Oncology Today with Dr Neil Love

Dr Hanny Al-Samkari, a hematologist and clinical investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses ASH 2025 advances in immune thrombocytopenia. He covers combining TPO receptor agonists with B-cell therapies, emergency rescue strategies including splenectomy, choices to avoid thrombocytosis, and practical concerns like iron deficiency and steroid strategies.

Dr Zev Wainberg, UCLA medical oncologist focused on gastroesophageal cancer; Prof Eric Van Cutsem, Leuven academic oncologist with European trial expertise; Dr Haley Ellis, MGH oncologist experienced in biliary tract HER2 disease. They discuss TIGIT and immunotherapy skepticism, sequencing and salvage HER2 strategies, rebiopsy and ctDNA after progression, CNS metastasis management, neoadjuvant HER2 approaches, and toxicity monitoring.

Dr Lajos Pusztai, a Yale medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer and ctDNA research, walks through trials and technologies shaping tumor-informed circulating tumor DNA testing. He covers the DARE randomized trial and real-world adoption, ctDNA-guided de-escalation strategies, Signatera whole-genome updates, stage/subtype differences in detection, and uses in neoadjuvant and metastatic monitoring.

Dr Ravin Ratan, clinical investigator and oncologist at MD Anderson specializing in desmoid tumors, discusses clinical trial data and treatment strategies. He reviews long-term niragestat safety and response rates. He covers fertility and pregnancy considerations with GSIs. He debates placebo controls, the evolving role of surgery, and options like cryoablation and radiation.

Prof Eric Van Cutsem, GI oncology professor from University Hospitals Leuven, shares trial-based perspectives on HER2 strategies. Dr Haley Ellis, medical oncologist at Mass General/Harvard, offers clinical viewpoints on HER2-positive biliary cancers. They discuss managing HER2 treatments with hyperbilirubinemia, cardiac monitoring with HER2 agents, sequencing targeted therapy versus chemoimmunotherapy, and testing choices for overlapping targets.

Dr Bijal Shah from Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, discusses the role of BiTEs in the management of ALL.CME information and select publications here.

Prof Constantine Tam, academic hematologist from Monash University, explains recent CLL datasets from ASH and what they mean for patient care. He discusses moving from continuous BTKi to time-limited oral doublets, challenges and practical tips for venetoclax delivery and ramp-up, the promise of somerotoclax for deeper MRD clearance, and strategies around BTKi selection, relapse management, CAR T timing, and future fixed-duration approaches.

Dr Hanny Al-Samkari, hematologist and clinical investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses ASH 2025 trial data on BTK inhibitors and BAFF-R antagonists. He reviews VEHIT and YAHIT trial designs, durable response rates, and differences between yonalimab and rituximab. Other highlights include fatigue mechanisms, surgery guidance for rilzabrutinib, and impacts on chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia.

Dr Kathleen N Moore, medical oncologist focused on ovarian cancer trials, and Prof Nicoletta Colombo, gynecologic oncologist and researcher, review therapy selection and sequencing. They discuss redefining platinum ineligibility, practical options outside trials, FR-alpha and CDH6 ADCs, pembrolizumab plus weekly paclitaxel, relacorilant combos, PARP frontline strategies and T-DXd benefits and ILD precautions.

Dr Christopher Lieu from the University of Colorado Cancer Center in Aurora, Colorado, discusses circulating tumor DNA-based molecular residual disease assessment and its current role in the management of colorectal cancer.NCPD information and select publications here.