Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer
Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How an Expert Would Manage His Own Advanced Bladder Cancer: An Update

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 Daniel E.C. Fein, MD, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How an Expert Would Manage His Wife’s Metastatic Breast Cancer: An Update

For most people with breast cancer, a lump is the first sign that leads to diagnosis. But some cases are not detected until after spread has already occurred. Here, our […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How an Expert Would Manage Her Own Advanced Colorectal Cancer: An Update

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 oncologist Christina Wu, MD, how […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

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

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) […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How an Expert Would Manage His Own Advanced Prostate Cancer: An Update

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 […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Personalized Power of the “N-of-1” Approach

Randomized, controlled clinical trials with a large N—number of participants—are the recognized “gold standard” of evidence-based medicine. Even so, the results of large-N trials can only reveal population averages, and […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How Would an Expert Manage His Own Acute Myelogenous Leukemia: an Update

When facing a frightening new cancer diagnosis, some people ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Previously, our Curious Dr. George asked leukemia expert Adam Asch, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How Would an Expert Manage His Own Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma: an Update

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, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

SAGE Oncotest: Entering the Next Generation of Tailored Cancer Treatment

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 […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Treating Pancreatic Cancer: Could Metabolism—Not Genomics—Be the Key?

In 2018, we published a Curious Dr. George post featuring Thomas N. Seyfried, PhD, about cancer possibly being mostly a metabolic—rather than genetic—disease. Since then, the field of cancer genomics has […]

How Would an Expert Manage His Own Acute Myelogenous Leukemia: an Update

When facing a frightening new cancer diagnosis, some people ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Previously, our Curious Dr. George asked leukemia expert Adam Asch, […]

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

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 […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

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

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 […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

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

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, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How Would a Northwestern Professor Manage His Own Liver Cancer?

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 […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Successful Control of High Blood Pressure, a Major Cancer Comorbidity

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. […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

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

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 […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Integrating AI-Generated Learning Materials into Health Professional Education

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, […]

How Would an Expert Manage His Own Acute Myelogenous Leukemia?

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, […]

How Would an Expert Manage His Own Advanced Esophageal Cancer?

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 […]

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

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 […]

Common Sense Oncology: Moving Back Towards Outcomes that Matter

There are many ways to measure how well a particular cancer treatment works. But how much do these outcomes reflect a patient’s actual wellbeing? Our Curious Dr. George asks Christopher […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

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

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 | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How Would an Expert Manage His Own Advanced Bladder Cancer?

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 Daniel E.C. Fein, MD, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Are You Getting Trustworthy Prostate Cancer Information?

When standard-of-care is an excuse for licensed medical malpractice Are you getting trustworthy prostate cancer information? The terms standard-of-care, medical practice guidelines, FDA approved and, covered by insurance certainly seem […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Sordid “Truth” about Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer has long been one of the most common types of cancers in American men. Our Curious Dr. George asks retired urologic surgeon Bert Vorstman, MD, and freelance science […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

A New Biomarker to Optimize Immunotherapy for People with Cancer

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 […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Learnings from Pilot Study: Creating Treatment Templates to Serve More Glioblastoma Patients

A recent pilot study between Cancer Commons and the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research & Information is identifying patterns that are being translated into treatment templates to better serve a larger group […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Using Live Cells from Patients to Find the Right Cancer Drug

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 […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How Would an Expert Manage His Own Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma?

