Simply Oncology

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Sometimes we hear about a vision for a trial that is so novel and exciting that it takes you back a bit.

This is one such moment.

Join us as we talk to the amazing Dr Faye Robertson from the Edinburgh cancer Centre about the ingenious ADePT trial.

DUAL PAYLOAD GENE THERAPY.

Led by Trogenix and the University of Edinburgh, it tests a breakthrough "Trojan horse" gene therapy designed to destroy cancer cells and stimulate the immune system.

TGX-007 is a drug developed with Tregonix that:

How it Works: It uses dual-payload technology to deliver two distinct therapeutic agents:

1. HSV-tk: Converts an orally administered antiviral drug (valaciclovir) into a toxic agent that directly kills proliferating tumour cells.
2. IL-12: Acts as an immune-stimulating cytokine that turns the tumour into an in-situ vaccine, training the body's immune system to attack the cancer and prevent recurrence.

We have had many false dawns in GBM trials but we are very excited by the results so far with TGX-007.

Part 1 of 2 and this is a trial story we want to follow through.

Enjoy!!!

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We return to discuss the role of radiotherapy in the management of Pancreatic Cancer.

What are the side effects of pancreatic radiotherapy and SABR?

Do we need an MR Linac to deliver pancreatic SABR

Where might pancreatic RT sit alongside new RAS inhibitor therapies?

Enjoy

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Today we are talking about the role of radiotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer with the superb Dr Ganesh Radhakrishna from the Christie Hospital in Manchester.

Radiotherapy may play an increasing role in pancreatic cancer. Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is helping to get excellent control rates in localised pancreatic cancer and may play a role alongside surgery in pancreatic cancer.

Will radiotherapy ever replace surgery in select cases?

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Join us as we talk to Annie Anderson to get a patient view on advanced kidney cancer and its treatment.

Annie was diagnosed with stage IV Kidney Cancer in 2022 which had spread to liver, bone, brain.

She went from climbing and running 18 miles to struggling to function.

She describes the choices she made and how immunotherapy with has controlled her cancer and allowed her to continue her normal life.

A really powerful thing to hear how Annie has tackled her diagnosis and aimed to take positive steps every day.

She describes how continuing the things that give her joy like family, cold-water swimming and climbing have allowed her retain her sense of self along the way.

You cannot help but be inspired.

Enjoy

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Join us as we complete our tour of the adjuvant kidney cancer treatment space.

We are joined again by the excellent Dr Will Ince from Cambridge and Dr Naveen Vasudev from Leeds!

In our last episode we discussed KEYNOTE 564 and the RAMPART study and where this places immunotherapy in adjuvant kidney cancer.

In this episode we discuss the LITESPARK 022 trial and the addition of Belzutifan to Pembrolizumab in adjuvant kidney cancer treatment.

We also discuss the potential for KIM-1 to be used as a biomarker to highlight those higher risk patients that may benefit from adjuvant immunotherapy.

This is an exciting time for adjuvant treatment in kidney cancer.

All this as Will continues to misbehave to amuse himself!!

We hope you enjoy! 

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Joins us as we celebrate 100 episodes in style!!

In the first of our 2 part special we tackle the Adjuvant Treatment Landscape in Kidney Cancer.

We talk to Dr Will Ince from Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge and Dr Naveen Vasudev from St James’s Hospital Leeds.

We discuss the arrival of immunotherapy with the KEYNOTE 564 trial.

We discuss the importance of the RAMPART study and backing up the concept of a survival signal from immunotherapy in adjuvant Kidney cancer.

We discuss our concept of risk and benefit.

Nav steers us through this evolving landscape whilst Will Ince generally misbehaves!!!

Enjoy

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Welcome back for Part 2 of our Early Melanoma series with Dr Toby Talbot.

We dive in to the potential side effects of treatment and how this affects decisions about adjuvant treatment.

We hear about adjuvant BRAF targeted therapy, with more side effects but temporary ones.

We look at the future with the NADINA trial for neoadjuvant immunotherapy in high risk clinical stage III disease, the emerging role of cancer vaccines, and biomarkers to try and find the right treatment for the right patient.

Tour de force as always. Keep an eye out for upcoming podcasts on the treatment of advanced/metastatic melanoma. 

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We welcome back our very own Dr Toby Talbot Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Royal Cornwall Hospital for his patient-focussed insights into managing early stage melanoma.

In this two part series, we explore what melanoma is, why it comes about and how it is investigated.

We discuss surgery, why this might be a two stage procedure and the importance of sentinel lymph node biopsy. 

We then delve into some of the drug treatments available, used to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. We focus mainly on immunotherapy and the possible benefits of treatment in Part 1.

Tune in next week for Part 2 where we explore some of the side effects of treatments, BRAF directed therapy and how these drugs are possibly going to be used before surgery.

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Join us for something a bit different this week!!

We though it would be fun ( and hopefully helpful) to make an A to Z of Oncology.

Are you a patient or care who is newly diagnosed with cancer.

Are you new to working around cancer care.

Are you in training and want to learn more.

Indeed- are you in cancer care and want to know why we have chosen our A to Z.

We get the super experienced Clinical Nurse Specialist Debbie Victor to help us out. As Education trustee for the British Association of Urology Nurses she knows a thing or 2 about supporting patients in cancer.

If you have a better A to Z please feel free to contact us and let us know!!

If you want a recap the list is in the transcript👍

Enjoy

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Join us as we tackle the topic of Artificial intelligence in Radiotherapy.

This week we speak to the excellent Professor Ajay Aggarwal about the use of AI in radiotherapy planning.

We discuss the international ARCHERY trial using an AI radiotherapy planning tool to  streamline radiotherapy planning in prostate, head & neck and cervical cancers. 

This PRA artificial planning tool developed at the MD Anderson hospital could unlock huge radiotherapy delivery potential in Low & middle income countries and beyond!

This trial of 990 patients is being conducted in Jordan, South Africa, India and Malaysia.

All radiotherapy trials are hard to get funded. This remains an area of need for oncology trial funding.

Massive respect and congratulations to Ajay and the international team for getting unified treatment protocols and to actually prospectively test and AI solution in radiotherapy.

We hope you enjoy

Link below to the ARCHERY trial manuscript.

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e077253