The NRG Oncology Podcast Co-hosts sit with NRG Oncology Patient Advocate, Tambre Leighn, to discuss what our patient advocates do in the process of our clinical trials from concept to reporting results. Tambre dives into the benefits of a great patient-physician relationship in building stronger trials as well as the need to tailor our trials around our patients' needs. Tambre also talks about the specific training advocates are encouraged to go through to help learn more about the clinical research process.

NRG Oncology Podcast co-hosts talk with Dr. Vinai Gondi, the Principal Investigator of the NRG-CC009 phase III clinical study assessing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) versus hippocampal-avoidant whole brain radiotherapy (HA-WBRT) for patients who have brain metastases (or cancer that has spread to the brain) from their small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Our co-hosts sit with Drs. Ross Abrams and Karyn Goodman to discuss the results of NRG-RTOG 0848 studying adjuvant chemotherapy with or without chemoradiation for patients with resected periampullary pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

The NRG Oncology Podcast Co-hosts interview Dr. Clifford Hudis - the CEO of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) on how ASCO and the NCTN collaborate, the cost and complexity of conducting research, as well as how to take action and advocate for research.

Our co-hosts discuss the currently active & accruing NRG-GI008 study, also known as the "CIRCULATE-NORTH AMERICA" study. This study will evaluate what kind of chemotherapy to recommend to patients based on the presence or absences of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) after surgery for colon cancer.

Our co-hosts discuss the currently active & accruing NRG-GU012 study, also known as the "SAMURAI" study. This study is assessing if stereotactic ablative radiotherapy to the primary tumor in combination with immunotherapy improves outcomes when compared to immunotherapy by itself for patients who have metastatic, unresected, renal cell carcinoma.

Our Co-Hosts interview George Blasing of the popular "Dinosaur George" podcast. If you have listened to our prior episodes, George's podcast was the inspiration for the NRG Oncology Podcast in his ability to break down very complex topics to a generalized audience. In this episode, George discusses how he tackles simplifying complex topics and how it can translate into the medical field. Additionally, he discusses his own experiences as a kidney cancer survivor and his good and bad experiences with his oncologists during his treatment.

We met with Drs. Mannel and Le, so now it is high-time we sit with Dr. Norman Wolmark to complete the NRG Oncology Group Chair trifecta. Dr. Wolmark dives into the NRG budget and grant process and priorities as well as advancements seen in breast cancer research over the years and the role NRG and NSABP play in that.

The NRG Oncology Podcast Co-hosts sit with NRG-BR008 "HERO" Study Co-PIs Dr. Lior Braunstein and Dr. Melissa Mitchell to discuss this study for low-risk HER2+ breast cancer. This study will test if HER2-targeted therapy without radiation therapy is as good as the usual treatment of HER2-targeted therapy with radiation for patients with early-stage HER2+ breast cancer.

As a special part of the NRG2025 Winter Meeting, we are releasing this two-part interview episode. Our co-hosts sat with Dr. Jeff Michalski, NRG Theranostics Subcommittee Chair, regarding the new subcommittee, its goals, and how it fits into the NRG structure. Additionally, we talk to Dr. Joan Walker who recently stepped down from her role as NRG NCORP Co-PI to focus her efforts in mentorship within NRG. She explains the NRG Health Equity Fellowship Program and how this program was envisioned.

Resources:

ASTRO AU Guide

https://www.astro.org/blog/april-2022/how-to-become-a-licensee-or-an-authorized-user-for-radiopharmaceuticals?tagid=13

ASTRO RPT Blog

https://www.astro.org/blog?tagid=6

Washington University Procedures and Documentation (download

https://radonc.wustl.edu/lutetium-177-psma-617-procedures-and-documentation/

Establishing a RPT Program (Jacqueline Zoberi,PhD JACMP

https://aapm.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acm2.13899