Project Oncology®

This is a non-certified educational series produced and controlled by ReachMD.

While BCMA-directed CAR T-cell therapy has changed the treatment landscape for patients with relapsed and refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma, access remains uneven outside academic centers. In this expert-led discussion, Dr. Brian McDonough, Dr. Surbhi Sidana, and Dr. Tara Graff explore real-world barriers to referral and delivery, evolving care models, and the multidisciplinary coordination required to extend CAR T therapy into community practice. Dr. Sidana is an Associate Professor of Medicine, and she leads the Myeloma CAR T and Immunotherapy program at Stanford Medicine. Dr. Graff is the Director of Clinical Research at Mission Cancer + Blood, and she serves on the National CAR T-Cell Advisory Board for Multiple Myeloma.

What if a simple blood draw could reveal whether a patient is responding to treatment before surgery? That question is at the heart of a study presented at the 2025 ESMO Congress, which investigated neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade in mismatch-repair-proficient (MMR-p) colon cancer. In addition to confirming that combination immunotherapy prior to surgery is a safe and feasible approach, the study also found that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels correlated with both tumor burden and early treatment response. Joining Dr. Brian McDonough to unpack these insights is Dr. Christopher Chen, Assistant Professor in the Division of Oncology in the Department of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.

This is a non-certified educational series produced and controlled by ReachMD.

The latest International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) guidelines emphasize immune function, relapse timing, and therapeutic intent to guide the sequencing of T-cell-redirecting therapies in relapsed/refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma. Hear key updates as Dr. Jennifer Caudle and Dr. Mansi Shah discuss how we can integrate T-cell redirecting therapies into patient care more intentionally. Dr. Shah is an Associate Professor and the Clinical Director of Multiple Myeloma at the Rutgers Cancer Institute.

Not all metastatic breast cancer is created equal. This AudioAbstract spotlights new data from a multicenter study in Japan that highlights how the first site of distant recurrence can significantly shape a patient’s prognosis. By isolating cases with single-organ metastasis, the study draws sharp contrasts in survival based on metastatic location, revealing that patients with brain or liver involvement fare far worse than those with bone or lung metastases. Tune in to better understand how site and even biology and presentation can guide care for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

The treatment landscape for HER2-positive gastroesophageal cancer is rapidly evolving, with zanidatamab emerging as a new option following years of limited progress beyond trastuzumab. Dr. John Strickler joins us to share insights on how recent FDA approvals and novel agents are transforming outcomes in this complex disease setting. Dr. Strickler is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Medical Oncology at Duke University School of Medicine and Co-Leader for the Precision Cancer Medicine and Investigational Therapeutics Program at the Duke Cancer Institute.

From tumor detection to biomarker development, artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the landscape of gastrointestinal oncology. In this expert-led program, Dr. William Hall explains how AI is being applied to data to identify tumor features and treatment susceptibilities faster and more precisely than traditional methods. Dr. Hall is a Professor and Chair of Radiation Oncology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and he spoke about this topic at the 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

For patients with locally advanced gastroesophageal cancer, surgery remains a critical component of curative treatment—even in the era of chemoradiation and advanced imaging. Dr. Daniela Molena explores the challenges of assessing complete clinical response and the risks of non-operative management. Dr. Molena is an Associate Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and a Thoracic Surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and she discussed this topic at the 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

With a poor prognosis and high disease heterogeneity, metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) demands timely, informed treatment decisions. Dr. Jennifer Caudle is joined by Dr. Alexis LeVee, a breast medical oncologist and clinical instructor at UCLA Health, to explore the importance of early decision-making, the impact of disease heterogeneity, and the evolving data that’s reshaping first-line standards for patients with mTNBC.

Presented at the 2025 ESMO Congress, the IMvigor011 phase 3 trial evaluated a ctDNA-guided strategy for administering adjuvant atezolizumab in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) following radical cystectomy. Patients with high-risk pathological features were monitored using a personalized, tumor-informed ctDNA assay; those testing positive for ctDNA were randomized to receive atezolizumab or placebo, while ctDNA-negative patients continued surveillance without treatment. The trial demonstrated significant improvements in both disease-free and overall survival in the atezolizumab group along with favorable outcomes among ctDNA-negative patients, suggesting many may safely avoid overtreatment.

Joining Dr. Charles Turck to unpack the study results and how they highlight ctDNA’s role in guiding personalized therapy is Dr. Andrea Necchi. Not only is he an investigator on this research, but he’s also an Associate Professor of Oncology at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and the Director of Genitourinary Medical Oncology at IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital and Scientific Institute in Milan, Italy.

Early findings from the PETRA study suggest that combining saruparib with camizestrant may offer added clinical benefit in ER+/HER2– advanced breast cancer, particularly in patients with BRCA or PALB2 mutations. Tune in to hear from Dr. Pavani Chalasani and Dr. Timothy Yap as they discuss this encouraging new data on tolerability and antitumor activity. Dr. Yap is the Ransom Horne, Jr. Endowed Professor for Cancer Research, Vice President and Head of Clinical Development in the Therapeutic Discovery Division, and a professor in the Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He recently presented this research at the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.