Oncology On The Go

In this episode recorded at the 2026 American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) annual meeting, Daniel C. McFarland, DO, sat down with Kelly Irwin, MD, to address one of the most challenging topics in oncology: suicide risk. The conversation aimed to equip oncologists with the tools and confidence to navigate the emotional complexities of cancer care.

Key Discussion Points:

Available Resources:

·      National Mental Health Hotline: Call or text 988

·      Connect with a crisis counselor: Text HOME to 741741

·      Samaritans Hotline and Website: (877)870-4673; https://samaritanshope.org/our-services/24-7-helpline/

McFarland is the director of the Psycho-Oncology Program at Wilmot Cancer Center and a medical oncologist who specializes in head, neck, and lung cancer, in addition to being a psycho-oncology editorial advisory board member for the journal ONCOLOGY®. Irwin is an instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a faculty psychiatrist at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center and MGH Schizophrenia Program, where she founded the Cancer Prevention Program.

In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Julian Hong, MD, MS, discussed considerations for optimizing care among patients with mental health disorders (MHDs) who are undergoing treatment for cancer. He spoke in the context of a study he and coauthors published in Cancer, which showed that patients with cancer and a mental health condition experience an increased risk of all-cause mortality.

Specifically, findings from the study demonstrated that early MHDs conferred a heightened all-cause mortality risk in the initial 12 to 35 months of cancer diagnosis (HR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.47-1.56). This trend diminished over time, with gradually reduced risks observed from 36 to 59 months (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.11-1.24) and from 60 to 120 months after that initial period (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.89-1.01). Furthermore, the risk of all-cause mortality was even higher for patients with an early MHD and receipt of psychotropic medications at 12 to 36 months (HR, 2.67; 95% CI, 2.52-2.83), 36 to 60 months (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.07-1.46), and 60 to 120 months (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.82-1.25).

“We’re…trying to combine different types of data to identify earlier mental health diagnoses. Even what can feel like small amounts of time—weeks and months—can make a huge difference for people who are going through these conditions,” Hong stated regarding the next steps for research in the field. “It’s one thing to help identify some of these issues and some of these implications of different conditions, but at the end of the day, the goal is to intervene on these things and do a better job of taking care of patients.”

Hong is an associate professor of radiation oncology in the Baker Computational Health Sciences Institute at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and head of Artificial Intelligence at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Reference

Ganjouei AA, Zack T, Friesner I, et al. Association of mental health disorders and all-cause mortality for patients with cancer: large-scale analysis of University of California Health System data. Cancer. 2026;132(5):e70254. doi:10.1002/cncr.70254

In this episode of Oncology on The Go, created in collaboration with the American Psychosocial Oncology Society, Daniel C. McFarland, DO, and Ilana M. Braun, MD, dove into the complexities of cannabis use within the oncology landscape. They explored the tension between rising public popularity and the need for rigorous scientific scrutiny in symptom management.

Key Discussion Points:

• Risks may impact patients with a personal or family history of psychosis when using THC-predominant products.

The conversation emphasized a "harm reduction" approach, urging oncologists to provide stigma-free, evidence-based education while respecting patient autonomy.

McFarland is the director of the Psycho-Oncology Program at Wilmot Cancer Center and a medical oncologist who specializes in head, neck, and lung cancer, in addition to being the psycho-oncology editorial advisory board member for the journal ONCOLOGY. Braun is an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and senior physician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 

Reference

Braun IM, Bohlke K, Abrams DI, et al. Cannabis and cannabinoids in adults with cancer: ASCO guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(13):1575-1593. doi:10.1200/JCO.23.02596

During a visit to Columbia University Irving Cancer Research Center, experts across hematologic oncology shared their perspectives on key trends and developments in their respective fields. These conversations explored novel therapeutic approaches and translational research that may advance the paradigm across different leukemia, multiple myeloma, and lymphoma populations.

First, Nicole Lamanna, MD, an associate clinical professor of medicine in the Hematologic Malignancies Section of the Hematology/Oncology Division at Irving Medical Center, discussed relevant advancements in the management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). She described how the FDA approval of fixed-duration acalabrutinib (Calquence) plus venetoclax (Venclexta) may affirm a shift away from standard chemoimmunotherapy in the field. Her discussion also emphasized evaluating the adverse effects and benefit/risk profiles of drug classes such as BTK inhibitors and BCL-2 inhibitors during the treatment decision-making process.

Next, Rajshekhar Chakraborty, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Irving Medical Center, touched upon critical themes related to the use of bispecific antibodies for patients with multiple myeloma and other plasma cell disorders. Educating providers on the utility of bispecific antibodies in earlier treatment settings, he noted, is one of the important challenges that the field must address to expand usage of these therapies in community practices. He also highlighted findings from the phase 3 MajesTEC-3 trial (NCT05083169) and how they support the clinical utility of teclistamab-cqyv (Tecvayli) plus daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj (Darzalex Faspro) for patients with relapsed/refractory disease.

