Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Cancer Commons Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, is the face and curator of this invitation-only column

  • March 10, 2024  

    Protean BioDiagnostics: One Way to Access Full-Service Precision Oncology Testing

    With: Anthony M. Magliocco, MD

    The use of advanced molecular testing of various cancers over the last 10-15 years has driven development of the field of precision oncology. Now, many patients with a variety of cancer types can benefit from targeted therapies. However, accessing precision testing and treatment can be a major challenge. Our Curious Dr. George asks Anthony M. Magliocco, MD, Founder and CEO of Protean BioDiagnostics, how his company… Read more »

  • March 5, 2024  

    How Would a Harvard Oncologist Manage His Own Metastatic Kidney Cancer?

    With: David J. Einstein, MD

    When facing a frightening new cancer diagnosis, some people ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks kidney cancer expert David J. Einstein, MD, how he would handle his own hypothetical case of kidney cancer. Dr. Einstein is Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Genitourinary Oncology Program at Harvard Medical School’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.… Read more »

  • February 21, 2024  

    How an Expert Would Manage His Own Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer: An Update

    With: John H. Strickler, MD

    When confronted with a new cancer diagnosis, some people ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Previously, our Curious Dr. George asked John H. Strickler, MD, how he would handle his own hypothetical diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic cancer. Now, Dr. Strickler provides an updated answer, outlining new options for the nearly 95% of pancreatic cancer patients with KRAS mutations. Dr.… Read more »

  • February 13, 2024  

    How Would a Northwestern Professor Manage His Own Liver Cancer?

    With: Al B. Benson III, MD, FACP, FACCC, FASCO

    When facing a frightening new cancer diagnosis, some people ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks liver cancer expert Al B. Benson III, MD, FACP, FACCC, FASCO, how he would handle his own hypothetical case of liver cancer. Dr. Benson is Professor of Medicine and Associate Director for Cooperative Groups at the Robert H.… Read more »

  • December 7, 2023  

    Successful Control of High Blood Pressure, a Major Cancer Comorbidity

    With: Robert E. Matthews

    People with cancer often face additional health conditions, or “comorbidities,” that complicate treatment. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major comorbidity that affects many cancer patients. Our Curious Dr. George asks Robert E. Matthews, President and CEO of MediSync in Cincinnati, Ohio, about how his company’s tools are helping physicians better manage their patients’ blood pressure. Curious Dr. George: All physicians and medical… Read more »

  • November 21, 2023  

    High-Energy Blue Light Powers a Promising New Treatment to Destroy Cancer Cells

    With: Stuart L. Marcus, MD, PhD

    A perennial challenge in cancer treatment is figuring out how to kill tumor cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Our Curious Dr. George asks Stuart L. Marcus, MD, PhD, founder and Chief Science Officer at SonALAsense, how his company’s light-activated drug treatment addresses this challenge, holding potential promise for people with brain, bladder, and possibly other cancers. Curious Dr. George: Your flagship treatment employs… Read more »

  • November 17, 2023  

    Integrating AI-Generated Learning Materials into Health Professional Education

    With: Miriam Chickering

    Artificial intelligence (A.I.) is a powerful tool that has made its way into diverse fields—and medical education is no exception. Our Curious Dr. George asks Miriam Chickering, RN, BSN, NE-BC, CEO of NextGenU.org, how the 22-year-old, U.S.-based organization she leads uses A.I. to help create free educational materials for healthcare professionals and students. Curious Dr. George: NextGenU.org provides teaching materials and curricula in a… Read more »

  • October 24, 2023  

    How Would an Expert Manage His Own Acute Myelogenous Leukemia?

    With: Adam Asch, MD

    When facing a frightening new cancer diagnosis, some people ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks leukemia expert Adam Asch, MD, how he would handle his own case of acute myelogenous leukemia. Dr. Asch is Professor of Medicine and Nancy Johnson Records Chair of Oncology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Curious… Read more »

  • September 5, 2023  

    How Would an Expert Manage His Own Advanced Esophageal Cancer?

    With: Sarbajit Mukherjee, MD, MS

    When facing a frightening new cancer diagnosis, some people ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks gastrointestinal cancer expert Sarbajit Mukherjee, MD, MS, how he would handle his own case of advanced esophageal cancer. Dr. Mukherjee is Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine—GI Medical Oncology and Co-Leader of the GI Translational Research Group… Read more »

  • August 18, 2023  

    Alibrex: A New Blood Test to Reveal Whether a Cancer Treatment is Working

    With: Kevin Knopf, MD, MPH

    In cancer treatment, time is of the essence. Our Curious Dr. George asks Kevin B. Knopf, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer at Cadex Genomics, how his company’s new test, Alibrex, could rapidly reveal how well a given treatment is working for a given patient. Curious Dr. George: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved about 270 anti-cancer drugs. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network… Read more »