A Look Back on the Top 10 Oncology Interviews in 2025

Numerous clinicians spoke about breaking news, clinical trial updates, and the evolution of standard-of-care treatment throughout 2025.

As the news cycle constantly evolves, speaking with the key opinion leaders at the center of the news remains imperative. In 2025, CancerNetwork® spoke with numerous clinicians from all parts of oncology care to get their insights into breaking news, clinical trial updates, and the evolution of standard-of-care therapies.

Take a look at the interviews that had the most impact on our audience throughout the year:

#1 Expert Insights into the T-DXd Approval for HER2-Low or Ultralow Breast Cancer

Aditya Bardia, MD, MPH, spoke with CancerNetwork regarding the approval of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd; Enhertu) for patients with unresectable or metastatic hormone receptor–positive, HER2-low or HER2-ultralow breast cancer. The approval was based on findings from the phase 3 DESTINY-Breast06 trial (NCT04494425).1,2

Bardia spoke about the trial’s results, including the median progression-free survival of 13.2 months in the T-DXd arm vs 8.1 months in the chemotherapy arm (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.51-0.74; P <.0001).

“Antibody drug conjugates [ADCs] are replacing chemotherapy, and more and more, they are being moved to earlier lines, even in early breast cancer. In the future, these ADCs will likely replace chemotherapy. We have to be mindful of the adverse effects [AEs], including [clinical decision support] for AEs, so we need better management strategies of AEs. We also need biomarker development, as we have multiple ADCs that are available in this space [on top of the] additional ones that are being developed in this space,” Bardia, professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, and director of Translational Research Integration at the University of California Los Angeles Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, said.

#2 Forecast on Eliminating Cancer Disparities Looks to Ethnic Enclave Research

Looking ahead at 2025, Scarlett Lin Gomez, MPH, PhD, noted that the key to eliminating cancer disparities may lie in ethnic enclave research. Gomez spoke about upstream factors such as social detriments of health or social drivers of health.

Structural drivers like schools, governments, or health care systems are what groups have available to them. If each person had these resources equally available, that would reduce cancer health disparities. Specifically, Gomez and her team have been working to develop measures to better characterize ethnic enclaves.

“Our focus has been a lot on disparities and conducting research for groups that are experiencing disparities. What are the factors that are driving the disparities? [This research] needs to continue and ramp up. There is also value in looking at population groups that experience more favorable outcomes because we could potentially learn about why that is and apply that knowledge to all groups,” Gomez, a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), and co-leader of the Cancer Control Program at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, said.

#3 Identifying Emergent AI Modalities to Optimize Oncology Practice

Arturo Loaiza-Bonilla, MD, MSEd, FACP, systemwide chief of Hematology and Oncology at Saint Luke’s University Health Network, discussed the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technologies that may impact clinical practice in oncology.

When looking at different AI approaches, he focused on pathology and noted that AI-powered computer vision can enable single-cell sequencing. Clustering patient data can also occur with AI technology when pathology and genomic data are combined. If the AI foundation can achieve this, inclusive patient models can be built.

Additionally, AI-assisted clinical documentation is being built to allow clinicians to spend more time with patients rather than charting. While the data were still mixed regarding time-saving measures, learning to integrate AI into the clinical workflow will be essential moving forward.

#4 2025 ACRO Summit Shows ‘Amazing Prospects’ in Radiation Oncology

At the 2025 American College of Radiation Oncology Summit, Brandon Mancini, MD, MBA, FACRO, spoke about the key takeaways from the meeting. His discussion with CancerNetwork also highlighted changes and potential prospects in radiation oncology like theranostics and radiopharmaceuticals.

Mancini, medical director at BAMF Health and clinical associate professor at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, and editor-at-large for The Rad Onc Review, noted that the radiation oncology field is experiencing certain challenges. This includes cost-cutting measures amid proving radiation oncology’s feasibility.

#5 Workplace Burnout Among Oncologists Has Risen: What Can Be Done?

In 2025, multiple studies came out regarding the decline of the oncology workforce, as well as the impact of burnout.3 Eric P. Winer, MD, authored a study highlighting the effects of burnout as well as potential solutions for this issue.

The study showed that from 2013 to 2023, there was a 14% increase in oncologists who experienced burnout (P <.01). Winer identified a few potential causes of burnout, including the use of electronic health records, staffing levels, payer authorizers, hours of workload, and age.

“There are a number of factors. [First], since I referred to burnout across the board and in society, some of this is a bit of a societal issue because you hear more and more people talking about burnout. You hear more people talking about wanting to achieve a work-life balance, and maybe that’s a little more difficult in medicine than in [other] places, which can lead to burnout. The COVID-19 pandemic was stressful. On the one hand, early in the pandemic, everyone felt extraordinarily mission-driven as if they were in a battleground. While that tends to bring people together, there’s fatigue associated with that,” Winer, director of the Yale Cancer Center, president and physician in chief at Smilow Cancer Hospital, deputy dean for cancer research, Alfred Gilman Professor of Pharmacology and Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine, and chair of the association board for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), said.

