomically unstable brain metastases.

The availability of iberdomide as an easy-to-give, orally available drug “is tremendous” for patients with multiple myeloma, according to Surbhi Sidana, MD.

The second FACE-OFF debate explores whether currently available BCMA bispecific antibodies should be considered a therapeutic class or whether meaningful clinical differences exist among individual agents used to treat relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM).

The program transitions to the first FACE-OFF debate, where the faculty discuss whether CAR-T cell therapy or BCMA bispecific antibodies should be prioritized as BCMA-directed therapies move into earlier lines of treatment for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM).

Lizza Hendriks, MD, PhD, discussed why every patient with CNS metastases deserves a multidisciplinary team discussion.

Starting lenvatinib at 14 mg instead of the trial’s 20-mg dose helps patients remain on therapy, according to Susana Campos, MD, MPH.

In this segment, Elizabeth reflects on the period following her stem cell transplant, when she was able to maintain an active lifestyle for a time before her disease progressed again.

Ayal Aizer, MD, MHS, discusses radiation necrosis as the next major challenge in stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases and how clinicians can address it.

In this segment, Elizabeth Bohannon reflects on how her treatment goals and outlook evolved as she progressed through different stages of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Because it is not biomarker directed, lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab remains broadly useful even as HER2-targeted ADCs enter recurrent uterine cancer.

Ayal Aizer, MD, MHS, explains how expanded trial data have broadened eligibility for stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with brain metastases, including higher tumor counts.

The faculty review patient-reported outcomes, subgroup consistency, and biomarker testing before introducing the second pivotal trial.

Lizza Hendriks, MD, PhD, discussed why excluding patients with brain metastases from clinical trials is no longer ethical.

Sunil Singhal, MD, explained how a fluorescent dye technology helps surgeons see and remove tumors more completely.

Dr. Zunairah Shah explains how she uses shared decision-making and discusses real-world access to Prosigna genomic testing in high-risk breast cancer.

Dr. Zunairah Shah discusses OPTIMA data showing comparable outcomes with and without chemotherapy in low-risk, Prosigna-guided patients with breast cancer.

Dr. Zunairah Shah outlines the phase 3 OPTIMA trial design, showing how Prosigna-guided testing informs chemotherapy decisions in high-risk breast cancer.

Dr. Matthew Karr and Dr. Shreyas Kalantri discuss what's next for chemo-free DLBCL regimens and open questions following the epcoritamab R-mini-CVP data.

Dr. Matthew Karr reviews safety and tolerability data for epcoritamab plus R-mini-CVP, including full treatment completion in frail, elderly patients with DLBCL.