Cleveland Clinic Cancer Advances

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Director of the Inpatient Leukemia Unit, Anjali Advani, MD joins the Cancer Advances podcast to break down the latest acute myeloid leukemia clinical trials. From venetoclax-based regimens to emerging menin inhibitors and mutation-driven strategies, listen as Dr. Advani explains how rapid genomics, novel combinations and evolving transplant decisions are reshaping AML care and what still lies ahead for high-risk disease.

Could removing heat improve safety in endoscopic mucosal resection? Florida Division Chair of the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, and the Florida Region Director for Endoscopy, Tolga Erim, DO, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to break down cold EMR how it compares to traditional EMR, including key differences in bleeding risk, recurrence rates, and clinical trade-offs.

Mina Lobbous, MD, MSPH, Neuro-Oncologist and Medical Director of the Adult Neurofibromatosis and Schwannomatosis Clinic at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to talk about the landscape of neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis care. Listen as Dr. Lobbous emphasizes the importance of coordinated pediatric‑to‑adult care, highlighting the emergence of MEK inhibitors and transformational advances in imaging and genomics. 

The Cancer Advances Podcast welcomes back Nathan Mesko, MD, Vice Chair of Global Clinical Operations for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Center Director for Musculoskeletal Oncology at Cleveland Clinic to talk about chemotherapy, limb salvage surgery and how 3D printed custom implants are reshaping outcomes in osteosarcoma. Dr. Mesko also shares a remarkable pediatric case whose complex reconstruction highlights the power of multidisciplinary care, surgical innovation and long term functional recovery.

Bethany Samuelson Bannow, MD, Director of Classical Hematology at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss the evolving field of classical hematology and what it means for managing complex non-malignant blood diseases. Listen as she covers emerging gene therapies, bispecific antibodies, cancer-associated thrombosis, and practical referral guidance for conditions like ITP, TTP, and sickle cell disease.

Julie Lang, MD, Breast Surgical Oncologist, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss advancing care for patients with inflammatory breast cancer. Listen as Dr. Lang outlines key clinical features that distinguish IBC from infection, evidence-based sequencing of neoadjuvant therapy, surgery and radiation, and highlights emerging tools and translational research efforts aimed at improving outcomes in this aggressive subtype.

Associate Staff and Physician Scientist at Cleveland Clinic Children’s, Richa Sharma, MD, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss the launch of a National DNA Repair and Telomere Biology Disorder Tumor Board. Listen as Dr. Sharma explains the cancer predisposition associated with these rare inherited disorders, the challenges of treating malignancy in patients with impaired DNA repair, and how a multidisciplinary, national tumor board can help clinicians navigate complex treatment decisions and toxicity risks.

Radiation Oncologist and Physician Scientist Jacob Scott, MD, DPhil, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss how chemograms may change the way oncologists select chemotherapy using transcriptomic data and predictive modeling. Listen as Dr. Scott shares how this approach applies the logic of an antibiogram to cancer care, ranks cytotoxic therapies based on tumor sensitivity, and supports more personalized treatment decisions for patients.

Medical Director of the Women's Comprehensive Health and Research Center and Professor of OB/GYN and Reproductive Biology, Pelin Batur, MD, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss updated guidance on contraceptive care during and after cancer. Listen as Dr. Batur breaks down the latest multidisciplinary recommendations, reviews cancer-specific risks and misconceptions around hormonal contraception, and explains how shared decision-making can help prevent unintended pregnancy, reduce harm, and improve long-term survivorship care.

Mohammad Dwidar, PhD, Assistant Staff in the Lerner Research Institute and Assistant Professor of Molecular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss the emerging role of engineered bacteria in cancer treatment. Listen as Dr. Dwidar explores the history of bacteria-based immunotherapy, strategies to enhance tumor specificity and safety, and how targeting tumor metabolites like kynurenine could open new therapeutic avenues across solid tumors.

Jaroslaw P. Maciejewski, MD, PhD, Chair of the Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Department at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to take a deeper look at inborn errors of immunity and their role in clonal T-cell expansion and large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia. Listen as Dr. Maciejewski explains how subtle immune deficiencies may drive disease, what this means for diagnosis and treatment, and how these insights could reshape how clinicians think about immune-mediated bone marrow failure.

Paula Escobar, MD, a Breast Surgical Oncologist at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to provide an inside look into endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy. Listen as Dr. Escobar breaks down how the procedure works, who is an ideal candidate and what this approach could mean for cosmetic outcomes, recovery, and the future standard of care.

Radiation Oncologist and Co-Director of the Genitourinary Program, Shalini Moningi, MD, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss the latest advances in radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Listen as Dr. Moningi talks about SBRT, adaptive radiation, emerging biomarker data, and how these innovations are reshaping treatment selection, toxicity profiles, and patient's quality of life.

Breast density affects 50% of women and can significantly impact both cancer risk and early detection. Breast Radiologist, Paulette Turk, MD, and Medical Breast Program Director, Lakshmi Khatri, MD, join the Cancer Advances Podcast to discuss breast density, its risk implications and the role of supplemental screening. Listen as they explain how Cleveland Clinic is defining practical screening pathways in an area where national guidelines continue to evolve.

