Oncology On The Go

• S1 Ep160: Reviewing Real-World Use of Beti-Cel in Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia

  In a special co-branded episode between Oncology On the Go hosted by CancerNetwork® and the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT)’s program ASTCT Talks, Nora M. Gibson, MD, MSCE, and Taha Al-Juhaishi, MD, spoke about real-world applications of betibeglogene autotemcel (beti-cel; Zynteglo) as a treatment for patients with beta (β)-thalassemia. They spoke in the context of a study that Gibson presented at the 2025 Tandem Meetings, which evaluated patients who received commercial beti-cel in a single-center cohort following the agent’s FDA approval in August 2022. Nora is a fourth-year fellow in bone marrow transplant and cellular therapy at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), with a background in clinical research and epidemiology. Al-Juhaishi is the Associate Director of the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cell Therapy Program at Oklahoma University Health Stephenson Cancer Center and an assistant professor of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Findings from Gibson’s study revealed that among 10 patients who underwent stem cell collection at CHOP from 2022 to 2024, beti-cel yielded consistent red blood cell transfusion independence, with investigators noting prolonged platelet engraftment time and high platelet transfusion requirements. Beyond these findings, the conversation focused on how beti-cel compares with other currently available gene therapies for patients with hemoglobin disorders as well as non-curative therapies like allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Gibson and Al-Juhaishi also discussed strategies for mitigating occlusive disease and other potential toxicities associated with beti-cel. “It's a really exciting time to be working in this field where we finally have really good options for these patients. From our experience and from clinical trials, beti-cel and likely exagamglogene autotemcel [Casgevy]...are very effective, curative therapies for thalassemia in the real-world setting, and we've seen very similar results in sickle cell disease,” said Gibson. “These therapies have been really life-changing for our patients, and they've had a huge reduction in their symptoms and a huge reduction in their burden of health care that's required.” References 1. Gibson NM, Friedman DF, Elgarten CW, et al. Post-approval, real-world experience with betibeglogene autotemcel for transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. 2025;31(2):S254. doi:10.1016/j.jtct.2025.01.386. 2. FDA approves first cell-based gene therapy to treat adult and pediatric patients with beta-thalassemia who require regular blood transfusions. News Release. FDA. August 17, 2022. Accessed April 21, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/3vrkk8kz

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• S1 Ep159: Elucidating Non-Invasive Radiosurgery Advancements in CNS Tumors

  In an interview with CancerNetwork®, William Kennedy, MD, a neuro-radiation oncologist at the Ivy Brain Tumor Center, provided expert insights into the current state of radiosurgery for central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Highlighting a diverse array of available radiosurgery platforms, he explained that institutions like the Ivy Brain Tumor Center frequently use noninvasive surgical techniques with complex monitoring systems. Kennedy further underscored the critical importance of having a nuanced understanding of each technology's capabilities and limitations, as well as those of the practicing oncologist. Emphasizing a high patient volume and a wide variety of cases at his own practice, he suggested that the expertise of the staff at the Ivy Brain Tumor Center positions them at the forefront of radiosurgery development. According to Kennedy, novel therapeutic strategies under development at Ivy Brain Tumor Center include the investigational agent AZD1390, which is being assessed in combination with radiotherapy after surgery for patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent glioblastoma. Despite the benefits that technology provide for research advancement and treatment, Kennedy posited that the multidisciplinary team is essential in ensuring the successful delivery of novel radiosurgery techniques. This integrated approach ensures that each patient benefits from an individualized plan that leverages the full potential of modern radiosurgery. “[D]espite all the great technologies that we have here at Ivy, what I think makes this place great, what makes me proud to work here, and what means the most for our patients is how closely we providers communicate with each other and how closely knit of a team we are,” Kennedy stated. “Being available, showing up to the tumor board, always picking up the phone when your colleague calls to discuss a tough case, and never being afraid to ask for help—all those things I have learned since I have been in practice here. Those are what make the difference, more than anything.”

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• S1 Ep158: Eliminating Racial Disparities in Guideline-Concordant Breast Cancer Care

  In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Oluwadamilola “Lola” Fayanju, MD, MA, MPHS, FACS, discussed the key findings from a study she published in JAMA Network Open, which demonstrated that most patients with inflammatory breast cancer do not receive all available types of guideline-concordant care they are eligible for. Additionally, data showed disparities regarding receipt of modality-specific therapy among patients who were Black, Asian, Hispanic, or other racial minority populations. Based on these findings, Fayanju highlighted potential next steps for mitigating these gaps in care for certain patients with breast cancer. These strategies included revising stringent inclusion criteria for clinical trial enrollment, which may disproportionately exclude racial minority populations who have higher rates of diabetes or other medical conditions. Fayanju also emphasized educating clinicians across different oncology specialties to recognize how different populations present with inflammatory breast cancer and better understand the context in which patients receive treatment. “I hope [the study] makes some people angry…Frustration can be a wonderful fuel,” Fayanju stated regarding her research. “[By] recognizing that there isn't as much guideline-concordant care receipt amongst all people as there should be and the hope that's provided when we achieve concordant care, we can mitigate and eliminate racial disparities. I hope [that] will motivate people to think about how we can get more guideline-concordant care to more people and how we can incorporate diverse populations in the development of guidelines for concordant care at the beginning. Then, how can we also develop treatments that achieve efficacious results across diverse populations?” Fayanju is the Helen O. Dickens Presidential Associate Professor, chief in the Division of Breast Surgery at Penn Medicine, surgical director of Rena Rowan Breast Center, director of Health Equity Innovation at Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation (PC3I), and senior fellow at Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Reference Tadros A, Diskin B, Sevilimedu V, et al. Trends in guideline-concordant care for inflammatory breast cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(2):e2454506. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.54506

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• S1 Ep157: Fostering The Future of Psychosocial Care With World Psycho-Oncology Day

  The International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) deemed April 9th, 2025, the first-ever World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD). This day was meant to spread awareness of the importance of prioritizing psychosocial care for patients with all types of cancer as well as to honor Jimmie C. Holland, MD. Prior to WPOD, CancerNetwork® spoke with Cristiane Decat Bergerot, PhD, BS, MS, a psychologist and the head of supportive care at Grupo Oncoclinicas in Brazil, and a member of IPOS, about the importance of psychosocial care and the impact it has on patients with cancer. As stated by Bergerot and listed on the official IPOS website, the primary goals of WPOD are as follows: raise awareness, honor Jimmie Holland, engage stakeholders, promote action, and support fundraising efforts.1 These goals are geared towards paying homage to the history of psycho-oncology and pushing for a more advanced future. “We aim to empower patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, fostering a future where psychosocial support is an integral part of oncology worldwide,” Bergerot said.  Psycho-oncology has become more prevalent as a cancer care field since Jimmie C. Holland, MD, worked to help found it in the 1970s. Holland, a “pioneer” of psycho-oncology, was the first ever Chief of Psychiatry Services—a department that was the first of its kind anywhere in the world—at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and a founding member of IPOS.  Bergerot stated that, in her work, she sees that patients who receive psychological support exhibit improved pain management and quality of life. Trials now focus more on end points such as quality of life and patient-reported outcomes, and guidelines have emerged to create standards of care. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Society of Clinical Oncology each offer guidelines that detail how to manage patient distress as they progress through cancer therapy.2,3 Distress screenings and earlier recommendations for palliative care have also become more standard in treatment.  As for the future, Bergerot highlighted that psychosocial care needs to be more integrated into care as a necessary, rather than optional, component. New developments around the world, however, have created a landscape where telehealth and new research demonstrate the potential to help psycho-oncology grow rapidly.  References 1.        World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD). IPOS. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/43c9rr2c 2.        Distress during cancer care. NCCN. 2024. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/ycxxvnmt 3.        Andersen BL, Lacchetti C, Ashing K, et al. Management of anxiety and depression in adult survivors of cancer: ASCO guideline update. J Clin Oncol. 2023;41(18):3426-3453. doi:10.1200/JCO.23.00293

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• S1 Ep156: Elevating the Quality of Cancer Care Via Cross-Department Collaboration

  CancerNetwork® visited Sibley Memorial Hospital of Johns Hopkins Medicine to speak with a variety of experts about therapeutic advancements and ongoing research initiatives across several different cancer fields. As part of each discussion, clinicians highlighted how collaboration across different departments has positively impacted treatment planning, decision-making, and outcomes at their institution. These experts included the following: ·      Rachit Kumar, MD, an assistant professor of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a radiation oncologist specializing in genitourinary and gastrointestinal cancers at Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center for Sibley Memorial Hospital and Suburban Hospital; ·      Michael J. Pishvaian, MD, PhD, director of Gastrointestinal, Developmental Therapeutics, and Clinical Research Programs, and associate professor of Oncology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; ·      Nina Wagner-Johnston, MD, a professor of Oncology and the director of Lymphoma Drug Development at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, director of Hematologic Malignancies National Capital Region, and co-director of Clinical Research for Hematologic Malignancies; ·      Valerie Lee, MD, an assistant professor of Oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a medical oncologist at Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital; ·      Armine Smith, MD, the director of urologic oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital, and an assistant clinical professor of Urology at the Brady Urological Institute of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; ·      Pouneh Razavi, MD, the director for Breast Imaging in the National Capital Region and an instructor in Radiology and Radiological Science; ·      and Curtiland Deville Jr., MD, medical director of the Johns Hopkins Proton Therapy Center and clinical director of Radiation Oncology at Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital. Altogether, their insights demonstrated how multidisciplinary teamwork has improved outcomes ranging from patient survival to healthcare resource utilization across a wide range of diseases including breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, genitourinary cancer, hematologic malignancies, and others.

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