Oncology On The Go

CancerNetwork

Oncology On The Go is a weekly podcast that talks to authors and experts to thoroughly examine featured articles in the journal ONCOLOGY and review other challenging treatment scenarios in the cancer field from a multidisciplinary perspective. Our discussions also offer timely insight into topics ranging from recent FDA approvals to relevant research presented at major oncology conferences. As the home of the journal ONCOLOGY, CancerNetwork offers different perspectives on oncology/hematology through review articles, news, podcasts, blogs, and more. To learn more, you can also visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn!

  1. 4d ago

    How Does a Death Doula Support Patients With Cancer?

    In this episode of Oncology On the Go, CancerNetwork® spoke with Kim Stravers, an International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA)–certified end-of-life doula, educator, and trainer based in the Phoenix Valley, to explore how death doulas support patients with cancer and their families across all stages of the disease trajectory. Stravers opened by defining the scope of end-of-life doula work, clarifying that doulas provide nonmedical emotional, practical, and relational support to people confronting their mortality and those who care for them. She distinguished the role from hospice nursing and palliative care by emphasizing that doulas never act in a clinical capacity; they instead function as neutral companions who facilitate difficult conversations, help patients clarify their values and wishes, and advocate for individual autonomy across medical and personal decision-making. She also discussed her volunteer work within an interdisciplinary hospice team in Phoenix and described her invitation to speak at Grand Rounds for the Palliative Care Department at Mayo Clinic Arizona to introduce the role to clinical providers. When addressing cancer-specific experiences, Stravers noted that patients often come to her late in their trajectory, frequently within the 6-month hospice eligibility window, and described nonpharmacological techniques she uses to support breakthrough pain and existential distress, including body scans and guided visualization. She also shared a detailed patient case involving a woman with pancreatic cancer and Lynch syndrome whose daughter previously died of the same disease, describing how the shared diagnosis intensified the patient's anticipatory anxiety and how weekly doula visits helped provide periods of calm. Additional topics included the credentialing landscape for end-of-life doulas, which currently lacks a national licensure body, with organizations such as INELDA offering varied training and certification pathways. Stravers also addressed the portrayal of a death doula in the television drama The Pitt, affirming elements she found accurate while flagging several areas she viewed as outside the appropriate scope of doula practice.  Stravers holds certification through INELDA, where she also serves as an educator and trainer, as well as proficiency through the National End-Of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA).

    35 min

  2. Jul 1

    Optimizing Frontline Selection and Treatment-Free Remission in CML

    Experts discuss the evolving frontline CML treatment landscape, the impact of asciminib, and clinical strategies for achieving treatment-free remission. Once considered a terminal diagnosis, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase has been fundamentally rewritten as a highly manageable chronic condition. In this episode of Oncology on the Go, Joshua Zeidner, MD, and Jorge E. Cortes, MD, sat down to explore the rapidly shifting therapeutic paradigm of frontline CML management.  The discussion tracked the monumental evolution of treatment from early bone marrow transplants to the introduction of imatinib (Gleevec) and subsequent generations of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The experts dove deep into the practice-changing data from the phase 3 ASC4FIRST trial (NCT04971226), analyzing how the newly introduced STAMP inhibitor, asciminib (Scemblix), is challenging traditional treatment sequencing due to its superior efficacy and highly favorable toxicity profile. In the ASC4FIRST trial, the major molecular response (MMR) rate was 74.1% with asciminib vs 52.0% with other investigator-selected TKIs. The MMR rate at week 96 was consistently higher with asciminib vs other investigator-selected TKIs and imatinib across all assessed demographic and prognostic subgroups. Overall, investigators concluded that asciminib demonstrated a favorable risk-benefit profile compared with other standard therapies and presented a “valuable frontline option” for patients with CML in chronic phase. Zeidner and Cortes also shared practical clinical insights on: Shared Decision-Making: Tailoring frontline selections based on patient lifestyle, comorbidities, and preferences.  Navigating Milestones: Balancing strict NCCN/European LeukemiaNet molecular response guidelines with individualized, real-world context.  The Art of Discontinuation: Using strategic timing and criteria (such as achieving sustained MR4.5) to optimize success rates for treatment-free remission.  The Next Frontier: Managing resistance mutations and mapping out second- and third-line therapies in an evolving post-asciminib landscape.  Zeider is professor of medicine, chief of Leukemia Research, and director of Clinical Cancer Research Commercial Integration at the University of North Caroline-Chapel Hill Cancer Therapeutics Research Program. Cortes is associate director for Translation at the University of Alabama O’Neal Cancer Center.  To watch the full discussion, visit: https://www.cancernetwork.com/between-the-lines/oncology-on-the-go-frontline-chronic-myeloid-leukemia-in-chronic-phase-optimizing-treatmentReferenceCortes JE, Hughes TP, Wang J, et al. Asciminib demonstrates superior efficacy and safety in newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in the ASC4FIRST trial. Blood. 2026;147(3):1433-1446. doi:10.1182/blood.2025029210

