Expert Interviews

Panelists discuss how, PSMA PET imaging significantly enhances surgical decision-making in prostate cancer by precisely identifying tumor location, extent, and metastatic spread with superior sensitivity compared to conventional imaging. This molecular targeting enables more accurate surgical planning, improved patient selection for radical prostatectomy versus targeted approaches, and better identification of lymph node involvement, ultimately allowing for personalized treatment strategies that maximize oncological outcomes while minimizing unnecessary interventions.

Ongoing studies seek to evaluate immunotherapy in earlier lines of therapy for patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma.

Strict inclusion criteria may disproportionately exclude racial minority populations from participating in breast cancer trials.

Steven Finkelstein, MD, DABR, FACRO, spoke about the impact of the approval of 177Lu for patients with PSMA-positive mCRPC.

A paucity of prospective, well-vetted data to guide therapy in patients with rare lymphomas may result in a reliance on expert consensus guidelines.

Testing a patient’s genetics may influence decisions such as using longer courses of radiotherapy, says Rachit Kumar, MD.

Panelists discuss how minimal residual disease (MRD) status, as detected through circulating tumor DNA analysis, can guide personalized treatment decisions by identifying patients who may benefit from intensification of adjuvant therapy and those who could safely undergo de-escalation of treatment regimens.

Panelists discuss how circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) clearance rates during and after adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in the BESPOKE trial provide critical insights into treatment efficacy and may serve as an early predictor of long-term patient outcomes.

Multidisciplinary collaboration may help in minimizing the treatment burden among patients with prostate cancer, according to Curtiland Deville Jr, MD.

Spatial transcriptomics and multiplex immunohistochemistry from samples may elucidate outcomes for patients who undergo surgical care for cancer.

Panelists discuss how the significant overall survival (OS) benefit demonstrated by the new combination therapy (amivantamab-lazertinib) compared with standard monotherapy makes it a preferred treatment option for most patients despite a slightly increased toxicity and time commitment.

Panelists discuss how PSMA PET imaging plays a crucial role in detecting biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer, offering superior sensitivity and specificity compared with conventional imaging methods. In clinical practice, PSMA PET is typically ordered when there is a rise in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels post treatment, indicating potential recurrence. The imaging results significantly influence treatment decisions such as distinguishing between localized salvage therapy and systemic treatments. Pivotal trials have demonstrated the efficacy of various tracers.

Panelists discuss how PSMA PET imaging plays a crucial role in the initial staging of prostate cancer, offering superior accuracy over conventional methods. Medical professionals consider factors such as diagnostic performance, tracer availability, and patient-specific characteristics when selecting appropriate PSMA PET agents. The integration of PSMA PET findings into clinical practice has led to more precise treatment planning, potentially improving patient outcomes. Pivotal trials have demonstrated the efficacy of various PSMA PET tracers in detecting prostate cancer metastases.

Panelists discuss how the treatment landscape for EGFR-mutated lung cancer has evolved, with 3 strong options now available, including single-agent osimertinib and 2 combinations: osimertinib plus chemotherapy (FLAURA2) and amivantamab plus lazertinib (MARIPOSA), with the latter showing significant overall survival benefits.

Future work may focus on optimizing symptom management associated with percutaneous transesophageal gastrostomy placement in malignant bowel obstructions.

“Psycho-oncology has made remarkable progress; however, there are still critical areas for further development,” Cristiane D. Bergerot, PhD, BS, MS, said.

Postoperative length of stay ranged from 4 to 9 days for patients who underwent percutaneous transesophageal gastrostomy for malignant bowel obstructions.

It is crucial that oncologists and other cancer care specialists collaborate with psycho-oncology specialists to optimize patient treatment outcomes.

World Psycho-Oncology Day is an initiative aimed at spreading awareness and pursuing the further integration of psychosocial care into cancer treatment.

Organizations such as ASCO and ESMO recognize the importance of integrating psychosocial care into cancer treatment.