VJOncology Podcast

Highlights from ASCO 2026 08.06.2026 18min

This episode of VJOncology podcasts brings together five expert interviews from the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago, covering practice-changing data across prostate cancer, sarcoma, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and triple-negative breast cancer. Highlights include final analysis results from the PROTEUS trial supporting perioperative apalutamide plus ADT as a new standard of care, SARC041 data on abemaciclib in dedifferentiated liposarcoma, lung cancer updates from the DeLLphi-304, LIBRETTO-432, and ALCHEMIST trials, BREAKWATER Cohort 3 data establishing encorafenib plus cetuximab with FOLFIRI in BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer, and PFS2 analyses from ASCENT-04 reinforcing sacituzumab govitecan plus pembrolizumab in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

iwCAR-T 2026: CARs targeting cell surface proteins 15.05.2026 16min

In this roundtable discussion from iwCAR-T 2026, a panel of experts in cell therapy for solid tumours discuss the current state of CAR T-cell therapy beyond hematological malignancies. The panel explores key challenges including target selection, T-cell persistence, and the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment, alongside emerging strategies such as armoured CARs, combination approaches with targeted therapies, and in vivo CAR T-cell generation. The discussion also addresses the importance of patient selection and earlier lines of therapy, and considers how academic–industry partnerships and evolving manufacturing technologies may shape the future of the field.

Bladder Cancer Awareness Month: subtypes, diagnostics & breakthroughs 08.05.2026 15min

In this week’s VJOncology podcast, we mark Bladder Cancer Awareness Month by exploring recent advances in bladder cancer research and clinical care. Join Joaquim Bellmunt of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, Eva Compérat of Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, Roberto Contieri of Humanitas University, Milan, Italy, and Vadim Koshkin of University of California, San Francisco, CA, as they discuss circulating tumor DNA for MRD monitoring in muscle-invasive bladder cancer, advances in intravesical therapies and urinary tract diagnostics, de-escalated approaches for low-grade non-muscle-invasive disease, and the evolving molecular classification of bladder cancer into luminal and basal subtypes.

Oncology highlights from AACR 2026 01.05.2026 17min

In this week’s VJOncology podcast, we bring you key updates from the 2026 AACR meeting across early-phase immuno-oncology and targeted therapy. Join leading experts Bruno Bockorny, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, Byoung Chul Cho, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea, Kristen Pauken, and Timothy Yap, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, as they discuss the clinical challenges of immune-related adverse events with checkpoint inhibitors, early signals from first-in-human studies of PLN-101095 in refractory solid tumors, emerging safety and activity data from a Phase I dose-escalation study of denikitug, and updated results of elisrasib monotherapy in previously treated KRAS G12C-mutant non-small cell lung cancer.

Beyond EGFR: navigating molecular targets and emerging therapies in advanced NSCLC 30.04.2026 17min

In this week's instalment of the VJOncology podcast, we examine the rapidly evolving treatment landscape of advanced non-small cell lung cancer, drawing on expert insights from ELCC 2026. This episode spans the breadth of precision oncology in NSCLC: from the clinical challenges of rare actionable alterations and emerging targeted agents, to the growing complexity of first-line treatment sequencing, and the arrival of a promising new immunotherapy class in thoracic oncology. Leading clinicians and researchers from the Jules Bordet Institute, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Institut Curie, and Lausanne University Hospital discuss BRAF non-V600E mutations, KRAS G12C, HER2-mutant disease, EGFR exon 20 insertions, amivantamab-based combinations, and the evolving role of bispecific T-cell engagers in NSCLC and mesothelioma. This episode provides actionable insight for clinicians navigating an increasingly crowded and competitive treatment landscape in advanced NSCLC.

Head and neck cancer awareness month: key trials and evolving treatment strategies 17.04.2026 13min

In this week’s VJOncology podcast, we mark Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month by exploring recent advances in head and neck cancer. Join Kevin Harrington, The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, Takeshi Kodaira, Aichi Cancer Center, Nagoya, Japan, Andreas Dietz, University Hospital of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany, and Nabil Saba, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, as they discuss key clinical trial updates, including OrigAMI-4, ASPEN-04, CompARE, and JCOG1912, alongside evolving strategies optimizing radiation dosing, reducing late toxicities, and improving management of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

Lung cancer highlights from the 24th BTOG annual conference 27.03.2026 18min

In this week’s VJOncology podcast, we had the opportunity to attend the 2026 British Thoracic Oncology Group (BTOG) conference, where we explored key developments in lung cancer screening, diagnostics, and clinical research. Join Robert Rintoul, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, Lauren Dixon, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK, Mariana Brandao, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium, and Anna Bibby, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK as they discuss national screening updates, insights from the State of the Nation report, ongoing EORTC trials, and the clinical implications of incidental findings in lung cancer screening programs.

