OncTimes Talk

Since the release of 5-year follow-up data from the Phase IIb KEYNOTE-942 study, in which the mRNA vaccine intismeran autogene is used in combination with pembrolizumab to treat high-risk resected melanoma, the potential of new and more effective immune therapies for solid tumors has been increasingly discussed. In this episode of OncTimes Talk, we hear from a key melanoma specialist at the world's largest center for melanoma research.

Alexander C. J. van Akkooi, MD, PhD, FRACS, FSSO, Associate Professor of Melanoma Surgical Oncology at the Melanoma Institute Australia, University of Sydney, and the Department of Melanoma Surgical Oncology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia, talks about the growing range of immunological therapy options for patients with melanoma. He discusses how the newer mRNA cancer vaccines could enhance therapy if mature data fulfil their early promise.

In this episode of OncTimes Talk, Karen Knudsen, MBA, PhD, CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, discusses barriers to clinical trial participation, the promise of AI in oncology, and the challenges facing cancer research funding. She explores why patient voices, equitable access, and a stronger translational research infrastructure are critical to the future of cancer care.

Dr. Shari Pilon-Thomas joins OncTimes Talk to discuss groundbreaking findings published in Frontiers in Immunology showing that topical bicarbonate treatment can counteract tumor acidosis and enhance anti-tumor immune responses. The conversation explores the science behind acidic tumor microenvironments, improved T-cell activity, and the clinical potential of this innovative immunotherapy approach.

In this episode of OncTimes Talk, Dr. Susan MacDonald interviews Dr. Barbara Levy about the evolution of breast cancer screening. Together, they discuss balancing early detection with overtesting, empowering patients to advocate for themselves, and designing healthcare systems that put people first.

In this episode, we explore how Lytix Biopharma is advancing a new kind of cancer treatment designed to both destroy tumors and train the immune system to fight back. Dr. Øystein Rekdal joins Dr. Susan McDonald to discuss the science behind LTX-315, a first-in-class oncolytic peptide, and its ability to trigger systemic immune responses even in heavily pretreated patients. From late-stage melanoma to earlier intervention strategies, this conversation highlights how reprogramming the tumor microenvironment could open new doors for patients and redefine the future of immunotherapy.

In this episode, Kathryn Schmitz, PhD, MPH, explains why movement should be treated like medicine for patients with cancer. In conversation with Susan MacDonald, MD, she breaks down the evidence, addresses common barriers, and offers practical guidance for both clinicians and patients.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

Moving Through Cancer: An Exercise and Strength-Training Program for the Fight of Your Life

movingthroughcancer.org

2Unstoppable

In this episode of Oncology Times, Dr. Susan MacDonald speaks with epidemiologist Dr. Mary Beth Terry about the alarming rise in early-onset cancers, particularly among women, and the role of environmental and lifestyle factors. They explore emerging evidence on alcohol use, plastics, vaping, and other exposures.

Resources:

• Top 10 Tips for Healthier Home: General guidance on reducing exposures to hazardous chemicals in and round the home.
• Breast Cancer and the Environment: Simple steps for avoiding endocrine disrupting chemicals relevant to breast cancer.
• PFAS Exchange: An online resource center about PFAS contaminants in drinking water—helping communities understand their exposures and take action to protect their health. Includes medical guidance for healthcare providers.
• Detox Me mobile app (and more): Our free mobile app walks you through simple, research-based tips on how to limit your exposures to toxic chemicals where you live, work, and play. Includes top tips.

In this episode of OncTimes Talk, host Dr. McDonald speaks with Rose Gerber, Director of Patient Advocacy and Education at the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) and a 23‑year breast cancer survivor. Rose shares her powerful personal cancer journey and how that experience ignited her lifelong commitment to patient advocacy. She discusses the essential role of community oncology practices, the challenges these centers face amid clinic closures and ongoing PBM interference, and why preserving local, accessible, innovative cancer care is critical for patients nationwide.

What happens when you survive a disaster that steals the lives of thousands of children? For Dr. Yan Leyfman, surviving Chernobyl as a child wasn't just fate—it became the foundation of a lifelong mission to heal.

In this deeply personal conversation, Yan shares how tragedy shaped his calling in oncology, why empathy is the strongest medicine, and how innovation must not only save lives—but reach the patients who need it most. We explore the emotional weight of walking with patients through their darkest moments, the responsibility of a second chance at life, and a bold vision of equity that ensures hope isn't limited by geography or circumstance. This episode is a testament to purpose, resilience, and the kind of medicine that doesn't just extend life—it honors it.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Christine Ibilibor meets with Dr. Jean-Paul De La O, a Senior Principal Medical Affairs Director at Exact Sciences, to talk about how comprehensive DNA and RNA sequencing of tumors has become easier, faster and more actionable for oncologists. The pair also discuss Exact Sciences' retrospective analysis of over 10,000 solid tumor samples profiled with the OncoExTra® test, and what the results revealed about biomarker testing.