The Cancer Letter

The Cancer Letter
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The Cancer Letter, an independent weekly news publication, has been the leading source for information on the issues that shape oncology since 1973. With a dedicated audience of oncology’s leaders, The Cancer Letter stays on top of breaking news and advances in oncology, providing authoritative, award-winning coverage of the development of cancer therapies, drug regulation, legislation, cancer research funding, health care finance, and public health. This weekly podcast features interviews, discussions, and more to dig deep into the issues that shape oncology.

  1. Lowy fields questions about peer review at inaugural meeting of the new NCAB ad hoc working group

    1D AGO

    Lowy fields questions about peer review at inaugural meeting of the new NCAB ad hoc working group

    With NCI Director Anthony Letai in Milan supporting his daughter, Julie, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Douglas R. Lowy, principal deputy director of NCI, took on the job of delivering detailed remarks and fielding questions at the inaugural meeting of the NCAB’s ad hoc working group on Extramural Research Concepts and Programs. The meeting was the first time the field was able to publicly communicate with NCI leadership since President Trump signed the FY26 funding bill. On this week’s episode, Paul Goldberg, editor and publisher of The Cancer Letter, and Jacquelyn Cobb, associate editor, talk about last week’s deep dive into the inaugural meeting of the ad hoc working group, which replaced the Board of Scientific Advisors.  “This is the first public display from NCI, from Letai, from Lowy, after they actually have their appropriation, they know what they're actually getting from Congress,” Jacquelyn said. “I think that I went into this thinking that we were going to have a lot of answers, and in some ways we did. We know about the funding numbers of course, and we know about the forward funding caps, etc., indirect cost caps. We know a lot of the stipulations that were included in the funding bill, but there are important caveats that Lowy talked about.”  One of the key concerns brought up at the meeting was the fact that although NCI will still rank award applications using percentiles, NCI is no longer “allowed to make awards exclusively on the basis of payline,” Lowy said. Instead, NCI has been tasked with considering other factors when reviewing grant applications, which has sparked concern from some members of the working group about political interference in grant making. “This presidential appointee [that will have final review over grant decisions] is Dr. Letai, and I think Lowy was smart to remind everybody of that,” Jacquelyn said. “Not that people legitimately forget, but I think to have that center of mind—that we are in good hands, we're in expert hands, we're in hands that the field agrees are very capable. So, that was very, I think reassuring.” Stories mentioned in this podcast include:  CBER Director Vinay Prasad sidelined staff to jettison Moderna’s mRNA flu shot Olopade: “The genetic basis of every cancer, or everything we do, starts in Africa.” NCAB ad hoc group approves seven new, reissue concepts Science is winning the war on cancer—CMS shouldn’t disarm Why infection and immunity matter for Florida’s cancer patients A transcript of this podcast is available: https://cancerletter.com/podcastc/20260218-ncab-working-group/

    26 min
  2. One year of The Cancer Letter Podcast: “When you publish a story, there is, you hope, conversation.”

    FEB 11

    One year of The Cancer Letter Podcast: “When you publish a story, there is, you hope, conversation.”

    When The Cancer Letter founder Jerry Boyd carried the first print run of his little eight page oncology newsletter into an NCAB meeting in 1973, he certainly could not have predicted that, half a century later, his experiment would branch out into this thing called “podcasts.” On this week's episode, Paul Goldberg, editor and publisher of The Cancer Letter, and Jacquelyn Cobb, associate editor, celebrate the one year anniversary of The Cancer Letter Podcast. Boyd understood that oncology was a community, and a community is engaged in storytelling. Once you get past the sci-fi hurdle of explaining podcasting to a time traveler from the 70s, he would have seen the impact it could have. “When you publish a story, there is, you hope, conversation. And this way, we can be part of the conversation,” Paul said.  For Paul, who started at The Cancer Letter when it was still a "Washington newsletter" and watched it grow over the proceeding three decades into what we now describe as a magazine. The Cancer Letter Podcast is the next iteration of this continuous experimentation with storytelling. "We started doing that some years ago. So, it's always experimentation and storytelling. There's really nothing more complicated or more important than storytelling, so here we are," Paul said. The Cancer Letter Podcast began last year after Donald Trump began his second term, with two regular segments: In the Headlines, like this episode, and The Directors, a monthly series where Paul asks directors of cancer centers what is keeping them up at night. The Directors, in particular, plays an important role in the current political climate, creating a space for leaders in the field to address the significant changes and challenges that have emerged under the MAHA agenda. But for Boyd, time traveling from 1973, the most shocking realization would have been that the oncology community is still around, and still relevant. An optimist, he strongly hoped that, through the great efforts of the War on Cancer, the disease would long since have been eradicated—and The Cancer Letter with it. This episode of The Cancer Letter Podcast was sponsored by City of Hope. Learn more at http://www.cityofhope.org.  Stories mentioned in this podcast include:  On Day 2 as director of NYU Perlmutter, Anirban Maitra talks about the advantages of running a matrix cancer center Letai: NCAB's ad hoc working group plays major role in advising NCI on extramural research Black History Month: Otis Brawley shares how lessons learned in West Side Detroit shape his stance on cancer prevention The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a profound, albeit not immediately obvious, impact on cancer  A transcript of this podcast is available: https://cancerletter.com/podcastc/20260211-anniversary/