Finally, Hua-Jay “Jeff” Cherng, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in the Lymphoma Program in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Irving Medical Center, detailed translational work that may shape clinical practice in the lymphoma space. He spoke about research aiming to move markers like ctDNA and minimal residual disease from “the bench to the bedside” as part of clinical decision-making for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Other future focuses, Cherng said, include leveraging molecular genotyping to improve outcomes for higher-risk subgroups or even replacing chemotherapy with less toxic targeted agents.

References

In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP, FASCO, discussed the potential implications of the FDA approving iberdomide plus daratumumab (Darzalex) and dexamethasone for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. He spoke in context of the FDA accepting a new drug application for the iberdomide regimen based on data from the phase 3 EXCALIBER-RRMM trial (NCT04975997).

Lonial discussed the potential benefits that iberdomide could offer based on its properties as a CELMoD. He noted how the potency, safety profile, and targeting capabilities of this drug class may differentiate it from previous standards such as immunomodulatory drugs.

Regarding the supporting findings from the EXCALIBER-RRMM trial, Lonial stated that the study was the “first test case” for using minimal residual disease (MRD) as an early end point for approval. In September 2025, investigators announced that iberdomide-based therapy showed a significant improvement in MRD-negative status vs daratumumab, bortezomib (Velcade), and dexamethasone.

The potential approval of iberdomide in this multiple myeloma population, Lonial said, would open the door for using the agent in combination with other immunotherapies. Noting that T-cell engagers are “perfect partners” for the CELMoD class, Lonial emphasized the utility of combination regimens across the field.

“Recognizing that we have agents that can reset or augment immunity and partnering them [are important]. People always want to say it's a black and white world; you're either going to use this, or you're going to use this. To me, it's about combination therapy,” Lonial stated. “Having this tool belt with many drugs and putting them together in combinations is how we get to [a] cure.”

Lonial is a professor and chair of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology and the Anne and Bernard Gray Family Chair in Cancer at Emory University School of Medicine, and the chief medical officer at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. He is also a member of the International Myeloma Foundation scientific board.

References

Daniel C. McFarland, DO, and Boris Kiselev, MD, highlighted the need for oncologists to recognize and address depression for patients with cancer. 

In a new episode of Oncology on the Go created in collaboration with the American Psychosocial Oncology Society, host Daniel C. McFarland, DO, spoke with Boris Kiselev, MD. Together, they explored the complex intersection of oncology and psychiatry. The conversation challenged the oversimplification of “cancer-related sadness” to provide clinicians with a framework for distinguishing between normative grief and clinical Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

The conversation focused on:

McFarland is the director of the Psycho-Oncology Program at Wilmot Cancer Center and a medical oncologist who specializes in head, neck, and lung cancer, in addition to being the psycho-oncology editorial advisory board member for the journal ONCOLOGY. Kiselev is a consult liaison psychiatrist at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, an assistant professor in the Psycho-oncology Program in the Department of Supportive Oncology at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute, and an assistant professor in Internal Medicine.

Sarah Poland, MD, lead author of a recently published article in the journal ONCOLOGY titled Advances in Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer, highlighted key findings from her review in a conversation with CancerNetwork®.1 Throughout the discussion, she spoke about: 

Shifting Perspectives on Immunogenicity: Historically, breast cancer was considered a “cold,” poorly immunogenic tumor due to low tumor mutational burden (TMB) and few tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Poland highlighted how clinical research has shifted this perspective, particularly through the study of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which often exhibits higher PD-L1 expression and immune infiltration.

Key Clinical Milestones: The review highlighted foundational data that established immunotherapy as a standard of care:

Managing Toxicity and Rechallenge: Poland addressed the feasibility of pembrolizumab rechallenge after an immune-related adverse effect (irAE), emphasizing that while possible, it requires a highly individualized approach based on the severity and timing of the initial toxicity.

The Future Landscape: Beyond PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, the discussion covered emerging technologies that are poised to redefine treatment:

Unmet Educational Needs: Poland emphasized the importance of resources that connect providers and patients, particularly in translating complex trial data into clinical practice and addressing patient concerns regarding the newest therapies and trials.

Poland is from the Department of Medicine in the Section of Hematology/Oncology at The University of Chicago.

References

1.        Poland S, de Oliveira Andrade M, Nanda R. Advances in immunotherapy for breast cancer. Oncology (Williston Park). 2026;40(1):8-15. doi:10.46883/2026.25921061

2.        Schmid P, Cortes J, Pusztai L, et al. Pembrolizumab for early triple-negative breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(9):810-821. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1910549

3.        Cortes J, Rugo HS, Cescon DW, et al. Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in advanced triple-negative breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(3):217-226. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2202809

At the 2026 Tandem Meetings, CancerNetwork® spoke with a variety of experts who presented on key developments and advancements across hematologic oncology. As part of different oral presentations and poster sessions, researchers and clinicians shared updated findings that may influence the management of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood cancer types.

