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In this discussion, guests Joshua Feinberg, a surgical partner from Maimonides, and Gary Schwartz from Maimonides Medical Center’s Anesthesiology department delve into the future of pain management for breast cancer patients. They tackle the innovative No Pain Act and explore cutting-edge techniques like cryoneurolysis aimed at minimizing opioid reliance. The conversation highlights advances in multimodal analgesia and the urgent need to address the opioid crisis within postoperative care, ultimately striving for better patient outcomes and safety.

Elizabeth Mittendorf, the 2026 president-elect of ASCO and an expert in surgical oncology, shares her vision for advancing cancer care. She highlights the need for multidisciplinary approaches and the integration of artificial intelligence to improve efficiency. Mentorship is a recurring theme, as Mittendorf reflects on her own experiences and emphasizes its importance for early-career professionals. She also discusses strategies for addressing global challenges in cancer treatment and enhancing workforce well-being in oncology.

Rahul A. Sheth, an expert in interventional oncology, Yana Najjar, a leading medical oncologist, and Douglas Johnson, a melanoma research director, dive into cutting-edge melanoma treatments. They discuss the role of oncolytic viruses in overcoming immune checkpoint resistance and share insights from the IGNITE trial. The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between medical oncologists and interventional radiologists in administering these therapies is highlighted. They also touch on safety, workflow challenges, and the promise of innovative combination therapies for advanced cases.

Drs Park and Malla began by talking through the clinical utility of ctDNA in patients with stage II and III colon cancer. Dr Malla referenced the DYNAMIC (ACTRN12615000381583) and observational BESPOKE CRC (NCT04264702) trials, noting that ctDNA serves as a prognostic biomarker for recurrence and is increasingly used to guide post-surgical surveillance.

In today’s episode, we spoke with Matthew Galsky, MD, about the FDA approval of neoadjuvant durvalumab (Imfinzi) plus gemcitabine and cisplatin followed by adjuvant durvalumab monotherapy after radical cystectomy for the treatment of adult patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Dr Galsky is a professor of medicine (hematology and medical oncology), a professor of urology, director of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, co-director of the Center of Excellence for Bladder Cancer, and director for Translational Research at The Tisch Cancer Institute in New York, New York. In our exclusive interview, Dr Galsky discussed the significance of this approval, key efficacy and safety data from the pivotal phase 3 NIAGARA trial (NCT03732677), and the role of this regimen in the MIBC treatment paradigm, including for cisplatin-eligible patients with mild renal impairment.

In this week’s episode of MedNews Week’s Oncology Unplugged, host Chandler Park, MD, a medical oncologist at Norton Cancer Institute in Louisville, Kentucky, was rejoined by Paul Hanona, MD, to give advice to up-and-coming oncology content creators. Dr Hanona is a content creator under the handle @doctordiscover. In the final part of this 3-part series, Drs Park and Hanona discussed the ways that public health content creation offers practical advice about a variety of topics but may also spark debate. The conversation shifted to the potential of artificial intelligence in medical education, emphasizing its role in providing quick, reliable information. Drs Park and Hanona also touched on the importance of oncologists using social media to share their experiences and inspire hope, highlighting the transformative power of new technologies and treatments in the field.

In today’s episode, supported by Camber Pharmaceuticals, we spoke with Kanwarpal S. Kahlon, MD, an associate clinical professor of medicine at the UCLA School of Medicine. In our exclusive interview, Dr Kahlon discussed the significance of the commercial availability of the generic, AB-rated formulations of eltrombopag (Promacta), a bioequivalent medication for the treatment of select patients with severe aplastic anemia and immune thrombocytopenia. He noted how the biosimilar is expected to reduce costs and improve the accessibility of this treatment, potentially enhancing patient adherence. He also explained how it is available in both oral suspension and tablet formulations and that it is well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to that of the original drug.

In today’s episode, supported by Azurity Pharmaceuticals, we spoke with Michael J. Mauro, MD, about treatment adherence with nilotinib (Tasigna/Danziten) in patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)–positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Dr Mauro is an attending physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, New York. In our exclusive interview, Dr Mauro discussed barriers to nilotinib treatment adherence in patients with Ph-positive CML, ways that nonadherence can diminish quality of life and clinical response to treatment, ways that the new formulation of nilotinib addresses adherence issues by reducing the need for fasting, and ongoing research into alternative formulations of other agents that may further improve CML treatment efficacy and tolerability.

