Project Oncology®

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 onco...

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...

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...

Guest: Brian Slomovitz, MD Our treatment approach for patients with endometrial cancer is evolving, with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and biomarker-driven therapies showing promise. Dr. Brian Slomovitz highlights future directions that could redefine treatment pathways for patients with advanced or recurrent disease. Dr. Slomovitz is the Director of Gynecologic Oncology and Co-Chair of the Canc...

Guest: Abiodun Ologunowa Pediatric sickle cell disease treatment, particularly the use of hydroxyurea, NSAIDs, and opioids, has evolved in response to clinical guidelines and regulatory shifts, but gaps still remain in how children receive essential medications. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to discuss these national prescribing trends, disparities in care, and the implications of evolving treatment g...

Guest: Yogindra Persuad Despite the promise of curative therapies for sickle cell disease, access and cost barriers highlight the ongoing need for disease-modifying treatments like hydroxyurea. Tune in to hear Dr. Yogindra Persuad, a physician in the Department of Hematology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, discuss a multimodal approach to care, emphasizing research...

Guest: Parul Rai Hydroxyurea and chronic transfusions remain cornerstone therapies in managing sickle cell disease, with proven benefits in reducing stroke risk and improving anemia. However, considerations remain, including their impact on cardiac health. Learn about these long-standing therapies and best practices for using them to manage sickle cell disease with Dr. Parul Rai. Dr. Rai is a phys...

Guest: Nidhi Bhatt Effective transition from pediatric to adult care should begin as early as age twelve for patients with sickle cell disease, incorporating factors like education, self-advocacy skills, and support from transition care coordinators. Tune in to hear Dr. Nidhi Bhatt, who works in the Department of Hematology at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, discuss how involvi...

Guest: Yogindra Persuad For decades, hydroxyurea has been the cornerstone therapy for sickle cell disease, but new disease-modifying therapies, curative strategies, and gene therapies are expanding options for patients. While these advancing approaches come with some risks, they can help offer symptom relief, reduce complications, and give patients more choices when it comes to managing their sick...

Guest: Parul Rai Cardiopulmonary complications are a leading cause of early mortality in adults with sickle cell disease, with evidence showing that cardiac injury may begin as early as childhood. However, despite the severity of these issues, there are currently no uniform guidelines for asymptomatic cardiac screening in this population. Join Dr. Parul Rai, a physician in the Department of Hemato...

Guest: Jorge Nieva, MD As cancer treatment continues to evolve, at-home subcutaneous immunotherapy is at the forefront of decentralized care and research. Here to share his insights on how this delivery model could impact clinical trials and cancer care is Dr. Jorge Nieva, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine.

Guest: Jorge Nieva, MD Despite the promising benefits for cancer patients, the at-home administration of subcutaneous immunotherapy poses complex operational and logistical challenges, like cost, payer preferences, and patient safety. Tune in to hear Dr. Jorge Nieva discuss these key factors and considerations impacting the implementation of at-home subcutaneous cancer immunotherapy delivery. Dr....

Guest: Jorge Nieva, MD As immunotherapy becomes a cornerstone for treating a growing number of solid tumors, reducing the logistical burden of in-office care is essential. Fortunately, the at-home administration of subcutaneous formulations of immunotherapy agents like atezolizumab could help transform the way we care for patients with cancer. Learn more with Dr. Jorge Nieva, Associate Professor o...

Guest: Jorge Nieva, MD Can the immune checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab be safely administered subcutaneously at home for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)? That’s the exact question an ongoing study is seeking to answer, and here to discuss the study’s objective, design, and potential implications for home-based subcutaneous cancer therapies is Dr. Jorge Nivea. He’s an Associate Pr...

Guest: Michele Lambert, MD, MSTR New treatments are on the horizon for patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Dr. Michele Lambert shares insights on how BTK inhibitors and immune-targeting drugs aim to address the root causes of ITP and offer more personalized care for patients. Dr. Lambert, the Medical Director of the Special Coagulation Laboratory and a physician in the Division of Hematol...

Guest: Michael Gonzalez, PhD, MSc New research on the molecular mechanisms behind idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) through gene expression analysis of lymph node tissue has the potential to improve both diagnosis and treatment. Join Dr. Michael Gonzalez as he dives in on his recent findings, which he spoke about at the 2024 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting. Dr. Gonzale...

Guest: Cheryl Maier MD, PhD Heparin resistance occurs when patients don’t respond to anticoagulation as expected, even with what seems like the appropriate dose. Join Dr. Cheryl Maier, who spoke about this topic at the 2024 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, to learn more about testing methods, the role of antithrombin, and alternative treatments, like direct thrombin inhibitors. Dr. M...

Guest: Mateo Bustamante Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is a rare, life-threatening condition. Early diagnosis through excisional biopsies is key for speeding up treatment and improve patient outcomes. Learn more with Mateo Bustamante, a Senior Clinical Data Analyst at the Center for Cytokine Storm Treatment and Laboratory at University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicin...

Guest: Joshua Brandstadter, MD, PhD, MSc Castleman disease is difficult to diagnose and treat, with half of patients not responding to therapy. To address these challenges, Dr. Joshua Brandstadter discusses his research on how stromal cells play a role in the disease. Based at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Brandstadter is an Instructor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology a...

Guest: Betsy O'Donnell, MD Plasma cell disorders range from multiple myeloma to the monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), which is a benign condition that affects anywhere between 3 and 10 percent of the population starting at age 50. However, about 1 percent of people per year who have MGUS will progress to multiple myeloma. Here to talk about common precursor diseases l...

Guest: David Braun Identifying biomarkers for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is critical since they can help direct our therapeutic approach, which is why several techniques that may be able to uncover new biomarkers are currently being investigated. Joining Dr. Jody Takemoto to review those techniques and their potential impacts on RCC care is Dr. David Braun, Assistant Professor of Medicine and a me...

Guest: David Braun, MD, PhD A recent study investigated whether renal cell carcinoma (RCC) molecular subtypes have any impact on treatment outcomes. Here to share the surprising findings and their implications is Dr. David Braun, Assistant Professor of Medicine and a member of the Center of Molecular and Cellular Oncology at Yale Cancer Center.

Guest: Robert Wong, MD Since the guidelines for diagnosing and treating hepatocellular carcinoma are often lengthy and complicated, it can be difficult for clinicians to stay up to date on the current recommendations and implement them in clinical practice. That’s why a team with the HCC Steering Committee of the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation developed a web-based, interactive tool that incorpo...

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Saad Kenderian M.B, Ch. B CAR T-cell therapy has been revolutionary in the treatment of blood cancers like chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma, and according to recent research, this therapeutic approach may also help patients with thyroid cancer. However, there are several challenges associated with applying this technology to target solid tumors in th...

Guest: Robert Wong, MD Hepatitis B is one of the leading causes of liver cancer globally, underscoring the importance of screening, diagnosing, and treating patients appropriately. However, there are several considerations to keep in mind when caring for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatitis B co-infection, which is why Dr. Jody Takemoto speaks with Dr. Robert Wong about those fact...