S14 Ep37: Early Detection, Surgical Innovation, and Multidisciplinary Collaboration Evolve Lung Cancer Care: With Ziad Hanhan, MD, Thomas Bauer, MD, and Rachel NeMoyer, MD

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Neal Shore, MD, FACS, about the use of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in prostate cancer management. Dr Shore is medical director of the Carolina Urologic Research Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In our exclusive interview, Dr Shore discussed guidelines for incorporating ADT into prostate cancer clinical practice, toxicities and quality-of-life complications associated with this class of agents that health care providers should be aware of and try to mitigate, and the importance of shared decision-making between members of the multidisciplinary team, as well as patients.

In this episode, Ziad Hanhan, MD, hosted a discussion about lung cancer diagnosis, surgical management, and evolving treatment paradigms. Dr Hanhan is a thoracic surgeon at Hackensack Meridian Health, chairman of Surgery at Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, and chief of Thoracic Surgery at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, New Jersey. He was joined by: Thomas Bauer, MD, the chair of surgery at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune Township, New Jersey, and Hackensack Meridian Health School of Medicine Rachel NeMoyer, MD, a thoracic surgeon at Hackensack Meridian Health Drs Hanhan, Bauer, and NeMoyer discussed current standards and future directions in thoracic oncology, emphasizing multidisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation. The conversation opened with an overview of lung cancer epidemiology, and the experts noted that this disease remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in both men and women. They explained that approximately 90% of lung cancer cases are attributable to tobacco use, making cessation a key preventive measure. They also emphasized that early detection through low-dose CT screening improves outcomes when the disease is identified at an early stage. However, despite these advances, they stated that most lung cancer cases in the United States continue to be diagnosed at stage III or IV, underscoring the need for improved screening adherence. They expanded on current lung cancer screening guidelines and noted that lung cancer often presents with nonspecific symptoms, such as chronic cough or hemoptysis, and that many cases are discovered incidentally on imaging. The surgeons also discussed diagnostic strategies for pulmonary nodules and emphasized a patient-tailored approach that balances diagnostic yield with procedural risk. They also acknowledged that emerging modalities, such as liquid biopsy and breath-based DNA detection, are promising but still investigational. They underscored that frailty assessment remains integral to surgical candidacy determination, with both clinical evaluation and pulmonary function testing guiding decision-making. The team also highlighted the role of multidisciplinary tumor boards in integrating surgical, medical, and radiation oncology perspectives. For early-stage disease, surgery remains the standard, whereas patients with stage III disease typically receive neoadjuvant therapy incorporating immuno-oncology agents. The group also discussed expanding surgical indications in select stage IV cases, reflecting improved survival associated with immunotherapy.

Dr Mehta discussed practice-changing urothelial carcinoma data that have been presented throughout 2024 and 2025, the clinical utility of enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab for select patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer, and differing treatment approaches for patients with lymph node–only vs distant metastases.

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Armeen Mahvash, MD, about the FDA approval of SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres for the treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Dr Mahvash is a professor in the Department of Interventional Radiology in the Division of Diagnostic Imaging at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, as well as an assistant professor in the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. In our exclusive interview, Dr Mahvash discussed the significance of this approval, key clinical findings that led to the approval, and how multidisciplinary collaboration is crucial for implementing radioembolization in practice.

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Vishal A. Patel, MD, FAAD, FACMS, about the FDA approval of adjuvant cemiplimab-rwlc (Libtayo) for the treatment of patients with high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). Dr Patel is an associate professor of dermatology at the GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences, as well as the director of the Cutaneous Oncology Program at the GW Cancer Center in Washington, DC. In our exclusive interview, Dr Patel discussed the clinical relevance of this approval, key details about the pivotal phase 3 C-POST trial (NCT03969004), and the safety profile of cemiplimab in patients with CSCC.

In this podcast, experts Tina Cascone, MD, PhD; Christina Baik, MD, MPH; and David Planchard, MD, PhD discuss data-driven treatment for EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer.

