TheoryLab

In this episode, three researchers from Dartmouth who are investigating very different aspects of cancer joined the podcast to share their work. One of the guests, James Moseley, PhD, summed up why a diversity of scientific approaches and collaboration among researchers is so important:

“We’re all in this together. There are so many different angles to fighting cancer, whether it be here at Dartmouth—where we’ve got folks working on the level of cells and proteins all the way up through patient care and beyond—or through the ACS. This is really a team effort, and we’re all kind of working on our individual parts, but (this is) a reminder that we’re all working together to tackle all these different aspects of cancer with the ultimate goal of helping patients and survivors.”

Amber Barnato, MD, MPH, MS, is the Susan J. and Richard M. Levy 1960 Distinguished Professor in Health Care Delivery. Her research focuses on variation in end-of-life intensive care unit and life-sustaining treatment use.

Kathleen Lyons, ScD, is Associate Professor of Psychiatry. Here research focuses on cancer rehabilitation and palliative and supportive care.

James Moseley, PhD, is Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. His lab studies how cells coordinate cell growth and division.

5:10 – Dr. Barnato on making sure that end-of-life care aligns with personal goals, helps manage symptoms and emotional distress, and supports families

7:08 – Dr. Lyons on how rehabilitation science helps with symptom management and side effects from cancer treatment

9:24 – Dr. Moseley on a different kind of decision making – how a cell decides that it’s going to divide

13:02 – How early engagement of palliative care in cancer care improves quality of life and symptom management and can help extend life

16:02 – On the growing understanding of why “prehabilitation” before treatment is so important

20:24 – What we’ve learned from technological breakthroughs that have allowed researchers to watch individual proteins in cells

27:20 – Dr. Barnato’s focus on medical decision making and patient-provider relationships

29:42 – How Dr. Lyons is focused on accelerating recovery from treatment and helping patients get back to doing the activities they want to do

35:30 – Dr. Moseley poses an interesting question: How does a cell know what size it is?

39:10 – On the collaborative, supportive environment at Dartmouth

40:49 – The impact of ACS funding on their research

49:55 – A message they’d like to share with cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors

To understand how cancer develops and spreads, and to develop better therapies, it’s critical to understand the tumor microenvironment, the immediate area around a tumor that “helps generate a supportive niche for it to develop and grow.”

Johanna Joyce, PhD, joined the podcast to explain that the diverse normal cells around a tumor are enmeshed with cancer cells. They’re integrated. They communicate and influence each other’s functions.

Her lab’s goal is “to try and either block this cellular conversation or redirect it towards a more constructive dialogue that helps fight the tumor and not support it.”

Johanna Joyce, PhD, is Professor at the University of Lausanne and Full Member of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research.

4:32 – What is the tumor microenvironment?

6:00 – Why it’s similar to the immense complexity of a forest’s ecosystem

8:19 – Do tumors somehow create or remodel their microenvironments?

12:42 – “The tumor microenvironment can have a major impact on how a given cancer responds to therapy in a number of different ways…”

18:23 – On the unique aspects of the tumor microenvironment in the brain

22:02 – On her fantastic new study showing that different brain cancers have different microenvironments based on whether the tumors started in the brain or spread to the brain

28:15 – Surprising findings from that study – the immense complexity and diversity of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment

32:12 – How can we translate these findings to the clinic?

36:22 – Why it’s so important to understand how different lifestyles, diets, levels of activity, and environmental exposures impact patients’ tumor microenvironments

38:20 – The impact that American Cancer Society funding had on her career

40:41 – Her message for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers

To understand how cancer develops and spreads, and to develop better therapies, it’s critical to understand the tumor microenvironment, the immediate area around a tumor that “helps generate a supportive niche for it to develop and grow.”

Johanna Joyce, PhD, joined the podcast to explain that the diverse normal cells around a tumor are enmeshed with cancer cells. They’re integrated. They communicate and influence each other’s functions.

Her lab’s goal is “to try and either block this cellular conversation or redirect it towards a more constructive dialogue that helps fight the tumor and not support it.”

Johanna Joyce, PhD, is Professor at the University of Lausanne and Full Member of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research.