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, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

All-Clear Follow-Up: Hydrogen Peroxide Appears to Treat Oral and Skin Lesions

In 2020, writer Ronald Piana shared with our readers his own experience of using hydrogen peroxide to quickly eradicate a clinically diagnosed pre-malignant oral leukoplakia—a condition that can develop into oral cancer. Here, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

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

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 | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

A Powerful Knowledge Base for Precision Oncology

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 […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Cancer Commons Helps Patients Benefit from Clinical Trials

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. […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

People With Prostate Cancer See Their Journey Differently From Their Doctors

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 […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

A New Champion for Cancer Caregivers

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 […]

Using AI and Drug Testing to Design Personalized Cancer Drug Combos

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, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How an Emory Professor would Treat Her Own Advanced Endometrial Cancer

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 […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How an Expert Would Manage His Own Advanced Prostate Cancer

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 […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Harnessing Each Patient’s Data to Help Many More

At Cancer Commons, we don’t just help people navigate cancer treatment; we learn from everyone we help. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Cancer Commons Clinical Scientist Kaumudi Bhawe, PhD, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Plain Language Summaries Improve Access to Medical Research

Cancer Commons helps people make sense of the latest research on treatments for their distinct type of cancer. Meanwhile, a growing number of research papers now include a plain language […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Can Immunotherapy Be Effective for Brain Cancer?

Immunotherapy has reshaped the cancer treatment landscape. This type of treatment boosts the immune system to fight cancer. However, for people with advanced brain cancer, immunotherapy options remain slim. Here, our […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Cancer Commons Adapts to Remain True to Our Mission

People facing advanced cancer come to Cancer Commons to ensure they have all the information they need to make their best-possible cancer care decisions. Here, Curious Dr. George asks our […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Cellular Aging and the Development of Cancer

Cancer is so often a disease of older people that a whole medical field, “oncogeriatrics,” exists to address the topic. Deeper understanding of the links between cancer and aging could […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

More Information from Less Tissue: Strata Oncology Excels

  For a growing number of advanced cancer patients, molecular testing of tumor tissue is an essential step in identifying their best options for treatment. Strata Oncology is one company offering this […]

Meet Deb Christensen, Nurse Navigator for People Facing Advanced Cancer

For people with advanced cancer, making sense of the complexities of cancer treatment can be truly daunting. Enter the oncology nurse navigator (ONN), a nurse with specialized training to help […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Cardiometabolic Medications That Inhibit mTOR Might Help Prevent or Treat Cancer

Many people believe that cancer is a metabolic disease. A biological process known as the mTOR pathway controls cellular metabolism by way of central signaling, and it is involved in […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Using Virtual Trials to Screen for Potential Glioblastoma Therapies

The existing drug development system “has failed miserably” for people with glioblastoma brain tumors, according to Al Musella, DPM, President of the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research & Information, […]

WATCH the 11th Annual Lundberg Institute Lecture: The COVID Labyrinth: Where Are We In It and How Do We Escape?

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How an Expert Would Manage His Wife’s Metastatic Breast Cancer

Curious Dr. George Cancer Commons Contributing Editor George Lundberg, MD, is the face and curator of this invitation-only column. Richard B. Schwab, MD Professor of Medicine – Division of Hematology/Oncology; […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How an Expert Would Handle His Own Cancer of Unknown Origin Causing Severe Back Pain?

Curious Dr. George Cancer Commons Contributing Editor George Lundberg, MD, is the face and curator of this invitation-only column. Marc B. Garnick, MD Gorman Brothers Professor of Medicine at Harvard […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How an Expert Would Treat Her Own Metastatic Melanoma

Curious Dr. George Cancer Commons Contributing Editor George Lundberg, MD, is the face and curator of this invitation-only column. Pauline Funchain, MD Director of the Melanoma Medical Oncology and Genomics Programs […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Latest in Melanoma Treatment: A Guest Perspective

Ryan Sullivan, MD Associate Director of the Melanoma Program at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School Curious Dr. George Cancer Commons Contributing Editor George Lundberg, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Helping Patients Access Investigational Treatments

Curious Dr. George Cancer Commons Contributing Editor George Lundberg, MD, is the face and curator of this invitation-only column. Lea Ann Browning-McNeeDirector of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement at the Reagan-Udall […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

When is the Best Time to Seek a Clinical Trial for Glioblastoma?

