Oncology Data Advisor

This April, Oncology Data Advisor is raising awareness for Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month. In this interview, Oncology Data Advisor Editorial Board and Fellows Forum members Dr. Joseph Kalis, Dr. Matthew Hadfield, and Dr. Samuel Kareff discuss rising trends, treatment advances, and emerging management strategies for esophageal cancer, including the following: • The rising rate of adenocarcinoma in the context of pre-existing esophageal dysplasia and Barrett esophagus • Risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol • The roles of healthy eating and smoking cessation in esophageal cancer prevention • How the rise of immunotherapies such as pembrolizumab, nivolumab, and trastuzumab have changed practice • This month’s approval of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive solid tumors • Lifestyle interventions such as following the Mediterranean diet and United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) exercise guidelines that can make maximize tolerability of therapy

In this interview from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2024 Annual Meeting, Dr. Alankrita Taneja, third-year Hematology/Oncology Fellow at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Oncology Data Fellows Forum Member, speaks with Dr. Sundar Jagannath, Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology) and Director of the Center of Excellence for Multiple Myeloma at the Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine and Tisch Cancer Institute. At the meeting, Dr. Jagannath presented results of the phase 1/2 LINKER-MM1 trial of linvoseltamab, a CD3-directed B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) antibody under investigation for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. In this follow-up conversation, Dr. Jagannath shares further insights into the trial, including: • The study design, which includes triple-class–refractory patients • The unique dosing schedule of linvoseltamab, which reduces the frequency of administration to improve patient convenience • The response, survival, and measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity outcomes demonstrated in the trial, including among high-risk patients • Management of side effects, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS), neutropenia, anemia, and infections • The future role of linvoseltamab in the treatment landscape for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma as it advances through investigation • And more!

In this interview, Jason Mouabbi, MD, an Oncology Data Advisor Editorial Board Member and Assistant Professor in the Department of Breast Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, sat down with Valerie Brutus, MD, FACS, a Breast Surgical Oncologist at St. Vincent's Medical Center of Hartford HealthCare, and Elizabeth Stirling Craig, MD, Director of Microvascular Breast Reconstruction at St. Vincent's Medical Center of Hartford HealthCare, to discuss improving breast cancer surgical outcomes with lymphovenous bypass surgery. Dr. Mouabbi engages Dr. Brutus and Dr. Craig in a thought-provoking discussion about lymphovenous bypass surgery: what it is, who qualifies for this procedure, its viability, what to expect from this procedure and its treatment process, and more about breast cancer surgical outcomes.

Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Awareness Week, April 1 to 5, 2024, is a time to shine a spotlight on adolescent and young adult cancer patients and survivors. To commemorate the week, Lauren Ghazal, Megan-Claire Chase, and Allison Rosen, all members of the Oncology Data Advisor Editorial Board, sat down for a conversation to highlight the issues that AYA cancer patients face, including fertility preservation and financial toxicity; the need to ensure that race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation are not overlooked when building welcoming support spaces for all patients; and the value of turning to the AYA community for support while also serving as your own best advocate.

Dr. Christopher Lieu, Associate Director of Clinical Research at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and Vice Chair of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), is currently serving as chair of i3 Health's online activity, live webinar, and meeting series, Hitting the Target in HER2-Positive Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. With numerous research advances occurring in this field during the past year, Dr. Lieu sat down with us again to share updates in targeted therapies for HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer and the evolving landscape of biomarkers under investigation for this disease. Click the links below for Hitting the Target in HER2-Positive Metastatic Colorectal Cancer, an accredited CME/NCPD activity provided by i3 Health! Online Accredited CME/NCPD Activity: https://www.i3health.com/course-information/hitting-the-target-in-her2-positive-metastatic-colorectal-cancer Live Webinar Registration: https://www.i3health.com/course-information/Colorectal-Cancer-Webinar Live or Virtual Meeting Series: https://www.i3health.com/live/hitting-the-target-in-her2-positive-metastatic-colorectal-cancer-1

In this edition of the Oncology Data Fellows Forum in celebration of National Doctor's Day, Samuel Kareff, MD, MPH, and Matthew Hadfield, DO, discuss the highs and lows of working in this field and why it is important to take a moment to celebrate being a physician, your fellow physicians, and your patients.

In this edition of Oncology Data Advisor celebrating Kidney Cancer Awareness Month Dr. Samuel Kareff, Dr. Waqas Haque, and Dr. Ulka Vaishampayan discuss the rising incidence of kidney cancer, warning signs and symptoms to look out for, environmental risk factors such as tobacco use, emerging treatment strategies using immunotherapy and adjuvant therapy, considerations for genetic testing, and the importance of clinical trial participation for bringing these new advances to the forefront of care.

In this edition of "Bridging the Gap in Cancer Care Through Genetic Counseling," Editorial Member Catherine Skefos speaks with her colleague Julie Moskowitz, MS, Genetic Counselor in the Gastrointestinal (GI) Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center, about hereditary aspects of colorectal cancer, how she counsels patients and families regarding their risk of colorectal cancer and related syndromes, and how genetic testing can be used to inform screening decisions and ultimately reduce patients' risk.

