Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind
by Michael Fernando and Josh Hurwitz
Cancer is a fascinating but rapidly evolving discipline - it's a full-time job just keeping up to date. In this podcast, Dr Michael Fernando and Dr Joshua Hurwitz explore the latest trials, research, and practice-changing updates, as well as regular interviews with renowned oncology specialists. Ideal for those starting their training journey, established specialists and anyone interested in medical science, oncological practice, or terrible jokes. Preferably all three.
Episodes
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220. Back to Basics - Central Nervous System Tumours
This episode is about IDH-mutant glioma, a cancer that often hits people in their thirties and forties who may live for decades, which makes the long-term cost of treatment matter as much as the benefit. We’re looking at two trials, almost thirty years apart. RTOG 9402 opened in 1994 and asked...
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219. Back to Basics - Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is notoriously difficult to treat, but treatment like most cancers continue to improve. This week we discuss two pivotal immunotherapy (Keynote) trials. KEYNOTE-826 was the first trial to show that adding immunotherapy to first-line chemotherapy helps women whose cervical cancer…
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218. Back to Basics - Endometrial Cancer
This week we cover endometrial cancer. It is one of the clearest examples of molecular classification changing how we treat patients. PORTEC-3 randomised women with high-risk disease to pelvic radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. Adding chemotherapy improved survival, and the benefit held…
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217. Back to Basics - Advanced Ovarian Cancer
Last week Josh and Michael discussed early ovarian cancer, but as is always the case many patients either do not respond completely to treatment of their early disease or present with advanced disease and thus are robbed of that chance. In these patients, getting the treatment right is a complex...
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216. Back to Basics - Early Ovarian Cancer
Our Back to Basics odyssey nears its end, a journey just as epic as Matt Damon's (we think so, anyway). As we enter the final stretch, we discuss ovarian cancer, a cancer with significant mortality and morbidity despite advances in treatment. In this episode Josh and Michael discuss two studies…
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215. Back to Basics - Advanced Melanoma
On this episode, Josh and Michael examine the treatment of advanced melanoma, the condition that blazed the trail for immunotherapy to change the face of cancer treatment. However, immunotherapy is not the ONLY treatment for melanoma, as a significant proportion of cases also harbour a BRAF...
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214. Dr Narjust Florez and the rise of early onset lung cancer
Our guest today is someone whose work touches almost every corner of oncology: from the exam room to the lab to the systems we work within. Dr Narjust Florez, MD, FASCO, is a thoracic medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School,...
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213. Back to Basics - Early Melanoma
In this episode, Michael and Josh delve into the world of early melanoma. Some may think that melanoma has had its moment in the sun (pun slightly intended) and that other cancer treatments are passing it by. But in this instance, you can teach an old dog new tricks, an old immunotherapy dog, to…
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212. Back to Basics - Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer
If you like cemiplimab, you will like this episode. Since its introduction, cemiplimab has become the mainstay of treatment for cutaneous SCC, the most common non-melanoma skin cancer likely to attend an oncologist. Cemiplimab's scope is expanding; once reserved purely for the locally advanced or...
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211. Back to Basics - Hepatocellular Carcinoma
For over a decade, sorafenib remained unchallenged as first-line therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma, based on the SHARP trial, which showed survival increasing from 7.9 to 10.7 months. This demonstrated modest efficacy in a disease notoriously resistant to systemic treatment. That drought broke...
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210. Back to Basics - Biliary Tract Cancers
Until recently, biliary tract cancers were relegated to orphan cancer status: rare cancers such as cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancers. These aggressive malignancies were lumped together, historic trials were small, and patients were stuck with gemcitabine-cisplatin chemotherapy as the…
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209. Interview with Dr Kerry Jewell
On today's episode, we have a very special guest: Dr Kerry Jewell is a nuclear medicine physician, medical advocate and very good friend of the show, who recently published her debut novel A Little Unwell. Kerry is wonderfully eloquent doctor who frequently chooses violence when with dealing with...