Shahzad Raza, MD, Hematologist at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to share insights from the RedirecTT-1 study. This study, presented at the 2025 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, explores combining two bispecific antibodies, talquetamab and teclistamab, for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma with extramedullary disease. Listen as Dr. Raza discusses disease biology, outcomes, safety considerations and why this approach could be a major step forward for high-risk myeloma care.

Certified Oncology Social Worker Jane Dabney, MSW, LISW-S, OSW-C, joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to talk about the vital role social workers play in blood cancer care. Listen as she explains how social work helps identify barriers to transplant and cellular therapy, supports patient and caregiver preparedness, and strengthens continuity of care.

Urologic Oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, Alberto Pieretti, MD, joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to talk about how innovations in imaging, biomarkers and multidisciplinary care are reshaping the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer. Hear how advances such as PSMA PET scans, biomarker-guided biopsies and precision therapies are improving outcomes and quality of life for patients.

Joseph Skitzki, MD, Director of Melanoma and Cutaneous Oncology Surgery at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss how neoadjuvant immunotherapy is transforming melanoma treatment. Listen as Dr. Skitzki explains how this approach is improving survival and reducing the need for extensive surgery.

Allison Winter, MD, Hematology Oncologist and Medical Director for VeloSano, returns to the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss the latest advances in diagnosing and managing primary CNS lymphoma. Listen as Dr. Winter shares how evolving treatment strategies, including CAR T-cell therapy and novel clinical trials, are improving outcomes and helping preserve cognitive function.

Pregnancy-associated breast cancer is rare and complex, requiring careful coordination across specialties. Erin Roesch, MD, Breast Medical Oncologist, joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to discuss how a multidisciplinary team approach helps optimize treatment timing, ensures maternal and fetal safety, and supports patients through diagnosis, therapy, and recovery.

Radiation oncologist in the Burkhardt Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center and Associate Director of the Gamma Knife Center, Samuel Chao, MD, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to talk about how advances in Gamma Knife radiosurgery are transforming treatment for patients with brain metastases. Hear how innovations in imaging, staging, and safety are allowing clinicians to treat more lesions while preserving brain function.

Lauren Kopicky, DO, Breast Surgical Oncologist at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss the evolving management of the axilla in breast cancer care. Listen as Dr. Kopicky reviews key clinical trials, ongoing research, and how de-escalation strategies are shaping patient care, outcomes, and quality of life.

Radiation Oncologist and Co-Director of the Sarcoma Program, Shauna Campbell, DO, returns to the Cancer Advances Podcast, this time diving into something a bit different - how low dose radiation therapy could help with osteoarthritis. Listen as Dr. Campbell explains how radiation works as an anti-inflammatory treatment, the types of patients who may benefit most, and how it compares with common options like joint injections or surgery.

Theranostics is changing the way we approach cancer care by combining advanced imaging with targeted therapy. Elcin Zan, MD, Chair of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Cleveland Clinic joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to discuss how theranostics is being used in prostate cancer, for neuroendocrine tumors and its potential use for other cancers.

Samuel Trosman, MD, a Head and Neck Surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to discuss personalized approaches to thyroid cancer surgery. Listen as Dr. Trosman shares evolving surgical strategies, risk assessment and the role of molecular testing in guiding care.

Emotional distress is common during cancer treatment, but research shows it may also impact treatment outcomes. Psychosocial Oncologist Shiyao Wang, MD, joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to discuss the STRESS-LUNG-1 trial and how addressing emotional distress can potentially influence treatment response.

Jame Abraham, MD, Chair of the Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute, joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming oncology care. Listen has he shares insights from Cleveland Clinic’s recent AI in healthcare conference, real-world applications such as clinical documentation and trial matching, and how AI may reshape research, patient care, and the future of cancer treatment.

Orthopedic Oncologist at Cleveland Clinic in Florida, Jorge Manrique-Succar, MD, returns to the Cancer Advances Podcast to share the latest advances in treating metastatic bone disease. Listen as Dr. Manrique talks about early intervention, advanced surgical techniques, and multidisciplinary collaboration are improving outcomes for cancer patients with skeletal-related complications.

Wen Wee Ma, MBBS, Enterprise Vice Chair for Research and Director of the Novel Cancer Therapeutics Center, joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to discuss a phase 1 trial of KB707 presented at ASCO 2025. This innovative therapy delivers IL-2 and IL-12 directly to the lungs through inhalation, aiming to minimize side effects and improve outcomes for patients with lung tumors. Dr. Ma shares early trial results and what they could mean for the future of cancer treatment.

Kelley Kozma, DO, MS, Medical Director for Oncology at Cleveland Clinic Martin Health in Florida, to discuss how targeted therapies, next generation sequencing, and personalized medicine are transforming breast cancer care. Listen as Dr. Kozma shares how innovations like HER2-low targeting, liquid biopsy, and circulating tumor DNA are helping clinicians tailor treatments and improve outcomes.