For some people with glioblastoma brain tumors, enrolling in a clinical trial enables access to cutting-edge treatment. Here, our Curious Dr. George talks clinical trials with Cancer Commons Expert Physician […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How Can Detection of Tumor DNA in the Blood Aid Advanced Cancer Treatment?

  As a tumor grows, it may shed fragments of its DNA into the patient’s bloodstream. After treatment, if part of the tumor remains or it begins to grow again, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Can Really Big Data Inform Precise Decisions for Individual Patients?

New technologies are transforming cancer research. By optimizing research protocols and leveraging data more efficiently and intelligently, these tools hold the promise to improve personalized cancer care. Here, our Curious […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Just Diagnosed with Advanced Lung Cancer: What Now?

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) […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How an Expert Would Manage Her Own Advanced Ovarian Cancer

Cancer patients often ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks oncologist Summer Dewdney, MD, how she would handle her own […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Behind the Scenes at Cancer Commons: Working with Patients

Cancer Commons helps advanced cancer patients identify and access their best-possible treatments. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Chief Scientist Emma Shtivelman, PhD, for an inside look at how she helps the […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How an Expert Would Manage Her Own Advanced Colorectal Cancer

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 Cancer Commons Expert Physician Advisor […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

What Is a Cancer Commons Options Report?

As a Cancer Commons Scientist, Lola Rahib, PhD, helps cancer patients and caregivers navigate treatment. Some of these patients receive a Cancer Commons Options Report. Here, our Curious Dr. George […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Hydrogen Peroxide Appears to Treat Pre-Cancerous Oral Lesion in “N-of-One” Experiment

Numerous patients come to Cancer Commons because they wonder if their best cancer treatment option may lie beyond standard care. For many patients, this will mean receiving treatment through a clinical […]

American Health Care: What’s Left After COVID-19?

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How to Learn About Cancer in a Classroom: Shaping Compassionate Doctors

The patients and caregivers we serve here at Cancer Commons rely on their doctors to provide expert, compassionate care. Building the skills to give such care can begin early in […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How an Expert Would Manage His Own Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer

When confronted with a new cancer diagnosis, some people ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Cancer Commons Expert Physician […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How an Expert Would Treat His Own Glioblastoma

Two years ago, our Curious Dr. George asked Al Musella, DPM, what he would do if he were diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Here, he revisits that question. Dr. Musella is President […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Is Cancer the Best Way to Die?

In 2014, the prestigious medical research journal The BMJ published a controversial piece called “Dying of cancer is the best death.” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks the author of that […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Power of Precision Medicine is Exemplified by Tempus

For some patients, a key step to finding their best treatment may be molecular testing of their tumor tissue. This type of test could reveal distinct features, such as genetic […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Helping Cancer Patients Access their Own Health Data

For many cancer patients, the ability to access one’s own medical records can aid their treatment decisions, or allow them to donate their personal data for research that could help […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How I Cope with the Tsunami of Cancer and COVID-19 Info

Oncologists worldwide face the challenge of staying on top of the latest treatments, research findings, and other information that could help them treat their patients more effectively. Now, they must […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How the Coronavirus Pandemic Impacts Cancer Care: Our Survey Results

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic presents unprecedented challenges to cancer patients. Many have experienced changes to their care, and some face increased risk of infection or worse prognosis if they are […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Challenges of Using Artificial Intelligence to Improve Cancer Treatment

In a previous post, CureMatch co-founder Razelle Kurzrock, MD, told us all about her company’s artificial intelligence (AI) platform that matches patients with treatments based on their cancer’s molecular profile. […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How to Beat COVID-19 with Real-Time, Real-World Data

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, researchers around the world are working quickly to develop strategies to treat and prevent this disease. In partnership with the company xCures, Cancer Commons is […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

What Sets Cancer Commons Apart?