    11 min
  3. Black History Month: Otis Brawley shares how lessons learned in West Side Detroit shape his stance on cancer prevention

    FEB 6

    Black History Month: Otis Brawley shares how lessons learned in West Side Detroit shape his stance on cancer prevention

    Growing up in inner-city Detroit, Otis Brawley had a thriving community made up of his parents, Jesuit priests, friends, and neighbors encouraging him that he could do anything he put his mind to.  Brawley’s parents worked at the local Veteran’s Hospital, his father in janitorial services and his mother in food services. Neither graduated from high school, but they had high aspirations for their son, and would not take no for an answer.  “I can remember in 1970, when I was 11 years old, the census taker came to the house,” Brawley said. “She was a Black woman, and she was surprised that my father expected me to go to college. He got very upset. The idea that I would not go to college was just not acceptable.” Brawley, now the associate director of Community Outreach and Engagement at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, shared this story in a recent conversation with Robert A. Winn in honor of Black History Month. Winn, who is director and Lipman Chair in Oncology at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, is The Cancer Letter’s guest editor for Black History Month. A transcript of this episode is available: https://cancerletter.com/black-history-month/20260206_3/

    43 min
  4. The soul of oncology: Centering patient stories amid funding saga

    FEB 4

    The soul of oncology: Centering patient stories amid funding saga

    Last week’s issue of The Cancer Letter included an obituary that the entire staff at The Cancer Letter had been dreading for years: Abdallah Abou Zahr, an oncologist at Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo, ND, died Jan. 23 of a liposarcoma after a five-year battle with the disease.  Abou Zahr’s story had become personal for The Cancer Letter. In February 2024, an intimate story of how cancer hijacked his family’s future—and of how his colleagues and community rallied around him—became one of the magazine’s most read articles. His family’s story highlights the heartbreaking reality that even those who work in oncology are not immune to the devastating personal and financial impacts of cancer. On this week’s episode of The Cancer Letter Podcast, Paul Goldberg, editor and publisher of The Cancer Letter, and Jacquelyn Cobb, associate editor, reflect on Abou Zahr’s experience with cancer—as an oncologist, a caregiver, and, ultimately, a patient with terminal disease. Abou Zahr’s obituary was published last week alongside a story about the fate of the fiscal year 2026 funding bill, which was still uncertain at the time. As of Feb. 3, the FY26 funding bill has been passed by Congress and signed by President Trump. Paul and Jacquelyn talk about how important it is for The Cancer Letter, even as a trade publication, to consistently highlight real patients and their stories. “When we do those stories, they're the most read stories of the year or years,” Paul said. “That is one thing they all have in common.” “They’re resonant; right?” Jacquelyn said. “I think it is important that we kind of circle back to that every once in a while, even if that isn't necessarily our coverage area technically. We're not necessarily a general publication, but I think we have to keep circling back to that and returning to that because that is the whole point.” “It's for the soul,” Paul said. Stories mentioned in this podcast include:  Abdallah Abou Zahr, an oncologist whose cancer story resonated widely, dies of liposarcoma at 42  An oncologist navigates terminal sarcoma, insurmountable debt, and “a legacy of grief”  FY26 funding package blocked in Senate after ICE shooting of Alex Pretti  The Directors: Gary Schwartz and Ramon Parsons on the best of times (for science), the worst of times (for funding)  Les Biller: Supportive cancer care is the smart investment our leaders in Washington can’t afford to ignore  A transcript of this podcast is available: https://cancerletter.com/podcastc/20260204-abdallah/

    22 min
  5. The Directors: Gary Schwartz and Ramon Parsons on the best of times (for science), the worst of times (for funding)

