TheoryLab

It’s difficult to comprehend how busy and densely packed it is on the inside of a cell. But understanding cell structure and organization is critical to developing new cancer drugs.

Isaac Klein, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Richard Young Laboratory at the Whitehead Institute, recently published findings that could have wide-ranging implications for the understanding of how cancer drugs work.

Dr. Klein joined the podcast to explain why knowing how to get cancer drugs to exactly the right place in a cell—at a sufficient concentration—is critical to developing new and more effective cancer treatments.

Isaac Klein, MD, PhD, is the American Cancer Society Layla Rohani Postdoctoral Fellow. His grant was specially funded by the Rohani Family and Friends. He is a physician and scientist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Center and Whitehead Institute at MIT.

4:11 – What is it like inside of a cell? Is organization a challenge for cells?

8:30 – A great analogy to help us understand cell organization and “condensates,” and why it’s important for some sub-compartments in cells not to have membranes walling them off from other parts of the cell.

13:47 – With no membranes, or walls, how do the contents of a condensate stay together?

19:50 – How cancer drugs are pulled into different condensates

23:02 – How cancer drugs get to the right spot in a cell, at the right concentration

26:23 – How the cancer drug Cisplatin works

31:07 – How their research findings hint at ways to make cancer drugs more powerful

35:03 – The impact of ACS funding on his research

36:24 – A message he’d like to share with cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers

The financial burden that can result from cancer treatment is a widespread problem that not only affects quality of life—it can also affect care and outcomes for patients.

But many of the things that lead to financial hardship can be changed, like health insurance coverage and communication with providers about anticipated costs of care.

Robin Yabroff, PhD—Senior Scientific Director of Health Services Research at the American Cancer Society—is leading the way in research into why and how financial problems affect cancer patients and survivors.

4:33 – On how expensive it is to go through cancer treatment, the variation in cost for different types of cancer, and financial challenges that are unique to cancer survivors

6:50 – On different categories of financial hardship: material, psychological and coping.

9:29 – Is financial hardship a common concern for cancer patients?

12:00 – An age group of cancer patients that tends to be more impacted by financial hardship

15:33 – How health insurers have been shifting cost to patients with higher deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance

18:30 – The cumulative financial burden of patients: “They might not be experiencing financial hardship within the first month or two of treatment, but by 12 months after cancer treatment has started, a recent study showed 75% of cancer survivors reported things like having to refinance their house, taking out major debt, or having a change in income of at least 20 percent…”

20:14 – How consistent findings on financial hardship are, regardless of patient population, time since diagnosis, type of financial hardship, etc.

23:38 – Where she sees the greatest potential for impact

28:17 – On what’s next and how her team’s findings have a real-world impact. For example, recent findings were included in an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in a pending case

32:16 – Resources that the American Cancer Society provides to help cancer survivors

32:53 – Advice she has for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers

The financial burden that can result from cancer treatment is a widespread problem that not only affects quality of life—it can also affect care and outcomes for patients.

But many of the things that lead to financial hardship can be changed, like health insurance coverage and communication with providers about anticipated costs of care.

Robin Yabroff, PhD—Senior Scientific Director of Health Services Research at the American Cancer Society—is leading the way in research into why and how financial problems affect cancer patients and survivors.

4:33 – On how expensive it is to go through cancer treatment, the variation in cost for different types of cancer, and financial challenges that are unique to cancer survivors

6:50 – On different categories of financial hardship: material, psychological and coping.

9:29 – Is financial hardship a common concern for cancer patients?

12:00 – An age group of cancer patients that tends to be more impacted by financial hardship

15:33 – How health insurers have been shifting cost to patients with higher deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance

18:30 – The cumulative financial burden of patients: “They might not be experiencing financial hardship within the first month or two of treatment, but by 12 months after cancer treatment has started, a recent study showed 75% of cancer survivors reported things like having to refinance their house, taking out major debt, or having a change in income of at least 20 percent…”

20:14 – How consistent findings on financial hardship are, regardless of patient population, time since diagnosis, type of financial hardship, etc.

23:38 – Where she sees the greatest potential for impact

28:17 – On what’s next and how her team’s findings have a real-world impact. For example, recent findings were included in an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in a pending case

32:16 – Resources that the American Cancer Society provides to help cancer survivors

32:53 – Advice she has for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers

Collaboration is critical to cancer research, but it’s not easy. Matt Bochman and Seth Herzon teamed up on a project focused on a particularly dangerous type of DNA damage. They talked about the keys to a successful scientific collaboration and how to overcome some of the common challenges.

Their collaboration actually started in TheoryLab. That’s the American Cancer Society’s research podcast, but it’s also the name of the American Cancer Society’s online research community for scientists and clinical professionals who have a current or previous relationship with ACS as a grant recipient, mentor, peer reviewer, staff researcher, or adviser.

This year the American Cancer Society partnered with Emerson Collective to support collaborative research projects between scientists in this online community. TheoryLab Collaborative (TLC) Grants are designed to support new and transdisciplinary collaborations among TheoryLab users to explore high-risk ideas, including Covid-19 research relevant to cancer or persons living with cancer.

