Host: Ryan Quigley Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains one of the hardest subtypes to treat, with limited options and high relapse rates—so identifying new therapeutic targets is critical. In this AudioAbstract, Ryan Quigley spotlights research presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium that implicates ribosome biogenesis as a key vulnerability. Tune in to learn how this approach could inform the next generation of TNBC therapies.
Host: Ryan Quigley How are patients with breast cancer brain metastases faring in the modern treatment era? In this AudioAbstract, Ryan Quigley shares findings from a 25-year review of 507 patients at UCSF, providing new insights into how survival outcomes have shifted across subtypes and which treatments are driving real-world progress. This research was also presented at the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Guest: Ryan Quigley At the 2025 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition, researchers presented key findings from the pivotal phase three CLL17 trial, which was the first randomized study to directly compare continuous BTK inhibition with fixed-duration venetoclax-based therapy in previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Hear from Ryan Quigley as he shares new data on efficacy and safety and their potential long-term implications for patients with CLL in this AudioAbstract.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Michael Wang, MD For patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who relapse after BTK inhibitor (BTKi) therapy, treatment decisions can be complex and time sensitive. That’s why understanding how tumor biology and risk features can guide selection between immunomodulatory regimens and CAR T-cell therapy is essential. Tune in to hear Dr. Charles Turck speak with Dr. Michael Wang about practical, evidence-based strategies for managing relapsed/refractory MCL. Dr. Wang is a Professor in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma in the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
As medicine shifts toward race-neutral lung function interpretation, new challenges emerge in ensuring equitable access to care. Dr. Ajay Sheshadri explores how race-neutral spirometry may impact patient selection for lung resection surgery and hematopoietic cell transplantation. Dr. Sheshadri is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Race-based spirometry adjustments have long influenced pulmonary risk assessments, often underestimating disease severity in Black patients. Hear from Dr. Ajay Sheshadri as he examines the historical misuse of race in lung function testing, explores race-neutral modeling in surgical risk prediction, and highlights the need for data-driven, continuous risk assessment tools in caring for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Dr. Sheshadri is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
A 2025 study in Chest evaluated PREDICT, a precision medicine program at a large academic-community practice, designed to streamline testing and expand access to personalized treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Hear from ReachMD's Ryan Quigley as he shares the key impacts of this approach and implications for care delivery.
Guest: Alexis Leonard With two FDA-approved gene therapies, including the first CRISPR-based treatment, curative strategies for sickle cell disease are continuing to expand the treatment landscape. However, challenges remain in optimizing safety and accessibility, particularly for patients unable to tolerate current myeloablative conditioning. Learn about advancements in ex vivo editing, such as improved stem cell targeting and multiplex editing, and the possibility of in vivo approaches that may help transform sickle cell disease management with Dr. Alexis Leonard, who works in the Department of Hematology at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Guest: Alexis Leonard Sickle cell disease management traditionally involves two primary treatment approaches: disease-modifying therapies and curative strategies. While disease-modifying therapies can help reduce complications associated with the disease, they do not correct or fix them, which is why curative strategies are appealing to some patients and physicians. Join Dr. Alexis Leonard as she discusses the current management landscape for sickle cell disease, including disease-modifying treatments, curative strategies, and potential gene therapies. Dr. Leonard works in the Department of Hematology at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Guest: David Jacobsohn Gene therapy is redefining the treatment landscape for sickle cell disease, with approaches like gene addition, gene editing, and fetal hemoglobin induction showing promise in reducing or even eliminating symptoms. However, while these therapies offer some advantages over allogeneic stem cell transplant, they also come with significant challenges. In a conversation with Ryan Quigley, Dr. David Jacobsohn discusses considerations for these therapeutic approaches and their potential impacts on care plans for sickle cell disease patients. Dr. Jacobsohn is the Division Chief of the Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program at Children’s National Hospital and Full Professor of Pediatrics at the George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Guest: Alexis Leonard CRISPR technology, while relatively new, has shown potential in treating patients with sickle cell disease by increasing fetal hemoglobin. Though this gene therapy comes with safety considerations, refinements and advancements in CRISPR technology can offer new management options for sickle cell disease patients. Learn about the history of CRISPR as a sickle cell disease treatment and the future of this strategy with Dr. Alexis Leonard, who works in the Department of Hematology at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Jonathon B. Cohen, MD, MS As the therapeutic landscape for follicular lymphoma continues to evolve, CAR T-cell therapy is emerging as a transformative option for select patients with relapsed or high-risk disease. But it also comes with a lot of important considerations, like knowing when to refer and how to manage common adverse events. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to explore how CAR T fits into the broader treatment algorithm for follicular lymphoma is Dr. Jonathan Cohen. Not only is he a Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Emory University School of Medicine, but he's also the Co-Director of the Lymphoma Program at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta.
