Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind

Edward Gibbon, an English historian and politician, once quipped, "History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind." This episode, which lacks historians and politicians, covers testicular cancer, a topic humankind has had a love-hate relationship with for millennia. As a historical concept in the middle ages, men who wanted to have a male as an offspring would sometimes remove their left testicles as the belief was that "boy" sperm was made in the right testicle and "girl" sperm in the left. We don't entertain such nonsense here on Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind. Instead, we discuss testicular cancer, an uplifting episode with high cure rates and a debate regarding observation versus treatment. Will there be a future when one can perform surgery alone? Does radiotherapy have a role, and do the pros outweigh the cons of chemotherapy?Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):EORTC 30982 study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21282539/Comparison of Two Standard Chemotherapy Regimens for Good-Prognosis Germ Cell Tumors: Updated Analysis of a Randomized Trial: https://academic.oup.com/jnci/article/102/16/1253/2568956For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comPlease find us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, the Nautilus reaches its final destination, where Michael and Josh pursue a deeper understanding of ROS1, and KRAS mutated lung cancer. ROS1 reflected less than 3% of non-small cell lung cancer, while KRAS is abundant and can reflect up to 25% of lung cancer patients. The challenge lies in the targets, with the only approved KRAS treatment sotorasib targeting a single KRASG12C mutation. Many, many more KRAS mutations exist in the wild. Michael uses his oxygen tank to discuss an integrated efficacy and safety analysis of entrectinib, and Josh breaks free of a shark and highlights the CodeBreaK 200 study.Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):CodeBreaK 200: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00221-0/fulltextIntegrative Analysis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31838007/For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comPlease find us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michael and Josh step onto the oncological Nautilus, to begin their journey 20,000 Leagues Under Lung Cancer, to examine non-small cell lung cancer with mutations other than EGFR. The first step on their journey is discussing the anaplastic lymphoma kinase, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor associated with the development of non-small cell lung cancer in younger patients who have never smoked. Thankfully, unlike their previous episode, there are treatment options galore for patients with ALKmut NSCLC. Two of the contenders for the title of "The King of the ALK" are alectinib and lorlatinib. Alectinib has more robust overall survival data, but lorlatinib has hazard ratios so ridiculously good that they would almost meet statistical significance as p values! So which is better? Listen on to find out.Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):ALEX: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1704795CROWN: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2027187For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are cancers that grow slowly. There are cancers that do not grow at all. And then there are cancer's like today's subject, that are notorious not just for their ability to completely overcome a patient in a very small amount of time. Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer remains a very difficult condition to treat, highly prone to relapse and with few effective options beyond - or perhaps even including - the first line setting. While the medical and scientific community remain stalwart in their quest for therapeutic options, success stories have been few and far between. In this episode, Josh and Michael look at one success story, and one study dredged up from the pre-Internet era, to illustrate the dichotomy and discuss the challenge of treating this, the most aggressive of solid tumours.Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):IMpower133: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1809064 von Pawel et al.: https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.1999.17.2.658?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmedFor more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chemotherapy extravasation can occur day or night, and one must always be vigilant. While many agents are irritants and may not pose significant risks, vesicants pose a different story. A tale of danger and intrigue, this situation can lead to the involvement of a friendly neighbourhood surgeon or Spiderman. In worst-case scenarios, significant tissue damage, treatment delay, and a sizeable psychological burden on the patient can occur. In this OncoSnacks episode, Michael and Josh explore this world, highlighting potential agents and how to prevent, diagnose and manage them.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cancer is thought of as a great killer, an indefatigable bogeyman that claims the lives of everyone it afflicts. However, advances in medicine mean that for more people than ever before, cancer is something that people can survive or at least live with for longer. While an incredible achievement, this does raise many new challenges for patients and physicians alike. And thus, the concept of Cancer Survivorship was born, a service that aims to fill the gap in service for patients who have survived, or are surviving with cancer but may feel somewhat adrift in stormy seas.In this episode of Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind, Josh and Michael interview Dr Ash Malalasekera, an oncologist working in the South Western Sydney Local Health District, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse and Concord Repatriation Hospital, who has incredible insight into this emerging and truly holistic approach to the care of patients with cancer. We ask about her experiences, the challenges of this model of care and how it can improve or, in some cases, transform how patients can embrace life with or after cancer.