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

  • January 28, 2023  

    Using Live Cells from Patients to Find the Right Cancer Drug

    With: Clifford A. Reid, PhD

    Today, many cancer patients benefit from targeted drugs that are matched to the distinct genetic mutations found in their tumors. However, especially in late-stage cancer, this “precision oncology” strategy has not proven to be as transformative as people once hoped. Here, Curious Dr. George asks Clifford A. Reid, PhD, CEO of Travera, how his company is addressing this problem. Curious Dr. George: The U.S.… Read more »

  • January 17, 2023  

    How Would an Expert Manage His Own Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma?

    With: Kevin Knopf, MD, MPH

    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 oncologist Kevin Knopf, MD, how he would handle his own advanced Hodgkin lymphoma. Curious Dr. George: Please consider this hypothetical scenario—as a very busy practicing clinical oncologist during the COVID-19 pandemic, you were not paying much attention to… Read more »

  • December 23, 2022  

    10 Things I Learned in 10 Years at Cancer Commons That Could Save Your Life

    With: Marty Tenenbaum, PhD

    After facing his own cancer, Marty Tenenbaum, PhD, founded Cancer Commons to help others dealing with the disease. Here, Curious Dr. George asks him to share what he has learned. Curious Dr. George: As a well-known survivor of metastatic melanoma, and as the founder of Cancer Commons, you are often sought out by friends and acquaintances who have just been diagnosed with cancer or… Read more »

  • November 10, 2022  

    A Powerful Knowledge Base for Precision Oncology

    With: Hongxin Zhang

    Genetic mutations found in a tumor can be important clues to the patient’s best treatment options. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York has developed a product called OncoKB™, which enables anyone to access and navigate key clinical information about the various genetic abnormalities that may be found in tumors. Here, Curious Dr. George asks MSK Lead Software Engineer Hongxin Zhang about… Read more »

  • November 3, 2022  

    Cancer Commons Helps Patients Benefit from Clinical Trials

    With: Emma Shtivelman, PhD

    For many years, people with advanced cancer who turn to Cancer Commons have benefitted from working with Chief Scientist Emma Shtivelman, PhD. Here, she shares three patients’ stories. Curious Dr. George: You have helped many hundreds of patients with advanced cancer to feel valued, to better understand their disease and their clinical situation, and to explore their options. Will you please share with our readers… Read more »

  • October 10, 2022  

    People With Prostate Cancer See Their Journey Differently From Their Doctors

    With: Nicole Jardine, BASc

    Typical approaches to cancer research don’t necessarily capture the whole picture of what a patient might experience. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Nicole Jardine, BASc, how real-world evidence can improve cancer research. Jardine is Associate Manager, Patient Journey Analytics at the company Self Care Catalysts, recently acquired by Alira Health. Curious Dr. George: In your role at Self Care Catalysts, you have access… Read more »

  • September 15, 2022  

    A New Champion for Cancer Caregivers

    With: Mike Looney, PhD

    Many people with advanced cancer can benefit from helpful caregivers, but family and friends who take on this role may have little background or training to do such a difficult job well. A new organization called Courage Groups aims to provide education and guidance in this collaborative journey. The founder is Mike Looney, PhD, a client and generous supporter of Cancer Commons, whose family… Read more »

  • August 23, 2022  

    Using AI and Drug Testing to Design Personalized Cancer Drug Combos

    With: Noah Berlow, PhDDiana Azzam, PhD

    Advanced cancer treatment often involves combining multiple drugs. But with a huge number of possible combinations, it is difficult to know which mix might work best for each patient. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks two leaders to describe how the company First Ascent Biomedical is addressing this challenge. Curious Dr. George: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved many thousands of… Read more »

  • July 25, 2022  

    How an Emory Professor would Treat Her Own Advanced Endometrial Cancer

    With: Jane Meisel, 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 Jane Meisel, MD, how she would handle her own advanced endometrial cancer. Dr. Meisel is Associate Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Curious Dr. George: Please consider a hypothetical… Read more »

  • June 14, 2022  

    How an Expert Would Manage His Own Advanced Prostate Cancer

    With: Marc B. Garnick, MD

    When facing a new cancer diagnosis, some people ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Marc B. Garnick, MD, how he would handle his own advanced prostate cancer. Dr. Garnick is the Gorman Brothers Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA. He is also… Read more »