Host: John Russell, MD

Guest: Richard Wender, MD

From oncologists to primary care, physicians are witnessing an alarming trend in younger patients: the rising risk of colorectal cancer. To investigate this growing threat, Dr. John Russell speaks with Dr. Rich Wender, Chief Cancer Control Officer at the American Cancer Society. Dr. Wender discusses the new colorectal cancer screening guidelines set forth and the methods behind the conclusion. While comparing past guidelines, Dr. Wender considers changes in our society and environment that may be contributing to increased cancer risks in younger generations.

For more information and to review the new guidelines, go to cancer.org

Host: Barnett Mennen, MD

Guest: James L. Gulley, MD, PhD, FACP

About 20% of patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors respond to therapy. At issue is the existence and action of immunosuppressive cytokine transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) in the tumor microenvironment, which inhibits the normal anti-tumor action of natural killer cells and T cells. TGF-β is involved in many other processes of cancer progression and metastasis such as fibroid cap formation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and angiogenesis.

This activity will explore new horizons in immune checkpoint inhibition with bispecific bifunctional fusion molecules that pharmacologically target the PD-L1 immunosuppression pathway and serve as a TGFβ trap. Clinicians will gain insights into the rationale for development of such a molecule and its mechanisms of action, and explore preliminary clinical experience in a variety of solid tumor types to improve patient outcomes.

For more episodes in this series, visit ReachMD.com/IO.

Get a closer look at the newest development in cancer immunotherapy: the bifunctional fusion protein.

Could this small but mighty protein designed to block two signaling pathways used by tumor cells to escape immune system control be the key to managing both tumor growth and metastasis?

For more episodes in this series, visit ReachMD.com/IO.

Get a closer look at the newest development in cancer immunotherapy: the bifunctional fusion protein.

Could this small but mighty protein designed to block two signaling pathways used by tumor cells to escape immune system control be the key to managing both tumor growth and metastasis?

For more episodes in this series, visit ReachMD.com/IO.

Get a closer look at the newest development in cancer immunotherapy: the bifunctional fusion protein. Could this small but mighty protein designed to block two signaling pathways used by tumor cells to escape immune system control be the key to managing both tumor growth and metastasis?

Guest: Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP

The treatment armamentarium for multiple myeloma (MM) has expanded significantly in recent years, with 6 new agents or indications approved by the US Food & Drug Administration since 2015. Treatment options now include immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, and immunotherapies, making clinical decisions much more complex. Additionally, best practices and consensus guidelines, such as those from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) and International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), are constantly evolving as new data are published. Approval of these new agents, revision of response criteria, and implementation of new approaches to risk assessment and monitoring residual disease are causing significant changes in the management of MM.

This activity will review areas of current controversy and topics for which consensus is not yet established, including when to initiate treatment, determining transplant eligibility, high-risk disease, duration of maintenance therapy, sequencing newly approved drugs, and choice of treatment at relapse.

Host: Robert Mocharnuk, MD

Guest: Jae Park, MD

The treatment of relapsed or refractory leukemias and lymphomas continues to be challenging, often characterized by limited therapeutic options and poor outcomes. Effective new therapies are needed for these patients.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy represents a radical departure from current treatments by simultaneously being cell therapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy. It promises to revolutionize the treatment of multiple hematologic malignancies, including relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and others.

This activity will review CAR T-cell therapy’s biologic rationale and mechanism of action, the latest efficacy and safety data in different patient populations, and how to effectively manage potentially severe toxicities to maximize patient outcomes.

This activity is a web-based, on-demand activity, featuring an expert panel discussion. This activity is designed as a forum for the debate and evaluation of the most recent clinical data, and to provide evidence-based updates and expert insights on the discussion points to translate current and emerging evidence into real-world clinical practice.

Host: Stephen Edge, MD, FACS, FASCO

In this segment, Dr. Edge discusses the benefits of using clinical oncology pathways in practice as well as their optimal use for patients. Also discussed will be how to best select the primary choice for treatment when using clinical oncology pathways.

This activity is part of a series of in-depth discussions with oncology thought leaders at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York targeting primary care and family physicians.

This series was made possible through the generous support of BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York.

Host: Renée Simone Yolanda Allen, MD, MHSc., FACOG

Guest: Burton S. Brodsky, MD, FACOG

Low awareness of women’s risk factors and symptoms for ovarian cancer, compounded by common use of diagnostic laboratory tests that are less sensitive and not specifically approved for assessing the risk of malignant adnexal mass, are the most important reasons that the great majority of women with ovarian cancer are only diagnosed in late stage disease, when prognosis is far worse.

In this CME activity, join Dr. Burton Brodsky as he reviews best practices in malignancy risk assessment of adnexal mass to improve the detection of ovarian cancer in pre and postmenopausal women in earlier stages, ultimately enhancing their chances at surviving this devastating condition. Additionally, we will share practical strategies to best inform and empower patients, as well as practice management implications to facilitate patients and clinicians’ access to guideline recommended tools for ovarian cancer risk stratification.

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection remains one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in both females and males, with about 9 in 10 people contracting HPV at some point in their lives.

Host Dr. Brian McDonough is joined by Samantha Gottlieb, medical anthropologist and author of Not Quite a Cancer Vaccine: Selling HPV and Cervical Cancer. They explore the history of Gardasil, a vaccine developed for HPV but marketed primarily as a cervical cancer vaccine, which became embroiled in sociopolitical debates about adolescent sexuality and pediatric vaccinations.

The two discuss these precedents alongside current controversies, such as whether vaccinating both males and females will induce herd immunity, and if the benefits outweigh the risks.