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) and LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ) are challenging areas of breast cancer oncology. Michael and Josh return from their short hiatus to find their podcast has been ranked one of the top oncology podcasts by feedspot. Do not fear; they won't rest on their laurels and are ready to roll and bring another exciting episode of management, intrigue, and choose your adventure. Neither DCIS nor LCIS are technically cancer, but they both have the propensity to develop into a malignancy. The benefit versus toxicity question becomes paramount in the episode when talking to patients about cancer risk and treatment options. What on earth does a precancerous lesion actually mean?For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] you are interested in other Oncology Podcasts, head to feedspot to find out more: https://blog.feedspot.com/oncology_podcasts/#rightModalArt courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Theodore Roosevelt is famously quoted saying: "It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed." This is what ASCO, oncologists and cancer researchers are faced with daily. As our tour de force of ASCO 2023 ends, and we foresee a future where daily episodes don't arrive, we present our final episode. Michael and Josh have kept three of the most exciting trials until the end.Today, three plenary sessions are reviewed. The first is in gliomas, the second in adjuvant lung cancer treatment, and finally, Michael and Josh tackle Mount Everest and the confusing world of rectal cancer with PROSPECT, a trial looking at non-inferiority and toxicity.StudiesINDIGO: https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2023.41.17_suppl.LBA1ADAURA: https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2023.41.17_suppl.LBA3?af=RPROSPECT: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/219804Many thanks to Merck for supporting this episode. Merck provided virtual access to ASCO 2023 but did not review or approve any part of OftiM's coverage of ASCO.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The epic journey of Josh and Michael across tumour streams at ASCO 2023 is approaching its end. It has been a whirlwind tour through groundbreaking science, hazard ratios and exciting glimpses into a brighter future for cancer patients. However, our intrepid duo's work is not yet done, merely reached its penultimate stage. In today's episode, Josh and Michael examine four notable studies in the spheres of melanoma and head and neck cancer. Spoiler alert: in this part of the map, here there be groundbreaking studies!StudiesFianlimab + cemiplimab: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218502KEYNOTE-942: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218505CONTINUUM: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218513DEPEND: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218516Many thanks to Merck for supporting this episode. Merck provided virtual access to ASCO 2023 but did not review or approve any part of OftiM's coverage of ASCO.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every epic journey has that moment when the end is in sight. The start of the last lap of the race, the final dramatic encounter with the main villain. On this episode of Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind, that villain is metastatic lung cancer, with a particular focus on EGFR mutant disease. There have been a lot of questions raised about the best next step after the failure of the star of ASCO 2023: osimertinib. Here, Josh and Michael examine three breaking studies that seek to shed some light on the slowly-unravelling mystery of how to best sequence and treat EGFR mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer.Finally, as we surpass fifty episodes, we wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has joined us on Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind so far. We have gone from two guys completely ignorant to the ways of podcasting to two guys almost completely ignorant to the ways of podcasting with a burgeoning, supportive and engaging community. For that, we cannot thank you enough. We love bringing this content to you, and we cannot wait for the next fifty episodes. We have a lot of exciting stuff yet to come!StudiesKEYNOTE-789: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218083EVEREST: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218106WU-KONG6: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218846 Many thanks to Merck for supporting this episode. Merck provided virtual access to ASCO 2023 but did not review or approve any part of OftiM's coverage of ASCO.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cancer is facing a seismic shift as precision oncology is becoming a reality, and adoption is skyrocketing as new anti-cancer agents are released. It appears that the days of blunt-force chemotherapy could be limited. Paul Ehrlich, the German Chemist, is credited with the term "chemotherapy", but more importantly, the concept of the magic bullet, "zauberkugel", which would allow selective targeting of pathogenic microbes without affecting other parts of the body. Leading the field of targeting cancer is metastatic breast cancer, as demonstrated by ASCO23. Oncology for the inquisitive Mind explores CDK4/6 sequencing, antibody-drug conjugates, and HER3 targeted therapy. Michael and Josh dissect the SONIA trial, sacituzumab govitecan use in the hormone receptor-positive space and partritumab deruxtecan, which could have pan-breast cancer utility.StudiesSONIA: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/219701TROPICS-02: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/219698PARTRITUMAB DERUXTECAN: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/219699 Many thanks to Merck for supporting this episode. Merck provided virtual access to ASCO 2023 but did not review or approve any part of OftiM's coverage of ASCO.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ASCO 23 explored novel anti-cancer agents in the genitourinary space. The future of oncology is etching closer daily. In this episode, Michael and Josh dissect ertafitinib, an FGFR inhibitor used in bladder cancer, talazoparib in prostate cancer and immunotherapy and TKI combinations in renal cell cancer. All these studies reflect the desire to target cancers further with some astonishing results. StudiesTHOR: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/217894PEACE-1: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218388TALAPRO-2: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/222733RENAL CELL CARCINOMA: https://meetings.asco.org/2023-asco-annual-meeting/15007?presentation=219853#219853 Many thanks to Merck for supporting this episode. Merck provided virtual access to ASCO 2023 but did not review or approve any part of OftiM's coverage of ASCO.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ASCO 2023 has been an incredible journey, and the latest instalment of Michael and Josh's search for the latest and greatest oncological news is no exception. On this episode, our intrepid duo examine three studies with potentially practice-changing consequences, like Burton and Speke quest for the source of the River Nile. Which, in this ASCO series is literally just another day at the office. But will the presented evidence live up to the promise provided by its premise? You'll have to listen on to find out!StudiesDestiny-CRC02: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218394NeoCol: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/219419PRODIGE-23 Update: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/219425Many thanks to Merck for supporting this episode. Merck provided virtual access to ASCO 2023 but did not review or approve any part of OftiM's coverage of ASCO.