Cancer Commons is a patient-centric, nonprofit network of patients, physicians, and scientists that helps identify the best options for treating an individual’s cancer. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks executive […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Facilitating Access to Treatment for Children with Brain Cancer

A Q&A with Leslie Jared, RN, MSN, Nurse Navigator at Cancer Commons. Email: leslie.jared@cancercommons.org Q: A midline glioma is a type of brain tumor that is particularly dangerous because of its […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Using Artificial Intelligence to Match Combination Targeted Therapies in Oncology

A Q&A with Razelle Kurzrock, MD, Director of the Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy and the Rare Tumor Clinic at U.C. San Diego, and Co-Founder and Board Member of CureMatch, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Comprehensive Molecular Testing Needed for Stage IV Lung Cancer

A Q&A with David Spigel, MD, Chief Scientific Officer, Director of the Lung Cancer Research Program, and Principal Investigator at Sarah Cannon Research Institute. Email: dspigel@tnonc.com Q: You are an […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Weathering the Perfect Storm of the Vaping Threat

A Q&A with Alan Blum, MD, who founded the Center for the Study of Tobacco and Society in 1999 at The University of Alabama, where he serves as Professor and Gerald Leon […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Using Molecular Testing to Guide Treatment for Advanced Colorectal Cancer

A Q&A with Kalpana Kannan, PhD, former Scientist at Cancer Commons Q: Colorectal cancer is common, and although many cases in earlier stages are cured by surgery alone or with […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Emphasizing Oncogeriatrics

A Q&A with Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, MD, Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom, and Chair of the Young Interest Group of the International […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Fixed and Variable Factors that Impact a Brain Tumor Patient’s Prognosis

A Q&A with Burt Nabors, MD, Professor and Director of the Division of Neuro-oncology at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and a member of the Cancer Commons Brain Tumor Advisory […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How to Treat Uveal Melanoma that Recurs in the Liver?

A Q&A with Emma Shtivelman, PhD, Chief Scientist at Cancer Commons; emma@cancercommons.org Q: Malignant melanoma may arise from multiple sites, including the eye. What would you recommend be done for […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Importance of Brain Tumor-Initiating Cells in Glioblastoma

A Q&A with Anita Hjelmeland, PhD, Associate Professor of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology at the University of Alabama Birmingham School of Medicine Q: The inner workings of malignant gliomas […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Navigating Pancreatic Cancer—The Basics

A Q&A with Lola Rahib, PhD, Lead Scientist, Pancreas Cancer, at Cancer Commons, Los Altos, CA Q: Navigating a pancreatic cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and confusing for patients and […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Serious Caveats in Screening for Pancreatic Cancer

A Q&A with Rama Gullapalli, MD, PhD; a a physician-scientist in the departments of Pathology, Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of New Mexico. His research lab focuses on […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Encouraging and Paying for Clinical Trials, Right to Try, and Expanded Access: Part Three

A Q&A with Mark Shapiro, PhD,Vice President of Clinical Development at xCures, Inc., Partner at Pharma Initiatives; mshapiro@xcures.com. This is the final installment in a three-part series in which Dr. Shapiro has shared his thoughts on […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Encouraging and Paying for Clinical Trials, Right to Try, and Expanded Access: Part Two

A Q&A with Mark Shapiro, PhD,Vice President of Clinical Development at xCures, Inc., Partner at Pharma Initiatives; mshapiro@xcures.com. Last week, Dr. Shapiro shared his initial thoughts on the question below. Today, he discusses issues of cost and equitable […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Encouraging and Paying for Clinical Trials, Right to Try, and Expanded Access: Part One

A Q&A with Mark Shapiro, PhD,Vice President of Clinical Development at xCures, Inc., Partner at Pharma Initiatives; mshapiro@xcures.com Q: Treatment of Americans with advanced cancer is complex and challenging and can be very expensive. Many […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

At Diagnosis, What Do Cancer Patients Want?