Host: Ashley Baker, MSN, PMHNP Guest: Alyssa Schlenz Guest: Shannon Phillps Families of children with sickle cell disease have noted both an abundance of support and significant obstacles when accessing care, ranging from knowledgeable providers and flexible scheduling to transportation concerns and insurance holdups. Joining Ashley Baker to discuss their recent research on these key facilitators and barriers are Drs. Alyssa Schlenz and Shannon Phillips. Dr. Schlenz is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and Dr. Phillips is an Associate Professor in the College of Nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Host: Hallie Blevins, PhD. Early resistance to hydroxyurea in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) is associated with higher risks of thromboembolic complications, disease progression, and mortality. The PV-AIM study applied machine learning to real-world data and identified simple lab-based predictors that stratify patients by risk, and these findings were later validated in the HU-F-AIM trial. Hear from ReachMD's Dr. Hallie Blevins as she dives into the results and explains implications for optimized therapy and improved long-term outcomes.
Host: Ryan Quigley In relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, disease control is only part of the equation. In this AudioAbstract, ReachMD's Ryan Quigley explores patient-reported outcomes from the ELM-2 trial, revealing that odronextamab not only delivers high response rates but also helps preserve—and in some cases, improve—quality of life.
Host: Marlene Mimi Maeusli, PhD. A recent Danish population-based study evaluating real-world outcomes of ibrutinib in relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) found lower efficacy and tolerability compared to clinical trials, particularly among older patients and those with high-risk disease features. In this AudioAbstract, ReachMD's Dr. Mimi Maeusli explains how this evidence is reshaping our view of ibrutinib's clinical utility.
Guest: Paola Marignani, PhD, EMBA While smoking remains a key risk factor for lung cancer, up to 25 percent of cases occur in people who have never smoked, leaving significant gaps in our understanding of causation and diagnostics. Dr. Paola Marignani explores emerging discoveries in gene variants unique to never-smokers, uncovered through single-cell RNA sequencing and machine learning. Dr. Marignani is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Novia Scotia, and she spoke about this topic at the 2025 World Conference on Lung Cancer.
Guest: John Cho, MD, PhD, FRCPC While early findings using the SMART protocol for mesothelioma have been encouraging, replication has proven challenging due to steep surgical learning curves, complexities in planning, and skepticism. Dr. John Cho explores why adoption has been limited and what's next for this approach, which he discussed at the 2025 World Conference on Lung Cancer. Dr. Cho is a radiation oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Toronto.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Samuel Yamshon, MD The treatment landscape for large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) is rapidly evolving due to the growing integration of bispecific antibodies into second-line care. While these agents offer promising, targeted options—not only for patients ineligible for CAR T-cell therapy, but also as complementary strategies in combination with chemoimmunotherapy—they raise important questions around sequencing, durability, and patient selection. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to explore the real-world implications of this evolving approach is Dr. Samuel Yamshon, Director of the Cellular Therapy Service and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York.
Guest: Paola Marignani, PhD, EMBA Single-cell RNA sequencing is transforming our understanding of tumor heterogeneity in primary lung cancers by offering insights far beyond traditional bulk sequencing. In this program, Dr. Paola Marignani explores how advanced machine learning enables faster, more precise profiling of genetic diversity, predictive modeling for recurrence and drug resistance, and personalized treatment strategies. Dr. Marignani is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Novia Scotia, and she spoke about this topic at the 2025 World Conference on Lung Cancer.
