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Oncology Decoded

Oncology Decoded

Written by: Oncology Decoded
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 CancerNetwork® is excited to announce the launch of Oncology Decoded, a new podcast that will discuss scientific data and practical application in the world of oncology. Hosted by 2 leading experts in the field, Benjamin Garmezy, MD, and Manoj Bupathi, MD, MS, this podcast will cover cutting-edge topics and offer actionable insights to help improve patient outcomes. Science
Episodes
  • 21: Decoding the Top Moments in Prostate Cancer From 2025

    21: Decoding the Top Moments in Prostate Cancer From 2025
    Jan 22 2026

    In the latest episode of Oncology Decoded, hosts Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS, and Benjamin Garmezy, MD, wound the clock back to 2025 to discuss the key findings and clinical developments that may propel the genitourinary oncology field forward. Following a breakdown of last year’s breakthroughs in kidney cancer and bladder cancer care, the hosts reviewed the biggest headlines and milestones of 2025 related to prostate cancer management and research.

    Bupathi is the executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) and a medical oncologist with Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, specializing in solid tumors and genitourinary cancers. Garmezy is the associate director of genitourinary research and executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at SCRI and a medical oncologist at SCRI Oncology Partners, specializing in genitourinary cancers. Together, they spoke about several major prostate cancer happenings throughout 2025, including but not limited to:

    · The FDA Approval of the Phase 3 ARANOTE Trial (NCT04736199) Regimen

    o In June 2025, the FDA approved darolutamide (Nubeqa) for patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (CSPC) based on findings from the phase 3 ARANOTE trial.

    o Topline data showed a median radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) that was not reached (NR) with darolutamide vs 25 months (95% CI, 19-NR) with placebo (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.41-0.71; P <.0001).

    o This approval may grant easier access to darolutamide, especially for the treatment of patients who are older or who present with certain neurocognitive disorders.

    · The FDA Approval of the Phase 3 AMPLITUDE Trial (NCT04497844) Regimen

    o December 2025 saw the FDA approval of niraparib and abiraterone acetate (Akeega) plus prednisone for adults with suspected or deleterious BRCA2-mutated CSPC.

    o Supporting data from the phase 3 AMPLITUDE trial showed a median rPFS that was not estimable (NE; 95% CI, 41 months-NE) in the niraparib arm vs 26 months (95% CI, 18-28) in the placebo arm among 323 patients with BRCA2-mutated disease.

    o This approval for patients with BRCA2-mutations reinforces the importance of conducting upfront genetic testing.

    · Phase 3 PSMAddition Trial (NCT04720157)

    o Lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan (Pluvicto) plus an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) significantly prolonged rPFS vs ARPI/ADT treatment alone among patients with prostate specific-membrane antigen (PSMA)–positive metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.58-0.90; P = .002).

    o Other data from ESMO Congress 2025 showed that the lutetium Lu 177 combination numerically improved the overall response rate at 85.3% (95% CI, 79.9%-89.6%) vs 80.8% (95% CI, 74.8%-85.8%) in the control arm.

    o The safety profile observed in the trial may raise questions over whether it is worthwhile to administer all 6 cycles of lutetium Lu 177 to patients.


    References

    1. FDA approves darolutamide for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. News release. FDA. June 3, 2025. Accessed January 20, 2026. https://tinyurl.com/yhde24zj
    2. FDA approves niraparib and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone for BRCA2-mutated metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. News release. FDA. December 12, 2025. Accessed January 20, 2026. https://tinyurl.com/rcxaj98
    3. Tagawa ST, Sartor O, Piulats JM, et al. Phase III trial of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 combined with ADT + ARPI in patients with PSMA-positive metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (PSMAddition). Ann Oncol. 2025;36(suppl 2):S1627-S1628. doi:10.1016/j.annonc.2025.09.101
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    42 mins
  • 20: What Were The Key Kidney and Bladder Cancer Advances in 2025?

    20: What Were The Key Kidney and Bladder Cancer Advances in 2025?
    Jan 8 2026
    As part of ushering in the new year, Oncology Decoded hosts Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS, and Benjamin Garmezy, MD, looked back on the most exciting advancements that shook up the genitourinary oncology landscape throughout 2025. Specifically, they highlighted the clinical trial readouts, regulatory milestones, and other breakthroughs that made 2025 a “remarkable year” in kidney cancer and bladder cancer care.