In this panel discussion in honor of International Women's Day on March 8, Dr. Richa Thakur, Dr. Nida Khan, Dr. Lauren Ghazal, and Dr. Gurbakhash Kaur discuss their perspectives as women in the fields of medicine and nursing, including their advice for negotiating, seeking mentors, overcoming imposter syndrome, building confidence, and making your voice heard.

Dr. Spero Cataland, Professor of Internal Medicine and the Benign Hematology Section Head at The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center, is currently serving as chair of i3 Health's free CME/NCPD activity and Hematology Fellows Lecture Series, Current Standards and New Directions in Treatment of Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (aTTP). In this interview, Dr. Cataland provides an update on new research that has occurred in the field during the past year and shares a preview of what learners can look forward to when attending his presentation at their own institution.

In this interview for Kidney Cancer Awareness Month, Hiam Abdel-Salam, MS, CGC, speaks with Donika Saporito, MS, a Certified Genetic Counselor in the Genitourinary Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center, who provides an overview of genetic testing for hereditary kidney cancer syndromes and how she personally counsels the patients she sees.

Last year, Brian Rubin, MD, PhD, Chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the Chief of Diagnostics at the Cleveland Clinic, served as co-chair for i3 Health's continuing medical education (CME)–/nursing continuing professional development (NCPD)–approved virtual tumor board: Multidisciplinary Management of Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma, alongside Kathleen Polson, Nurse Practitioner at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Shreyaskumar R. Patel, MD, Center Medical Director of the Sarcoma Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center. In this interview, Dr. Rubin sat down with Oncology Data Advisor to discuss updates in the treatment and management of soft tissue sarcoma, what to look forward for the future of treating sarcomas, and his passion for this field.

For Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month this March, Oncology Data Advisor hosted a live panel discussion geared towards patients living with multiple myeloma. Dr. Rahul Banerjee, Dr. Alankrita Taneja, Dr. Richa Thakur, and Dr. Gurbakhash Kaur helped put the myriad of new developments in multiple myeloma treatment into perspective for patients and answered questions from the audience regarding current and future treatment strategies for multiple myeloma.

Last year, Jaffer Ajani, MD, Professor in the Department of Gastrointestinal (GI) Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, served as co-chair of i3 Health's Virtual Tumor Board, Building Comprehensive Care Plans in Esophagogastric Cancers, along with Lei Zhao, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Kelly Rone, DNP, RN, AGNP-c, Advanced Practice Nurse at the Mayo Clinic. With numerous developments in the field occurring since recording the activity, Dr. Ajani sat down with Oncology Data Advisor to provide an update on the evolving field of esophagogastric cancer research and advances to look forward to in the coming years.

In this first episode of Oncology Data Advisor’s new podcast series, “Bridging the Gap in Cancer Care Through Genetic Counseling,” Hiam Abdel-Salam and Catherine Skefos provide an introduction to genetic counseling, including how they entered the field, what they do on a day-to-day basis, scenarios in which patients should or should not consider meeting with a genetic counselor, things that are covered in an appointment, and their favorite parts about working as genetic counselors.

Following the recent approval of lifileucel for unresectable or metastatic melanoma—the first cellular therapy to receive an approval for solid tumors—Matthew Hadfield, DO, member of the Oncology Data Advisor Fellows Forum and third-year Fellow at Brown University, sat down with Richard Carvajal, MD, Oncology Data Advisor Editorial Board Member and the Deputy Physician-in-Chief at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute, to discuss the significance of this approval, what it means for the treatment landscape of melanoma, and what to look forward to for the future of treating melanoma.

In celebration of Women's Day on March 8, Oncology Data Advisor hosted a live panel discussion in which the women of our Editorial Board and Fellows Forum share what the day means to them, progress that has been made in female representation in leadership roles, continued obstacles to overcome, and the value of encouraging and mentoring other women in the field.

In this Fellows Forum interview, Dr. Samuel Kareff speaks with Dr. Estela Rodriguez, Clinical Research Lead of the Thoracic Site Disease Group at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, about recent research advances in mesothelioma, the emerging roles of immunotherapy and biomarker testing, and the importance of ensuring access to care for patients with this rare disease.

On Rare Disease Day on February 29, members of the Oncology Data Advisor Editorial Board and Fellows Forum hosted a live panel discussion focused on the rare diseases that they treat, including tireless efforts underway to develop novel treatment strategies, enhance quality of life, and improve outcomes for patients.

In this interview, Joseph Kalis, PharmD, BCOP, introduces Joseph Oropeza, PharmD, BCCP, one of the newest Editorial Board members of Oncology Data Advisor. Dr. Oropeza shares what he does as an Emergency Medicine Pharmacist, the intersections of oncology and the emergency department, the steps he takes to manages oncologic emergencies, and the importance of communication and collaboration between disciplines to ensure optimal outcomes for patients.