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michael and Josh investigate Lung Oncology research presented at ASCO 23, specifically early lung cancer treatment. They discuss Perioperative Toripalimab, LAG3 inhibitor Relatlimab and the new novel agent BI 764532, a novel DLL3-targeting T cell engaged.Studies:NEOTORCH: https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2023.41.36_suppl.425126NEOPREDICT: https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.8500DLL3-positive SCLC: https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.8502Many thanks to Merck for supporting this episode. Merck provided virtual access to ASCO 2023 but did not review or approve any part of OftiM's coverage of ASCO.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ovarian, cervical and endometrial cancer need more treatment options. Platinum-based chemotherapy only works for so long. ASCO 23 delivers with the practice-changing MIRASOL study introducing Mirvetuximab Soravtansine, a novel ADC with efficacy in ovarian cancer. Michael and Josh also discuss the Oval Study (ofranergene obadenovec) and immunotherapy in the DUO-O trial and Keynote 826. Not all trials are equal, and this OftIM ASCO special explores endpoints, hazard ratios and comparisons.Stay tuned for daily ASCO updates from the OFTIM team, Michael and Josh.Studies:MIRASOL: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/226803OVAL: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218323DUO-O: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/220048Keynote-826: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/220048Many thanks to Merck for supporting this episode. Merck provided virtual access to ASCO 2023 but did not review or approve any part of OftiM's coverage of ASCO.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Captain's Log: ASCO Day 3.Today's episode brought myriad developments in treating CNS cancers and brain metastases from other distant lands. Some studies offered new and exciting targets for potential treatments. Others purported to provide benefits in new and exciting ways, eschewing infusions and tablets with vaccinations. Still, others repurposed old technology in new ways, investigating uses for things we already had.Unfortunately, many of the solutions were premature and primitive in their exploration. Much further study is required. We will continue to observe these trials for outcomes, but we hope they will yield answers in our quest to fight the disease plaguing our crew.Studies discussed:Anti-PD-1 + GITR + RTx: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218240UCPVax: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/219832Pembrolizumab in CNS metastases: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218261Many thanks to Merck for supporting this episode. Merck provided virtual access to ASCO 2023 but did not review or approve any part of OftiM's coverage of ASCO.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer again takes centre stage at the ASCO 23 (American Society of Clinical Oncology) Annual Meeting and has reinvented itself over the last two decades. Improvements are occurring in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting for both estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) positive and the human epidermal growth factor receptor space (HER2). In this episode, Michael and Josh take a closer look at MonarchE (Abemaciclib), NATALEE (Ribociclib), PHERgain (dose de-escalation) and Penelope-B (ctDNA).As the arsenal for treating breast cancer grows, a crowded space means ongoing challenges with sequencing and choice of therapy.Stay tuned for daily ASCO updates from the OFTIM team, Michael and Josh.Studies:MonarchE: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218406NATALEE: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218407PHERgain: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/219848Penelope-B: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/220878Many thanks to Merck for supporting this episode. Merck provided virtual access to ASCO 2023 but did not review or approve any part of OftiM's coverage of ASCO.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ASCO 23 (American Society of Clinical Oncology) Annual Meeting in Chicago showcased a plethora of cutting-edge trials and research. Upper gastrointestinal cancers such as gastric, pancreatic and hepatobiliary are usually relegated to the backstage, but this year, several exciting and potentially practice-changing studies (not without their limitations).We explore a new PD-1Toripalimab in gastric and gastroesophageal cancer, liposomal irinotecan in NALIRIFOX versus gemcitabine/abraxane in metastatic pancreatic cancer, neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX in pancreatic cancer and the new HER2 kid on the block zanidatamab, a bispecific monoclonal antibody.Stay tuned for daily ASCO updates from the OFTIM team, Michael and Josh.Studies:Toripalimab + SOX study: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/219777NAPOLI-3 study: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/222090NORPACT-1 study: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/219426HORIZON-BTC-01 study: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/219904Special Mention (not included in the episode)DIPLOMA Study: https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/218312Lauren Classification: https://open.acast.com/shows/62d20dbcffef490011c8df4b/episodesMany thanks to Merck for supporting this episode. Merck provided virtual access to ASCO 2023 but did not review or approve any part of OftiM's coverage of ASCO.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*SPECIAL EPISODE ALERT*Every year, Josh and Mike cross their fingers and pray to Father Conference-Leave that they can make the pilgrimage to one of the two central sites of Oncology: Madrid for ESMO or Chicago for ASCO. Unfortunately, to this point, Father Conference-Leave has not delivered, and 2023 is no different. However, the cold and wind will not stop our intrepid hosts from parsing the avalanche of potentially practice-changing studies, agents and professional development about to descend on the Windy CitySo, consider today's episode what our American listeners would call an "appetizer," a taste of what may be coming from the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting for 2023. This will be followed by a string of episodes breaking the aforementioned avalanche down and examining it with a fine tooth comb, with one episode dedicated to each tumour stream. So, do not adjust your set, as there will be a huge amount of Oncology content coming your way. As well as some helpful hints about North American geography.Many thanks to Merck for supporting this episode. Merck provided virtual access to ASCO 2023, but did not review or approve any part of OftiM's coverage of ASCO.