    JAN 30

    The Directors: Gary Schwartz and Ramon Parsons on the best of times (for science), the worst of times (for funding)

    As NCI paylines drop to 4%, cancer centers are tapping into their institutional funds to provide “bridge funding,” typically in $50,000 to $100,000 increments, to enable investigators to keep their labs open until better times return—next year God willing.   “It’s sort of starvation wages in terms of the grant funding,” said Ramon E. Parsons, director of Tisch Cancer Institute & Mount Sinai Cancer at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “And so, how do we pay for salaries for research scientists like postdoctoral scientists or graduate students? Those efforts are going to have to be sort of reduced.”  The paylines raise questions about sustainability of cancer research in the United States. “I do worry about the next generation of scientists, I mean, the frustration level is pretty high over the funding levels,” said Gary K. Schwartz, director of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. “And this may result in people with really innovative ideas to establish their careers, deciding that it’s just not worth developing a career in cancer medicine or basic science. And what happens then? We lose the whole cadre of people who are going to be the future of this whole program.” On the first 2026 episode of The Directors Podcast, Parsons and Schwartz spoke with The Cancer Letter’s Paul Goldberg about the challenges facing their cancer centers, how they’re navigating funding difficulties, and their hopes for the future. A transcript of this episode is available: https://cancerletter.com/podcastc/20260130_1/

    47 min
  6. “There is no safe harbor:” FY26 funding bill collapses after ICE shooting of Alex Pretti

    JAN 28

    “There is no safe harbor:” FY26 funding bill collapses after ICE shooting of Alex Pretti

    In last week’s issue of The Cancer Letter, Jacquelyn Cobb, associate editor, wrote a story about the then-promising legislative package that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Jan. 22. At the time, the package was expected to pass in the Senate, provide funding for the federal government through fiscal year 2026, and prevent a government shutdown that looms Jan. 30.  Then, on Jan. 24, 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti was shot in Minneapolis while trying to document the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.  In this week’s episode of The Cancer Letter Podcast, Jacquelyn and Paul Goldberg, editor and publisher of The Cancer Letter, talk about how the future of the House-FY26 spending package—and its implications for NIH and NCI funding, as well as pediatric cancer initiatives and other important healthcare stipulations—has dissolved as lawmakers refuse to move forward a spending bill without changes to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. “There we were, staying in our lane covering nothing but the stuff we cover, which is oncology,” Paul, editor and publisher of The Cancer Letter, said. “So, suddenly, a 38-year-old nurse from the VA gets killed while trying to document what ICE is doing in Minneapolis.  “And suddenly the bill, the spending bill, which includes the Department of Homeland Security spending, is derailed. So, we are trying to stay within our lane and cover only oncology and then the world catches up, which also kind of tells you that there are no safe places anymore,” Paul said. The events of the last week reminded Paul that “staying in our lane” is not always possible.  “I'm seeing one thing only,” Paul said. “There is no safe harbor that I thought we were kind of seeking so we could focus only on our stuff because The New York Times does a very nice job of covering the rest of the administration. We cover our part of the administration. Well, now we are seeing that our part of administration is becoming more like ‘Well, there's no safe harbor. It's very hard to delineate.’” Stories mentioned in this podcast include:  Premarin's 84-year hold on the market ends as FDA approves a generic version Spending bill passed by the House gives NIH $415M raise, NCI gets $128M Legislation caps proportion of NIH grants to receive multiyear funding; indirect costs remain untouched Fifth time’s a charm? Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act is included in FY26 spending bill Blood Cancer United: A new name at the right moment NIH ends fetal tissue research—again  A transcript of this podcast is available: https://cancerletter.com/podcastc/20260128-fy26-funding/

    25 min
  7. With five-year cancer survival at an all-time high, does this mean people are living longer?

    JAN 21

    With five-year cancer survival at an all-time high, does this mean people are living longer?

