Treating Together

Targeted Oncology

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Targeted Oncology brings you Treating Together, a podcast series designed to bring oncologists into meaningful, peer-driven conversations by focusing on real-world challenges, clinical relevance of emerging data, and bridging the gap between research and frontline oncology care across different cancer types.

4D AGO

Leveraging AI, Social Media, and Virtual Care in the Information Age

In this episode of Targeted Oncology’s Treating Together podcast, Dr Pallav Mehta sits down with Dr Sanjay Juneja, aka The Onc Doc, a medical oncologist known for his social media presence and his work in medical informatics. The duo explores how the landscape of cancer care is shifting from a "paucity of information" to a challenge of "information overload," and how technology can bridge the gap between clinical expertise and patient understanding. The Rise of the "Social" OncologistDr Juneja shares his transition from creating "theatrical" social media content to using his platform for democratizing medical information. Myth Busting: He initially focused on debunking cancer myths and explaining complex topics like vaccines and blood clots in digestible ways. Broad Reach: With millions of downloads across 110 countries, his content reaches a primary demographic of 40- to 45-year-olds who are often navigating cancer journeys for themselves or loved ones. The Power of Evergreen Content: Dr Juneja advocates for using video as a "digital smart phrase" to reinforce complex explanations (like receptor status or chemotherapy side effects) that patients may not fully absorb during a brief 15-minute clinic visit. AI and the Evolution of ExpertiseThe conversation highlights how AI is redefining what it means to be a medical expert. Pattern Recognition: Modern expertise is moving away from purely anecdotal experience toward the ability to leverage massive volumes of aggregate data and longitudinal outcomes through AI. Personalized Navigation: Large language models (LLMs) are beginning to integrate with medical records, potentially acting as "agents" that help patients filter online information to see if it specifically applies to their unique diagnosis. Digital Twins and Avatars: For physicians uncomfortable on camera, Dr Juneja discusses the potential for AI-generated avatars to deliver standardized, high-quality medical explanations to patients. Bridging the Gaps in CareBoth doctors emphasize the limitations of the current "point-to-point" interaction model and the need for continuous monitoring. Virtual Care Benefits: Remote care and wearable devices allow for the tracking of subtle, grade 1 toxicities that might otherwise be missed between monthly visits. The Emotional Quotient: While AI handles data, Dr Juneja argues that "emotion" and "quantified suffering" remain the unique domain of the human physician, helping patients navigate the regret and "gut feelings" associated with difficult treatment decisions. Trusting Intuition: Dr Juneja concludes by encouraging patients to act on their gut feelings and ask questions without fear of offending providers, noting that this is the best hedge against future regret.

43 min
MAR 27

Beyond Monotherapy: Mechanisms and Combination Strategies in NPM1-Mutant Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Treating Together

41 min
MAR 27

Treating Together: Navigating Treatment Decisions in Relapsed NPM1-Mutant AML: Practical Insights for Clinical Care

Dr Gabriel Mannis from Stanford University and Dr Gail Roboz from Weill Cornell Medicine discussed the evolving treatment landscape for relapsed/refractory NPM1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The conversation highlighted the dramatic transformation of relapsed/refractory AML management from a space where "drugs went to die" to one with multiple targeted therapeutic options. Dr Roboz emphasized the importance of comprehensive mutational reassessment at relapse, as co-mutation profiles can change from initial diagnosis. She distinguished between mutational profiling for treatment selection versus minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring, noting that NPM1 was previously considered undruggable but now has two FDA-approved menin inhibitors: revumenib and ziftomenib.

41 min
MAR 25

Beyond the Hospital Walls: Expanding Access to Complex Cancer Therapies

In this episode of the Treating Together podcast, host Dr Pallav Mehta, medical oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, assistant professor of medicine at Cooper Medical School, and medical director of Reimagine Care,sits down with Jorge Garcia, PharmD, founder of Patagonia Healthcare, for an in-depth conversation about the rapidly evolving landscape of advanced cancer therapies, from CAR-T cells and bispecific antibodies to gene therapies. Together, they explore what makes these treatments fundamentally different from traditional chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and why the systems built to deliver them must evolve just as quickly. The discussion covers the operational, financial, and clinical challenges facing health systems looking to bring bispecific therapies into community and outpatient settings — including reimbursement models, toxicity monitoring, caregiver education, and the critical role of oncology pharmacists. Dr Mehta and Dr Garcia also look ahead to the growing promise of technology, AI, and virtual care in enabling safer patient monitoring outside of hospital walls, and share their vision for a future where more patients can receive these transformative treatments closer to home. Whether you're a clinician, administrator, pharmacist, or healthcare innovator, this conversation offers a grounded and forward-looking perspective on what it will take to make cutting-edge cancer care accessible to all patients—not just those near major academic centers.

