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.

MAY 6

Pediatric Blood Cancers: Building Better Outcomes Through Bold Science

In this episode of the Treating Together podcast, host Pallav Mehta, MD, medical oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper University Health Care and medical director of Reimagine Care, speaks with E. Anders (Andy) Kolb, MD, president and chief executive officer of Blood Cancer United (formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; LLS). Together, they unpack the major forces shaping change in pediatric hematologic malignancies—from biology to treatment/care delivery and advocacy—and how they converge to rapidly translate research into practice. Key Discussion PointsThe conversation explores the momentum in pediatric blood cancer research and treatment, highlighting how genomics, clinical trials, and large-scale initiatives are reshaping care. Highlights include: Distinct Biology Driving Different Treatment Needs: Advances in genomic profiling reveal that pediatric leukemias are biologically distinct from adult disease, with more structural mutations (eg, translocations) rather than targetable point mutations—limiting applicability of many adult therapies. Barriers to Progress in Pediatric Myeloid Malignancies: Despite advances, progress in pediatric myeloid malignancies lags behind due to fewer actionable targets and limited drug development incentives. Clinical Trials as the Backbone of Care: Unlike adult oncology, trial participation is deeply embedded in pediatric care, with high enrollment rates driven by limited approved therapies, strong cooperative group infrastructure, and family motivation. Measuring Impact Beyond Survival: Beyond traditional end points like overall survival, the concept of life years saved highlights the long-term impact of curing children and informs research prioritization. Survivorship as a Research Driver: Long-term treatment effects (eg, infertility, organ damage) shape modern trial design, with increasing efforts to reduce toxicity and replace chemotherapy with targeted or immune-based therapies. Global Efforts Accelerating Progress: Initiatives like Blood Cancer United’s Dare to Dream are advancing research, access, and advocacy for high-risk pediatric patients.

29 min
APR 15

Choosing Wisely in CLL: A Deep Dive Into Frontline Treatment

In this episode of Treating Together, host Marc Braunstein, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center, sits down with Adam Kittai, MD, associate professor and director of the CLL and Lymphoma programs at NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center, for a deep dive into the rapidly evolving frontline treatment landscape in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). As chemotherapy continues to give way to targeted and time-limited therapies, clinicians face an increasingly complex array of choices, each influenced by disease biology, patient preferences, and emerging clinical trial data. Key Discussion PointsThe episode focuses on the evolving frontline management of CLL and how clinicians can individualize therapy in an era of expanding options. Highlights include: Patient Evaluation and Diagnosis Considerations: Beyond traditional risk factors such as TP53 mutation and IGHV status, importance is also being placed on patient preference, comorbidities, and treatment goals (eg, time-limited vs continuous therapy) to guide treatment decisions. Therapy Selection and Sequencing Strategy: Dr Kittai offers his view on sequencing decisions in the front line: given the lack of robust comparative data, current evidence supports prioritizing the most appropriate upfront regimen rather than relying on uncertain sequencing strategies across agents. Insights From the AMPLIFY Trial (NCT03836261): With the recent February 2026 FDA approval of acalabrutinib (Calquence) plus venetoclax (Venclexta) in the front line, the discussion highlights progression-free survival (PFS) benefits seen in the AMPLIFY trial and favorable safety of the doublet. The Growing Role of Minimal Residual Disease (MRD): The discussion briefly pivots to the use of MRD testing in the clinic today, including data from trials like GLOW (NCT03462719) and FLAIR (EudraCT: 2013-001944-76), and its potential to guide treatment duration. Emerging Therapeutic Strategies in the Pipeline: The conversation looks to the future of CLL care, including Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) degraders, next-generation BCL-2 inhibitors, and novel combinations currently under investigation. Managing Richter’s Transformation: Dr Kittai covers evolving combination approaches for this aggressive cancer that aim to target both CLL and lymphoma biology, moving beyond chemoimmunotherapy.

33 min
APR 1

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

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

86
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© MJH LifeSciences
Show Website

Treating Together

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