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208. ASCO 2026 - The Plenary Episode - Part 3
This episode is the ASCO 2026 Plenary Episode. This week, all of the pivotal, game-changing, life-changing trials are discussed here. Some describe the plenary session as practice-changing, and we will always agree that better treatments with significant improvements in life expectancy and…
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207. ASCO 2026 - Agents of the Future - Part 2
This week, Josh and Michael's ASCO 2026 coverage looks at "Agents of the Future", trials of intrigue, promise and potential beyond its status. This episode also sheds light on more orphan status cancers like head and neck cancer, basket cohort studies, resistant EGFR lung cancer, metastatic...
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206. ASCO 2026 - Part 1
ASCO 2026 is done, and Michael and Josh have created a marathon episode for you all. This week we cover "Agents of the Present", where we summarise all the important trials with updates, overall survival and progression-free survival data that could influence your practice. They cover...
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205. ESTRO update with A/Prof Steven David
This week, we take a quick trip to Stockholm, Sweden, where ESTRO (European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology) took place several weeks ago. A/Prof Steven David digs deep into the latest updates in the breast cancer radiation space, including hyperfractionation of treatment, the utilisation…
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204. Jake Messier on Living with Metastatic Male Breast Cancer
This episode tells the story of how one man, Jake Messier, who is living with metastatic male breast cancer, is challenging the stigma surrounding this disease, which affects 1% of all breast cancer patients. It's an important reminder that not all cancers are funded and researched equally, and...
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203. Back to Basics - Early Pancreatic Cancer
This week, we take a "back to the future" look at the early-stage pancreatic cancer phase, a relatively stagnant area in terms of pivotal trials. The two trials are the ESPAC4 trial, which examines doublet chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer, and Josh does a traditional deep dive into the world of...
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202. Back to Basics - Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Today, we accidentally skipped early pancreatic cancer and jumped straight to advanced pancreatic cancer. It was a sombre episode, with clinicians and advocates screaming for better treatment options for this cancer. While small incremental advances have been made, the holy grail remains elusive....
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201. Back to Basics - Advanced Gastric/GOJ Cancer
On today's episode, Josh and Michael "advance" in their ongoing GI journey, as Michael continuously insists on saying, to discuss advanced gastric and GOJ cancer. Historically, an orphan disease with a very poor prognosis, perhaps the first rays of light are beginning to shine on this...
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200. Back to Basics - Early Gastric Cancer
This week, as we enter our 200th episode, Michael and Josh continue their journey through the alimentary canal, exploring the world of stomach cancer. Gastric cancer has been notoriously difficult to treat, with a thirty-year grace period of multiple trials seeking an appropriate regimen that...
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199. Back to Basics - Metastatic Colorectal Cancer - last line options
Good therapeutic options for metastatic colorectal cancer are limited after the fluoropyrimidine-based options are exhausted. This week, we explore the role of trifluridine-tipiracil (Lonsurf) and bevacizumab (VEGF inhibitor), and a newish kid on the block, fruquitinib, an oral tyrosine kinase...
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198. Back to Basics - Early Oesophageal Cancer
Today's episode, like several of the greatest cult classics, comes a bit earlier than anticipated. Before we wrap up our epic recap of the colorectal space, we will give you a little taster of our UGI series with a look at early oesophageal cancer, focussing on the chemotherapy backbone and…
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197. Back to Basics - Metastatic Colorectal Cancer - HER2 positive disease and PI3K mutations
Metastatic Colorectal Cancer has a dearth of targetable mutations that have effective outcomes. This week, Michael and Josh see whether the wonder drug (trastruzumab deruxtecan) works in HER2-expressing colorectal cancer. Michael takes a more positive tone, with the recycling of aspirin to reduce...
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196. Back to Basics - Metastatic Colorectal Cancer - BRAFV600E and KRAS
UPDATED WITH CORRECT AUDIO While Michael daydreams of getting a haircut, this week's topics are slightly more conventional as we explore the role of more targeted agents in metastatic colorectal cancer. KRAS and BRAF mutations in colorectal cancer were historically prognostic; this has now…
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195. Back to Basics - Immunotherapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Historically, colorectal cancer treatment has been fairly standard, but this has shifted over the past decade with the introduction of targeted therapies. This week, our focus is on patients with microsatellite instability (dMMR) colorectal cancer, a small but meaningful cohort. This condition...
