Hosted by Ralph Weichselbaum, MD, Chair of the Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago, this episode tackles the burgeoning world of radiopharmaceuticals and features two radiation oncologists: Jeff Michalski, MD, MBA, Washington University in St. Louis and president of ASTRO, and Freddy Escorcia, MD, PhD, National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health. They kick it off by giving background context on isotope therapy and the current data for these therapies in different malignancies, including an update into peptides and SBRT; provide commentary on how randomized controlled trials account for the complexities of radiopharmaceuticals in their design (especially pertaining to selection criteria and dosage); and share how a radiation department is structured and staffed to account for all patient needs, including a push for a novel patient-centered approach that involves the nuclear medicine department.
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Dr. Simrit Parmar, founder of Cellenkos, joins the show to discuss her journey from the lab to the biotech startup world, detailing the inspiration behind launching her company, the challenges of securing funding, and the resilience required to overcome rejections. She shares insights into Cellenkos’ lead product, its progress toward market approval, and the rigorous
Carol Rausch—a healthcare professional, cancer researcher, and former patient with lymphoma—shares how her journey from researcher to patient transformed her understanding of medical language. She discusses the impact of word choice on patients, why certain battle and war metaphors can be harmful, and how language used in clinical settings differs from what resonates with those
Drs. David Braun and Toni Choueiri join to discuss a groundbreaking Nature study on a personalized neoantigen vaccine for adjuvant renal cell carcinoma. They explore the inspiration behind the trial, how the vaccine was developed and administered, and its safety profile. The conversation also covers patient outcomes after 3-4 years, including immune responses and disease