Brian Burkey, MD, MEd, Interim Director of the Scully Walsh Cancer Center and Division Chair of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Florida, joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to talk about management strategies for clinically node-negative salivary gland cancer. Listen as Dr. Burkey highlights findings from an outcomes study and share strategies to better identify high-risk patients who may benefit from more aggressive treatment.

George Stark, PhD, and Christine McDonald, PhD, from Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute, join the Cancer Advances Podcast to discuss the development of PALA as a novel immunostimulatory agent in oncology. Listen as they highlight promising preclinical data across multiple tumor types, potential for combination therapies and plans for clinical translation, including topical use for skin cancer.

The Cancer Advances Podcast welcomes back Sudha Amarnath, MD, a Radiation Oncologist and Co-Director of the Gynecologic Cancer Program at Cleveland Clinic to discuss the potential of self-collected HPV tests to expand access to cervical cancer screening. Listen as Dr. Amarnath shares insights into how these tests work, their FDA approval, and their potential to reach underserved populations who face barriers to traditional screening methods.

Megan Kruse, MD, a Medical Oncologist and Director of the Clinical Breast Cancer Research Program at Cleveland Clinic joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to share breast cancer research highlights from the 2025 ASCO Conference. She discusses key findings from studies in metastatic hormone receptor-positive, triple-negative, and HER2-positive breast cancer, including potential practice-changing data on oral SERDs, antibody-drug conjugates, and ctDNA testing.

Rafael Arteta-Bulos, MD, a Genitourinary Medical Oncologist at Cleveland Clinic’s Maroone Cancer Center in Weston, Florida, joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to discuss the use of virtual reality in the care of patients with cancer. Dr. Arteta shares how this emerging technology is being studied as a supportive tool to reduce distress, anxiety, and improve overall well-being during chemotherapy.

Laura Bukavina, MD, MPH, a Urologic Oncologist and Translational Research Lead for genitourinary oncology at Cleveland Clinic joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to talk about strategies to improve the survivorship experience for women with bladder cancer, including treatment advances, quality-of-life considerations and encouraging open conversations to drive better survivorship programs.

Akriti Jain, MD, a Hematologist and Medical Oncologist specializing in leukemia and myeloid disorders at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to discuss personalizing treatment approaches for myelofibrosis-associated anemia. Listen as Dr. Jain provides insights into the evolving therapeutic landscape, explaining how the field has expanded beyond single-agent therapy.

The Cancer Advances Podcast welcomes back Emre Gorgun, MD, Vice Chair of the Department of Colorectal Surgery and Co-Director of the Endoluminal Surgery Center at Cleveland Clinic, for his fifth appearance to discuss endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in managing early-stage colorectal cancer. Listen as Dr. Gorgun outlines the technique, compares it to traditional surgical approaches, and shares insights from recent research demonstrating its safety, oncologic efficacy, and impact on quality of life.

Christopher Weight, MD, Director of Urologic Oncology at Cleveland Clinic joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss using artificial intelligence to predict prostate cancer outcomes after radical prostatectomy. Listen as Dr. Weight explains how the algorithms can analyze standard prostate pathology slides to better predict which patients will likely experience cancer recurrence after surgery, potentially revolutionizing post-operative management strategies.

Hematologist and medical oncologist, Moaath Mustafa Ali, MD, MPH joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to talk about the impact of p53 mutations in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).  Listen as Dr. Mustafa Ali explains findings from a large real-world dataset, challenges in data collection, and how these insights may guide future treatment strategies.

Jamie Ku, MD, Director of the Head and Neck Robotic Surgery Program at Cleveland Clinic joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to discuss the newly released ASCO clinical practice guidelines for transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer. Listen as Dr. Ku, who co-chaired the ASCO expert panel, provides insight into the multidisciplinary process behind the guidelines, outlines key recommendations for patient selection and explains the role of TORS as a minimally invasive surgical approach.

Matteo Trucco, MD, Director of the Children’s Cancer Innovative Therapy Program, joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to discuss the Cleveland Clinic Children's recent recognition as the first center in the nation to receive pediatric cancer subcommittee accreditation from the Commission on Cancer. Learn how this milestone is not only advancing pediatric cancer care at Cleveland Clinic but also shaping national benchmarks for multidisciplinary pediatric oncology programs.

Chair of the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Michelle Kang Kim, MD, PhD, joins the Cancer Advances podcast to discuss her team’s innovative work using electronic health records (EHR) to develop a predictive model for noncardiac gastric cancer. Listen as Dr. Kim explains how the model uses common clinical variables to flag high-risk patients who may benefit from endoscopic screening.

Brian T. Hill, MD, PhD, Director of the Lymphoid Malignancies Program at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Cancer Advances Podcast to talk about the latest updates in first-line therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). During this episode, Dr. Hill explains the shift from traditional chemoimmunotherapy to more precise, targeted treatments, and how customized therapy is transforming patient outcomes.

The Cancer Advances Podcast welcomes back Abhay Singh, MD, MPH, Director of the CHIP Clinic at Cleveland Clinic, to explore the evolving landscape of survivorship care. Listen as Dr. Singh provides insights on how personalized, patient-centered approaches are being integrated with shared care models to address late effects, psychological challenges, and the needs of a growing population of cancer survivors.