Medical News Podcast

Drs. Sabari and Socinski discuss maintenance therapy strategies in small cell lung cancer, including immunotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted agents, and radiation.

Drs. Socinski and Sabari discuss a couple of abstracts from ASCO 2025 about emerging therapeutics in small cell lung cancer.

Mark A. Socinski, MD and Joshua Sabari, MD review new data from ASCO 2025 that have a substantial impact on how oncologists treat patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

A Lancet analysis warns that USAID cuts could cause over 14 million preventable deaths by 2030, reversing decades of progress against infectious diseases. The TARGET Protein Trial found high-protein nutrition in ICU patients did not improve outcomes and may raise risks in kidney injury. A study in npj Vaccines showed older adults getting AS01-adjuvanted shingles or RSV vaccines had lower dementia...

The measles outbreak stands at 1,227 confirmed cases in 2025 so far—nearly five times the total for all of 2024—mostly among unvaccinated individuals. New data from the INTERACT trials show that rapidly lowering blood pressure after intracerebral hemorrhage improves survival and function, especially when treatment starts within three hours. The CDC’s Vaccine Advisory Panel, controversially reconst...

Drs. Yuan and Callahan discuss data presented at ASCO 2025 about DESTINY-Breast06, SHR-A1811, and TQB2101, along with real-world data on rechallenging patients with T-DXd post grade 1 ILD.

Drs. Callahan and Yuan discuss data presented at ASCO 2025 on DESTINY-Breast09, PATINA, and MINI Trial, the utility of PFS-2 as an endpoint, and sequencing of treatments after first-line therapy.

Drs. Zaman and Podolanczuk discuss data for new and emerging therapies for ILD presented at ATS 2025, including nerandomilast, inhaled therapies for IPF and ILD, TNIK inhibitors, as well as new biomarkers and imaging for diagnosing ILDs.

Tanzira Zaman, MD and Elizabeth Volkmann, MD, MS discuss the new official American Thoracic Society Clinical Statement on the diagnosis and management of interstitial lung abnormalities which Dr. Podolanczuk presented at ATS 2025.

The FDA approved lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable PrEP shown to be 99% effective in preventing HIV, though high cost may limit global access. A phase 3 trial found that adding pembrolizumab to standard care improved event-free survival in head and neck cancer, especially in patients with high PD-L1 expression. MASLD-related deaths in the U.S. have quadrupled since 2006, rising most sharply i...

Drs. Sood and Liu discuss emerging and investigational biomarkers for interstitial lung disease and their potential utility as predictors of progression or as tools for tailoring therapy.

Gabrielle Liu, MD, MS and Namita Sood, MD, FCCP discuss advances and future treatment targets for interstitial lung disease including some that are still under investigation.

A Chinese trial found dapagliflozin improved MASH outcomes, with higher resolution and fibrosis improvement rates than placebo. A JAMA Network Open survey showed 42% of abortion providers in ban states relocated, mostly to states with protections, highlighting growing care gaps. An oncology study found AI analysis of body composition better predicted chemo dose reductions than body surface area, e...

Drs. Brander and Cohen discuss the growing role of measurable residual disease (MRD) testing in CLL and its clinical implications.

Drs. Cohen and Brander review toxicity and treatment management in CLL, specifically addressing the considerations that go into subsequent lines of treatment for patients who relapse following doublet, or even triplet, therapy.

Drs. Brander and Cohen discuss an ongoing debate in the management of CLL about BTK and BCL2 inhibitor combinations in the frontline treatment of CLL. Is it better to combine BTK and BCL2 inhibitors, or to start with one or the other as monotherapy?

Drs. Lipsky and Allan discuss the emerging role of immunotherapy in the management of patients with CLL, including CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies.

The CHALLENGE trial at ASCO 2025 showed that increased physical activity improves survival rates in colon cancer patients, with the exercise group demonstrating better health outcomes and survival rates compared to those receiving only health education. A phase 3 trial in The New England Journal of Medicine found that semaglutide significantly improves liver conditions in MASH patients, showing be...

John N. Allan, MD and Andrew H. Lipsky, MD discuss the evolution of CLL therapy and the power of doublet and triplet regimens, exploring combinations including BTK inhibitors with BCL-2 inhibitors and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies.

Drs. Scott and Liu discuss the safety of treatments for HER2-mutant lung cancer, including key toxicities, management strategies, and how prior therapies might affect treatment decisions.

Stephen V. Liu, MD and Susan C. Scott, MD discuss advances in treating HER2-mutant lung cancer. Until recently, treatments for HER2-mutant lung cancer primarily involved chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and HER2-targeted therapies, with mixed results. Now, the treatment landscape of HER2-mutant lung cancer is changing.

Measles cases in North America have exceeded 3,200, mainly due to low vaccination rates, with children most affected. Clinicians are urged to verify immunization status and close gaps. The EU is restricting azithromycin use amid rising antimicrobial resistance, dropping certain indications and adding new warnings. A trial shows methotrexate is a viable first-line alternative to prednisone for pulm...

This week's episode covers the effectiveness of a fixed-dose albuterol-budesonide combination for asthma, new findings on Nerodomelast for progressive pulmonary fibrosis, the FDA’s endorsement of a new COVID-19 vaccine targeting the JN.1 lineage, and insights into extended-phase anticoagulation for pediatric venous thromboembolism.

A Lancet study warns of consequences for HIV prevention if PEPFAR loses funding, potentially millions of new pediatric HIV cases and increased AIDS-related deaths. Medicare Part D is highlighted, with research linking subsidy loss to higher mortality rates. A report from BMJ notes a 3.1% decline in U.S. drug overdose deaths, signaling a possible peak in the fentanyl crisis.

Drs. Pemmaraju and Bose discuss the revised International Working Group criteria for anemia response in patients with myelofibrosis, outlining new definitions for transfusion status, gender-specific hemoglobin thresholds, and benchmarks for major and minor responses.