Cleveland Clinic Cancer Advances

As cancer therapies continue to evolve, so do the long-term needs of survivors. In this episode, Dr. Dale Shepard sits down with Christina Ferraro, CNP, Director of Oncology Survivorship at Cleveland Clinic, to discuss the growing role of survivorship care in identifying and managing late and long-term toxicities. Together, they explore how newer treatments such as CAR-T and bispecific therapies are changing survivorship needs, the importance of monitoring for infections, secondary cancers and other delayed effects, and how dedicated survivorship programs help patients thrive long after treatment ends.

Patients with advanced lung cancer often experience disease progression despite treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this episode of Cancer Advances, Wen Wee Ma, MBBS, discusses data evaluating inhaled KB707, a modified herpes simplex virus designed to locally deliver IL-2 and IL-12, in combination with pembrolizumab. Dr. Ma reviews the rationale behind this novel immunotherapy approach, early efficacy and safety findings and the potential role of inhaled therapies in future lung cancer treatment strategies.

Rare cancers and blood diseases present unique diagnostic and treatment challenges, often requiring specialized expertise and multidisciplinary care. In this episode of Cancer Advances, Sudipto Mukherjee, MD, PhD, MPH, discusses how Cleveland Clinic's Rare Cancers and Blood Diseases Program is improving diagnostic accuracy, accelerating access to care and advancing research across more than 90 rare conditions. Learn how integrated pathology review, genomic insights, collaborative care models and emerging therapeutic targets are helping improve outcomes for patients with rare diseases.

Hematologist and myeloma specialist Shahzad Raza, MD, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss emerging cellular and immune therapies for AL amyloidosis. Listen as Dr. Raza reviews early data on CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies, their potential to induce deep hematologic responses and how these approaches may improve organ function and long-term outcomes for patients with this rare plasma cell disorder.

As recommendations for germline genetic testing continue to expand, many eligible patients remain untested. In this episode of Cancer Advances, Demitrios Dedousis, MD, discusses current testing indications, common gaps in implementation and the clinical implications of identifying hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes. Learn how germline findings can influence treatment decisions, screening protocols and risk assessment for families.

Bethany Samuelson Bannow, MD, Director of Classical Hematology at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss how stronger collaboration between oncologists, primary care physicians and classical hematologists can improve diagnostic efficiency and patient outcomes. Listen as Dr. Samuelson Bannow shares practical referral guidance, highlights new diagnostic care pathways for common blood disorders, and explores strategies to address workforce shortages while expanding access to specialized hematology care.

As molecular profiling advances, precision oncology is reshaping cancer care for children, adolescents and young adults. In this episode of Cancer Advances, Prajwal Rajappa, MD, MS, discusses how genomic sequencing, methylation profiling and multidisciplinary molecular tumor boards are improving diagnostic accuracy, informing risk-adapted treatment decisions and uncovering new therapeutic opportunities. Discover how integrated data platforms are helping translate molecular insights into personalized patient care.

What does it take to establish the standard of care in oncology? Matt Kalaycio, MD, Vice Chair of the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute and Chair of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Board of Directors, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss how NCCN Guidelines are developed, updated and implemented across cancer care. Listen as he explores the role of multidisciplinary expertise, patient advocacy, clinical evidence and emerging AI-enabled tools in shaping oncology practice, policy and decision-making.

What happens when a cancer is deemed unresectable? In this episode, Dr. Haniee Chung discusses how multidisciplinary care is expanding treatment options for patients with advanced and recurrent rectal cancer. She highlights the role of tumor board review, neoadjuvant therapy, robotic surgery and specialized supportive services, and explains why referral to a dedicated multivisceral cancer program may uncover options previously thought impossible.

As new therapies move through clinical trials, the management of uveal melanoma is entering a period of significant change. In this episode of Cancer Advances, Arun Singh, MD, discusses emerging strategies to avoid radiation, prevent radiation-related vision loss and shrink tumors before definitive treatment. Learn how these innovations address longstanding unmet needs and reshape care for patients with this rare ocular malignancy.