    34 min

  3. Jun 29

    Redefining Lymphoma Standards of Care: Top Datasets From ASCO and EHA 2026

    In this episode of Oncology On the Go, CancerNetwork® joined Matthew Matasar, MD, chief of the Division of Blood Disorders at Rutgers Cancer Institute/Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, and professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, as he dove into the practice-changing data reshaping the management of aggressive and indolent B-cell lymphomas. Fresh off the presentations at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and the 2026 European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress, Matasar broke down the most talked-about datasets in the field.   Matasar began by sharing his expert clinical perspectives on the phase 3 frontMIND trial (NCT04824092) evaluating tafasitamab (Monjuvi) plus lenalidomide (Revlimid) and rituximab (Rituxan) with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) in newly diagnosed high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which were concurrently published in The Lancet.1,2 He assessed how to balance the regimen’s progression-free survival benefit against incremental toxicities and scheduling demands. Furthermore, the conversation explored encouraging data regarding bispecific antibody combinations for older or frail patient populations, as well as innovative engineering strategies aimed at overcoming the challenging "fratricide" phenomenon in cellular therapies for relapsed T-cell lymphoma. “In terms of how we move from putative success with these studies into wider deployment, I am encouraged by the pace of community adoption of bispecific antibodies not just in lymphoma—where we have seen a very nice uptake over the last year—but in other disease states, including solid tumor malignancies,” Matasar said regarding the growth of bispecific antibodies in the field. “As the clear need to deploy these agents in a broader range of patients grows, the lymphoma community is going to benefit from that work, and we’ll see our community partners become increasingly capable of delivering these treatments. My expectation is that by the time these studies read out positively in the years to come, we will have an oncology community that is ready to meet those data where they are and deploy them in the best service of our patients.” References1. Lenz, G, Trněný M, Burke JM, et al. frontMIND: phase 3 study of tafasitamab (Tafa) plus lenalidomide (Len) and R-CHOP for patients (pts) with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). J Clin Oncol. 2026;44(suppl 17):LBA7000. doi:10.1200/JCO.2026.44.17_suppl.LBA7000 2. Lenz, G, Trněný M, Burke JM, et al. Tafasitamab plus lenalidomide and R-CHOP versus R-CHOP for first-line treatment of patients with high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (frontMIND): a global, phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2026;407(10547):P2528-2541. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00866-4