A Q&A with Laura Benson, RN, MS, ANP, president of Conversations in Care, LLC; LauraBensonRN@Gmail.com Q: In our digital communication world of 2019, some patients may receive the initial message that […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Capturing Patients’ Real-World Experiences to Improve Cancer Research and Care

A Q&A with Grace Castillo-Soyao, founder and CEO of Self Care Catalysts; grace@selfcarecatalysts.com Q: You are well known as a visionary in the field of Real World Experience-Evidence (RWEE). As […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Crucial 90% Missed by Doctors on Computers

A Q&A with Kevin B. Knopf MD, MPH, chairman of hematology and oncology at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California; kevinbknopf@gmail.com Q: A successful patient-physician relationship depends upon effective bidirectional attention […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Promise of Plerixafor in Glioblastoma Treatment

A Q&A with Adan Rios, MD; Professor in the Division of Oncology-Department of Internal Medicine of The University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston, Texas Medical Center; adan.rios@uth.tmc.edu Q: Glioblastoma multiforme […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Might Cancer Be a Metabolic Disease?

A Q&A with Thomas N. Seyfried, PhD, Professor of Biology, Boston College Q: As a geneticist, you know that the genomic makeup of cancers recently has captivated much of the […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Why the 21st Century Cures Act is a Good Thing

A Q&A with Mary Woolley, President and CEO of Research!America Q: You attended the December 2016 signing by President Obama of the 21st Century Cures Act and are recognized to […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Options to Treat a Glioblastoma

A Q&A with Al Musella, DPM, President, Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc., Hewlett, NY; email: musella@virtualtrials.com, phone: 888-295-4740 Q: You direct an established foundation that supports […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Patient-Reported Outcomes Could Transform Cancer Care

A Q&A with Jared Adams MD, PhD, Chief Science Officer at Self Care Catalysts; jared@selfcarecatalysts.com Q: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are health care outcomes, such as symptoms or quality of life, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Cancer Pain and the Opioid Epidemic

A Q&A with Kevin Sevarino, MD, PhD, President-elect of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and Consulting Psychiatrist at Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford, CT Q: Opioid abuse, addiction, and overdose […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How to Tell a Patient Their Cancer Has Spread

A Q&A with crisis communication expert Lisa Dinhofer, MA, CT Q. As a counselor and communicator, you are expert and experienced in managing serious situational difficulties up to and including […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Cancer Staging: Important Work of the AJCC

Jeffrey E. Gershenwald, MD, FACS, Dr. John M. Skibbter Professor, Dept. of Surgical Oncology; Professor, Department of Cancer Biology; Medical Director, Melanoma and Skin Center, The University of Texas MD […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Foundation Medicine, CMS, FDA, CAP and Academic Molecular Pathology: A Clash of Values

Karen Kaul MD, PhD, Chair, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, NorthShore University HealthSystem; , Duckworth Family Chair of Molecular Pathology; Clinical Professor of Pathology, University of Chicago Pritzker School […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Do you have pain, cancer, or diabetes? Your PBM may now be your doctor for these illnesses.

Charles L. Bennett MD PhD MPP, Smart State and Frank P and Jose M Fletcher Chair, Medication Safety and Efficacy, Smart State Center of Economic Excellence, University of South Carolina […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Using High Content Imaging for Biomarker Discovery to Support Precision Oncology

Gavin J. Gordon, MBA, PhD, Vice President of Commercial Operations at Fluidigm Corporation, South San Francisco, CA Email: gavin.gordon@fluidigm.com Q: Huge new advances in technology continue to illuminate the research […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Challenging Oncology Therapies With Moonshot Price Tags

Pramod John, PhD, CEO, VIVIO Health, San Leandro, CA; Email: pramod@viviohealth.com Q: Some American pharmaceutical companies are well-known for pricing drugs at “whatever the market will bear”. In oncology, some […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Accuracy and Precision Define Radiation Oncology

