Dr. Jack West reviews emerging new information and controversial topics in health care in general, cancer treatment in particular.
Dr. Bishal Gyawali (Part 1): Truly Global Perspective on Oncology Care, from Kathmandu to Canada
Dr. Bishal Gyawali speaks with Dr. West about his trajectory from medical trainee in Nepal to an international authority on evidence-based cancer care, how his path has shaped his professional priorities, & how social media has provided new opportunities. (19:51)
Dr. Charu Aggarwal (Part 2): Building a Career and Family Life Together, Overcoming Barriers
Dr. Charu Aggarwal discusses with Dr. West how she and her colleagues at Univ. of Pennsylvania can develop their own careers alongside each other, #medTwitter, how she navigates work-life balance, & the improving support for women in heme/onc. (16:01)
Dr. Charu Aggarwal (Part 1): Growing Momentum for Plasma-Based NGS Testing in Advanced NSCLC
Dr. West & Charu Aggarwal from University of Pennsylvania reviews data from her own group & other centers, demonstrating increasing practical utility & remaining limitations of liquid biopsy testing for molecular markers in advanced NSCLC. (26:52)
Dr. Jack West: Why the Broader FDA Approval of First Pembrolizumab Monotherapy based on KEYNOTE-042 is an Invitation to Inferior Care in Advanced NSCLC
Dr. Jack West reviews why the new FDA approval of first line pembrolizumab monotherapy for the 1-49% PD-L1 subgroup won on a technicality and now offers a clearly inferior choice compared to far better existing standards for patients with low tumor PD-L1. (20:08)
Dr. Jed Gorden (Part 2): Defining the Role of Interventional Pulmonology in a New Era of Lung Cancer Management
Drs. Jed Gorden and Jack West reflect on the evolving field of interventional pulmonology and their role not only in performing biopsies but also in longitudinally managing pleural effusions and pulmonary complications in patients with lung cancer. (20:08)
Dr. Jed Gorden (Part 1): Rolling Out Chest CT Screening and Pulmonary Workups into the Real World Beyond Tertiary Care Centers
Dr. Jed Gorden speaks with Dr. Jack West, reviewing the obstacles limiting broader adoption of lung cancer screening in practice and how novel approaches are needed to reach areas outside of tertiary care hospitals. (25:41)
Weighing the clinical significance of new clinical trial results with immunotherapy in stage III and IV NSCLC
Drs. Jack West & Corey Langer debate the criteria for adopting early clinical data as practice-changing as immunotherapy trials in locally advanced & metastatic NSCLC are reported. (19:05)
Dr. Gil Morgan (Part 2): Overcoming Barriers in Cancer Care Delivery, Smoking Cessation, & Lung Cancer Screening Globally
Dr. Jack West & Sweden-based Dr. Gil Morgan discuss disparities in access & overall quality of cancer care, challenges in smoking cessation efforts, & the limited impact of lung cancer screening internationally. (25:17)
Dr. Gil Morgan (Part 1): Social Media & Digital Education Cultivating a Global Oncology Community
Dr. Jack West & Sweden-based Dr. Gil Morgan reflect on how social media are forging new conversations & educational opportunities for the global oncology community, as well as the marked differences in cancer care & medical practice in the US vs. Sweden. (22:41)