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Eunice Wang, MD, about the secondary AML treatment paradigm. Dr Wang is a professor of oncology, leader of the Leukemia Clinical Disease Team, chief of leukemia in the Department of Medicine, and an assistant member of the Tumor Immunology Program in the Department of Immunology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York; as well as an associate professor in the Department of Medicine and an academic scholar at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo. In our exclusive interview, Dr Wang discussed the prevalence of secondary AML, and explained that this population lacks standard therapies, often relying on allogeneic stem cell transplantation. She noted that CPX-351, a liposomal formulation of cytarabine and daunorubicin, has generated improved outcomes compared with 7+3 chemotherapy in this population. She also highlighted future research, which includes targeted therapies and less intensive regimens.

Two Onc Docs, hosted by Samantha A. Armstrong, MD, and Karine Tawagi, MD, is a podcast dedicated to providing current and future oncologists and hematologists with the knowledge they need to ace their boards and deliver quality patient care. Dr Armstrong is a hematologist/oncologist and assistant professor of clinical medicine at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis. Dr Tawagi is a hematologist/oncologist and assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Illinois in Chicago. In this episode, OncLive On Air® partnered with Two Onc Docs to feature a comprehensive review of the current management of metastatic breast cancer, emphasizing evidence-based treatment strategies across molecular subtypes, toxicity management, and patient-centered care. Drs Armstrong and Tawagi discussed that the primary goals of metastatic breast cancer therapy include prolonging survival, controlling symptoms, minimizing toxicity, improving quality of life, and incorporating patients’ goals and preferences into care decisions. Their discussion also highlighted the importance of recognizing when transitioning to best supportive care is most appropriate. For estrogen receptor–positive metastatic breast cancer, they noted that first-line therapy includes an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant (Faslodex) combined with a CDK4/6 inhibitor, with ovarian function suppression for premenopausal patients. PARP inhibitors are recommended for patients with BRCA1/2-positive disease. In visceral crisis, chemotherapy remains the category 1 recommendation. Second-line treatment options include therapies guided by repeat molecular testing. fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd; Enhertu) is approved for patients with HER2-low disease. For HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, first-line treatment consists of a taxane plus pertuzumab (Perjeta) and trastuzumab (Herceptin), followed by T-DXd in the second-line setting. For triple-negative metastatic breast cancer, therapy depends on PD-L1 status. The episode concluded by underscoring the role of bone-protective agents such as zoledronic acid, pamidronate, or denosumab (with dental clearance to prevent osteonecrosis). Key takeaways emphasize tailoring therapy to molecular subtype, recognizing drug-specific toxicities, and prioritizing patient-centered decision-making in the management of metastatic breast cancer.

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with J. Thaddeus Beck, MD, FACP, about the FDA approval of pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph (subcutaneous pembrolizumab; Keytruda Qlex) for subcutaneous injection in adult and pediatric patients at least 12 years of age with solid tumors for which the intravenous formulation of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is indicated.

Cancer, Character, and Calling: The Oncologist's Journey, hosted by Girindra Raval, MD, is a podcast highlighting how top oncologists have navigated the field over the course of their careers, the passion that drove them to enter the oncology space, and the ongoing work that will continue to transform cancer care. Each episode, Raval will sit down with a top oncologist to dive into their background, highlight their career achievements, discuss key issues still being addressed in their field, and explore their interests outside of the clinic and lab. In this episode, Raval welcomed Anand Jillella, MD, who is the J. Harold Harrison, MD Distinguished University Chair in Medicine, a professor of medicine & pediatrics, and chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Augusta University Medical College of Georgia. He is also associte director of Clinical Affairs and director of the Georgia Cancer Center Clinic, Ambulatory Services, and Network and Outreach. Their conversation focused on discussed Jillella's career journey, starting from his oncology internship in 1989 to establishing a bone marrow transplant program. Jillella noted the initial successes of the program that led to its exponential growth over the years. He also emphasized the importance of community outreach and collaboration with referring practices, explaining the early work that he and colleagues did to maintain working relationships with other practices and get the program on the map. Furthermore, Jillella highlighted the historical development of the treatment algorithm for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia, emphasizing that proper physician training and research significantly reduced mortality rates in this disease over the years. Raval and Jillella concluded by addressed the evolving landscape of oncology, the growing effects of AI tools on medical practice patterns, and the need for academic institutions to stay on the cutting edge of new treatments and technologies to advance the field and ultimately improve patient care.