4:32 – What is the tumor microenvironment?

6:00 – Why it’s similar to the immense complexity of a forest’s ecosystem

8:19 – Do tumors somehow create or remodel their microenvironments?

12:42 – “The tumor microenvironment can have a major impact on how a given cancer responds to therapy in a number of different ways…”

18:23 – On the unique aspects of the tumor microenvironment in the brain

22:02 – On her fantastic new study showing that different brain cancers have different microenvironments based on whether the tumors started in the brain or spread to the brain

28:15 – Surprising findings from that study – the immense complexity and diversity of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment

32:12 – How can we translate these findings to the clinic?

36:22 – Why it’s so important to understand how different lifestyles, diets, levels of activity, and environmental exposures impact patients’ tumor microenvironments

38:20 – The impact that American Cancer Society funding had on her career

40:41 – Her message for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers

When Delaram Cavey was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer seven years ago, she was fortunate to have two wonderful daughters to help her along her journey.

Delaram and her older daughter, Catherine Cavey, joined the podcast to share the story of Delaram’s cancer diagnosis and treatment.

They also talked about how the cancer experience has sparked an interest in science in their family. Catherine has created an educational resource to raise awareness of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, and they’ve founded GoMENA to create pathways for immigrant girls of Middle Eastern and North African descent to become engineers in the United States (https://gomena.us/).

Delaram Cavey is a career member of the United States foreign service. Her daughter, Catherine Cavey, is in the 10th grade at Edison High School in Fairfax, Virginia.

5:09 – The story of Delaram’s lung cancer diagnosis

9:08 – Catherine on her memories of her mom’s diagnosis

12:54 – What it was like for Delaram, as a never smoker, to learn she has lung cancer

13:46 – How the cancer journey brought their family closer together

17:05 – How Catherine has helped raise awareness of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations

20:40 – How her mom’s experience has impacted Catherine’s career goals

23:42 – On living your best life, every day

28:46 – Advice from Catherine for other children whose parents are diagnosed with cancer

29:36 – Why they founded GoMENA to create pathways for immigrant girls of Middle Eastern and North African descent to become engineers in the United States

https://gomena.us/

When Delaram Cavey was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer seven years ago, she was fortunate to have two wonderful daughters to help her along her journey.

Delaram and her older daughter, Catherine Cavey, joined the podcast to share the story of Delaram’s cancer diagnosis and treatment.

They also talked about how the cancer experience has sparked an interest in science in their family. Catherine has created an educational resource to raise awareness of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, and they’ve founded GoMENA to create pathways for immigrant girls of Middle Eastern and North African descent to become engineers in the United States (https://gomena.us/).

Delaram Cavey is a career member of the United States foreign service. Her daughter, Catherine Cavey, is in the 10th grade at Edison High School in Fairfax, Virginia.

5:09 – The story of Delaram’s lung cancer diagnosis

9:08 – Catherine on her memories of her mom’s diagnosis

12:54 – What it was like for Delaram, as a never smoker, to learn she has lung cancer

13:46 – How the cancer journey brought their family closer together

17:05 – How Catherine has helped raise awareness of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations

20:40 – How her mom’s experience has impacted Catherine’s career goals

23:42 – On living your best life, every day

28:46 – Advice from Catherine for other children whose parents are diagnosed with cancer

29:36 – Why they founded GoMENA to create pathways for immigrant girls of Middle Eastern and North African descent to become engineers in the United States

https://gomena.us/

Melanoma is much less common than some other types of skin cancers, but it is more dangerous because it’s much more likely to spread to other parts of the body if not caught and treated early.

While there have been some exciting advances in melanoma research in recent years, there is much left to learn about, for example, how it spreads, how it resists treatment, and therapies could be improved.

In this episode, three scientists at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center who are investigating different aspects of melanoma explain why it’s a challenging disease, describe recent advances against it, and underscore why there are so many reasons to be excited.

4:11 - Andrew Aplin, PhD, is Associate Director of Basic Research at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and Professor in the Department of Cancer Biology.

Chris Snyder, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.

Neda Nikbakht, MD, PhD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.