#6 Advancing Treatment for EGFR Inhibitor–Associated Dermal Toxicities

Onco-dermatology is an important multidisciplinary area in the cancer space, as many patients experience AEs relating to the skin.4 Jonathan Leventhal, MD, an associate professor of dermatology, director of the Dermatology Residency Program, and director of the Onco-Dermatology Clinic at Smilow Cancer Hospital of Yale School of Medicine, spoke about the use of genetically modified Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria–based ointment that may reduce EGFR-inhibitor-associated dermal toxicities.

A phase 1/2 clinical trial in progress (NCT06830863) will assess Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria-based ointment vs a placebo ointment that will only contain the vehicle ointment. Patients will apply the ointment to the skin for 28 days, and end points will include rash severity, pruritus, pain, and quality of life.

#7 National ICE-T Conference Aims to Make CAR T Safer and More Available

The 2025 National Immune Cell Effector Therapy (ICE-T) Symposium brought clinicians in the hematology space together to discuss current treatment modalities. Nausheen Ahmed, MD, gave a broad overview of the symposium and what its goals were for the first conference.

Her biggest takeaway included wanting her colleagues to know how to properly treat patients who are experiencing CAR T-cell therapy-related toxicities. Ahmed is an associate professor, the associate director for cellular therapeutics, and the medical director of the Cell Therapy Survivorship Program in the Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Kansas Cancer Center, and a course director for the ICE-T symposium.

#8 Leading the Charge in Pediatric Oncology as the New ASPHO President

For the 2025-2026 term, Maria C. Velez, MD, has been named the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology president. Having had an extensive career in pediatric oncology, Velez is prepared to take on this new role and focus on a few key areas to enhance the field.

She will implement a 3-to-5-year plan to achieve her and the Society’s goals. This will include educational programming, advocacy, and support.

“Raising awareness is a key priority for the Society—so much so that the 2022 to 2025 strategic plan includes a dedicated goal with specific action steps to address it. Over the past several years, our efforts have expanded to include advocacy initiatives; serving as a trusted resource to the media, policymakers, and health care providers; building strategic partnerships and coalitions with ASCO, the American Society of Hematology [ASH], and other stakeholders to speak with a unified voice; and leveraging the expertise of our members to support both patient needs and the advancement of our subspecialty,” Velez, a distinguished professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, and former director of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine-New Orleans, said.

#9 Navigating Nutritional Challenges in Cancer Survivorship and Care

For patients going through cancer treatments, AEs may play a part in their nutrition. Treatments may cause taste changes, excessive nausea, or the inability to chew or eat certain foods.

Denise Reynolds, RD, from Levine Cancer Institute, spoke about how she works with her patients to manage these treatment-related AEs. One focus was managing weight loss, which is typically when patients get referred to her. She also touched upon diet alteration to allow the patient to still be allowed to eat but avoid foods that may increase mucositis or dysphagia.

“Many times, the cancer itself will cause issues with appetite, [gastrointestinal] upset, things like that: it is different for everyone. Cancer treatment can make those situations worse, but some of the issues that they have start with weight loss, which is one of the reasons why they go to their doctor…They may know that they have a loss of appetite, but they do not feel like they have done anything to create that weight loss themselves,” Reynolds said.

#10 Scorpion Venom Approach May Prove “Powerful” in Glioblastoma Research

CAR T-cell therapy directed towards chlorotoxin, a peptide found in scorpion venom, is being assessed in a phase 1 trial (NCT04214392) for patients with recurrent glioma. Currently, 4 patients have received treatment, and stable disease has been noted in 75%.

Michael Barish, PhD, noted that while the response may not have been as strong as he hoped for, there was still improvement, which will allow for development to continue with reconfigurations of the chlorotoxin-based agent.

“The toxin itself is not toxic to people. It acts more like a chaperone for the scorpion [venom] in carrying deadly toxins into the nervous system of the brain. It’s been known that it’s not toxic in humans, but it’s been given for other reasons. The idea was that [because] we could use it as the targeting element on a chimeric antigen receptor that we would express in a T cell, it would therefore bind to glioblastoma cells in more patients than any other targeting entity,” Barish, chair in the Department of Neurosciences/Developmental & Stem Cell Biology at City of Hope, said.

References

1. Enhertu approved in the US as first HER2-directed therapy for patients with HER2-low or HER2-ultralow metastatic breast cancer following disease progression after one or more endocrine therapies. News release. FDA. January 27, 2025. Accessed December 23, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/5n8ab8sk
2. Curigliano G, Hu X, Dent RA, et al. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) vs physician’s choice of chemotherapy (TPC) in patients (pts) with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low or HER2-ultralow metastatic breast cancer (mBC) with prior endocrine therapy (ET): primary results from DESTINY-Breast06 (DB-06). J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(suppl 17):LBA1000. doi:10.1200/JCO.2024.42.17_suppl.LBA1000
3. Schenkel C, Levit LA, Kirkwood K, et al. State of professional well-being, satisfaction, and career plans among US oncologists in 2023. J Clin Oncol. Published online January 29, 2025. doi:10.1200/OA.24.00010
4. Spellman MC, Whitfill TC. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor-induced dermal toxicity treated with topical application of a novel Staphylococcus epidermidis compound. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16):TPS12149. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.TPS12149