    “It's really, really important that every year since 1991, cancer mortality has dropped by a little bit, and it did again!” said Paul Goldberg, editor and publisher of The Cancer Letter. “Now, mortality is a good metric, age-adjusted mortality. As far as survival, well, that's not so good.” In last week’s cover story in The Cancer Letter, Paul and Jacquelyn Cobb, associate editor of The Cancer Letter, wrote about the annual cancer statistics report by the American Cancer Society. The publication reported that age-adjusted mortality has once again dropped by a small, not especially dramatic margin, but ACS focused its messaging around a different metric: the five-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined reached 70% for people diagnosed between 2015 and 2021 in the U.S. for the first time.  The finding was received with widespread fanfare, but epidemiologists had some qualms with the strength of the endpoint of five-year relative survival.  In this episode of The Cancer Letter Podcast, Paul and Jacquelyn talk about the nuances of last week’s data-heavy issue of The Cancer Letter. “And in this case, [ACS] decided to go with this statistic, which is kind of unexplained, that shows that 70% survival is now happening in cancer. Does it mean that people are living longer?” Paul said. “No, not necessarily, even though they are, based on mortality numbers.” Stories mentioned in this podcast include:  ACS report trumpets 70% five-year survival for all cancers amid uncertain funding outlook New Medicaid work requirements could lead to 1.6 million missed cancer screenings over two years When “safe and effective” is not “reasonable and necessary” We can curb excessive drug dosing and improve the quality of cancer care A radiation oncologist’s perspective: Why we need to accelerate early detection strategies for lung cancers Ben Seon, immunologist whose work led to development of lymphoma drug Polivy, dies at 89  A transcript of this podcast is available: https://cancerletter.com/podcastc/20260121-acs/

    28 min
  8. Could mRNA vaccines hold the key to building an affordable universal cancer vaccine?

    JAN 14

    Could mRNA vaccines hold the key to building an affordable universal cancer vaccine?

    “I believe in the concept of a universal cancer vaccine,” said Elias Sayour, a pediatric oncologist at the University of Florida. “I think if this fails in a prospective phase III trial, I still believe we can engineer a vaccine that works prospectively.” The cover story of last week’s issue of The Cancer Letter was about the potential of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines to improve response to checkpoint inhibitor therapies in patients with lung cancer and melanoma. The finding was published by Sayour and his colleagues in an October Nature paper.  This week on The Cancer Letter Podcast, Sayour joins The Cancer Letter team to talk about his study and why he is a believer in the promise of mRNA vaccines to help improve cancer treatment.  “mRNA seems the best at doing this,” Sayour said. “That isn't to say that other vaccines couldn't harness the antiviral response in a similar manner… All I can tell you is in our preclinical models and in our observations, clinical observations as well, we did look at the Pneumovax [a non mRNA-vaccine] as just an example, a vaccine, and it did not confer the same effects as the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Based on that, mRNA to us seems to be very unique. But other vaccine designs that leverage these mechanisms through a non-specific manner could also perhaps achieve the same effects.” Sayour is hopeful that the COVID vaccine will show clinical benefit in the prospective phase II-III trial that is scheduled to begin enrollment in March, since it would be a boon for patients.  “If it works, I do think that's revolutionary,” Sayour said. “How commercially available it is, how this can address third-world countries that may have poor access to some of these technologies as a manner of eliciting some type of a universal effect.” If the COVID vaccine does not help cancer patients in the prospective trial, Sayour said he will continue his work. He sees a future where all cancer patients receive some sort of universal cancer vaccine to reawaken their immune systems to help kill cancer cells. “It's my hope that now we could have something that's instantly available to patients at the time of diagnosis, perhaps right before surgery,” Sayour said. “Everybody gets a universal vaccine to basically awaken that immune response against their cancer. And that could be bookended with immune checkpoint inhibitors, other cancer vaccines, other types of immunotherapies, for maximal effect.” This episode is sponsored by City of Hope Cancer Center. Learn more at cityofhope.org.  Stories mentioned in this podcast include:  A planned randomized trial will ask an intriguing question: Do COVID vaccines potentiate checkpoint inhibitors? How a Montefiore Einstein screening program is changing the history of lung cancer in the Bronx MSK’s AML researcher Bayard “Barney” Clarkson, former president of ASCO and AACR, dies at 99 Paul Engstrom, Fox Chase pioneer of cancer prevention, dies at 89 Patient advocate David Mitchell, 75, dies of multiple myeloma NIH agrees to review hundreds of denied or shelved grant applications House passes three-year extension of ACA subsidies with bipartisan support  A transcript of this podcast is available: https://cancerletter.com/podcastc/20260114-sayour/

    37 min
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The Cancer Letter, an independent weekly news publication, has been the leading source for information on the issues that shape oncology since 1973. With a dedicated audience of oncology’s leaders, The Cancer Letter stays on top of breaking news and advances in oncology, providing authoritative, award-winning coverage of the development of cancer therapies, drug regulation, legislation, cancer research funding, health care finance, and public health. This weekly podcast features interviews, discussions, and more to dig deep into the issues that shape oncology.

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  • Creator
    The Cancer Letter
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Cancer Letter
  • Show Website
    The Cancer Letter

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