41 min
MAR 11 · BONUS

Test First, Treat Second: ASCO's Updated Approach to Driver Mutation–Negative NSCLC

In this minisode, we break down the latest update to ASCO's living guideline for stage IV non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without driver mutations — and what it means for clinicians on the front lines of care. We're drawing on a conversation with Dr. Joshua Reuss, thoracic medical oncologist at Georgetown University and co-chair of ASCO's Living Guidance Committee, who helped explain the key changes, the remaining uncertainties, and where the field is heading. What changed — and why now? This was a scheduled comprehensive review, not triggered by a single trial or approval. The committee revisited existing recommendations and incorporated emerging data, even when it didn't clear the bar for a formal change in recommendation level. Why this guideline is especially complex Unlike driver-positive NSCLC, where a mutation points clearly to a targeted therapy, the driver mutation–negative guideline must address a wide, heterogeneous population — split by histology (nonsquamous vs. squamous) and three PD-L1 tiers, resulting in six distinct patient subsets, each with its own evidence base. Molecular testing moves to the top A key structural change: comprehensive molecular testing is now front and center in the guideline, reinforcing that confirming the absence of a driver mutation is just as critical as finding one. Starting immunotherapy before results return can create serious problems — if a driver mutation surfaces later, switching to targeted therapy may carry significant toxicity risks. New in the toolkit: Teliso-V Telisotuzumab vedotin (Teliso-V), a MET-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, has been added to the guideline following its accelerated FDA approval for patients with high MET protein overexpression. It joins trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in the subsequent-line ADC space — and its inclusion further underscores the need for thorough molecular and protein expression testing. What we still don't know The honest answer to "which frontline regimen is best for my patient?" is: we don't know yet. Ongoing trials like INSIGNA are tackling whether chemo is necessary in high PD-L1 expressers. Co-mutations like STK11 and KEAP1 are being explored as biomarkers for dual checkpoint blockade strategies, though a recent prospective study (NIPPON) added caution — increased toxicity without a clear efficacy signal. One to watch: ivonescimab This bispecific antibody co-targeting PD-1 and VEGF is generating buzz, with data from China suggesting it may outperform pembrolizumab alone. Dr. Reuss calls it potentially practice-changing — if the global data hold up. The takeaway The guideline won't hand you one answer. It's designed to give clinicians the evidence they need to make the best decision for the individual patient in front of them. 🔗 Full guideline: ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO-25-02825

13 min
MAR 4

Precision Hope: The New Frontier of AI-Driven Oncology

Host Pallav Mehta, MD, and guest Doug Flora, MD discuss the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in oncology. As the author of Rebooting Cancer Care, Flora argues that AI is the essential "reboot" needed for a system currently "groaning under its own weight" due to physician burnout and an unmanageable explosion of medical data.

36 min
FEB 18

Community Oncology at a Crossroads: Navigating Policy, Progress, and Practice

In this episode of Treating Together, host Pallav Mehta, MD, medical oncologist and director of Integrative Oncology at Cooper University Health Care and medical director of Reimagine Care, is joined by Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA, oncologist and executive vice president at Texas Oncology. Patt also serves as the president of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA). Their discussion focuses on the rapid transformation of community oncology and the growing pressures shaping its future. Themes and Key Discussion Points The episode focuses on the central role of community oncology in preserving local, quality care. Highlights include: The Evolution of Community Oncology: Drs Mehta and Patt explore how community oncology has changed over the past 2 decades from largely independent practices to consolidated health systems and clinically integrated networks. Financial forces, including the 340B program and broader reimbursement reform, have significantly influenced consolidation trends. Policy as a Driving Force: Dr Patt explores how legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and evolving Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement models may impact drug payment, cash flow, and practice viability. The Explosion of Targeted and Advanced Therapies: Oncology has entered an era of unprecedented therapeutic expansion. With this progress comes more complexity: longer treatment durations, higher toxicity management demands, and logistical hurdles of administration. Digital Transformation and AI Integration: With the accelerating role of digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) in practice, practices face both opportunity and implementation challenges. Workforce and Rural Access Challenges: The conversation addresses mounting physician and nursing shortages, burnout, and the sustainability of rural cancer care, requiring a reimagining of policy, workflow efficiency, and staffing models. Find a full transcript of the podcast: https://www.targetedonc.com/view/community-oncology-at-a-crossroads-navigating-policy-progress-and-practice

44 min
FEB 4

Navigating the Future of CLL Care

In this episode of Treating Together, host Marc Braunstein, MD, an associate professor of medicine at the Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, is joined by John Burke, MD, from Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers. Both specialists bring their extensive experience in lymphoma and multiple myeloma to a deep-dive discussion on the rapidly evolving treatment landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Key Discussion PointsThe episode focuses on the refinement of CLL therapy, moving away from traditional chemoimmunotherapy toward targeted approaches. Highlights include: Continuous vs. fixed-duration therapy: A debate on whether patients benefit more from indefinite BTK inhibitor use or time-limited regimens. The role of MRD: Exploring how minimal residual disease (MRD) driven duration is becoming a sophisticated option for tailoring treatment. Clinical trial updates: Analysis of recent data regarding frontline treatment outcomes and infectious risks. Relapsed/refractory strategies: Insights into the recent FDA approval of pirtobrutinib (Jaypirca) for second-line therapy and beyond. Looking Toward the FutureAs the experts look ahead into 2026, they discuss the promising emergence of BTK degraders, which have shown high response rates in heavily pretreated patients and are moving toward potential market availability in the coming years.

17 min

Targeted Oncology brings you Treating Together, a podcast series designed to bring oncologists into meaningful, peer-driven conversations by focusing on real-world challenges, clinical relevance of emerging data, and bridging the gap between research and frontline oncology care across different cancer types.

Creator

Targeted Oncology
Years Active

2020 - 2026
Episodes

84
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© MJH LifeSciences
Show Website

Treating Together

Medicine

Medicine

Updated 3d ago