Guest: John Cho, MD, PhD, FRCPC Surgery for mesothelioma after radiation therapy (SMART) offers new hope for patients with resectable epithelioid mesothelioma by reversing the traditional treatment sequence. Hear from Dr. John Cho as he discusses the rationale behind this decade-long clinical advancement, which he spoke about at the 2025 World Conference on Lung Cancer. Dr. Cho is a radiation oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Toronto.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Sairah Ahmed, MD CAR T-cell therapies have helped transform the treatment of aggressive lymphomas, but could they also change the game for slower-growing, harder-to-treat diseases like marginal zone lymphoma? Based on new data from the TRANSCEND FL study, liso-cel achieved a 95 percent overall response rate and sustained 24-month progression-free survival in relapsed/refractory marginal zone lymphoma. Here with Dr. Charles Turck to share the key efficacy and safety findings is Dr. Sairah Ahmed, Professor in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma and CAR T Program Director at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Host: Ryan Quigley The World Health Organization's new Integrated Lung Health Resolution is the first to explicitly include lung cancer within a global lung health framework. In this AudioAbstract, ReachMD's Ryan Quigley explains what this means for screening, early diagnosis, care pathways, and equitable access to treatment.
Guest: Jennifer Caudle, DO Host: Patrick McGill, MD Current cancer screening guidelines cover just five cancers—breast, lung, colon, prostate, and cervical—leaving many aggressive cancers undetected until later stages. But multi-cancer early detection (MCED) testing is reshaping the landscape with blood-based analyses of cell-free DNA and methylation patterns to identify potential cancers earlier than traditional imaging. Designed for the general population over age 50, MCED testing complements rather than replaces standard screenings, helping detect cancers at stages when treatment is most effective. Joining Dr. Jennifer Caudle to share practical strategies for integrating MCED into clinical workflows, addressing misconceptions, and streamlining follow-up protocols is Dr. Patrick McGill, board-certified family physician and Executive Vice President, Chief Transformation Officer at Community Health Network in Indianapolis.
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Guest: Mylynda Massart, MD, PhD Given its ability to identify universal cancer signals across multiple tumor types, multi-cancer early detection (MCED) testing is emerging as a promising tool to complement traditional, single-cancer screening methods. Joining Dr. Brian McDonough to share practical strategies for introducing MCED testing into clinical workflows and enhancing patient engagement is Dr. Mylynda Massart. Not only is she an Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, but she's also the Founder and Medical Director of the Primary Care Precision Medicine Clinic and Associate Director of Clinical Services for the Institute for Precision Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Guest: Marie Wood, MD Traditional cancer screening has always focused on individual organs, but now, multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests are changing that paradigm. By analyzing multiple biomarkers through a single blood draw, MCED testing can detect signals from a variety of cancers—many of which currently lack effective screening tools. These multi-biomarker approaches not only outperform single-marker tests, but also demonstrate scientific rigor and clinical utility. Still, challenges remain, including false positives and integration with standard screening protocols. Joining Dr. Brian McDonough to explore the rationale for using a multi-biomarker approach to MCED testing is Dr. Marie Wood, Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Medical Director of the Hereditary Cancer Program at the CU Cancer Center.
Host: Ryan Quigley Guest: Hallie Blevins, PhD. Guest: Marlene Mimi Maeusli, PhD. With one in three eligible Americans still unscreened for colorectal cancer (CRC), there’s an urgent need for noninvasive and affordable alternatives to colonoscopy. A 2025 study published in ACS Sensors introduces a novel aptamer-based colorimetric assay that targets Parvimonas micra—a gut microbe linked to CRC. To learn more, Mr. Ryan Quigley speaks with Drs. Hallie Blevins and Mimi Maeusli about how this technology works, what sets it apart from current testing methods, and why it could play a role in improving early CRC detection. Reference: Feng S, Zhang P, Chen H, et al. Au@Fe3O4 nanoparticle-based colorimetric aptasensor for noninvasive screening of colorectal cancer via detection of Parvimonas micra. ACS Sens. 2025;10(2):1053-1062.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Jim Foote, MBA Functional precision medicine is reshaping oncology by integrating real-time drug testing, genomic data, and artificial intelligence to guide individualized treatment. Dr. Matt Birnholz sits down with Jim Foote, CEO of First Ascent Biomedical, to explore how this approach delivers clinically actionable insights for relapsed and resistant cancer and empowers oncologists with faster, more targeted decision making.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Sairah Ahmed, MD The treatment landscape for relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma has significantly shifted, with CAR T-cell therapies now offering curative potential in the second-line setting. But these advances also raise important questions, like how to identify the right candidates and navigate logistical barriers to ensure timely, equitable access. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to explore these critical considerations is Dr. Saira Ahmed, Associate Professor in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma and the CAR T Program Director in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
