Expert Interviews

Data show increasing use of proton therapy overall but widening gaps in populations who have access to this treatment, Curtiland Deville Jr, MD, says.

A lack of guidelines, a loss of follow-up, and out-of-state procedures are all potential reasons for 26% of patients undergoing appendectomy.

Panelists discuss how BESPOKE trial results demonstrate significantly improved disease-free survival rates in patients with negative circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) status compared with those with detectable ctDNA, underscoring its potential as a powerful prognostic biomarker.

Panelists discuss how the treatment landscape for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is poised for transformation as novel chimeric antigen receptor T-cell approaches integrate with existing therapies, enhancing efficacy and durability. Insights from Tandem 2025 highlight advancements in cellular therapy, including combinatorial strategies and next-generation chimeric antigen receptor T-cell designs, driving optimism for improved patient outcomes.

Panelists discuss how the BESPOKE trial enrolled a diverse cohort of patients with varying demographic profiles, disease stages, comorbidities, and treatment histories to ensure comprehensive representation for personalized medicine approaches.

Treatment with KRAS inhibitors may help mitigate a common driver of genetic alteration across a majority of pancreatic cancers.

Various methods of communication ensure that members from radiation oncology, pathology, and other departments are on the same page regarding treatment.

The staged approach to colectomy offers survival benefits, and it may help avoid unnecessary procedures that only require appendectomy.

Comprehensive prehabilitation may help prepare patients for bladder-preserving surgery, helping to optimize quality of life outcomes.

Updated results from the BREAKWATER study seemed to be most impactful to the CRC space, according to Michael J. Pishvaian, MD, PhD.

“We did not find any benefit for any of the subgroups in our paper and our study,” Muhammad Talha Waheed, MD, stated.

Panelists discuss how high-quality imaging is crucial for accurately staging prostate cancer, guiding treatment decisions, and optimizing patient outcomes. Superior resolution and sensitivity of PSMA PET tracers enhance lesion detection, influencing surgical, radiation, and systemic therapy choices. Differences in tracer properties impact specificity, affecting treatment planning. Advanced imaging reduces uncertainty, improving risk stratification and therapeutic precision.

Experts discuss other therapies or clinical trials that might be explored after trastuzumab deruxtecan, particularly for patients with HER2-positive microsatellite-stable (MSS) adenocarcinoma and progression on multiple lines of therapy.

Panelists discuss how medical professionals select PSMA PET tracers based on factors such as diagnostic accuracy, tracer availability, patient-specific considerations, and logistical aspects such as half-life and production facilities. Fluorine-18 (^18F)–labeled tracers, such as ^18F-PSMA-1007, offer logistical advantages due to their longer half-life and higher image resolution, facilitating broader clinical application.

Ongoing research suggests environmental exposures and the role of microbiomes may influence bladder cancer development and response to treatment.

Experts discuss how microsatellite-stable (MSS) status in this case affects the expected benefit of pembrolizumab and whether its continued use beyond progression in combination with other agents would be considered.

Adding HIPEC to CRS did not show any added benefit but has shown increased toxicities in patients with colorectal peritoneal metastasis.

Multidisciplinary care is important for all cancer care, specifically bone marrow transplant, stated Nina Wagner-Johnston, MD.

Providing easier access to ancillary services for patients with PDAC who live farther away from the treatment center may help them complete the treatment regimen.

Future research will aim to assess the efficacy of PIPAC-MMC plus systemic therapy vs systemic therapy alone in patients with peritoneal tumors.

“Recognizing that we could follow immunotherapy with a bone marrow transplant safely was quite important,” Nina Wagner-Johnston, MD, stated.

Although small incision surgery may serve as a conduit to deliver PIPAC-MMC, it may confer benefits in the staging and treatment of peritoneal tumors.

Patients with peritoneal metastases were historically associated with limited survival and low consideration for clinical trials.

Greater cancer treatment longevity enables oncologists the ability to form more impactful relationships with their patients.

A recent Oncology Decoded podcast focuses on adjuvant therapy like pembrolizumab and optimal post-surgical care for patients with kidney cancer.

Panelists discuss how second-line treatments for gastric adenocarcinoma provide survival advantages, improved quality of life, and opportunities for personalized therapy based on molecular profiling and prior treatment response.

Panelists discuss how multidisciplinary strategies incorporating chemotherapy, targeted agents, and immunotherapy are strategically sequenced to optimize outcomes for patients with advanced metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma.

Panelists discuss how multidisciplinary approaches, molecular profiling, and recent advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapy have transformed the management landscape for patients with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma.

Panelists discuss how they incorporate nivolumab into clinical practice, highlighting specific patient characteristics, biomarkers, and disease features that predict favorable responses to this immunotherapy agent.

Panelists discuss how recent clinical trials have revolutionized treatment paradigms for gastrointestinal cancers, shaping evidence-based approaches that optimize patient outcomes through targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and multimodal treatment strategies.