    12 min

  4. Jun 22

    Exploring The Future of Artificial Intelligence and Thoracic Oncology

    In a special edition of Oncology On the Go, Chinmay Jani, MD, joined CancerNetwork® in the studio to speak about different research initiatives he is involved with across precision oncology. He discussed ongoing work dedicated to validating and applying artificial intelligence (AI)–based tools in clinical work as well as overcoming immunotherapy resistance among patients with lung cancer. Jani, chief fellow in Hematology and Oncology at University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, first detailed findings from a study he presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting evaluating AI decision support in the context of EGFR-mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although AI systems aligned with expert decision-making in frontline treatment, significant divergence was observed in second-line care, highlighting a need for more rigorous validation and clinical safeguards when integrating AI into oncologic decision-making. Improving documentation and using tools more ethically, Jani said, will also be critical for future applications of AI in field. Jani also spoke about the rapidly evolving thoracic oncology field based on research he and colleagues are leading at the University of Miami. Different investigations are exploring potential advancements in precision medicine, overcoming immunotherapy resistance, and early cancer detection to help elevate outcomes among patients with lung cancer. Looking ahead, Jani emphasized how novel therapeutics like tarlatamab-dlle (Imdelltra) and the incorporation of liquid biopsy may assist with the goal of turning lung cancer into “a chronic disease” where patients can survive not just for a few month or years but for decades. According to Jani, other key concerns in the field include the evolving landscape surrounding adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients, who may require different types of molecular testing and therapeutic needs compared with adult populations. Being able to detect more fusions and alterations that may inform therapeutic strategies via circulating tumor DNA plus circulating tumor RNA or through wider minimal residual disease testing, he said, represents another ongoing goal in terms of precision medicine. ReferenceJani C, Pérez-Granado J, Kalucha A, et al. Evaluating AI decision support in a rapidly evolving therapeutic landscape: EGFR-mutant metastatic NSCLC. J Clin Oncol. 2026;44(suppl 16):1630. doi:10.1200/JCO.2026.44.16_suppl.1630

    23 min
  5. Navigating Personality Disorders in Cancer Care

    Jun 15

    Navigating Personality Disorders in Cancer Care

    Cancer is never convenient, and it never arrives when a patient is truly prepared, according to Daniel C. McFarland, DO, who began the most recent episode of Oncology On the Go with this sentiment. When individuals enter the high-stakes, highly coordinated world of oncology, they do so under extreme duress, often presenting the versions of themselves that are most under stress. In this environment, clinical teams frequently encounter behaviors that get unfairly lumped into the vague and pejorative category of the “difficult patient.” What happens when these challenges stem from an underlying personality disorder rather than just temporary situational anxiety?  In this episode, McFarland was joined by psycho-oncology expert Kaleena Chilcote, MD, to unpack the inner workings of personality styles and disorders within oncologic science. Together, they explored the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM) diagnostic framework, spanning the eccentric, dramatic, and anxious categories. They discussed how these enduring, pervasive traits impact a patient’s health care journey.  Shifting the conversation away from the stigma of labels, McFarland and Chilcote delivered actionable, real-world advice for oncology teams. They discussed how to utilize objective, descriptive charting; initiate a pause to check your own provider emotions; and build highly consistent, structured boundaries. From managing frequent phone calls to intentionally scheduling short, high-frequency touchpoints, the pair provided a roadmap for turning interpersonal conflict into therapeutic collaboration, proving that underneath the defense mechanisms, every patient has a uniquely valuable strength to connect with.  McFarland is the director of the Psycho-Oncology Program at Wilmot Cancer Center and a medical oncologist who specializes in head, neck, and lung cancer, in addition to being a psycho-oncology editorial advisory board member for the journal ONCOLOGY®. Chilcote is director of Psycho-Oncology in the Department of Palliative and Supportive Care at the Taussig Cancer Center, part of the Cleveland Clinic.