Seth Herzon, PhD, is Professor of Chemistry at Yale University and a two-time recipient of American Cancer Society research grants. Matt Bochman, PhD, is Associate Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry at Indiana University and is a three-time American Cancer Society grantee.

4:37 – How Dr. Bochman knew he needed to collaborate with a chemist to pursue his research question…

5:47 – …and how he used the American Cancer Society’s online grantee community to connect with Dr. Herzon for the first time

7:33 – Dr. Herzon on what he initially found interesting in the potential collaboration

10:32 – Science communication skills that Dr. Bochman leaned on to get the collaboration going

12:45 – Unexpected benefits that they have seen from the collaboration, such as how it’s encouraged their students and lab members to think more broadly about their work

17:08 – Advice they’d have for finding a scientific collaborator in an online forum

19:05 – The challenges of collaborating with scientists who are much more senior

20:42 – Some of the dos and don’ts of scientific collaboration

24:37 – On how ACS funding has impacted Dr. Bochman’s research

25:55 – A message Dr. Herzon would like to share with cancer patients and caregivers.

Collaboration is critical to cancer research, but it’s not easy. Matt Bochman and Seth Herzon teamed up on a project focused on a particularly dangerous type of DNA damage. They talked about the keys to a successful scientific collaboration and how to overcome some of the common challenges.

Their collaboration actually started in TheoryLab. That’s the American Cancer Society’s research podcast, but it’s also the name of the American Cancer Society’s online research community for scientists and clinical professionals who have a current or previous relationship with ACS as a grant recipient, mentor, peer reviewer, staff researcher, or adviser.

This year the American Cancer Society partnered with Emerson Collective to support collaborative research projects between scientists in this online community. TheoryLab Collaborative (TLC) Grants are designed to support new and transdisciplinary collaborations among TheoryLab users to explore high-risk ideas, including Covid-19 research relevant to cancer or persons living with cancer.

Seth Herzon, PhD, is Professor of Chemistry at Yale University and a two-time recipient of American Cancer Society research grants. Matt Bochman, PhD, is Associate Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry at Indiana University and is a three-time American Cancer Society grantee.

4:37 – How Dr. Bochman knew he needed to collaborate with a chemist to pursue his research question…

5:47 – …and how he used the American Cancer Society’s online grantee community to connect with Dr. Herzon for the first time

7:33 – Dr. Herzon on what he initially found interesting in the potential collaboration

10:32 – Science communication skills that Dr. Bochman leaned on to get the collaboration going

12:45 – Unexpected benefits that they have seen from the collaboration, such as how it’s encouraged their students and lab members to think more broadly about their work

17:08 – Advice they’d have for finding a scientific collaborator in an online forum

19:05 – The challenges of collaborating with scientists who are much more senior

20:42 – Some of the dos and don’ts of scientific collaboration

24:37 – On how ACS funding has impacted Dr. Bochman’s research

25:55 – A message Dr. Herzon would like to share with cancer patients and caregivers.

There might never have been a time when more people have been interested in learning about science—from a safe distance.

Skype a Scientist matches up scientists with classrooms and groups of adults for Q&A sessions over video chat.

Sarah McAnulty, PhD—Executive Director of Skype a Scientist and a squid biologist—joined the podcast to talk about the goals of Skype a Scientist and how scientists from all disciplines share their work with groups of all ages and backgrounds.

People interested in learning from a scientist—and scientists interested in sharing their work with the public—can sign up to find a match at https://www.skypeascientist.com/.

3:05 – Her research into how animals and bacteria communicate…

4:39 - …and why this matters. Why is it important to know this?

6:33 – On how Skype a Scientist connects people with scientists and helps them overcome the “intimidation factor” with science

8:22 – On how scientists across all disciplines participate

9:41 – On the audience, which is five or more people and could be of any age, background, or level of expertise (e.g., classrooms, library groups)

11:38 – How do you find the right scientist through Skype a Scientist?

14:27 – On how scientists interested in sharing their expertise can get involved

16:35 – Some of her favorite moments from Skype a Scientist sessions

19:23 – On resources available through Skype a Scientist that might be helpful to cancer patients and caregivers

There might never have been a time when more people have been interested in learning about science—from a safe distance.

Skype a Scientist matches up scientists with classrooms and groups of adults for Q&A sessions over video chat.

Sarah McAnulty, PhD—Executive Director of Skype a Scientist and a squid biologist—joined the podcast to talk about the goals of Skype a Scientist and how scientists from all disciplines share their work with groups of all ages and backgrounds.

People interested in learning from a scientist—and scientists interested in sharing their work with the public—can sign up to find a match at https://www.skypeascientist.com/.

3:05 – Her research into how animals and bacteria communicate…

4:39 - …and why this matters. Why is it important to know this?

