Oncology and Hematology

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

Guest: Marie Wood, MD

Traditional cancer screening has always focused on individual organs, but now, multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests are changing that paradigm. By analyzing multiple biomarkers through a single blood draw, MCED testing can detect signals from a variety of cancers—many of which currently lack effective screening tools. These multi-biomarker approaches not only outperform single-marker tests, but also demonstrate scientific rigor and clinical utility. Still, challenges remain, including false positives and integration with standard screening protocols. Joining Dr. Brian McDonough to explore the rationale for using a multi-biomarker approach to MCED testing is Dr. Marie Wood, Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Medical Director of the Hereditary Cancer Program at the CU Cancer Center.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

Guest: Forat Lutfi, MD

Guest: Nilanjan Ghosh, MD, PhD

For patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma, timely access to CAR T-cell therapy can be life-saving, but communication gaps between referring physicians and CAR T centers can lead to delays or missed opportunities. Fortunately, practical strategies like building strong referral networks, improving direct communication, and aligning on shared care responsibilities can streamline access and improve outcomes. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to share their insights on how we can bridge these communication gaps are Drs. Forat Lutfi and Nilanjan Ghosh. Dr. Lutfi is an Assistant Professor of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics at University of Kansas Medical Center, and Dr. Ghosh is a Professor of Cancer Medicine at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Guest: Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH

As fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) becomes more common in colorectal cancer screening, questions remain about post-FIT follow-up, especially when colonoscopies yield negative results. To explore this further, a recent review looked at the risk of colorectal cancer postcolonoscopy and analyzed the most common reasons it may occur. Hear Dr. Aasma Shaukat, a coauthor of the review, discuss the rationale behind it and its findings, which highlighted the importance of colonoscopy quality. Dr. Shaukat is the Robert M. and Mary H. Glickman Professor of Medicine and a Professor in the Department of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She also serves as the Director of Outcomes Research in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at NYU Langone Health.

Guest: Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH

Despite available options like stool-based testing and colonoscopy, colorectal cancer screening rates remain low. Blood-based testing, however, has the potential to improve adherence by offering a convenient alternative. Join Dr. Aasma Shaukat as she discusses the clinical performance of blood-based testing, its limitations, and its role in real-world settings. Dr. Shaukat is the Robert M. and Mary H. Glickman Professor of Medicine and a Professor in the Department of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She also serves as the Director of Outcomes Research in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at NYU Langone Health.

Host: Gerard A. Silvestri MD, MS, Master FCCP

Guest: Fabien Maldonado, MD, FCCP

Guest: Adam H. Fox, MD, MSc

Cutting-edge biopsy methods and streamlined biomarker testing are transforming early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) care. Hear from Drs. Gerard Silvestri, Fabien Maldonado, and Adam Fox as they discuss the evolution of bronchoscopic techniques, insights from landmark trials, and the role of pragmatic clinical research in refining biopsy approaches. Dr. Silvestri is a pulmonologist and the Hillenbrand Professor of Thoracic Oncology at the Medical University of South Carolina; Dr. Maldonado is a Professor of Medicine and Thoracic Surgery, the Pierre Massion Director in Lung Cancer Research, and the Director of Interventional Pulmonology Research at Vanderbilt University; and Dr. Fox is a pulmonologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina.

This program is produced in partnership with the American College of Chest Physicians and is sponsored by AstraZeneca.

Host: Ryan Quigley

Guest: Hallie Blevins, PhD.

Guest: Marlene Mimi Maeusli, PhD.

With one in three eligible Americans still unscreened for colorectal cancer (CRC), there’s an urgent need for noninvasive and affordable alternatives to colonoscopy. A 2025 study published in ACS Sensors introduces a novel aptamer-based colorimetric assay that targets Parvimonas micra—a gut microbe linked to CRC. To learn more, Mr. Ryan Quigley speaks with Drs. Hallie Blevins and Mimi Maeusli about how this technology works, what sets it apart from current testing methods, and why it could play a role in improving early CRC detection.

Reference:

Feng S, Zhang P, Chen H, et al. Au@Fe3O4 nanoparticle-based colorimetric aptasensor for noninvasive screening of colorectal cancer via detection of Parvimonas micra. ACS Sens. 2025;10(2):1053-1062.

Host: Gerard A. Silvestri MD, MS, Master FCCP

Guest: Jeffrey B. Velotta, MD, FACS

Guest: Anne Gonzalez, MD, M.Sc.

For patients with non-small cell lung cancer, staging accuracy is critical in guiding treatment decisions that can significantly affect outcomes. In this expert-led discussion, Dr. Gerard Silvestri sits down with Drs. Anne Gonzalez and Jeffrey Velotta break down what clinicians need to know, including how to perform thorough EBUS staging, why PET scans alone aren’t enough, and what the updated TNM classification means for surgical planning. Dr. Silvestri is a pulmonologist and the Hillenbrand Professor of Thoracic Oncology at the Medical University of South Carolina; Dr. Gonzalez is a pulmonary and critical care physician, a researcher in the Translational Research and Respiratory Diseases Program, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at McGill University in Montreal; and Dr. Velotta is a leading thoracic surgeon specializing in complex cancers, a Clinical Professor in the Department of Clinical Science at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at UCSF School of Medicine in California.

This program is produced in partnership with the American College of Chest Physicians and is sponsored by AstraZeneca.

Host: Ashley Baker, MSN, PMHNP

Guest: Heather Allen, PhD

Guest: Ran Li, PhD

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is emerging as a powerful tool for distinguishing cancerous from noncancerous tissue during colorectal cancer surgery. In a recent study, Drs. Heather Allen and Ran Li leveraged a broad dataset from multiple sources to identify and validate biomarkers—most notably B1—that demonstrated strong correlation with standard pathology. Hear Drs. Allen and Li walk through their study and the implications of its findings with Ashley Baker. Dr. Allen is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as well as the Department of Pathology at Ohio State University in Columbus, and Dr. Li is a researcher who completed a PhD in Analytical Chemistry at The Ohio State University in 2015.

Guest: Theodore Levin, MD

In light of guidelines for the starting age of colorectal cancer screening shifting, a recent study explored how screening outcomes compare in adults age 45 to 49 and adults over 50. Across metrics like initiation, adherence, adenoma detection, and colonoscopy yield, the evidence shows support for earlier screening. Tune in to hear Dr. Theodore Levin, Professor of Health System Science at the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, the Associate Director at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, and the Clinical Lead for Colorectal Cancer Screening for the Permanente Medical Group, break down the research.

Guest: Theodore Levin, MD

For younger adults needing to get screened for colorectal cancer, fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) may help with initiation and adherence because of its speed, ease, and noninvasiveness. Hear Dr. Theodore Levin discuss FIT and its potential benefits, particularly in younger adults. Dr. Levin is a Professor of Health System Science at the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, the Associate Director at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, and the Clinical Lead for Colorectal Cancer Screening for the Permanente Medical Group.