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peripheral neuropathy is a common toxicity of multiple anticancer agents used to treat and cure cancer, including platinum, taxanes and vinca alkaloids chemotherapy. These chemotherapy classes are as ubiquitous for cancer treatment as the sun is to plant photosynthesis. This week on OncoSnacks, Michael and Josh investigate what to do when a patient has peripheral neuropathy and examine existing evidence for prevention, treatment and duration of this sequelae.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of:- Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/- SoulProdMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/soulprodmusic-30064790/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is always nice to be able to say the phrase: "This cancer has an excellent prognosis." That is the case with endometrial cancer, which for the majority of sufferers, can be cured and carries an excellent survival. However, there are cases that unfortunately present late, and for these patients, the outlook is significantly more grim.Some oncologists have little experience treating advanced endometrial cancer; for those listeners, this episode is specifically for you! In our 40th episode, Josh will discuss the foundations of endometrial cancer treatment, a topic that is vital but very boring, much like Josh himself. Michael will discuss the new frontier of immunotherapy in dMMR endometrial cancer, something that is transformative and very exciting but also unfortunately irrelevant to the majority of patients, much like Michael.Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):GOG0209: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7676887/RUBY: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2216334For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

COSA President-elect (Clinical Oncology Society Australia), Professor Sabe Sabesan, is the oncologist and doctor we all dreamed of being when starting our medical training. This is a story of adversity, compassion and drive without compromise. Sabe's global journey has taken him to some of the remotest places on earth, with each inflection point creating new challenges and opportunities. We discuss advocacy, the rollout of teletrials to improve equitable access, redefining system issues with the lasagna model and looking after the little guy. Michael and Josh are the OFTIM team and are humbled to share Sabe's story, a tale many of us can only aspire to achieve.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind, we like to focus on cancer and available treatment options. However, every oncologist is at his or her best when working hand-in-hand with other specialities. In this, our seventh episode of OncoSnacks, Michael and Josh interview Dr Mark Nolan, a non-invasive cardiologist with a special interest in anti-cancer treatment-induced cardiotoxicity. Mark provides an engaging, comprehensive overview of the diagnosis and management of cardiotoxicity, with a particular focus on the two usual culprits: anthracyclines and anti-HER2 agents. A must listen for anyone who has been confronted with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 40%...I mean 30%... oh, now it's 20%...For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of:- Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/- SoulProdMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/soulprodmusic-30064790/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer commonly found in the head and neck region, arising from glandular salivary tissue. Like many orphan cancers, effective treatments in the metastatic setting are needed desperately. The 5-year survival rate is 80% and declines over time. In this special subseries: Rare Cancer Snapshots, Michael and Josh pour over the evidence for ACC, pathophysiology and the treatment paradigm to date.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lutetium PSMA (Lutetium-177), theranostic medicine and future advances in prostate cancer are coming to an oncology centre near you faster than you can say "novel drug development" and "progression-free survival". This week Michael and Josh conclude their epic prostate cancer trilogy by exploring theranostic medicine and radioactive drug development while looking at the past of the cytotoxic world and the role of cabazitaxel. To ensure we keep your attention, six trials are discussed today, and a shout out to TheraP, the Australian phase 2 trial from the land down under.Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):Tropic trial: https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(10)61389-X/fulltextCARD trial: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1911206Corn et al: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31515154/TheraP: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00237-3/fulltextVision: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa2107322For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of:- Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/- SoulProdMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/soulprodmusic-30064790/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every feast needs a palate cleanser. Every great work of theatre needs an intermission. Every sports event needs a half-time show. In this way, Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind is no different to Hamilton or the Super Bowl. Here, we provide a little deviation from our ongoing Prostate Cancer Saga to interview Dr Jenny Liu, Oncologist and early drug development (EDD) researcher extraordinaire. Our discussions range from her slightly unusual path to oncology, her previous research and how it is still making waves in the oncological community, and her other great passion: mentorship. Suppose you are interested in Phase One trials, mentorship opportunities (especially in Australia), or simply enjoy Josh dredging up dirt on highly accomplished clinicians. In that case, this is the episode for you!For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second episode of our prostate-cancer series, we investigate the inevitability of castration resistance: the biochemical, radiological and clinical progression of prostate cancer despite the best efforts of the heroic MDT. While this space will likely change in the coming years, with many novel anti-androgen agents displaying efficacy in the HSPC space, the current standards of care for patients include docetaxel and the dynamic duo of abiraterone + prednisolone and enzalutamide. These latter two agents are frequently used in the first line when a patient cannot or is unlikely to tolerate docetaxel chemotherapy.However, there can only be one Lord of the Anti-Androgens, and today Josh and Michael will reveal their preferred agent. Listen on to find out which, and please, contain your excitement.Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):PREVAIL: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1405095COU-AA-302: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1209096TAX-327 (cameo only): https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa040720For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Endocrinopathies in immunotherapy-related cancer treatment are common! Most of us will experience patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism regularly and recurrently in everyday practice. The incidence is variable, with some sources stating as high as 40% and others as low as 10%; either way, oncologists and trainees are likely to be close allies with their friendly neighbourhood endocrinologist. This week on Oncosnacks, Michael and Josh are interviewing Dr Dahlia Davidoff, an endocrinologist at North Shore Private Hospital in Sydney. Dahlia completed her specialist training through the prestigious Alfred Health and is currently a PhD student researching endocrine cancers at the Kolling Institute of the University of Sydney.They focus predominantly on thyroid disorders and how to diagnose and optimise these conditions with patients receiving immunotherapyFor more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] Davidoff details:https://www.davidoffendocrinology.com/Art courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of:- Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/- SoulProdMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/soulprodmusic-30064790/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

J.R.R. Tolkien. George Lucas. Steven Spielberg. With such seminal trilogies as Star Wars, the Lord of the Rings and Indiana Jones achieving a permanent place in the psyche of everyday life, who would have thought there would be room for more? But fear not, because Michael and Josh are here with their take on the age-old formula, with the first in a trilogy of episodes on prostate cancer. Just as Luke Skywalker discovered his heritage and embarked on an epic quest against the Empire, so too do our heroes take their first steps in a fight of their own, examining two studies that pave the way for the future in hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (HSPC) treatment. Gone are the days of ADT-alone, fading to give way to a newer, brighter future, like the end of Tolkien's Third Age. In summary, one may say of the old vogue of HSPC treatments: "It belongs in a museum!"Have we mentioned that we are MASSIVE nerds recently?Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):ARASENS: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2119115PEACE-1: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00367-1/fulltextFor more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Note: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ageism is an inherent bias seen throughout medicine, with cancer adding complexity to an already difficult set of circumstances. Despite our best efforts, we all must face growing older, with time itself being that unstoppable force. Over 50% of all new cancer diagnoses are in the over-65 age bracket, which will climb as ageing populations become a reality across the globe. This week, Michael and Josh interview the charismatically delightful Dr Michael Krasovitksy, a staunch supporter and advocate of self-empowerment, geriatric oncology and self-determination in the oncological world. Multiple thought-provoking topics are covered, including ageism, toxicity, symptom management, geriatric oncology, holistic medicine and how to combat the creeping presence of frailty. We also debate the age-old question: When do we not treat, and how does one have this conversation with the outcome being a guaranteed ticket to "shuffle off this mortal coil"?This is one episode where Michael and Josh might find themselves with more questions than answers.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of OncoSnacks pays homage to the lack of eyebrows, eyelashes and hair many patients face when undergoing cancer treatment and the resultant alopecia. While chemotherapy is the most wanted agent, it alone is not to blame. Michael and Josh explore the hairy situation of hair loss that faces many of our patients as they navigate a new world of outpatient clinic appointments, infusion centres and a new reality in how they live and look.No eyebrows were injured during the making of this episode.For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of:- Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/- SoulProdMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/soulprodmusic-30064790/Note: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, our intrepid trio once more plunge down 20,000 leagues, exploring the confusing depths, hoping to answer one question: is there any evidence to support using systemic therapy in patients with potentially resectable oligometastatic colorectal cancer? The answer will take them to many dark, barely-explored corners of their profession and will raise more questions than answers. Following in the forebears of many explorers, it may drive them completely mad, or at least madder than they already are. But, to paraphrase Captain Nemo of the Nautilus: "the Earth does not want new continents, but new evidence for patients with resectable metastatic colorectal cancer."Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):OLIVIA: https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(19)31451-6/fulltext#ec0035Falcone et al.: https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2006.09.0928?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmedTRIBE: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(15)00122- /fulltext#:~:text=TRIBE%20was%20an%20open%2Dlabel,were%20recruited%20from%2034%20ItalianFor more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of:- Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/- SoulProdMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/soulprodmusic-30064790/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael and Josh welcome back Dr Andrew Jensen to help explore part two of OftiM's Head and Neck Cancer exploration party. With localised treatments done and dusted, the metastatic space is a daunting heterogeneous disease group. Twenty years ago, head and neck treatment relied on tried and true chemotherapy, but the last fifteen years have shown great strides regarding treatment options and outcomes. The first leap forward was cetuximab added to a chemotherapy backbone, making it the weapon of choice for oncologists worldwide. But like all great civilisations, pembrolizumab now dominates, showing how it can be effective when combined with existing treatment options.A star-studded episode and one not to be missed!Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):NCT00122460- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa0802656Keynote 048- https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(19)32591-7/fulltextFor more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of:- Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/- SoulProdMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/soulprodmusic-30064790/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

