Medical Oncology
Physician insights on cancer treatment protocols, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and clinical trial updates.
Recent Discussions
In light of promising results of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19, should we consider using it prophylactically in cancer patients, especially if immunocompromised?
At this time, as there is no good evidence available, I would not recommend the use of hydroxycholoroquine prophylactically in cancer patients. It is unclear whether it would prevent contagion, probably not, and we still don't know if it will have any effect on the course of COVID-19. We expect ther...
What are your top takeaways from ASCO GU 2025?
In terms of practice-informing presentations in prostate cancer here are my top 3: GROUQ-PCS 9 trial (Canada, abstract 22). This trial led by Niazi et al tested whether metastasis-directed radiotherapy based on conventional imaging to up to 5 sites provided benefits in delaying rPFS or PSA progressi...
Should axillary imaging be routinely performed in all patients with a new diagnosis of breast cancer?
This issue has been debated but I would argue that patients with a new diagnosis of breast cancer should not undergo routine screening US of the axilla to look for clinically occult disease. The axillary US should be limited to diagnostic imaging for clinically suspicious nodes on clinical exam or b...
In patients with newly diagnosed HER2+ early breast cancer who may be eligible for both neoadjuvant or adjuvant T-DXd, what will be your standard sequencing?
Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is currently recommended in the adjuvant setting for patients with residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant therapy, based on the DESTINY-Breast05 trial, while its use in the neoadjuvant setting remains investigational.Ongoing neoadjuvant trials are evaluating T-DXd...
How do you prevent radiation induced colitis?
My primary strategy to prevent radiation-induced acute large bowel injury is to try to minimize the dose delivered to the bowel as much as possible. In patients who I think might be at high risk of developing this problem, I will give them written instructions about diet modifications (low fiber, lo...
What treatment sequence do you follow for patients with rectal cancer who are candidates for both PROSPECT and TNT/Watch and wait?
Thanks for this question. I am not sure whether this is up to us. This is up to our patients to choose which modality they would like to omit (radiation vs surgery). I would point out that a good quality MRI rectum should be performed to r/o any T4/N2 disease or potential requirement for APR. Otherw...
How, if at all, do you anticipate incorporating Pixclara PET into the evaluation of suspected recurrent or progressive glioma after treatment?
In pediatric high-grade glioma, I think there's an opportunity to use it selectively when conventional MRI leaves uncertainty between true progression and treatment-related change (pseudoprogression), rather than as part of routine surveillance. The clearest need is in diffuse midline glioma after r...
Is pembrolizumab considered standard of care in the 2nd line treatment of recurrent cervical cancer?
The phase II Keynote-158 indication is based on objective response of 14% in patients with PD-L1+ tumors. The US FDA approval is accelerated approval meaning that there needs to be a confirmatory trial - this is Keynote 826 which is ongoing.
How does genomic profiling/next-generation sequencing assays influence your treatment recommendations in metastatic breast cancer?
At the current time, there are no evidence-based, FDA-approved or NCCN-recommended uses of genomic or protein-based assays other than ER, PR, or HER as well as gene expression profiling results like the 21-gene/Oncotype or 70-gene MammaPrint assay for routine management of breast cancer. There is no...
Would you recommend anticoagulation prophylaxis for a pediatric patient admitted with COVID-19?
COVID-19 disease in children seems to be less severe than adults based on the current literature and our personal experience at Children's Hospitals. Among adults, the coagulopathy is beginning to be described with elevated inflammatory markers and other markers of coagulation activation, including ...