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194. Back to Basics - Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Metastatic colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths and among the most common types of cancer worldwide. Chemotherapy remains the main treatment, but the question is: how can we make it more effective without increasing toxicity? This week, we explore the...
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193. Genitourinary Cancers and Prof Jonathan E Rosenberg MD
Professor Jonathan E. Rosenberg, MD, serves as the Chief of the Genitourinary Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (MSKCC). He is a prolific researcher and author, holding multiple titles including Attending Physician at MSKCC, Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical...
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192. Back to Basics - Early Colorectal Cancer - Part 2!
The DYNAMIC duo are back, with Michael climbing the "Everest" of oncology and exploring the role of CTDNA in stage two colorectal cancer. Josh has the easier job of exploring neoadjuvant immunotherapy (ipilimumab and nivolumab) in dMMR advanced colorectal cancer. Both are excellent trials, and a...
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191. Back to Basics - Early Colorectal Cancer
This week, we explore early colorectal cancer. Maybe it’s just this week, but there were plenty of “IDEAS” around. Michael highlights the importance of choosing an appropriate adjuvant regimen, whether that be FOLFOX or CAPOX. Josh digs a bit deeper and, as the name suggests, looks at whether...
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190. Back to Basics - Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma can strike at any time, but it most commonly affects those in their 70s, with cases continuing well into the 2030s. The time from exposure to diagnosis can be up to 60 years. This week, we explore treatment options for pleural mesothelioma, including ipilimumab and nivolumab, and...
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189. Back to Basics - Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
This week, we return to our regular programming with a back-to-basics exploration of extensive small-cell lung cancer. A notorious killer and an aggressive type of lung cancer, it has seen new treatments developed at a faster rate than in the last twenty years combined. We explore tarlatamab, a...
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188. Gastrointestinal Cancer and Professor Jenny Seligmann
Today, our guest is a transformative figure in bowel cancer treatment. Professor Jenny Seligmann, a Consultant Medical Oncologist and Professor of Gastrointestinal and Translational Oncology at the University of Leeds, is renowned for leading the groundbreaking FOxTROT and ARIEL trials. These...
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187. ESMO Awards - Episode 7
In our final take on ESMO 2025, we talk about Genitourinary Cancers. This was a dense area with numerous trials. Today we explore distimiab vedotin in those with advanced bladder cancer, the role of combining lutetium with an ARPI in advanced prostate cancer, whether de-escalation of docetaxel in...
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186. ESMO Awards - Episode 6
ESMO Episode 6 is here! The longest award ceremony in the world continues. This episode covers colorectal cancer, a cancer stream that has relied heavily on the same three drugs for the past twenty-five years. We cover the golden pinnacle of real-world use cases for CTDNA, neoadjuvant…
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185. ESMO Awards - Episode 5
We're back, baby! Michael and Josh predicted their ESMO journey would have eons to run, and they weren't wrong! For our first episode back in 2026, we revisit the important coverage of ESMO 2025, highlighting advances in upper gastrointestinal tract and hepatobiliary cancers. This episode covers...
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184. ESMO Awards - Episode 4
This week, we discuss neuroendocrine tumours and melanoma as our ESMO 25 journey continues. Trials for neuroendocrine cancers include HIF-2 alpha inhibitors, targeted alpha therapy, and a classic anti-PD-1/TIGIT bispecific antibody combined with standard etoposide and cisplatin chemotherapies....
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183. ESMO Awards - Episode 3
For our third instalment of ESMO 2025, we explore lung cancer in all its glory, including small cell, mesothelioma and non-small cell lung cancer. Studies: DeLLphi-303 SOHO-01 ALBATROS PAULIEN DREAM3R OptiTROP-Lung04 For more episodes, resources and blog posts, visit www.inquisitiveonc.com Please...