    36 min

  6. Jun 8

    Unraveling Key Hematologic Oncology Developments at ASCO 2026

    In a live X Spaces discussion hosted by CancerNetwork® in collaboration with the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT), Marc J. Braunstein, MD, PhD, and Sofia Zahid, MD, highlighted noteworthy presentations and abstracts in hematologic oncology at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. Together, they discussed the data that may shake up clinical practice across different multiple myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma populations. Braunstein is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine and course co-director of the Hematology/Oncology System at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, as well as the fellowship program director of Hematology/Oncology at NYU Langone Health. Zahid is a first-year fellow at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine. The discussion focused on the following abstracts: ·      Abstract 7512 o   Combining belantamab mafodotin-blmf (Blenrep) with daratumumab (Darzalex), lenalidomide (Revlimid), and dexamethasone produced rapid activity among patients with transplant-ineligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in the phase 1/2 BelaDRd study (EUCT-2024-515634-32). o   The progression-free survival (PFS) benefits observed in the trial support further evaluation of the quadruplet in a phase 3 study compared with other novel combination regimens in NDMM. ·      Abstract 6505 o   Revumenib (Revuforj) maintenance therapy after allogeneic stem cell transplantation showed feasibility in a heavily pretreated cohort of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). o   Outcomes appeared favorable vs historical cohorts, supporting prospective assessment of maintenance menin inhibition among those with AML. ·      Abstract 1503 o   In a retrospective analysis of electronic medical records for 293 patients who received CAR T-cell therapy for lymphoma (n = 175), multiple myeloma (n = 106), or B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 12), outpatient monitoring was associated with significantly fewer hospital days without increased emergency department visits or 30-day mortality. o   These findings show the potential for lower healthcare utilization for patients who receive CAR T-cell therapy in the outpatient setting. ·      Abstract LBA7000 o   Adding tafasitamab (Monjuvi) and lenalidomide to rituximab (Rituxan), cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) significantly improved PFS vs R-CHOP alone among those with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the phase 3 frontMIND trial (NCT04824092). o   The data may support tafasitamab plus lenalidomide and R-CHOP as a potential new standard of care in the frontline treatment of patients with cell-of-origin subtypes of high-risk DLBCL. References Terpos E, Ntanasis-Stathopoulos I, Gavriatopoulou M, et al. Belantamab mafodotin with daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone in transplant-ineligible, newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients: phase 1/2 BelaDRd study. J Clin Oncol. 2026;44(suppl 16):7512. doi:10.1200/JCO.2026.44.16_suppl.7512 Goulart H, Okeleji O, DiNardo CD, et al. Revumenib as maintenance for AML following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. J Clin Oncol. 2026;44(suppl 16):6505. doi:10.1200/JCO.2026.44.16_suppl.6505 Bowen SG, Abdallah N, Pritchett JC, et al. Impact of outpatient CAR T-cell therapy administration on healthcare utilization in patients with hematologic malignancies. J Clin Oncol. 2026;44(suppl 16):1503. doi:10.1200/JCO.2026.44.16_suppl.1503 Lenz, G, Trněný M, Burke JM, et al. frontMIND: phase 3 study of tafasitamab (Tafa) plus lenalidomide (Len) and R-CHOP for patients (pts) with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). J Clin Oncol. 2026;44(suppl 17):LBA7000. doi:10.1200/JCO.2026.44.17_suppl.LBA7000

    24 min

  7. Jun 1

    Integrating Exercise and Lifestyle Intervention Into Oncologic Therapy

    In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Nathan Goodyear, MD, spoke about the role that exercise and lifestyle intervention can play in the treatment of patients with cancer. He described how prescribed exercise may serve as a biologically interventional therapy that can help prolong longevity, reduce the risk of recurrence; and supplement the efficacy of standard therapeutic approaches like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery. Goodyear, an integrative medicine physician at the Williams Cancer Institute, pointed to literature indicating the potential benefits of structured exercise programs across different cancer populations. For example, data from the phase 3 CHALLENGE trial (NCT00819208) highlighted a lower risk of death and reduced recurrence following a 3-year structured program among patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer. Furthermore, the OPTIMUS trial (NCT02950324) demonstrated that a short-term exercise program that takes place before surgery or alongside chemotherapy can increase CD8-positive T-cell infiltration while decreasing immunosuppressive cells, effectively turning “cold” tumors “hot.” Additionally, Goodyear addressed some preconceptions surrounding the potential role of exercise in oncologic care, defending it as a prescribable therapy that necessitates a deliberate, properly applied approach to achieve success among patients. He discussed the importance of structuring individualized exercise-based regimens by considering performance status and other physical patient characteristics. He also noted how exercise intervention may mitigate immunosenescence and accelerated aging may be associated with one’s disease and anti-cancer therapy.  “Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation…have efficacy; there’s no question about that. They also promote senescence and accelerated aging. What if we’re able to bring in these therapies that can work to break those cycles, like exercise?” Goodyear stated. “If it improves the outcome, helps the patient heal better, empowers their immune system in intended [and] direct ways that are reproducible in the research, and if it helps to block that accelerated aging, we reengage the immune system, countering the immunosenescence that is accelerating that process called inflammation.” References Courneya KS, Vardy JL, O’Callaghan CJ, et al. Structured exercise after adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer. N Engl J Med. 2025;393(1):13-25. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2502760 Rayner CJ, Bartlett DB, Allen SK, et al. Prehabilitation during neoadjuvant chemotherapy results in an enhanced immune response in esophageal adenocarcinoma tumors: a randomized controlled trial. J Sport Health Sci. 2025;14:101063. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2025.101063

