Medical Oncology
Physician insights on cancer treatment protocols, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and clinical trial updates.
Recent Discussions
Are you using maintenance lurbinectedin with immunotherapy in the first-line treatment of extensive stage small cell lung cancer?
Yes. I am encouraged by the recent IMforte data demonstrating both PFS and OS benefit with the addition of maintenance lurbinectedin (Paz-Ares, Lancet 2025). Landmark PFS at 6 months approximately doubled (42% vs 19%) and OS at 1 year was 56% vs 44% with atezo+lurbi vs atezo alone. The rate of attri...
What are your practical considerations for incorporating bispecific antibody therapy into treatment of relapsed DLBCL?
In relapsed/refractory DLBCL, if the patient has not yet received bispecific antibody (BsAb) and/or CAR T-cells, and the patient is eligible and able to receive CAR T-cells, I favor CAR T-cells before BsAb, given extensive follow-up time demonstrating CAR T-cells are a potentially curative approach ...
How do you address logistic barriers related to blinatumomab when treating relapsed B-ALL?
This is a very challenging issue that speaks to an incredibly important aspect of delivering not only this drug but others like it. Despite the strong evidence that supports the use of blinatumomab in a variety of clinical scenarios for patients with B-cell ALL [e.g., Gökbuget et al., PMID 29358182;...
How do you address logistic barriers related to blinatumomab when treating relapsed B-ALL?
This is a very challenging issue that speaks to an incredibly important aspect of delivering not only this drug but others like it. Despite the strong evidence that supports the use of blinatumomab in a variety of clinical scenarios for patients with B-cell ALL [e.g., Gökbuget et al., PMID 29358182;...
How do you incorporate CAR-T cell therapy for DLBCL in transplant-eligible patients?
The role of sequential therapy including CARs vs high dose chemotherapy + ASCT post primary induction failure/relapse in large cell lymphoma is a matter of active research. Given the present FDA indication of CARs is in relapsed/refractory large cell lymphoma after failure of at least 2 lines of pri...
How do you incorporate CAR-T cell therapy for DLBCL in transplant-eligible patients?
The role of sequential therapy including CARs vs high dose chemotherapy + ASCT post primary induction failure/relapse in large cell lymphoma is a matter of active research. Given the present FDA indication of CARs is in relapsed/refractory large cell lymphoma after failure of at least 2 lines of pri...
What are your top takeaways in Hematologic Malignancies from ASCO 2026?
Phase III SENTRY study of ruxolitinib +/- selinexor in myelofibrosis - The combination arm met the spleen response endpoint, had similar rates of symptom improvement compared to ruxolitinib, and, with short follow-up, there appears to be a signal towards survival benefit. Longer-term follow-up will...
What are your top takeaways in Hematologic Malignancies from ASCO 2026?
Phase III SENTRY study of ruxolitinib +/- selinexor in myelofibrosis - The combination arm met the spleen response endpoint, had similar rates of symptom improvement compared to ruxolitinib, and, with short follow-up, there appears to be a signal towards survival benefit. Longer-term follow-up will...
How do you choose between liso-cel and axi-cel in patients with early relapse DLBCL for whom you are recommending CAR T-cell therapy?
Axi-cel and liso-cel are anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell products approved for primary refractory or early relapsed (<1 year from initial chemoimmunotherapy) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Both products exhibit excellent efficacy (overall response rates >80%) and are potenti...
How do you choose between liso-cel and axi-cel in patients with early relapse DLBCL for whom you are recommending CAR T-cell therapy?
Axi-cel and liso-cel are anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell products approved for primary refractory or early relapsed (<1 year from initial chemoimmunotherapy) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Both products exhibit excellent efficacy (overall response rates >80%) and are potenti...