4:42 – Dr. Aplin on his research into why melanoma is so resistant to therapy

5:59 – Dr. Snyder on his work into why the immune system sometimes doesn’t seem to recognize cancer

8:11 – Dr. Nikbakht, a dermatologist who sees patients with skin cancer, discusses how she studies the skin microbiome to learn what properties promote melanoma

10:43 – The tremendous recent advances in melanoma treatment

13:59 – What we’ve learned about the immune system in recent years

18:02 – A physician’s perspective on recent advances in melanoma research

22:04 – The big picture goal of Dr. Aplin’s research

26:51 – Dr. Snyder’s move into cancer immunology

32:00 – Dr. Nikbakht on the tremendous importance of patient samples in research

37:46 – How the collaborative environment at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center enhances their research

43:26 – The impact of ACS funding on their work

47:16 – Why advances made during the push to develop COVID-19 vaccines could be very impactful for cancer research

49:01 – A message they’d like to share with cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers

Melanoma is much less common than some other types of skin cancers, but it is more dangerous because it’s much more likely to spread to other parts of the body if not caught and treated early.

While there have been some exciting advances in melanoma research in recent years, there is much left to learn about, for example, how it spreads, how it resists treatment, and therapies could be improved.

In this episode, three scientists at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center who are investigating different aspects of melanoma explain why it’s a challenging disease, describe recent advances against it, and underscore why there are so many reasons to be excited.

4:11 - Andrew Aplin, PhD, is Associate Director of Basic Research at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and Professor in the Department of Cancer Biology.

Chris Snyder, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.

Neda Nikbakht, MD, PhD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.

4:42 – Dr. Aplin on his research into why melanoma is so resistant to therapy

5:59 – Dr. Snyder on his work into why the immune system sometimes doesn’t seem to recognize cancer

8:11 – Dr. Nikbakht, a dermatologist who sees patients with skin cancer, discusses how she studies the skin microbiome to learn what properties promote melanoma

10:43 – The tremendous recent advances in melanoma treatment

13:59 – What we’ve learned about the immune system in recent years

18:02 – A physician’s perspective on recent advances in melanoma research

22:04 – The big picture goal of Dr. Aplin’s research

26:51 – Dr. Snyder’s move into cancer immunology

32:00 – Dr. Nikbakht on the tremendous importance of patient samples in research

37:46 – How the collaborative environment at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center enhances their research

43:26 – The impact of ACS funding on their work

47:16 – Why advances made during the push to develop COVID-19 vaccines could be very impactful for cancer research

49:01 – A message they’d like to share with cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer, but if it’s found at an earlier stage, when it is small and before it has spread, it is more likely to be successfully treated.

To take us through the state of lung cancer screening in the US—big picture issues, challenges faced by patients and clinicians, and reasons for excitement—we were joined by two leading experts in the field.

Christopher Slatore, MD, MS, is an investigator for the Portland VA Health Service Research and Development Center of Innovation, Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC). He’s Associate Professor of Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, and he’s a pulmonologist who conducts lung cancer screening. He’s also an American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant recipient.

Anne Melzer, MD, MS, is Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School. She is an Investigator at the Minneapolis VA Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research. And she is a pulmonologist who is the medical director of the lung cancer screening at the Minneapolis VA.

The American Cancer Society recommends annual lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan for certain people at higher risk for lung cancer. Visit cancer.org for details:

https://www.cancer.org/health-care-professionals/american-cancer-society-prevention-early-detection-guidelines/lung-cancer-screening-guidelines.html

4:18 – Welcome Dr. Melzer and Dr. Slatore

5:51 – Dr. Melzer on the lung cancer burden in the United States

8:46 – Dr. Slatore on the state of lung cancer screening in the US

12:08 – Some of the big picture problems they’re trying to solve related to lung cancer screening

16:47 – The US Preventive Services Task Force’s recent recommendation regarding lung cancer screening: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/lung-cancer-screening

23:01 – Challenges that exist for patients when it comes to lung cancer screening

25:28 – Some of the frustrations clinicians have with lung cancer screening

30:39 – “We need to make it easier for patients and primary care providers to do lung cancer screening.”