6:33 – On how Skype a Scientist connects people with scientists and helps them overcome the “intimidation factor” with science

8:22 – On how scientists across all disciplines participate

9:41 – On the audience, which is five or more people and could be of any age, background, or level of expertise (e.g., classrooms, library groups)

11:38 – How do you find the right scientist through Skype a Scientist?

14:27 – On how scientists interested in sharing their expertise can get involved

16:35 – Some of her favorite moments from Skype a Scientist sessions

19:23 – On resources available through Skype a Scientist that might be helpful to cancer patients and caregivers

Not all cancer survivors are the same. They have disparate healthcare needs and should not be approached in a “one size fits all” manner.

Corinne Leach, PhD, MPH, MS—Senior Principal Scientist in the American Cancer Society’s Population Science team—explains why and how we should bring personalized follow-up survivorship care to everyone with a history of cancer that is at an appropriate level based on need, that is high quality and equitable, that is efficient and sustainable for the healthcare system, and that leads to positive outcomes for all individuals with a history of cancer.

Dr. Leach also helped develop Springboard Beyond Cancer (https://survivorship.cancer.gov/), an online tool for cancer survivors developed through a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute. Springboard Beyond Cancer is designed to make it easy for those in treatment and post-treatment to access essential information to help them manage ongoing cancer-related symptoms, deal with stress, improve healthy behaviors, communicate better with healthcare teams, and seek support from friends and family.

3:14 – How the very different experiences of her grandparents helped lead to her interest in research into older cancer survivors

7:39 – Characteristics that make older cancer survivors unique

10:13 – On health behaviors that are particularly important for this population

14:14 – On the importance of personalized survivorship

18:26 – On some of the big picture research priorities and specific research questions that were identified in a recent study she led summarizing an expert panel’s research priorities for advancing personalized survivorship in the United States

22:35 – On Springboard Beyond Cancer (https://survivorship.cancer.gov/), a comprehensive tool for both survivors going thorough treatment and those who are post-treatment

25:58 – On how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted personalized cancer survivorship

28:51 – On how the rise in social isolation due to the pandemic could help people appreciate a problem older adults have been dealing with for a long time

Not all cancer survivors are the same. They have disparate healthcare needs and should not be approached in a “one size fits all” manner.

Corinne Leach, PhD, MPH, MS—Senior Principal Scientist in the American Cancer Society’s Population Science team—explains why and how we should bring personalized follow-up survivorship care to everyone with a history of cancer that is at an appropriate level based on need, that is high quality and equitable, that is efficient and sustainable for the healthcare system, and that leads to positive outcomes for all individuals with a history of cancer.

Dr. Leach also helped develop Springboard Beyond Cancer (https://survivorship.cancer.gov/), an online tool for cancer survivors developed through a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute. Springboard Beyond Cancer is designed to make it easy for those in treatment and post-treatment to access essential information to help them manage ongoing cancer-related symptoms, deal with stress, improve healthy behaviors, communicate better with healthcare teams, and seek support from friends and family.

3:14 – How the very different experiences of her grandparents helped lead to her interest in research into older cancer survivors

7:39 – Characteristics that make older cancer survivors unique

10:13 – On health behaviors that are particularly important for this population

14:14 – On the importance of personalized survivorship

18:26 – On some of the big picture research priorities and specific research questions that were identified in a recent study she led summarizing an expert panel’s research priorities for advancing personalized survivorship in the United States

22:35 – On Springboard Beyond Cancer (https://survivorship.cancer.gov/), a comprehensive tool for both survivors going thorough treatment and those who are post-treatment

25:58 – On how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted personalized cancer survivorship

28:51 – On how the rise in social isolation due to the pandemic could help people appreciate a problem older adults have been dealing with for a long time

Cancer patients undergoing treatment often need urgent medical care, because they become sick from the cancer and/or the cancer treatment. They might be experiencing pain or gastrointestinal issues. They might have a high fever. In these cases, many patients visit an emergency room, and there can be downsides to that.

Arthur Hong, MD, recently received American Cancer Society funding to explore whether outpatient cancer urgent care clinics could be a better alternative to emergency rooms in some cases. Dr. Hong notes: “Cancer urgent care clinics are designed to handle many problems that are commonly the result of cancer and its treatment such as nausea, vomiting, weakness, fevers, and pain. Cancer urgent care visits are usually much more convenient, have shorter waiting times, and are faster and much less expensive than the emergency room.”

Arthur Hong, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Population and Data Sciences at UT Southwestern.

4:42 – On what it’s like to find out in a phone call that your grant has been funded (Dr. Hong was recently awarded a Clinician Scientist Development Grant from the ACS)

6:11 – How the pandemic has impacted his clinical practice and research program

9:24 – Why cancer patients visit the emergency room and…

11:46 – …some of the downsides to them visiting ER for treatment

15:19 – What are cancer urgent care clinics? How common are they?

20:36 – On the advantages of cancer urgent care clinics as an alternative to the emergency room

26:22 – The best-case scenario for how his work unfolds over the next 5 years

28:50 – A message he’d like to share with cancer patients, survivors and caregivers