ARTNet Podcast

NCI ARTNet

ARTNet Podcast is the official podcast of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Acquired Resistance to Therapy Network (ARTNet). The series features conversations with leading cancer researchers who are advancing our understanding of why cancers resist treatment and how those mechanisms can be overcome. Through accessible discussions, each episode explores emerging discoveries in tumor biology, the tumor microenvironment, metabolism, immunology, and precision medicine, while highlighting the collaborative, team-science approach driving innovation across the ARTNet consortium. Designed for researchers, clinicians, trainees, patients, advocates, and the broader public, the podcast translates cutting-edge science into engaging conversations that illuminate the future of cancer therapy.

Episodes

  1. Jul 23

    Resistance Before Treatment Begins: Why Some Tumors Are Already Primed to Survive

    Featuring Vlad Sandulache Associate Professor, Baylor College of Medicine MPI, ARTNet H-CARR U 54 Center Dr. Sandulache is a clinician-scientist studying head and neck cancer, with a focus on treatment resistance, tumor metabolism, oxidative stress, and the biological mechanisms that determine how tumors respond to radiation and chemotherapy. Hosted by David Goodrich Professor, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center ARTNet Coordinating and Data Management Center Dr. Goodrich leads discussions exploring the science, collaboration, and translational impact of cancer resistance research across the ARTNet Consortium. Episode Summary The conversation explores how resistance to cancer therapy may begin long before treatment starts. Dr. Sandulache discusses how head and neck tumors can be shaped by selective pressures,including metabolism, oxidative stress, environmental exposures, and immune interactions,that may precondition cancer cells to withstand radiation and chemotherapy. This perspective challenges the traditional distinction between innate and acquired resistance, suggesting that tumor evolution before treatment can profoundly influence therapeutic response. The discussion highlights oxidative stress as a key driver of this preconditioning and explores the NRF2 pathway as an important mechanism through which tumor cells build antioxidant defenses and become resistant to therapies such as cisplatin and radiation. Dr. Sandulache also discusses opportunities to identify resistant tumors before treatment using transcriptional biomarkers, tumor biopsies, circulating DNA, and metabolic imaging, potentially allowing treatment to be tailored according to a tumor’s resistance profile. The episode also emphasizes the value of team science within ARTNet, where investigators studying different cancers, therapies, and resistance mechanisms can bring complementary expertise to shared questions. Key Takeaways Treatment resistance may be shaped long before cancer therapy beginsMetabolic and environmental oxidative stress can precondition tumors to withstand radiation and chemotherapyThe distinction between innate and acquired resistance may be less clear than traditionally assumedNRF2-driven antioxidant defenses may play an important role in resistance to oxidative stress-based therapiesTranscriptional biomarkers and emerging technologies may help identify resistant tumors before treatmentUnderstanding pretreatment tumor biology could enable treatment escalation for resistant disease and de-escalation for sensitive diseaseCross-disciplinary collaboration within ARTNet helps reveal resistance mechanisms that may apply across different cancer types

    Resistance Before Treatment Begins: Why Some Tumors Are Already Primed to Survive

  2. May 11

    Why Cancer Fights Back: A Conversation with Jeffrey Tyner

    Featuring Jeffrey Tyner Professor, Oregon Health & Science University Principle Investigator, ARTNet AML U54 Center Dr. Tyner is a leading researcher in cancer biology and therapeutic resistance, with a focus on acute myeloid leukemia (AML), functional precision oncology, and mechanisms of acquired resistance to targeted therapies. Hosted by David Goodrich Professor, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center ARTNet Coordinating and Data Management Center Dr. Goodrich leads discussions exploring the science, collaboration, and translational impact of cancer resistance research across the ARTNet Consortium. Episode Summary The conversation explores the complexity of acquired resistance in cancer therapy, emphasizing the role of cell state and cellular plasticity in driving resistance mechanisms. Dr. Tyner discusses the challenges of studying dynamic resistance processes, the promise of targeting cell state plasticity to overcome therapeutic failure, and how resistance trajectories evolve over time. The discussion also highlights the importance of identifying the optimal window for intervention and the growing role of collaborative science within the ARTNet Consortium in advancing cancer resistance research. Despite the complexity of the problem, the episode reflects a strong sense of optimism about the future of precision oncology and translational cancer research. Key Takeaways Acquired resistance is a dynamic and evolving process in cancer therapyCell state plasticity plays a central role in therapeutic resistanceResistance mechanisms can differ across patients and tumor contextsUnderstanding resistance trajectories may reveal new therapeutic opportunitiesCollaborative research and data sharing are essential for advancing precision oncology Chapters 00:00 Introduction to ARTNet Consortium05:15 From Targeted Therapy to Tumor Complexity10:15 Understanding Acquired Resistance and Tumor Evolution19:50 Cell State Plasticity and Therapeutic Resistance24:05 Resistance Trajectories and Future Treatment Strategies29:00 The Future of Precision Oncology and the Role of ARTNet

    Why Cancer Fights Back: A Conversation with Jeffrey Tyner
  • 2 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

About

ARTNet Podcast is the official podcast of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Acquired Resistance to Therapy Network (ARTNet). The series features conversations with leading cancer researchers who are advancing our understanding of why cancers resist treatment and how those mechanisms can be overcome. Through accessible discussions, each episode explores emerging discoveries in tumor biology, the tumor microenvironment, metabolism, immunology, and precision medicine, while highlighting the collaborative, team-science approach driving innovation across the ARTNet consortium. Designed for researchers, clinicians, trainees, patients, advocates, and the broader public, the podcast translates cutting-edge science into engaging conversations that illuminate the future of cancer therapy.

Information

  • Creator
    NCI ARTNet
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 NCI ARTNet