Immuno-oncology updates from 12th Immunotherapy of Cancer Conference 20.03.2026 12min

In this week’s VJOncology podcast, we had the opportunity to attend the 12th Immunotherapy of Cancer (ITOC) Conference, where we explored cutting-edge developments in cancer immunotherapy and tumor biology. Join David Giles of Washington University in St. Louis, MO, Bernard Fox of Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, and Krijn Dijkstra of Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands as they discuss innovative approaches including live cell and dark antigen vaccines, adoptive cell therapy in melanoma, and tumor-intrinsic mechanisms shaping immune exclusion in colorectal cancer.

Top updates from ASCO GU 2026: latest trials in prostate, kidney, and bladder cancer 06.03.2026 17min

In this week’s VJOncology podcast, we will be covering highlights from ASCO GU 2026 in San Francisco, CA. Dive into the latest advancements in genitourinary cancers, including groundbreaking trial results and emerging treatment strategies. In this episode, join Enrique Gallardo, MD, Parc Taulí University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, Jan-Jaap Mellema, MD, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Pooja Ghatalia, MD, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, Joaquim Bellmunt, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, and, Aly-Khan Lalani, MD, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, as they discuss critical findings from ASCO GU 2026, including combination therapies, innovative approaches to bladder preservation, and novel biomarkers in prostate and renal cell carcinoma.

Esophageal cancer awareness month: from multidisciplinary dialogue to clinical impact 20.02.2026 17min

In this week’s VJOncology podcast, as part of Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month in the UK, we are pleased to bring you the latest advances shaping the treatment landscape for oesophageal and gastroesophageal cancers. Join leading experts Yelena Janjigian, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Berend van der Wilk, MD, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Kohei Shitara, MD, National Cancer Center Hospital East, and Ian Chau, MD, Royal Marsden Hospital, as they discuss pivotal data from key clinical trials across the disease spectrum. Our expert panel highlights how these data are refining first-line strategies, informing organ-preserving approaches, and advancing biomarker-driven therapies in oesophageal and gastroesophageal cancers.

ctDNA-guided surveillance and treatment monitoring in breast cancer 13.02.2026 16min

In this week’s VJOncology podcast, we are delighted to bring you the latest advances in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-informed monitoring and follow-up strategies in breast cancer. Join leading experts Wolfgang Janni, MD, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany, Arielle Medford, MD, Massachusetts General Cancer Center, Boston, MA, Seth Wander, MD, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, and Rinath Jeselsohn, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, as they explore cutting-edge data from key studies including SURVIVE, LEADER, a Phase I/II trial of vepdegestrant, and PACE. Together, they discuss the evolving role of circulating tumor DNA in detecting molecular relapse, guiding early intervention strategies, monitoring treatment response, and predicting resistance across early and advanced ER+/HER2-negative and HR+/HER2-negative breast cancer settings.

What’s new in checkpoint inhibition? LAG-3/PD-1 bispecifics, ADC combos, and more 06.02.2026 18min

In this week’s VJOncology podcast, we bring you key updates on the evolving landscape of checkpoint inhibition beyond PD-1 and PD-L1 across solid tumors. Join leading experts Jesus Fuentes-Antras, MD, NEXT Oncology Madrid, Madrid, Spain, Laurence Buisseret, MD, PhD, Institute Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium, and Yuxiang Ma, MD, PhD, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China, as they discuss novel bispecific and bifunctional immunotherapy strategies, first-in-human and early-phase clinical data, and emerging checkpoint inhibitor–ADC combinations shaping treatment paradigms in breast cancer, urothelial carcinoma, and other advanced malignancies.

Cervical cancer awareness month: advances in prevention and treatment 05.02.2026 9min

In recognition of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, this episode of VJOncology podcasts explores advances in cervical cancer prevention and treatment. We hear from three leading experts who discuss pivotal developments shaping clinical practice. Dr Domenica Lorusso from Fondazione IRCCS National Cancer Institute of Milan examines the breakthrough combination of immunotherapy and radiotherapy in locally advanced disease, highlighting practice-changing data from the KEYNOTE-A18 trial that established pembrolizumab plus chemoradiotherapy as the new standard of care for stage 3 cervical cancer. Dr Amanda Psyrri from National Kapodistrian University of Athens underscores the critical role of HPV vaccination in preventing not only cervical cancer but also HPV-associated oropharyngeal malignancies, particularly those caused by high-risk subtypes 16 and 18. Finally, Dr Alberto Farolfi from IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori shares real-world evidence on the addition of bevacizumab to pembrolizumab-chemotherapy regimens in advanced cervical cancer, demonstrating survival benefits without increased serious adverse events. This episode offers essential insights into the evolving landscape of cervical cancer management from prevention through advanced disease.

Immunotherapy's expanding role in GI cancers: from 1L to adjuvant settings 26.01.2026 12min

This podcast examines immunotherapy’s expanding role across gastrointestinal cancers, from perioperative to adjuvant settings. Experts discuss perioperative immunotherapy strategies for gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers, including findings from the NEOSUMMIT-01 trial. The KEYNOTE-937 trial is explored, addressing the challenging adjuvant setting in hepatocellular carcinoma after curative-intent treatment. The KEYSTEP-008 platform trial findings highlight optimizing pembrolizumab-based combinations in MSI-high, mismatch repair deficient metastatic colorectal cancer. Finally, emerging biomarkers beyond microsatellite instability are discussed, including the TAPUR trial evaluating dual checkpoint inhibition in colorectal cancer patients with BRCA1/2 alterations. These insights showcase immunotherapy’s transformative potential in GI malignancies.

From biology to breakthroughs: new frontiers in head and neck cancer immunotherapy 23.01.2026 15min

In this week’s VJOncology podcast, we bring you key developments in novel approaches in immunotherapy refractory head and neck cancer. Join head and neck cancer expert Amanda Psyrri, MD, PhD, FACP, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece, as she discusses on mechanisms of resistance to checkpoint inhibitors, strategies to overcome resistance such as antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) and tumor vaccines, as well as the trials assessing anti-TIGIT inhibitors.

How is AI transforming oncology care in 2026? From evidence to clinical practice 09.01.2026 17min

In this week’s VJOncology podcast, the first of 2026, we bring you key updates in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in oncology and how it will impact clinicians and patients alike. Join renowned experts Anita Grigoriadis, PhD, King’s College London, London, UK, Rosalind Picard, ScD, MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA, Jana Lipkova, PhD, University of California, Irvine, CA, and Roberto Salgado, MD, PhD, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia as they comment on how to increase AI literacy for oncologists, identifying patients with high-risk lobular breast cancer with AI, and more.

Highlights from SABCS 2025 18.12.2025 13min

In this episode of the VJOncology Podcast, we bring you key highlights from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025 (SABCS 2025). This curated episode features expert insights into practice-changing data across HER2-positive metastatic disease, hormone receptor–positive early breast cancer, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in risk stratification. Leading investigators discuss advances in targeted therapies, endocrine treatment optimization, and AI-driven tools that may refine prognostic assessment and clinical decision-making in breast cancer.

Updates in GU cancer at ESMO 2025: SunRISe-4, PSMAddition, and more 05.12.2025 17min

In this week’s VJOncology podcast, we will be covering highlights from ESMO 2025 in Berlin, Germany. Gain expert insights in the field of genitourinary cancers, including highly-anticipated trial results, emerging biomarkers in kidney cancer, and the evolving role of radionuclides in prostate cancer. Join renowned speakers Andrea Necchi, MD, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital and Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy, Sara Coca Membribes, MD, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK, Scott Tagawa, MD, MS, FACP, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, Paul Nguyen, MD, MBA, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, as they discuss trials such as GDFather-NEO, CALYPSO, and more.

GI cancer highlights at ESMO 2025: FORTITUDE-101, STELLAR-303, and more 28.11.2025 21min

In this week’s VJOncology podcast, we have the pleasure to bring you key updates in gastrointestinal cancer at ESMO 2025, which we attended live in Berlin. Join esteemed experts Kohei Shitara, MD, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan, Michele Reni, MD, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy, Stephen Lam Chan, MD, FRCP, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, and Anwaar Saeed, MD, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, as they discuss ground-breaking trials such as FORTITUDE-101, CASSANDRA, STELLAR-303, and more.

Lung cancer at ESMO 2025: new targets, biomarkers & the changing landscape 26.11.2025 14min

In this episode of the VJOncology Podcast, we bring you four standout interviews from ESMO 2025 that are reshaping the way we think about lung cancer. From antibody-drug conjugates and bispecific T-cell engagers through novel HER2-targeted TKIs to tumour-immune microenvironment biomarkers, the treatment paradigm is evolving rapidly. Join us as we explore findings from the Phase III OptiTROP-Lung04 study of sacituzumab tirumotecan in EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) post-TKI progression, safety analysis of DeLLphi-304: tarlatamab vs standard chemo in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), the first-line Beamion LUNG-1 experience of zongertinib in advanced HER2-mutant NSCLC and biomarker insights from the ImmunoDriver-2 analysis. We’ll weave together how these advances hint at a future where molecular and immunologic profiling come together: identifying patients who will benefit most, integrating new treatment classes, and navigating safety/survivorship in more complex regimens.