This featured podcast includes a discussion with 3 experts on managing patients with hormone receptor–positive/HER2-negative (HR+/HER2–) metastatic breast cancer (mBC) from a satellite symposium held in conjunction with the 42nd Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference® in March 2025. In observational studies of treatment patterns in older women with mBC, approximately half of the patients were undertreated, and only half received a CDK4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i)-based regimen in the first-line setting. Reasons for undertreatment include concerns about the patient’s age, perceived frailty, and underlying health issues. Aging is a heterogeneous process; older patients must receive individualized treatment that is not based solely on their age but on a comprehensive assessment that objectively assesses their overall health and ability to tolerate treatment. This program is designed to help clinicians assess the fitness of older patients with HR+/HER2– mBC, review the efficacy and safety of CDK4/6i in this patient population, and individualize treatment decision-making appropriately. Acknowledgment of Educational Grant Support This activity is supported by an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. Today’s faculty are: Hope S. Rugo, MD Director, Women's Cancers Program Division Chief, Breast Medical Oncology Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center Duarte, CA Professor Emeritus, UCSF Disclosures: Grant/Research Support: Ambrx; AstraZeneca; Daiichi Sankyo, Inc; F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG/Genentech, Inc; Gilead Sciences, Inc; Lilly; Merck & Co., Inc; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; OBI Pharma; Pfizer; Stemline Therapeutics. Consultant: Napo Therapeutics; Puma Biotechnology; Sanofi. Honoraria: Chugai; Mylan/Viatris. Neil M. Iyengar, MD Associate Attending, Breast Medicine Service Program Lead, MSK Healthy Living Department of Medicine Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Associate Professor of Medicine Weill Cornell Medical College New York, NY Disclosures: Consultant/Adviser: Arvinas, AstraZeneca, BD Life Sciences, Daiichi Sankyo, Genentech/Roche, Gilead, Menarini-Stemline, Novartis, Pfizer, Puma, Seagen, TerSera Therapeutics. Speaker: Cardinal Health, Curio Sciences, DAVA Oncology, IntrinsiQ Health. Editorial Position: npj Breast Cancer, Oncology®. Equity/Ownership: Complement Theory, Bettering Company. Research Support (to institution): American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Conquer Cancer Foundation, Kat’s Ribbon of Hope, National Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health. Contracted Research: Novartis, SynDevRx. Komal Jhaveri, MD, FACP Patricia and James Cayne Chair for Junior Faculty Associate Attending Physician, Breast Medicine Service and Early Drug Development Service Section Head, Endocrine Therapy Research Program Clinical Director, Early Drug Development Service Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine Weill Cornell Medical College New York, NY Disclosures: Consultant/Advisory Board: AbbVie Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Blueprint Medicines, Bristol Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, Eisai Inc, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Gilead Sciences Inc, Jounce Therapeutics, Loxo Oncology Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly & Company, Menarini Group, Novartis, Olema Oncology, Pfizer Inc, Scorpion Therapeutics, Seagen Inc, Stemline Therapeutics Inc, Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company Ltd, Taiho Oncology Inc. Research Funding: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Debiopharm, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Gilead Sciences Inc, Loxo Oncology Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly & Company, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Puma Biotechnology Inc, Scorpion Therapeutics, Zymeworks Inc. The staff of Physicians’ Education Resource®, LLC, have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies. PER® mitigated all COI for faculty, staff, and planners prior to the start of this activity by using a multistep process. Off-Label Disclosure and Disclaimer This activity may or may not discuss investigational, unapproved, or off-label use of drugs. Learners are advised to consult prescribing information for any products discussed. The information provided in this accredited activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent clinical judgment of a health care professional relative to diagnostic, treatment, or management options for a specific patient’s medical condition. The opinions expressed in the content are solely those of the individual faculty members and do not reflect those of PER® or any company that provided commercial support for this activity.

In today’s episode, we spoke with Shubham Pant, MD, MBBS, and Professor Timothy Elliott, about ongoing research with cancer vaccines. Dr Pant is a professor in the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology in the Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Dr Elliott is the Kidani Professor of Immuno-oncology in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. In our exclusive interview, Pant and Elliott discussed the current landscape of vaccines for cancer treatment, ongoing research seeking to extend the benefits of vaccines as cancer management and prevention strategies, and what the future may hold.