Expert Interviews

Panelists discuss how CAR T-cell therapy involves engineering a patient’s T cells to target cancer cells. The process includes cell collection, genetic modification, expansion, and reinfusion and streamlines the process with integrated workflows. Bridging therapy is provided in-house to treat patients awaiting CAR-T infusion.

Panelists discuss future directions in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), focusing on emerging therapies, clinical trials, and potential advancements in patient disease management.

Panelists discuss the follow-up analysis of the CLEAR trial, examining its implications for clinical decision-making in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinomaRCC.

Panelists discuss how the typical CAR T-cell therapy referral process begins with community physicians contacting the treatment center. The patient undergoes a thorough evaluation, including medical history, eligibility criteria, and pretreatment assessments before final selection for therapy.

Panelists discuss time to progression by organ with lenvatinib plus + pembrolizumab in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), highlighting key data and its the implications for treatment decisions.

Panelists discuss how, for a patient who has an aggressive disease, physicians will plan for monthly serum markers including serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) and immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE); if they start seeing an increase in the disease, they plan an imaging for bone marrow biopsy and consider a diagnostics lumbar puncture.

Shwetal Mehta, PhD, describes efforts regarding the development of protein degraders and antibody-drug conjugates in the neuro-oncology field.

Panelists discuss how to help patients weigh the risks and benefits of different treatment options for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), outlining tools and techniques used to ensure that patients and caregivers fully understand their choices and make informed decisions.

Panelists debate the treatment of relapsed/recurrent acute myeloid leukemia, comparing the potential of menin inhibitors to standard-of-care therapies, including chemotherapy and BCL2 inhibitors, in improving patient outcomes.

Panelists discuss the evolving treatment landscape in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), highlighting recent notable trials and additional key developments in the field.

Panelists discuss how sequential B-cell maturation agent (BCMA)–targeting therapies can be effective despite potential resistance patterns, with experts evaluating factors like prior response duration, alternative targets like GPRC5D or FcRH5, and patient-specific characteristics when deciding treatment sequencing after CAR T progression.

Panelists discuss the process of selecting a treatment plan, including how shared decision-making was approached, the key factors considered in treatment options, how patients can advocate for their preferences, and the process of recommending pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib based on clinical presentation, with a discussion of other regimens that were considered.

Liquid biopsy tests may help determine the extent of activity among patients who receive a novel fourth-generation EGFR inhibitor for brain cancer.

Shwetal Mehta, PhD, highlights novel brain cancer drug development procedures in the clinical lab and pre-clinical arms of the Ivy Brain Tumor Center.

Panelists discuss Melinda's perspective on care coordination during her treatment, including the healthcare professionals involved, such as those providing wound care and integrative medicine, and how their collaborative efforts supported her care, ultimately enhancing her treatment experience and confidence in her overall care.

Panelists discuss the typical approach to coordinating care for lung cancer patients, highlighting the involvement of various healthcare professionals and the coordination efforts to optimize the patient journey from diagnosis through treatment and follow-up, with Julia explaining her role as a nurse in the multidisciplinary care of advanced breast cancer.

Panelists discuss Melinda's experience with her lung cancer diagnosis, including her symptoms, diagnostic tests (such as imaging and blood work), and the progression of her condition, as well as the concerns and questions she had when referred to Dr. Spira for treatment options, while also exploring the steps Dr. Spira took to confirm the diagnosis of EGFR-mutant NSCLC and evaluate the appropriate treatment approach.

Beth Faiman, PhD, CNP, discusses how to optimize treatment strategies for multiple myeloma patients by considering factors like transplant eligibility, risk stratification, and emerging clinical trial data from PERSEUS, MAIA, and CEPHEUS to guide decisions around initial therapy, maintenance approaches, and the use of novel drug combinations.

Panelists discuss evolving approaches to maintenance therapy in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, focusing on balancing survival benefits with tolerability. They also review the latest data from the AURIGA trial evaluating daratumumab and lenalidomide maintenance.

Observing changes in the tumor microenvironment before and after a biopsy may elucidate how kidney cancer cells interact with immune cells.