Molecular Testing

  • July 26, 2024  

    How an Expert Would Treat His Own Advanced Lung Cancer: An Update

    With: Jack West, MD

    A new cancer diagnosis is overwhelming. Patients often ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks lung cancer expert Howard (Jack) West, MD, FASCO, how he would handle his own diagnosis of advanced lung cancer. Dr. West is a Princeton- and Harvard-educated oncologist with additional training and experience in Boston and Seattle focusing on lung… Read more »

  • May 16, 2024  

    SAGE Oncotest: Entering the Next Generation of Tailored Cancer Treatment

    With: Chris Apfel, MD, PhD, MBA

    For people with recurring or drug-resistant cancer, choosing the best-possible next treatment can pose a huge challenge. Our Curious Dr. George asks Chris Apfel, MD, PhD, MBA—Founder, CEO, and Board Chair of SageMedic Corp.—about his company’s solution for many of these patients. Curious Dr. George: Despite the application of curative surgical, radiation, and systemic treatments, cancer remains the “emperor of all maladies” with 600,000… Read more »

  • March 12, 2024  
  • 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 »

  • June 30, 2023  

    PARIS Test Uses Lab-Grown Mini-Tumors to Find a Patient’s Best Treatment

    With: Carla Grandori, MD, PhD

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved hundreds of drugs for the treatment of cancer. However, some approved drugs are more effective for certain patients than others. Our curious Dr. George asks Carla Grandori, MD, PhD, Founder and CEO of SEngine Precision Medicine, about her company’s test to detect which drugs are likely to be most effective for a given patient’s solid tumor.… Read more »

  • March 16, 2023  

    A New Biomarker to Optimize Immunotherapy for People with Cancer

    With: Scott Tomlins, MD, PhD

    Immunotherapy—a type of treatment that harnesses a patient’s own immune system to fight cancer—has been a “game changer” for many patients. It can be difficult, however, to predict whether or not a given person would benefit from immunotherapy, especially when it comes to drugs that target the immune system molecules PD-1 and PD-L1. Our Curious Dr. George asks Scott Tomlins, MD, PhD, Co-founder and… Read more »

  • 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 »

  • December 11, 2022  

    Taking Your Cancer Management to the Next Level: Webinar Recap

    Sarah Stanley

    There is no teacher quite like personal experience. Whether you are dealing with your own diagnosis or helping someone else, you become deeply familiar with cancer’s many practical and emotional challenges. Facing cancer can inspire people to help others navigate their own cancer journey. On November 9, 2022, Cancer Commons presented a free webinar featuring three passionate advocates who have drawn on their own… Read more »

  • October 11, 2022  

    Demystifying Cancer Biomarkers: Webinar Recap

    Sarah Stanley

    If you have just been diagnosed with cancer, or are facing recurrence, progression, or a change in treatment, you may feel bombarded with new information and advice. At some point, a clinician or even a well-meaning friend may urge you to have “biomarker testing” done. This phrase can be especially confusing when dealing with the stress of trying to understand a new diagnosis, a… 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 »