First, Fernando Duarte, head of the Bone Marrow Transplant Service at Walter Cantídio University Hospital (HUWC), hematologist and professor at the Federal University of Ceará, and president of the Brazilian Society of Cell Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplant, highlighted his presentation analyzing trends associated with allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) among patients with MDS or myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and other types of MDS. Data from the Brazillian SBTMO and CIBMTR registry revealed that patients receiving allo-HCT for MDS/MPN were typically older with worse performance statuses. Additionally, MDS/MPN independently predicted worse overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival outcomes.

Next, Alfonso Molina, MD, MPH, a third-year Hematology and Medical Oncology fellow at Stanford University, detailed results from a phase 1 trial (NCT05507827) assessing Orca-T, an investigational allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy, among those with high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Treatment with Orca-T yielded disease-free survival and OS in all (100%) 18 evaluable patients after a median follow-up of 14 months (range, 3-35), which occurred without graft failure, significant graft-versus-host-disease, or severe CAR-mediated toxicity.

Finally, Irtiza N. Sheikh, DO, an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics - Patient Care, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Section of the Division of Pediatrics at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discussed his presentation exploring differences in outcomes with lisocabtagene maraleucel (Breyanzi; liso-cel) across various treatment settings and patient populations with large B-cell lymphoma. Data demonstrated that among patients younger than 50 years old, liso-cel produced enduring responses across real-world and clinical trial settings, which were comparable to outcomes in overall populations. 

References

In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Manoj Bhasin, PhD, MS, spoke about findings from a study in which he and colleagues developed a single-cell atlas characterizing the dysregulation of the bone marrow immune microenvironment in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Findings published in Nature Cancer showed that the immune system has a broad, treatment-independent influence on outcomes in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Bhasin began by detailing the background and methodology of his study, in which an Immune Atlas of multiple myeloma helped generate profiles of 1,397,272 single cells from the bone marrow of 337 patients with newly diagnosed disease to characterize immune and hematopoietic cell populations. He also broke down specific analyses of certain aspects of the immune microenvironment, such as signaling evaluations demonstrating active intercellular communication involving a proliferation-inducing ligand and B cell maturation antigen potentially associated with tumor growth and survival.

Looking ahead, Bhasin described a need to research additional factors, including those beyond the bone marrow, which may help clinicians further optimize therapeutic strategies for patients with multiple myeloma.

“Maybe the biggest thing we want to say from this study is that the immune system is a critical player in the outcome of multiple myeloma, its emergence, and its therapeutic response. It is not a byproduct; it is a major driver of the outcomes,” Bhasin stated. “[Not] all high-risk multiple myeloma lesions are the same. We should look at the immune imprints of them, further comprehensively study them, and then help in designing immune therapies that fix the immune dysregulation that is associated with each cytogenetic alteration [instead of] thinking that all high-risk cytogenetic lesions of myeloma are all the same.”

Bhasin is a professor in the Department of Pediatrics and in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Emory University School of Medicine, and director of Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology and the Aflac Director of the Single Cell Biology Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Reference

Pilcher WC, Yao L, Gonzalez-Kozlova E, et al. A single-cell atlas characterizes dysregulation of the bone marrow immune microenvironment associated with outcomes in multiple myeloma. Nat Cancer. 2026;7:224-246. doi:10.1038/s43018-025-01072-4

In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Ram Prakash Thirugnanasambandam, MBBS, discussed the evolving roles that artificial intelligence (AI)–based tools may play in palliative care and the management of different hematologic malignancies. He spoke in the context of a publication he authored, The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Palliative Oncology: Zeroing in on Hematologic Malignancies,which was featured in the November/December 2025 issue of the journal ONCOLOGY®.

Thirugnanasambandam, a fellow of Internal Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Miami, outlined the paper’s aim to explore how AI can assist with patient-centric goals of care like symptom management as well as decision-making support among clinicians. In the context of palliative medicine, AI has demonstrated utility as a supportive tool that can help with marking patients who may benefit from a palliative care conversation. Such tools have also assisted with identifying symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, anxiety, or psychosocial distress, allowing providers to form a more proactive approach to patient care.

According to Thirugnanasambandam, implementing AI into one’s workflow may help accurately predict disease subtypes and burdens among patients with leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma. He noted that predictive analytic capabilities may also facilitate effective management of cytopenias, transplant-related needs, infections, and other treatment-related toxicities.

Thirugnanasambandam also discussed some of the ethical considerations surrounding the growth of AI-based tools, highlighting information privacy concerns and potentially biased datasets as notable issues with these platforms. Although AI may assist with decision-making, Thirugnanasambandam stated that it ultimately cannot replace a human’s nuanced clinical judgment and empathy.

“I want readers to take away a sense of balance,” Thirugnanasambandam said regarding his publication. “We’ve done the article to help clinicians be more comfortable in engaging with AI. We need to apply it critically, not as replacing judgment or decision-making skills, but more as an adjunct.”