Interviews

Edgardo S. Santos, MD, FACP, FASCO, highlighted how liquid biopsies are transforming lung cancer care by enabling faster, less invasive diagnostics, with key applications in early detection, predictive biomarker identification, treatment response monitoring, resistance mechanism assessment, and minimal residual disease detection.

Ryan Nguyen, DO, University of Illinois Chicago, highlights the importance of personalized care for patients who have non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in oncology, while cautioning against its limitations, including the risk of unsupported recommendations.

While treatment options may be fairly straightforward for high-risk patients with polycythemia vera, it’s less clear for patients who are considered low risk, explained Jennifer Vaughn, MD.

There are a number of considerations both in the short and long term to consider when making treatment decisions for younger patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

Ryan Nguyen, DO, physician and researcher at the University of Illinois Chicago, emphasizes the transformative impact of immunotherapy in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the need for precise biomarkers and equitable access to advanced treatments through systemic testing protocols.

Hans Lee, MD, explores how minimal residual disease (MRD) testing guides treatment decisions for multiple myeloma and highlights the value of patient preferences.

In part 3 of our interview with hematologist-oncologist Don M. Benson, MD, PhD, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, he addresses the unpredictable nature of multiple myeloma outcomes and their multifactorial nature.

Demonstrating improvements in patient quality of life using patient-reported outcomes are important for treatments for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), said Jennifer Vaughn, MD, of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Hans Lee, MD, MD Anderson Cancer Center, talks about recent advancements in multiple myeloma treatment pathways.

Payers want to make sure patients are getting biopsies done so they can get on the right therapies, said Bhuvana Sagar, MD, Oncology Consultants.

Divya Gupta, MD, assistant professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, emphasized the transformative role of biomarker-driven therapies in advancing non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment and highlighted the critical importance of multidisciplinary collaboration.

Matias Sanchez, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago, discussed recent advancements in multiple myeloma treatment, including the potential of cell therapies and bispecific antibodies.

Sandra Cuellar, PharmD, from the University of Illinois Chicago, highlights the critical role of real-world data in shaping reimbursement models for oncology therapies and emphasizes the growing importance of patient-centered care through shared decision-making, precision medicine, and patient-reported outcomes.

Matias Sanchez, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Illinois Chicago, emphasizes the importance of patient education and caregiver involvement in managing complex therapies and advises oncologists to confidently integrate advanced treatments.

Divya Gupta, MD, assistant professor at Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, discussed the potential of using circulating tumor DNA and minimal residual disease (MRD) assays for personalized treatment in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), while emphasizing the unmet need for effective second-line therapies for patients without driver mutations.

In this second part of our discussion with Don M. Benson, MD, PhD, from our recent Institute for Value-Based Medicine® event in Cleveland, Ohio, he explains how his ultimate goal for his patients is for them to live as long and as well as possible.

Mei Wei, MD, an oncologist specializing in breast cancer at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, discusses the latest advancements in HR+/HER2– breast cancer research, as well as the increasing role of genomic profiling in tailoring treatment plans.

Kasey Bond, MPH, of Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health, speaks to why it’s vital to keep patients at the center of all strategic partnerships between academic institutions and community-based oncology practices.

Don M. Benson, MD, PhD, has cared for patients at James Cancer Hospital in Ohio for 22 years, where he and his team see approximately 10,000 patient visits each year.

Oncology pharmacists play a vital role in managing complex outpatient therapies by assessing patient suitability, educating patients, and implementing protocols to ensure safe and effective treatment.

At our recent Institute for Value-Based Medicine® event hosted with NYU Langone Health, Brita Roy, MD, MPH, MHS, spoke on improving cancer health outcomes through community-clinical partnerships.

In the final part of our interview, Ticiana Leal, MD, Winship Cancer Institute, looks to the future of perioperative care in the non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) arena and the importance of risk stratifying patients.

In this clip from our interview with Oscar B. Lahoud, MD, cochair of our Institute for Value-Based Medicine® evening hosted with NYU Langone Health, he addressed medical mistrust in underrepresented communities.

Mabel Mardones, MD, Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, discusses the future of HR+/HER2– breast cancer treatment, focusing on the importance of biomarkers and the potential of SERDs to improve patient outcomes.

The American Journal of Managed Care® and Vanderbilt University Medical Center partnered on a recent Institute for Value-Based Medicine® event, which had the theme, “Bringing the Future to the Present in Cancer Care.”

Mei Wei, MD, an oncologist specializing in breast cancer at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, discusses new treatments for HR+/HER2- breast cancer and immunotherapy challenges, particularly regarding immune-related adverse events.

The theme of our recent Nashville Institute for Value-Based Medicine® event was ”Bringing the Future to the Present in Cancer Care.”

At the regional Institute for Value-Based Medicine® event in Boston, Vinayak Venkataraman, MD, medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, was a panelist for the discussion, “Recent Advancements in Identifying Predictive Biomarkers for Sarcomas."