Expert Interviews

Dr. Garon discusses the factors that make a patient a strong candidate for ALK inhibitor therapy in ALK+ NSCLC, the importance of biomarker testing in guiding treatment selection, and his approach to testing along with challenges encountered, especially in community settings.

Aditya Bardia, MD, MPH, FASCO, spoke about how the FDA approval of T-DXd in HER2-low or ultralow breast cancer will allow for a broader treatment range.

Findings from the phase 2b ReNeu trial show significant pain relief with mirdametinib in adult and pediatric patients with NF1-PN.

Findings from the CodeBreak 300 study have cemented sotorasib/panitumumab as a third-line treatment option for KRAS G12C-mutated colorectal cancer.

The dispersible tablet formulation of mirdametinib may offer convenience to patients with NF1-PN and difficulty with swallowing pills.

Panelists discuss key strides made in 2024, including exciting data presented at the 66th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition (ASH 2024), and reflect on pivotal developments, such as new insights into Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors, that are shaping clinical practice while looking ahead to 2025 with anticipation for continued advancements that will further enhance treatment strategies and patient outcomes.

Panelists discuss how findings from the phase 3 PALOMA-3 trial of subcutaneous amivantamab plus lazertinib may impact clinical practice, in particular the improvement of patient outcomes and how their preferences will play a role in treatment decisions.

Panelists discuss how bispecifics, like teclistamab, are administered at their institutions, the monitoring of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) during step-up dosing, and strategies to improve care transitions between academic centers and community practices. They also highlight the potential for outpatient administration of bispecifics, as seen in the OPTec and Ambulatory Teclistamab studies, emphasizing the benefits of patient convenience and safety.

Panelists discuss the supportive care measures Julia considers for patients with advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC, including interventions like nutrition and exercise, to enhance overall well-being and support treatment outcomes.

Panelists discuss the side effects Melinda has experienced with her current treatment and the strategies she has found most helpful in managing them, while Julia outlines her typical monitoring and follow-up procedures for patients receiving amivantamab, including the frequency of follow-up visits, labs, imaging, and the symptoms or labs that are most concerning during follow-up.

Panelists discuss how bispecifics are sequenced with other B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)–targeted therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells or antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), and whether early vs late relapse impacts treatment strategies for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM), with emphasis on how biological and clinical factors influence decision-making.

Panelists discuss the safety and efficacy data from the phase 3 PALOMA-3 trial, and how they may lead to future considerations of the subcutaneous use of amivantamab with lazertinib in the front line.

Sotorasib plus panitumumab may offer improved survival compared with previously approved treatment options in KRAS G12C-mutated colorectal cancer.

Panelists discuss how sacituzumab shows significant efficacy in triple-negative breast cancer, with improved progression-free and overall survival. It demonstrates particular benefit in pretreated patients and brain metastases cases. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) excels in HER2-positive breast cancer treatment, showing remarkable response rates and survival benefits, including in patients with brain metastases and those who progressed on prior therapies.

Panelists discuss how the approach to metastatic disease focuses on systemic therapy, as cancer has spread beyond its primary site. Treatment typically combines targeted therapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and/or hormonal therapy based on cancer type and molecular profile. Goals shift toward extending survival, controlling symptoms, and maintaining quality of life rather than cure. Regular monitoring of treatment response and adverse effects guides ongoing care decisions.

Panelists discusses how triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment toxicities require careful monitoring and management. Common adverse effects include fatigue, nausea, hair loss, neuropathy from chemotherapy, and radiation-induced skin changes. Health care teams employ preventive strategies, dose modifications, and supportive care to minimize complications while maintaining treatment efficacy.

Panelists discuss how locally advanced triple-negative breast cancer (LATNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype characterized by absence of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 protein expression. It presents with large tumors and/or extensive lymph node involvement without distant metastasis. Treatment typically involves neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and radiation.

Panelists discuss how triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer characterized by the absence of 3 key receptors: estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 protein. TNBC tends to grow and spread faster than other breast cancer types, presenting unique treatment challenges since common targeted therapies like hormone therapy and HER2-targeted treatments are ineffective. Standard treatment primarily relies on chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation.

This segment highlights the treatment journey of a 68-year-old IT professional with high-risk multiple myeloma, detailing progression after initial D-RVd therapy, refusal of ASCT, and successful transition to cilta-cel CAR-T therapy with manageable adverse events.

This segment discusses the process and critical importance of bridging strategies for patients awaiting CAR T-cell therapy.