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182. ESMO Awards - Episode 2
ESMO 2025 continues this week with coverage including early breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer and gynaecological malignancies. A mammoth episode covering giants and pioneers of the oncology world. Studies: SOLTI-RIBOLARIS POSITIVE monarchE: DESTINY-Breast11 evERA ASCENT-03 TROPION-Breast02...
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182. ESMO Awards - Episode 1
After a short break for some pretty major life changes (more details in the episode), Josh and Michael return to tackle the best and brightest of ESMO 2025. With support from MSD, our dynamic duo play host to the inaugural Oncology for the Inquisitive Mind Awards. Today, they look at studies in...
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181. Back to Basics - Limited Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
In this episode, the focus shifts away from the more "garden-variety" non-small cell lung cancer and to its less common, frequently more aggressive sibling, small cell lung cancer. Here, Josh and Michael examine the management of limited-stage small cell lung cancer, which while accounting for a...
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180. Back to Basics - Metastatic NSCLC feat. KRAS and MET mutations
On this week's episode, Josh and Michael exchange the established treatment landscape of EGFR and ALK mutant NSCLC for the developing management of disease harbouring KRAS and MET mutations. The most common mutation meets one of the least common in this battle of therapeutic tenacity. Studies...
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179. Back to Basics - Metastatic NSCLC feat. EGFR and ALK Driver Mutations
In this episode, Michael and Josh take a dive into the world of driver mutations, looking at two of the most clinically consequential: EGFR and ALK mutations. The work done in these areas has led to treatments that represent incredible advances over chemotherapy. How incredible? You'll just have…
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178. Back to Basics - Metastatic Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (mNSCLCa)
Advanced or Metastatic Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (mNSCLCa), is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. This week, Michael provides an excellent background on this type of cancer, and Josh provides an eloquently short introduction (for once). These trials look specifically at lung…
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177. Back to Basics - Early Non Small Cell Lung Cancer
To Josh's immense displeasure, our series on genitourinary cancer is done. For now, at least. In this episode, Michael and Josh step into the heavy shadow of non-small cell lung cancer, the most common cause of cancer death in Australia. However, there is hope and new developments in the...
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176. Back to Basics - Germ Cell Tumours (part 2)
In this episode, Michael and Josh continue to unpick the thorny question of germ-cell tumours, focusing this week on more advanced and relapsed disease. Germ cell tumours have an excellent prognosis, but unfortunately there are cases where more intense therapy is required. Listen on to find out...
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175. Back to Basics - Germ Cell Tumours (part 1)
This episode is the first of a two-part mini-series where Michael and Josh attempt to untangle the complex topic of germ cell tumours, an area that requires specialist experience and a high-volume multi-disciplinary centre to treat adequately. Or, you could just listen to Oncology for the...
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174. Back to Basics - Non Clear-Cell Renal Cell Cancer (RCC)
In this episode, Josh and Michael take a trip down a road less travelled by both patients and researchers, and examine the evidence (or lack thereof) of non-clear cell renal cell cancer, a less common cluster of siblings to the much better established clear cell RCC. Treatment is on very similar...
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173. NECTA (New South Wales Early Phase Clinical Trials Alliance) - The Origin Story
How do you increase access to phase 1 trials for a state with a population of 8 million people spread across 800,000 km^2? You collaborate! In this context, we explore NECTA. The New South Wales Early Phase Clinical Trials Alliance (NECTA) plays a key role in speeding up the translation of...
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172. Back to Basics - Advanced ccRCC
Unlike the adjuvant space, treatment of advanced clear cell renal cell cancer has been a success story potentially only surpassed by advanced melanoma. What was once a horrific and quickly fatal disease, with a predilection for the CNS and significant bleeding risk has become significantly less…
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About this show
Cancer is a fascinating but rapidly evolving discipline - it's a full-time job just keeping up to date. In this podcast, Dr Michael Fernando and Dr Joshua Hurwitz explore the latest trials, research, and practice-changing updates, as well as regular interviews with renowned oncology specialists. Ideal for those starting their training journey, established specialists and anyone interested in medical science, oncological practice, or terrible jokes. Preferably all three.
Hosted by
Michael Fernando and Josh Hurwitz