Episode 78: How Antibody Drug Conjugates Are Changing Cancer Care with Dr. Milana Dolezal

In this episode of the Patient from Hell podcast, we speak with Dr. Milana Dolezal, an oncologist from Stanford University, and learn about cutting-edge advancements in cancer treatments, particularly antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and precision medicine. Dr. Dolezal shares her journey from childhood inspiration to a career in oncology, the evolution of cancer therapies, and how recent innovations are transforming metastatic cancer care. The conversation also delves into the intricacies of cancer biology, the impact of emerging treatments on quality of life, and the hope for a future where therapies are tailored not only to the disease but also to managing side effects effectively.

Key Highlights:

1. Oncology Advancements: Dr. Dolezal explains the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that deliver chemotherapy directly to cancer cells, reducing side effects compared to traditional treatments.

2.Cancer’s Complexity: Using vivid analogies, Dr. Dolezal illustrates how cancer evolves to resist treatments, comparing it to navigating New York’s subway system.

3. Managing Side Effects: Dr. Dolezal emphasizes a "go low and go slow" approach in administering treatments to minimize side effects, tailoring doses to individual patients' needs to balance efficacy with maintaining quality of life.

About our guest:

Dr. Dolezal is a board-certified hematologist-oncologist with Stanford Medicine Cancer Center in Emeryville and a clinical associate professor in the Stanford School of Medicine, Division of Oncology. She strives to work with patients to develop care plans that are comprehensive and personalized to achieve the best possible outcomes and quality of life. 

She also has extensive experience in research and drug development. She previously held positions as a clinical scientist, assistant medical director, and associate medical director in the BioOncology Therapeutics unit of the biotechnology company Genentech. She has conducted clinical research into fertility preservation in patients with breast cancer, advanced treatments for triple-negative breast cancer, and patients’ adherence to anti-cancer therapy. She has co-authored articles on her research findings that appeared in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cancer, and other peer-reviewed publications. She also co-authored the chapter “Progression from Hormone-Dependent to Hormone-Independent Breast Cancer” in the textbook Hormones, Genes and Cancer published by Oxford University Press.

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