Cleveland Clinic Cancer Advances

Episodes

• 
  Inhaled KB707 Plus Pembrolizumab in Lung Cancer 22.10.2026 13m

  Patients with advanced lung cancer often experience disease progression despite treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this episode of Cancer Advances, Wen Wee Ma, MBBS, discusses data evaluating inhaled KB707, a modified herpes simplex virus designed to locally deliver IL-2 and IL-12, in combination with pembrolizumab. Dr. Ma reviews the rationale behind this novel immunotherapy approach, early efficacy and safety findings and the potential role of inhaled therapies in future lung c...
• 
  Improving Diagnosis and Care for Rare Cancers and Blood Diseases 15.10.2026 23m

  Rare cancers and blood diseases present unique diagnostic and treatment challenges, often requiring specialized expertise and multidisciplinary care. In this episode of Cancer Advances, Sudipto Mukherjee, MD, PhD, MPH, discusses how Cleveland Clinic's Rare Cancers and Blood Diseases Program is improving diagnostic accuracy, accelerating access to care and advancing research across more than 90 rare conditions. Learn how integrated pathology review, genomic insights, collaborative care models ...
• 
  CAR T and Bispecific Therapies in AL Amyloidosis 08.10.2026 21m

  Hematologist and myeloma specialist Shahzad Raza, MD, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss emerging cellular and immune therapies for AL amyloidosis. Listen as Dr. Raza reviews early data on CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies, their potential to induce deep hematologic responses and how these approaches may improve organ function and long-term outcomes for patients with this rare plasma cell disorder.
• 
  Are We Missing Patients? Expanding Germline Genetic Testing in Oncology 01.10.2026 22m

  As recommendations for germline genetic testing continue to expand, many eligible patients remain untested. In this episode of Cancer Advances, Demitrios Dedousis, MD, discusses current testing indications, common gaps in implementation and the clinical implications of identifying hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes. Learn how germline findings can influence treatment decisions, screening protocols and risk assessment for families.
• 
  Partnering with Classical Hematology: Optimizing Referrals, Diagnostics and Patient Care 24.09.2026 15m

  Bethany Samuelson Bannow, MD, Director of Classical Hematology at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss how stronger collaboration between oncologists, primary care physicians and classical hematologists can improve diagnostic efficiency and patient outcomes. Listen as Dr. Samuelson Bannow shares practical referral guidance, highlights new diagnostic care pathways for common blood disorders, and explores strategies to address workforce shortages while expanding access...
• 
  Personalizing Pediatric Cancer Care: The Promise of Precision Oncology 17.09.2026 21m

  As molecular profiling advances, precision oncology is reshaping cancer care for children, adolescents and young adults. In this episode of Cancer Advances, Prajwal Rajappa, MD, MS, discusses how genomic sequencing, methylation profiling and multidisciplinary molecular tumor boards are improving diagnostic accuracy, informing risk-adapted treatment decisions and uncovering new therapeutic opportunities. Discover how integrated data platforms are helping translate molecular insights into perso...
• 
  From Evidence to Practice: How NCCN Defines the Standard of Cancer Care 10.09.2026 20m

  What does it take to establish the standard of care in oncology? Matt Kalaycio, MD, Vice Chair of the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute and Chair of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Board of Directors, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss how NCCN Guidelines are developed, updated and implemented across cancer care. Listen as he explores the role of multidisciplinary expertise, patient advocacy, clinical evidence and emerging AI-enabled tools in shaping oncology practi...
• 
  Redefining Resectability in Advanced Rectal Cancer 20.08.2026 16m

  What happens when a cancer is deemed unresectable? In this episode, Dr. Haniee Chung discusses how multidisciplinary care is expanding treatment options for patients with advanced and recurrent rectal cancer. She highlights the role of tumor board review, neoadjuvant therapy, robotic surgery and specialized supportive services, and explains why referral to a dedicated multivisceral cancer program may uncover options previously thought impossible.
• 
  Preserving Vision, Expanding Options in Uveal Melanoma 06.08.2026 13m

  As new therapies move through clinical trials, the management of uveal melanoma is entering a period of significant change. In this episode of Cancer Advances, Arun Singh, MD, discusses emerging strategies to avoid radiation, prevent radiation-related vision loss and shrink tumors before definitive treatment. Learn how these innovations address longstanding unmet needs and reshape care for patients with this rare ocular malignancy.
• 
  Integrating Goals-of-Care Discussions in Oncology Practice 23.07.2026 21m

