CANCER BUZZ

At the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the team treating patients with bladder cancer and other genitourinary malignancies utilizes a multidisciplinary team approach to ensure care is coordinated, personalized, and patient-centered. This is particularly important when administering antibody-drug conjugates, a promising tool for some patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer that...

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a rare category of bone marrow disorders that may develop into acute myeloid leukemia, are categorized into risk groups ranging from very low to very high risk. However, this language can be misleading to patients. Low risk (LR) does not equate to low impact or lack of urgency. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Amy DeZern, MD, MHS, from Sidney Kimmel Compreh...

From the moment a woman learns that she has breast cancer, her life is forever changed—from the treatment challenges of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to the personal and emotional challenges of a change in identity, a loss of control, and physical self-acceptance. For many survivors, the difficult journey of emotional healing continues long after active treatment ends, and this phase deserv...

Radiation therapy is a powerful and non-invasive tool in the management of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), but radiation oncologists are not always fully integrated into the care team. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Charles B. Simone, II, MD, FASTRO, FACRO, FACR, chief medical officer of the New York Proton Center and radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, about s...

Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) are an emerging and fast-developing area of immunotherapy, particularly in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. However, access to this therapy remains limited, particularly for Veterans. Administrative hurdles and challenging adverse events have slowed adoption of BsAbs in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Nich...

Toxicities related to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) can significantly impact quality of life for patients with locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer, but data-driven programs can help multidisciplinary teams manage some of the most challenging adverse events. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Cindy Y. Jiang, MD, assistant professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center, about how her insti...

The ACCC Global eXchange series is committed to highlighting cross-regional collaborations that advance cancer care delivery and workforce development nationwide. In this episode of CANCER BUZZ, Dr. Michael Cavnar discusses his humanitarian efforts in Zambia and why volunteering in this capacity is crucial and meaningful for US oncology providers. "The more you're around people that are different...

At the inaugural ACCC Leadership Summit, C-suite executives and senior-level decision makers in oncology convened for strategic dialogue, panel discussions, and peer-to-peer exchange focused on the most pressing issues in cancer care today. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Misha Kaur, chief operating officer at Cureety, about her key takeaways as a member of the panel: Value-Based Care in...

At the inaugural ACCC Leadership Summit, C-suite executives and senior-level decision makers in oncology convened for strategic dialogue, panel discussions, and peer-to-peer exchange focused on the most pressing issues in cancer care today. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Jay Seemann, vice president of market and access value at BeOne Medicines, about his key takeaways as a member of the...

At the inaugural ACCC Leadership Summit, C-suite executives and senior-level decision makers in oncology convened for strategic dialogue, engaging panel discussions, and peer-to-peer exchange focused on the most pressing issues in cancer care today. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Michele LeSueur, DBA, vice president of Sales and Marketing at Johnson & Johnson, about her key takeaways as...

At the inaugural ACCC Leadership Summit, C-suite executives and senior-level decision makers in oncology convened for strategic dialogue, engaging panel discussions, and peer-to-peer exchange focused on the most pressing issues in cancer care today. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Ashley Johnson, MBA, chief innovation officer at LeanTaas, about her key takeaways as a member of the first p...

Indications for the use of bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) are rapidly increasing in oncology. While many cancer centers are keeping an eye on this developing field, curiosity must be transformed into proactive planning to avoid being caught unprepared as BsAb indications expand. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Laura Kuzma, MSW, admin administrative director of FirstHealth Cancer Center and...

For 52 years, ACCC has brought together thousands of health care professionals from across the nation representing all disciplines in oncology. Today, with over 46,000 members, ACCC's mission remains the same: to provide education, forums, and opportunities to promote the delivery of high-quality, equitable cancer care. Each year, the Association produces an ACCC Annual Report showcasing key educa...

In this episode of Oncology Unscripted, hosts Mark Liu and Deirdre Saulet speak with 2025 ACCC Innovator Award Winner Andrew Ambort, DO, a palliative care consulting physician at WellSpan Health. Dr. Ambort received the award for his team's innovation "Adopting Machine Learning-Enabled Decision Support to Improve Oncology End-of-Life Outcomes," which leveraged an existing module in the electronic...

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy is a promising option for patients with advanced melanoma, but logistical and referral challenges can be a barrier to care. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Lilit Karapetyan, MD, MS, FACP, medical oncologist at Moffit Cancer Center and Research Institute, an authorized treatment center (ATC) for TIL cell therapy, and Raju Vaddepally, MD, hem...

Changing regulations are reshaping the practice of oncology. Issues such as prior authorization, shifting coverage policies, reporting mandates, and reimbursement certainty all affect how clinics must operate to provide the best care. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with 3 oncology professionals, representing different roles and regions of the country, about their experiences of how policy imp...

As the number of patients and survivors of cancer grows each year, awareness of the disease's emotional toll—including depression, anxiety, and deep existential distress—is increasingly recognized as a critical aspect of cancer care. In response, psychedelic-assisted therapy is gaining attention as a promising alternative to traditional mental health interventions, providing relief for some patien...

Of the barriers to innovation and adopting new strategies, human hesitation is one of the greatest. Health care is a rapidly evolving field by nature, which is compounded by near constant technological advancement. For insight into overcoming hesitation while navigating frequent change in a burnout-oriented industry, CANCER BUZZ spoke with Michelle Rozen, PhD, behavioral scientist, bestselling aut...

In the second installment of Oncology Unscripted, an unfiltered, honest dialogue about the state of cancer care today, hosts Mark Liu and Deirdre Saulet invite Meagan O'Neill, MS, Executive Director of ACCC, to discuss the Association's plans for the upcoming year, honing in on challenges and opportunities within its membership. O'Neill shares the vision behind expanding the CANCER BUZZ podcast, t...

Advanced practice providers (APPs) are both an integral part of the care team and a driving force behind innovation in oncology. This special state society episode of CANCER BUZZ will explore how oncology APPs are stepping into leadership roles—formally and informally—to advocate for role clarity and equitable compensation, improve mentorship, and elevate the value of APPs within the multidiscipli...

Cancer cases, cancer-related deaths, and survivorship are projected to rise exponentially—yet oncology faces critical workforce shortages. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Tristan Blanco, a biology major and fellow in VCU Massey's Cancer-focused Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Program, who shares his experience as part of a program designed to scale oncology education and meet the...

Introducing a brand new podcast from ACCC: Oncology Unscripted. In this inaugural episode, hosts Mark Liu and Deirdre Saulet lay out what listeners can expect from the show, including unfiltered, honest dialogue about the state of cancer care today, the most pressing challenges providers are facing, and how they can move forward with hope amid unpredictable headwinds. Liu and Saulet will approach...

CAR T-cell therapy is a potentially life-saving treatment for patients with certain hematologic malignancies. Yet, the logistical challenges and the need for specialized management of adverse events have limited its availability in community settings. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Jeremy M. Pantin, MD, FACP, clinical director of the Adult Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at TriSt...

Claudin 18.2 is a novel biomarker for advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer. Patients who test positive for claudin 18.2 may be candidates for the monoclonal antibody, zolbetuximab, which directly targets this biomarker. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Manish A. Shah, MD, FASCO, director of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program at Weill Cornell Medicine, about how claudin...

Relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma (R/R FL) is challenging to treat, requiring thoughtful clinical decision-making during treatment selection and sequencing. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Benjamin Heyman, MD, hematologist and clinical associate professor at City of Hope, about the importance of individualized care, shared decision-making, clinical trial referrals, and multidiscipli...