34:57 – It all comes down to an old Seinfeld episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2GmGSNvaM

36:31 – The impact of ACS funding on Dr. Slatore’s research

37:28 – The aspect of her research that Dr. Melzer is most excited about

38:50 – Messages they’d like to share with cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer, but if it’s found at an earlier stage, when it is small and before it has spread, it is more likely to be successfully treated.

To take us through the state of lung cancer screening in the US—big picture issues, challenges faced by patients and clinicians, and reasons for excitement—we were joined by two leading experts in the field.

Christopher Slatore, MD, MS, is an investigator for the Portland VA Health Service Research and Development Center of Innovation, Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC). He’s Associate Professor of Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, and he’s a pulmonologist who conducts lung cancer screening. He’s also an American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant recipient.

Anne Melzer, MD, MS, is Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School. She is an Investigator at the Minneapolis VA Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research. And she is a pulmonologist who is the medical director of the lung cancer screening at the Minneapolis VA.

The American Cancer Society recommends annual lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan for certain people at higher risk for lung cancer. Visit cancer.org for details:

https://www.cancer.org/health-care-professionals/american-cancer-society-prevention-early-detection-guidelines/lung-cancer-screening-guidelines.html

4:18 – Welcome Dr. Melzer and Dr. Slatore

5:51 – Dr. Melzer on the lung cancer burden in the United States

8:46 – Dr. Slatore on the state of lung cancer screening in the US

12:08 – Some of the big picture problems they’re trying to solve related to lung cancer screening

16:47 – The US Preventive Services Task Force’s recent recommendation regarding lung cancer screening: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/lung-cancer-screening

23:01 – Challenges that exist for patients when it comes to lung cancer screening

25:28 – Some of the frustrations clinicians have with lung cancer screening

30:39 – “We need to make it easier for patients and primary care providers to do lung cancer screening.”

34:57 – It all comes down to an old Seinfeld episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2GmGSNvaM

36:31 – The impact of ACS funding on Dr. Slatore’s research

37:28 – The aspect of her research that Dr. Melzer is most excited about

38:50 – Messages they’d like to share with cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers

The American Cancer Society is committed to maintaining a broad cancer research portfolio—any type of cancer, within any part of the cancer research continuum.

This episode is a perfect example of this commitment and features three cancer researchers from the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.

Kathy Shair, PhD, studies how the Epstein-Barr virus causes cancer. Sarah Hengel, PhD, is investigating why unrepaired DNA leads to cancer. And Yuri Bunimovich, MD, PhD, conducts research into the role of our body’s nerves in melanoma growth.

1:47 – Yuri Bunimovich, MD, PhD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology and member of the Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy program at Hillman Cancer Center

Sarah Hengel, PhD, is an American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellow at the Hillman Cancer Center in the Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology in the Kara Bernstein lab.

Kathy Shair, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and an investigator in the Cancer Virology program at the Hillman Cancer Center

3:11 – Dr. Shair on how her lab is focused on understanding how chronic infections can turn bad and result in cancer

4:13 – Dr. Hengel’s research into a subset of breast and ovarian cancers

6:17 – Dr. Bunimovich on the role of nerves in the tumor microenvironment in melanoma and other cancers

12:13 – Dr. Shair on recent advancements that help us understand the circumstances under which the Epstein-Barr virus can lead to cancer

22:24 – Dr. Hengel explains how our improved understanding of different mutations is leading to more personalized therapies

26:38 – Dr. Bunimovich explains how melanoma can injure nerves, creating an immune-suppressive environment that protects the melanoma from the body’s immune response.

35:16 – Dr. Shair on how Epstein-Barr viruses’ interference with DNA repair can be used to our advantage

38:00 – Dr. Hengel on how gathering more information about these mutations is critical to developing novel therapeutic targets

40:29 – The three aspects of his research Dr. Bunimovich is most excited about

45:28 – Dr. Shair and Dr. Hengel talk DNA repair and studying cancer in model organisms

47:21 – Dr. Bunimovich and Shair on viruses and cancers

51:42 – The impact of ACS funding

53:45 – A message for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers