Cancer Research Insights & News

Could making immunotherapy more effective for cancer patients be as simple as giving it earlier in the day? In this discussion, our Curious Dr. George chats with Cancer Commons scientist Amanda Nottke, PhD, to explore the latest insights on this intriguing possibility.

Cancer patients often pose the question to their physicians, “What would you do if you were in my position?” In this context, Curious Dr. George speaks with Mayo Clinic oncologist Javier Munoz, MD, MS, MBA, about how he would approach his own diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma. At the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Dr. Munoz serves as Director of the Lymphoma Program, Co-Director of the Cellular Therapy Program, and Director of the Cancer Center’s Clinical Trials Office.

The Brain Cancer Support and Solutions Alliance (BCSSA), a partnership among the nonprofits Head for the Cure, the Musella Foundation, and Cancer Commons, proudly announces the appointment of a dedicated Neuro-Oncology Nurse Navigator, now delivering vital support to brain cancer patients and their caregivers.

When confronted with a scary new cancer diagnosis, many people turn to their doctors and ask, “What would you do if you were in my shoes?” In this case, our Curious Dr. George poses that question to leukemia expert Mark R. Litzow, MD, to learn how he might approach his own hypothetical diagnosis. Dr. Litzow is Professor Emeritus in the Division of Hematology at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

Individuals with lung-affecting cancer may require mechanical ventilation at some stage to assist with breathing. However, after discontinuation of ventilation, they can face difficulties in regaining independent respiratory function. Motivated by his son’s experience with this challenge, Doug Evans spearheaded the development of an innovative treatment designed to act like a “personal trainer,” accelerating the restoration of breathing strength. In this discussion, our Curious Dr. George interviews Doug, president and CEO of Lungpacer Medical, about this novel approach.

A longstanding challenge in cancer treatment is determining how to destroy tumor cells while preserving healthy ones. Two years ago, Curious Dr. George spoke with Stuart L. Marcus, MD, PhD, founder and Chief Science Officer of SonALAsense, about how the company’s light-activated drug therapy tackles this issue. Now, he reconnects with Dr. Marcus to discuss the latest advancements in this promising approach.

Cancer patients often ask their physicians, “What would you do if you were me?” In this context, Curious Dr. George (George Lundberg, MD) posed the question to Mayo Clinic oncologist Sameer A. Parikh, MBBS, regarding how he would handle a personal diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

In precision oncology, cancer patients receive drugs tailored to target specific features of their tumors. Two years ago, Curious Dr. George spoke with Travera’s CEO about how the company was helping more patients benefit from this approach. Now, he catches up with Dennis Watson, Vice President of Business Development, to learn how Travera’s services have progressed.

Many cancer patients ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were in my shoes?” In this case, our Curious Dr. George chats with Harvard oncologist Jon Arnason, MD, about how he would approach his own diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Brad Power, a lymphoma survivor diagnosed in 2018, has been an active and engaged patient from the start, advocating for himself to make the best treatment choices. Today, through Cancer Patient Lab—an organization he co-founded—he helps other patients take charge of their care as well. In this conversation, our Curious Dr. George talks with Brad about his work.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize cancer research and treatment. In this conversation, Curious Dr. George talks with our Director of Technology, Michael Kramer, about how Cancer Commons can help shape the future of AI in oncology. After losing his son, Theo, to a rare brain cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), Kramer is passionately dedicated to supporting others facing similar challenges.

When confronted with a scary new cancer diagnosis, many ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” In this case, Curious Dr. George poses the question to expert oncologist Jerald. Radich, MD, MA, MS, about how he might handle his own hypothetical case of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Dr. Radich serves as the Kurt Enslein Endowed Chair in the Translational Science & Therapeutics Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington.

For those with glioblastoma brain tumors, figuring out the exact size, location, and spread of the tumor can be both crucial and tricky. Imaging Biometrics, LLC has created new imaging techniques to tackle this challenge. In this discussion, our Curious Dr. George chats with the company’s president and CEO, Michael Schmainda, about these advancements.