S15 Ep46: Expanded BTK Inhibitor Research Directs the Evolution of Pirtobrutinib Use in CLL: With Andrew Lipsky, MD

In today’s episode, our discussion features Eric Whitman, MD; and Vishal Patel, MD, FAAD, FACMS. Dr Whitman is medical director of the oncology service line with Atlantic Health System in Morristown, New Jersey. Dr Patel is an associate professor of dermatology and medicine 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, Drs Whitman and Patel discussed the evolving treatment paradigm for patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), emphasizing the role of neoadjuvant and adjuvant immunotherapies like cemiplimab and pembrolizumab. They noted that key factors for surgical candidacy include tumor size, location, and patient factors like age and comorbidities. They also emphasized that multidisciplinary collaboration is crucial for optimal outcomes. Furthermore, they highlighted future directions for CSCC management, including personalized medicine, genetic testing for recurrence risk, and expanding immunotherapy use to immunosuppressed patients. They also noted that ongoing trials aim to optimize treatment doses and explore new immunotherapy combinations.  

In today’s episode, the discussion features Komal Jhaveri, MD, FACP, a breast medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, who reviewed the evolving role of TROP2-directed antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) in the management of hormone receptor (HR)–positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. She drew on findings from the phase 3 ASCENT-07 trial (NCT05840211), which evaluated sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (Trodelvy) in the first-line setting following endocrine therapy for patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.In this exclusive interview, Dr Jhaveri discussed the rationale for evaluating sacituzumab govitecan earlier in the treatment paradigm, summarized key efficacy outcomes from ASCENT-07, and contextualized why the trial did not meet its primary progression-free survival end point. She also highlighted how disease biology and patient selection may influence outcomes when ADCs are moved into earlier lines of therapy, and outlined practical considerations for toxicity management and future trial design as the TROP2 ADC landscape continues to evolve.asts, Spotify, and many of your other favorite podcast platforms,* so you get a notification every time a new episode is posted. While you are there, please take a moment to rate us!

In today’s episode, Andrew Lipsky, MD, reviewed recent updates with BTK inhibitors in the chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment paradigm, including the clinical significance of the December 2025 FDA approval of pirtobrutinib (Jaypirca) in relapsed/refractory CLL and its effect on sequencing decisions for this disease. Dr Lipsky is an assistant professor of medicine at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York, New York.In the exclusive interview, Dr Lipsky expanded on the positioning of this agent within the evolving CLL treatment paradigm and patient characteristics that may inform its use in practice; key efficacy and safety findings from a pooled analysis of the phase 3 BRUIN CLL-321 (NCT04666038) and phase 1/2 BRUIN LOXO-BTK-18001 (NCT03740529) studies presented during the 2025 ASH Annual Meeting; and the evolving role of BTK inhibitors as a whole in CLL management.

In today’s episode, the discussion features Adam Fox, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the College of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, and Cynthia A. Schandl, MD, PhD, medical director of clinical laboratories and director of the Division of Clinical Pathology in the College of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, who examined the expanding role of biomarker testing and genomic profiling in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) across disease stages

In today’s episode, the discussion features Sikander Ailawadhi, MD, and Beth Faiman, CNP, PhD, who provided clinical perspectives on the ongoing development of subcutaneous isatuximab-irfc (Sarclisa) administration via an on-body injector for patients with multiple myeloma. Dr Ailawadhi is a professor of medicine, a consultant in the Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Internal Medicine, and a consultant in the Department of Cancer Biology at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr Faiman is a nurse practitioner in the Department of Hematology/Oncology at Cleveland Clinic and a member of the Cancer Prevention, Control and Population Research Program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, both in Cleveland, Ohio. 

In this podcast, experts Drs. Hope Rugo, Alison Conlin, Marleen Kok and Heather McArthur discuss results of recent pivotal clinical trials and their impact on current and evolving treatment paradigms for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

In today’s episode, our discussion features Tycel Phillips, MD. Dr Phillips is an associate professor in the Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in the Division of Lymphoma at City of Hope in Duarte, California.In our exclusive interview, Dr Phillips discussed updated efficacy and safety data from the phase 2 EPCORE NHL-1 trial (NCT03625037) investigating epcoritamab-bysp (Epkinly) monotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). He noted that the data, which were presented at the 2025 ASH Annual Meeting, showed that several patients remained in response beyond 4 years, and that no new major safety signals were reported. Overall, he highlighted that the trial findings continue to support the use of epcoritamab as a third-line, potentially curative option for patients with LBCL. He also spotlighted the promise of synergistic polatuzumab vedotin-piiq (Polivy)–based combinations in the management of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

In today’s episode, Neil Iyengar, MD, moderated an OncLive Insights discussion about adverse effect management when using breast cancer therapies targeting the PI3K, AKT, and mTOR pathways. Dr Iyengar is an associate professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology and co-director of Breast Medical Oncology in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine; as well as director of Survivorship Services at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He was joined by Heather Moore, CPP, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist practitioner at the Duke Cancer Center Breast Clinic in Durham, North Carolina; and Sarah Donahue, MPH, NP, a nurse practitioner at the University of California San Francisco Health.  In our exclusive discussion, the experts highlighted the importance of early and comprehensive testing (using both tissue and liquid biopsies) for genetic alterations to guide treatment decisions. They also noted strategies for managing diarrhea, including patient education on diet, proactive use of loperamide, and regular monitoring. They also explained that hyperglycemia management should hinge on prophylactic use of metformin or SGLT2 inhibitors, dietary restrictions, and frequent glucose monitoring. Their conversation on rash management included insights about prophylactic antihistamines, patient education on skin care, and involving dermatology for severe cases. Overall, the experts spotlighted the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and proactive patient education when treating patients with breast cancer.

In today’s episode, the discussion features Aditya Bardia, MD, MPH, FASCO. Dr Bardia is a professor in the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, the director of Translational Research Integration, and a member of Signal Transduction and Therapeutics at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles, California.In the exclusive interview, Dr Bardia discussed the rationale and design of the phase 3 ELEGANT study (NCT06492616), which is evaluating elacestrant (Orserdu) compared with standard endocrine therapy in patients with estrogen receptor–positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer at high risk of disease recurrence.

Welcome to OncLive On Air®! OncLive On Air is a podcast from OncLive®, which provides oncology professionals with the resources and information they need to provide the best patient care. In both digital and print formats, OncLive covers every angle of oncology practice, from new technology to treatment advances to important regulatory decisions.In today’s episode, we welcomed John O. Mascarenhas, MD, a member of The Tisch Cancer Institute, a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine, and director of the Center of Excellence for Blood Cancers and Myeloid Disorders at Mount Sinai in New York, New York.In the exclusive interview, Dr Mascarenhas explored novel targeted therapeutic approaches being evaluated in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, including myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera. He outlined key reasons for investigating non–JAK inhibitor agents within this treatment paradigm; outlined data from a pair of phase 1 trials (NCT05936359; NCT06034002) evaluating the INCA033989 as monotherapy or in combination with ruxolitinib (Jakafi) in patients with CALR exon 9–mutated myelofibrosis; detailed another ongoing phase 1 study (NCT06313593) looking at INCB160058 in patients with MPNs; and explained how investigational targeted therapies could ultimately impact the MPN treatment paradigm.