  How can oncologists initiate meaningful goals-of-care discussions earlier in the disease course? In this episode, Dr. Natalie Jacobowski outlines practical communication strategies, including language, timing and approaches to reduce stigma and align care with patient values. She emphasizes how early, transparent dialogue, and framing concerns as shared worries, can enhance decision-making across the cancer continuum, including for younger patients.
• 
  Building Smarter Testicular Cancer Data Sets with Large Language Models 09.07.2026 25m

  How can better data improve decision-making in a curable but nuanced disease like testicular cancer? This episode explores how large language models can turn unstructured clinical notes into actionable insights, helping clinicians refine treatment selection, understand practice variation and balance cure with long-term toxicity management.
• 
  Pre-Taxane Lutetium in Prostate Cancer: Changing the Treatment Algorithm 18.06.2026 19m

  Is there a role for earlier integration of lutetium PSMA therapy in mCRPC management? Emerging evidence supports its use in the pre-taxane setting, prompting a shift in sequencing decisions. This episode outlines patient selection, PSMA imaging requirements and how to balance disease aggressiveness, tolerability and real-world considerations when choosing between lutetium and chemotherapy.
• 
  Rethinking "More Is Better": Deescalating Cancer Care 04.06.2026 18m

  As cancer care becomes increasingly personalized, treatment deescalation is emerging as a key strategy to balance efficacy with quality of life. In this episode of Cancer Advances, Jame Abraham, MD, Enterprise Chair of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Cleveland Clinic, discusses how clinicians are rethinking dose intensity, duration and therapeutic selection across disease settings. Learn how evolving evidence, patient preferences and emerging technologies like AI are shaping treatment deci...
• 
  Using Dynamic Models to Inform Treatment and Prognosis in AML 21.05.2026 18m

  How can we better predict progression and outcomes in a disease where treatment decisions must be made in days, sometimes hours? In this episode of Cancer Advances, Moaath Mustafa Ali, MD, MPH, discusses emerging longitudinal and evolutionary modeling approaches that integrate clinical, genomic and treatment data over time to improve risk stratification in acute myeloid leukemia. Learn how these models may support earlier, more informed decisions around therapy selection, relapse risk and lon...
• 
  Preserving Fertility During Pelvic Radiation: A Multidisciplinary Surgical Approach 14.05.2026 16m

  Young patients requiring pelvic radiation face limited fertility preservation options. In this episode of Cancer Advances, Robert DeBernardo, MD, and Johanna Kelley, MD, both gynecologic oncologists at Cleveland Clinic, discuss uterine transposition—a novel surgical approach that protects both ovarian function and the uterus—using a real world rectal cancer case. Learn which patients may benefit, how the multidisciplinary model works and what this technique could mean for counseling, referral...
• 
  Optimizing Treatment Decisions in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer 07.05.2026 18m

  Shilpa Gupta, MD, Genitourinary Medical Oncologist, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to explore how perioperative immunotherapy and ctDNA are redefining management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. She reviews emerging phase III data and explains how it can inform treatment selection, referral timing and adjuvant decision making in clinical practice.
• 
  20 Years of Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Lessons from the Spine Tumor Board 30.04.2026 31m

  Lilyana Angelov, MD, Neurosurgeon and Director of the Cleveland Clinic Gamma Knife Center, Samuel Chao, MD, Radiation Oncologist and Associate Director of the Gamma Knife Center; and Ajit Krishnaney, MD, Neurosurgeon in the Center for Spine Health, join the Cancer Advances podcast to share insights from 20 years of a multidisciplinary spine tumor board. Learn how multidisciplinary strategies and newer technologies are improving decision-making, local control and patient outcomes.
• 
  Advancing Care in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology 23.04.2026 15m

  Amy Smith, MD, Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss recent progress in pediatric neuro-oncology. Listen as Dr. Smith explains the advances in tumor biology that are shaping treatment decisions and shares how recent FDA approvals for pediatric low-grade gliomas and diffuse midline gliomas are improving disease control and patient outcomes.
• 
  Adjustment Disorder in Patients with Cancer 16.04.2026 22m

  Brian Barnett, MD, Director of the Cleveland Clinic Psychiatric Treatment Resistance Program, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss adjustment disorder in patients with cancer. Dr. Barnett shares how oncologists can better recognize this condition and provides insights on screening and treatment strategies. He also highlights emerging research on psychedelic-assisted therapy that may expand care options for these patients.
• 
  Integrating Acupuncture into Cancer Care 09.04.2026 18m

  Thuy Nguyen, DAOM, LAc, Section Head of Acupuncture for the Wellness ad Preventive Medicine Department at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Cancer Advances podcast discuss how acupuncture is being integrated into cancer care. Listen as she explains the evidence behind using acupuncture for managing treatment-related symptoms, how acupuncture works biologically, key safety considerations and when oncologists should consider referral as part of an integrative oncology approach.