    Bupathi is the executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) and a medical oncologist with Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, specializing in solid tumors and genitourinary cancers. Garmezy is the associate director of genitourinary research and executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at SCRI and a medical oncologist at SCRI Oncology Partners, specializing in genitourinary cancers. Together, they reviewed several key moments in kidney and bladder cancer research, including but not limited to:

    · The FDA Approval of The EV-303 Trial (NCT03924895) Regimen

    o In November 2025, the FDA approved a neoadjuvant/adjuvant regimen consisting of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) or pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph (Keytruda Qlex) plus enfortumab vedotin-ejfv (Padcev) for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who are ineligible for cisplatin.

    o “Incredible” data from the phase 3 KEYNOTE-905/EV-303 trial supported the approval, which showed an improvement in event-free survival with the enfortumab vedotin combination vs surgery alone (HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.28-0.57; P <.0001).

    o The approval may lead to a “paradigm shift” in the treatment of this MIBC population.

    · The Phase 3 POTOMAC Trial (NCT03528694)

    o Data showed a meaningful disease-free survival (DFS) improvement when adding durvalumab (Imfinzi) to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) among patients with BCG-naïve, high-risk NMIBC (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.50-0.93; P = .0154).

    o Frontline immunotherapy-based regimens may “complicate” how to think about treating patients with NMIBC later down the line.

    · The Phase 3 RAMPART Trial (NCT03288532)

    o Adjuvant treatment with durvalumab (Imfinzi) plus tremelimumab-actl (Imjudo) improved DFS compared with active monitoring among patients who underwent resection of primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC; HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.45-0.93; P = .0094).

    o Following previous unsuccessful trials assessing immunotherapy in adjuvant RCC, the results of RAMPART demonstrate how immunotherapy can work in this space.

    References

    1. FDA approves pembrolizumab with enfortumab vedotin-ejfv for muscle invasive bladder cancer. News release. FDA. November 21, 2025. Accessed January 5, 2026. https://tinyurl.com/bdfhmhnk
    2. De Santis M, Palou Redorta J, Nishiyama H, et al. Durvalumab in combination with BCG for BCG-naive, high-risk, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (POTOMAC): final analysis of a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2025;406(10516):2221-2234. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01897-5
    3. Larkin J, Powles TB, Frangou E, et al. First results from RAMPART: An international phase III randomised-controlled trial of adjuvant durvalumab monotherapy or combined with tremelimumab for resected primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) led by MRC CTU at UCL. Ann Oncol. 2025;36(suppl 2):S1750. doi:10.1016/j.annonc.2025.09.110
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    39 mins
  • 19: How to Manage Oligometastatic Kidney Cancer? Insights From IKCS 2025

    19: How to Manage Oligometastatic Kidney Cancer? Insights From IKCS 2025
    Dec 4 2025
    In the latest episode of Oncology Decoded, hosts Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS, and Benjamin Garmezy, MD, broke down the treatment decision-making process for patients who present with oligometastatic kidney cancer. The experts zeroed in on this topic following their attendance at the 2025 International Kidney Cancer Symposium (IKCS), which featured a variety of sessions discussing the oligometastatic treatment setting.

    The conversation opened with an aim to better define what oligometastatic disease constitutes for patients. Bupathi noted how patients can present with synchronous, metachronous, or oligoprogressive cancer based on when metastases appear around the time of diagnosis. Furthermore, the specific nature of a patient’s metastases may influence their treatment course. For example, in the case of a patient with de novo metastatic clear cell disease and lung metastases, Bupathi recommended the use of systemic therapy followed by cytoreduction, and the possibility of nephrectomy plus stereotactic body radiotherapy directed to the metastases.

    Garmezy also emphasized distinguishing between de novo and recurrent disease, as both types necessitate the development of different treatment goals. For patients with recurrent oligometastatic disease, the primary goal of therapy may entail increasing the cure rate or extending treatment-free survival, depending on individual circumstances. Moreover, specific patient factors may influence the decision on whether to combine immunotherapy with radiotherapy.

    In terms of standardizing a therapeutic approach for patients who present with oligometastatic disease, the hosts stressed the importance of strengthening efforts across multidisciplinary clinics and collaborating with radiology colleagues to better identify which sites of metastasis are progressing in patients.

    Bupathi is an executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) and a medical oncologist with Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, specializing in solid tumors and genitourinary cancers. Garmezy is the associate director of genitourinary research, an executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at SCRI, and a medical oncologist at SCRI Oncology Partners specializing in genitourinary cancers.
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    27 mins
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