    29 min

  8. May 28

    How the Landscape of GI Oncology is Evolving | A 2026 ASCO Preview

    In a recent interview with CancerNetwork®, Nicholas Hornstein, MD, PhD, an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine of Hofstra University and Northwell Health, discussed emerging data and clinical shifts in the care of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers ahead of the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. Advancements in Colorectal CancerHornstein highlighted the increasing integration of targeted therapies into the first-line setting for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). For those with BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic disease, data from the phase 3 BREAKWATER trial (NCT04607421) support moving targeted therapy into the first line.1 He noted that initiating these therapies early is critical, as a significant percentage of patients may experience rapid clinical decline and lose the opportunity for second-line treatment if targeted options are delayed. In the HER2-positive space, clinicians currently utilize tucatinib (Tukysa)-based regimens or fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu). Hornstein also anticipated the arrival of bispecific antibodies, such as zanidatamab-hrii (Ziihera), which are expected to gain approval in upper GI cancers before moving into the CRC landscape. The Role of ctDNA and Pancreatic CancerRegarding localized disease, Hornstein discussed the potential for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to guide adjuvant therapy for patients with stage II colon cancer. Data from trials like CIRCULATE (NCT05174169) are expected to further clarify how ctDNA can assist in the escalation or de-escalation of treatment.2 In pancreatic cancer, the phase 3 RASolute 302 trial (NCT06625320) investigating daraxonrasib is poised to change the standard of care for patients with second-line pancreatic cancer immediately upon an anticipated regulatory approval.3 Barriers to Precision MedicineA primary unmet need that Hornstein identified was the low rate of biomarker testing; currently, only about half of patients with metastatic disease receive necessary sequencing or microsatellite instability testing. Hornstein emphasized that multidisciplinary cooperation and improved systems are essential to ensure all patients with targetable mutations receive appropriate care. Finally, he highlighted the development of large language model tools to assist clinicians with data ingestion and clinical trial matching. References1.        Kopetz S, Wasan HS, Yoshino T, et al. BREAKWATER: primary analysis of first-line (1L) encorafenib + cetuximab (EC) + FOLFIRI in BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). J Clin Oncol. 2026;44(suppl 2):13. doi:10.1200/JCO.2026.44.2_suppl.13 2.        Dasari A, Yu G, Kopetz S, et al. NRG-GI008: colon adjuvant chemotherapy based on evaluation of residual disease (CIRCULATE-NORTH AMERICA). J Clin Oncol. 2026;44(suppl 16):TPS3686. doi:10.1200/JCO.2026.44.16_suppl.TPS3686 3.        Wolpin B, Wainberg ZA, Hendifar A, et al. Daraxonrasib, a RAS(ON) multi-selective inhibitor vs chemotherapy in previously treated metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPDAC): Primary and final analysis from the phase 3 RASolute 302 study. J Clin Oncol. 2026;44(suppl 17):LBA5. doi:10.1200/JCO.2026.44.17_suppl.LBA5

    29 min
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About

Oncology On The Go is a weekly podcast that talks to authors and experts to thoroughly examine featured articles in the journal ONCOLOGY and review other challenging treatment scenarios in the cancer field from a multidisciplinary perspective. Our discussions also offer timely insight into topics ranging from recent FDA approvals to relevant research presented at major oncology conferences. As the home of the journal ONCOLOGY, CancerNetwork offers different perspectives on oncology/hematology through review articles, news, podcasts, blogs, and more. To learn more, you can also visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn!

Information

  • Creator
    CancerNetwork
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    249
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Oncology On The Go

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