30 episodes ago, two young doctors took their first steps into the podcasting sphere, stumbling like two newborn foals birthed into a paddock full of fully functioning stallions, presenting a niche. Since then, they have blossomed before your ears into two vaguely competent podcasters, still finding their feet but growing in confidence, if not skill. Our continued existence, we owe entirely to you, our wonderful audience. You are the reason we continue to front up to our microphones every week, often wearing our pyjamas but that's beside the point. What we're trying to say is thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.To express our gratitude, we have prepared a niche episode for our niche podcast, examining the treatment of early head and neck cancer. This topic can befuddle even the most experienced oncologists with its confusing, contradictory cornucopia of confirmatory cancer clues. So listen on, as Michael and Josh try to clear a path through the dense jungle, like Doctor Livingstone BEFORE he went missing. Have I met my metaphor quota yet?Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):JCOG1008: https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.21.01293Induction chemotherapy for NPC (Zhang et al.): https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1905287?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmedFor more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of:- Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/- SoulProdMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/soulprodmusic-30064790/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of OncoSnacks kicks off Michael and Josh's sojourn into the wide world of immune-mediated adverse effects. Inevitably, as most blowhards do, they begin with the lungs. Immune-mediated pneumonitis is not as common as endocrine-axis abnormalities, dermatitis or colitis, but it can be insidious and devastating in equal measure. Such is the potential impact that must be considered in any patient who has received immunotherapy and presents with dyspnoea or a dry cough. Listen to learn more, and you will also know what irAEs and Senator Joseph McCarthy have in common.Guidelines for the management of Immune-Mediated Pneumonitis are available at:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2020.01785/full#:~:text=will%20be%20discussed.-,Incidence%20and%20Risk%20Factors,due%20to%20pneumonitis%20(6)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7161534/https://www.eviq.org.au/clinical-resources/side-effect-and-toxicity-management/immunological/1993-management-of-immune-related-adverse-eventsFor more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of:- Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/- SoulProdMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/soulprodmusic-30064790/Note: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Five hundred years ago, Christopher Columbus set forth to explore unknown lands. You might be asking, what do Chris and metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer have in common? The answer lies in his diaries, a tale of two men, with one aptly providing anatomical details of our subject today. While we spend little time exploring Christopher, Michael and Josh meet and greet three famed Cyclin Dependant Kinase Inhibitors (CDK4/6) commonly known as Ribociclib, Abemaciclib and Palbociclib. While not all equal in stature, they have revolutionised metastatic breast cancer and now stand as first-line therapy and the gold standard of treatment. Tune in to find out why! Visit us at your new website, www.inquisitiveonc.com, for our latest episodes, links to resources and musings!Find us on Twitter @InquisitiveOncIf you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn Silver. Music courtesy of AlexiAction: https://pixabay.com/users/alexiaction-26977400/Note: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice, and for health, practitioners ensure you refer to your local institution's guidelines for treatment recommendations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the second time in 2023, Josh and Michael discuss some of the hardest-hitting highlights from a conference; in this case, they dive into five studies that caught their eye at the recent ASCO GU Conference in, in Michael's words, "sunny California." We think he is simply jealous of the fact that Melbourne barely has sunshine for most of the year. Never fear: the amount of grousing about the weather pales in comparison to the clinical pearls, future projections and terrible puns.Studies Discussed: ARASENS, CaboPoint, TALAPRO, HCRN GU14-188, PROpel, TROPHY-U-01, CAPTUREFor more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of:- Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/- SoulProdMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/soulprodmusic-30064790/Note: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice, and for health, practitioners ensure you refer to your local institution's guidelines for treatment recommendations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of OncoSnacks, Josh and Michael address the classic chemotherapy side effect: nausea. From Terms of Endearment (1983) to ER (2002), from Breaking Bad (2008) to Archer (2011), nausea and vomiting are the most frequently imagined side effects when it comes to chemotherapy. However, we are much better at managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) than we once were; a combination of better antiemetics and move away from highly emetic therapies means patients are usually much better off perspective. Nevertheless, in the words of great ancient oncologist Sun Tzu: "if one knows oneself, and knows the neuronal pathways associated with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, one need not fear the result of a thousand infusions." Listen on to find out how!Guidelines for management of CINV available at:- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468294220301131- https://www.eviq.org.au/clinical-resources/side-effect-and-toxicity-management/gastrointestinal/7-prevention-of-anti-cancer-therapy-induced-nauseaFor more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of:- Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/- SoulProdMusic: https://pixabay.com/users/soulprodmusic-30064790/Note: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell seek medical advice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Concluding their Journey to the Centre of the Brain, Michael and Josh tackle one of the most challenging and difficult cancers in modern oncology: high-grade gliomas. All of the usual suspects are here: irrevocable, progressive disease, limited treatment options and a gulf in evidence so large it makes the Grand Canyon look like a muddy footprint. All in all, not the most optimistic of OftiM episodes, but Josh and Michael will tackle it anyway so you don't have to. And remember: always refer your fit GBM patients to a friendly neighbourhood trials unit near you!Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):EORTC 26981-22981 NCIC CE3 (aka the “Stupp study"): https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa043330RTOG 0825: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1308573Brada et al: https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.2009.27.1932?role=tabTaal et al: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(14)70314-6/fulltextWick et al: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1707358For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOncIf you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] us at your new website www.inquisitiveonc.com for our latest episodes, links to resources and musings!Art courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of AlexiAction: https://pixabay.com/users/alexiaction-26977400/Note: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell seek medical advice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind finally embarks on the treacherous journey of neuro-oncology. While researching for this episode, Michael and Josh realised that effective treatments are limited but do not reduce neuro-oncology's complexity. This is a hefty episode covering low-grade gliomas, oligodendroglioma, astrocytomas and the important molecular markers and how these influence survival and prognosis for our patients. It also talks about the new WHO classification of primary brain tumours and how it has affected the interpretation of prior research.Tune in for part one of this special mini-series covering neuro-oncologyLink: https://www.atlasantibodies.com/blog/glioma-classification-and-key-molecular-pathology/External site, no subscription is requiredFor more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOncIf you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of AlexiAction: https://pixabay.com/users/alexiaction-26977400/Note: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell seek medical advice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our second bite-sized episode, Michael and Josh explore the challenge of chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea, a common problem for patients leading to morbidity, hospital admissions, and potentially stopping curative treatments early. While immunotherapy and targeted therapy are not innocent bystanders regarding colitis and bowel problems, chemotherapy has long been the most prominent protagonist of this story. It is essential to identify warning signs, investigate adequately and see the treatment options available to you, the saviour and potential part-time plumber. Tune in and find out more!eviQ reference guide on diarrhea: https://www.eviq.org.au/clinical-resources/side-effect-and-toxicity-management/gastrointestinal/779-treatment-induced-diarrhoea#:~:text=Chemotherapy%2Dinduced%20diarrhoea%20usually%20occurs,cause%20diarrhoea%20at%20other%20times.BC Cancer reference guide on diarrhea:http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/nursing-site/Documents/4.%20Diarrhea.pdfFor more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the grand, six-month-long tradition of Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind, Josh and Michael provide an update from an international meeting to keep you right up to date with the latest and greatest developments in their field. This week's special is the ASCO GI Symposium, held in Moscone, California, and brought to your ears from Melbourne. From two guys in their pyjamas. Who would much rather be in Moscone, California.At any rate, updates abound in this OftiM special. Listen on so you too can crest the wave of Gastrointestinal Oncology!Studies Discussed: NAPOLI 3, CHECKMATE 648 and 649 updates, SPOTLIGHT, Pemigatinib in FGFR mutant mCRCFor more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of AlexiAction: https://pixabay.com/users/alexiaction-26977400/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind returns to its regular broadcasting schedule and discusses metastatic renal cell cancer (ccRCC). As not to be outdone, Josh takes a cultural tangent exploring the world of opera after seeing "The Hours" broadcast through Met: Live in HD. While Josh doesn't sing this episode, he highlights this opera's parallels with cancer patients undergoing treatment. To avoid losing sight of this podcast's purpose, Michael and Josh soon find their way. They discovered that metastatic renal cell carcinoma has many treatment options, including targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or even combining these two modalities! Tune in to find out where the evidence currently stands.Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):CHECKMATE 214: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1712126KEYNOTE-426: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1816714 Other studies of interest: CLEAR: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2035716CheckMate 9ER: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa2026982For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of AlexiAction: https://pixabay.com/users/alexiaction-26977400/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is OncoSnacks, a new, fortnightly OftIM spinoff!In this new bite-sized series, Michael and Josh try to sink their teeth into more slice-of-life topics, all to help you, our beloved listeners, digest some of the most common problems your patients will serve to you on a platter. This week, a treatment side effect that actually stops people eating (and making lame food-based puns as well): mucositis.This common side effect of anti-cancer systemic therapy can have a major impact on patients quality of life, frequently leading to hospitalisations, significant morbidity and nasogastric tubes galore. But how do we manage such a troublesome problem? Listen on to find out!eviQ reference guide on mucositis: https://www.eviq.org.au/clinical-resources/side-effect-and-toxicity-management/oropharyngeal/210-oral-mucositis-and-stomatitisFor more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of Music Unlimited: https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind, Michael dons his cultural hat and begins with an Ode to the Kidneys, organs that are as much a muse for poets worldwide as the heart (probably). However, you didn't come to this podcast for excellent poetry being delivered with all the panache and misguided enthusiasm of a walrus stepping on a piece of LEGO, and Michael and Josh aim to deliver on this front. Our intrepid pair examine the controversial world of adjuvant treatment of clear cell renal cell cancers (ccRCC), an area of research littered with the ghosts of negative or equivocal studies. But, not every study can be a FLAURA or a DESTINY, and negative studies are just as important, so listen on to find out exactly what NOT to do. Truly, an OftIM first!Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):ASSURE: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5591751/KEYNOTE-564: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2106391For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of AlexiAction: https://pixabay.com/users/alexiaction-26977400/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the southern hemisphere basks in summer's beautiful warmth, Michael and Josh skip the beach to explore skin cancer. While melanoma usually takes centre stage in the oncological world, it is far less common than basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma now has a viable and effective treatment option called cemiplimab. At the other end of the spectrum, Michael investigates the very rare cancer type Merkle Cell Carcinoma and how Avelumab has changed its treatment paradigm. Once again, it's immunotherapy at its best. So remember, while listening to our podcast, don't forget to wear a hat and apply sunscreen generously!Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):Migden et al. (Cemiplimab): https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1805131?url_ver=Z39.88JAVELIN Merkel 200 (Cohort B): https://jitc.bmj.com/content/9/7/e002646For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of AlexiAction: https://pixabay.com/users/alexiaction-26977400/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New year, new episode of Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind! After enjoying their holiday break, Josh and Michael dive right into 2023 with an episode especially aimed at trainees just about to start their new professional journey in Medical Oncology. Joined by an old friend, the wise-beyond-his-years Dr Andrew Jensen, they discuss life as a trainee, balancing work and life, and how to navigate the tough first few years of life in training, which can so often feel like being a bottle cast into a storm. Join us for an episode that may be light on hazard ratios and p values, but heavy on practical tips and wisdom, delivered in the tone of three dads drinking beer by a campfire...For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of AlexiAction: https://pixabay.com/users/alexiaction-26977400/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oncologists love pushing the limits of what is possible for our patients. To celebrate this and the 20th episode of Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind, Michael and Josh explore the heights of pioneering treatment for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). A notoriously resistant cancer with no known targetable lesions that affect younger women on average, The BrighTNess trial, Keynote 522 and Create-X show just how far the treatment landscape has changed in the last five years.Tune into our final episode for the year! We will return in early 2023 with more content, interviews and hilarious banter.On a final note, Dr Michael Fernando has been admitted to the Royal Australian College of Physicians (RACP), the equivalent of being board certified! Michael has completed this arduous training and is now a fully-fledged Medical Oncologist! Do not distress listeners. Despite no longer being a trainee, Michael will continue on as presenter and host extraordinaire for this podcast.Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):BrighTNess trial: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(18)30111-6/fulltextKeynote 522: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1910549Create-X: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1612645For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of AlexiAction: https://pixabay.com/users/alexiaction-26977400/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I'm not in danger; I AM the danger!" So said Bryan Cranston's Walter White, and so too said early-stage lung cancer when confronted with adjuvant chemotherapy (maybe). In this episode, however, Josh and Michael follow in the footsteps of Hank Schrader, Steve Gomez et al., discussing ways to tackle one of the biggest killers in oncology. While we may not have found a way to control early-stage lung cancer, new developments are on the horizon, such as neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy and adjuvant osimertinib. So listen on, with the disclaimer that any similarities between Walter White and Jane Eyre are purely coincidental, no matter what Josh may argue...Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):CHECKMATE-816: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2202170ADAURA: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2027071For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of AlexiAction: https://pixabay.com/users/alexiaction-26977400/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Josh and Mikey travel back millions of years to a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, as recent research has demonstrated, unmolested by cancer. Then they come crashing back to the present to discuss this week's topic, metastatic colorectal cancer. Will they discover secrets hidden across the aeons? Was the secret to cancer treatment hidden in the bones of our scaled precursors? No, of course not. But there will be a lot of information on the improving treatment of colorectal cancer, which has not taken millions of years to advance. Oh, and Michael does a passable Richard Attenborough.Links to studies discussed in this episode (subscription may be required):FIRE-3: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(14)70330-4/fulltextKEYNOTE 177: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2017699BEACON: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1908075Epidemiological Study of Tumours in Dinosaurs: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00114-003-0473-9For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.comFind us on Twitter @InquisitiveOnc!If you want us to look at a specific trial or subject, email us at [email protected] courtesy of Taryn SilverMusic courtesy of AlexiAction: https://pixabay.com/users/alexiaction-26977400/Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. If you are unwell, seek medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.