Eddy Yang, MD, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair of Translational Sciences Department of Radiation Oncology; Deputy Director, Associate Director of Precision Oncology at the Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute; Birmingham, AL; […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Precision Oncology in the UK in 2017

Justin Stebbing, MA FRCP FRCPath PhD, Professor of Cancer Medicine and Medical Oncology at the Imperial College/Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK; Email: j.stebbing@imperial.ac.uk Q: Science is […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Using Data Analytics to Make an Impact in Brain Cancer

Lisandra West-Odell, PhD, Scientist and Product Manager, Cancer Commons, Los Altos, CA; Email: lisandra@cancercommons.org Q: Reflecting the current reality of a brain cancer diagnosis, how can Cancer Commonspositively impact the treatment […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Life After Oncology

Professor Michael Baum, Professor Emeritus of Surgery & Visiting Professor of Medical Humanities, University College, London, UK; Email: baum.michael3@gmail.com Q: You have recently decided to “withdraw from the field” after […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Huge Progress in Palliative Care

Diane E. Meier, MD, FACP, Director, Center to Advance Palliative Care; Professor of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY; Email: diane.meier@mssm.edu Q: […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How I Survive Cancer

Erin Maloney, Intrepid explorer, Amateur photographer, Aspiring leader; Toronto, ON; Email: erinLmaloney@gmail.com Q: You have recently disclosed that you have had a diagnosis of cancer and described your experience in […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Who Owns Patient Data in Clinical Research?

Charlotte J. Haug, MD, PhD, MSc, International Correspondent, New England Journal of Medicine; Senior Scientist, SINTEF Techology and Society; Adjunct Affiliate, Stanford Health Policy; Oslo, Norway; Email: charlottejohanne@gmail.com Q: Many people are coming […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Nicotine Addiction: Harm Reduction by E-cigarettes and Snus

Joel L. Nitzkin, MD, Public Health Physician, New Orleans, LA Email: jlnitzkin@gmail.com Q: Tobacco smoking remains the most preventable primary form of cancer causation in Americans. A recent Medscape column urged that […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Pharmacogenomics for Clinical Use of Cannabis

Saeed K. Alzghari, M.S., M.B.A. (HOM), Pharm.D., BCPS, Director of Clinical Pharmacy, Gulfstream Genomics, LLC., Dallas, TX; Email: salzghari@gulfdiagnostics.com Q: Proper use of Pharmacogenomics can inform better patient care in […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Public Health Personalized Medicine

Gualberto Ruaño, MD, PhD, President, Genomas Inc.; Medical Director, Laboratory of Personalized Health; Hartford, CT; Email: g.ruano@genomas.net Q: Public participation by contributing specimens to assess personal genomic information is rapidly increasing. […]

CDG at TLI

Psychiatric Drug Use by Medical Students and Residents

Pamela Wible, MD, Founder of the Ideal Medical Care movement; Author of Physician Suicide Letters—Answered; Family medicine practitioner in Oregon; Q: Medical students and residents are among the most important human resources in […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Worst Phony Cancer Cures

Stephen Barrett, MD, Retired Psychiatrist; Medical Editor for Quackwatch.org and 24 other consumer-protection Web sites; Publisher for Consumer Health Digest; Chapel Hill, NC; Email: sbinfo@quackwatch.org Q: Who tops your list […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Nordic Country Tobacco Control

Astrid Nylenna, MD, Acting Head of Department, Department of Global Health, Norwegian Directorate of Health, Oslo, Norway; Email: Astrid.Nylenna@helsedir.no Q: Norway has been very active in tobacco control and prevention […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Surprise: Vitamin K2 and Cancer

Micki Jacobs, Independent Researcher, Dayton, OH; Email: mickijacobs@yahoo.com Q: You know a great deal about Vitamin K2 and its precursors in human health and disease. What is the best evidence […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Precision Medicine in the Universal Healthcare System in the Netherlands

Jack A. Schalken, PhD, Professor of Experimental Urology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, NL Email: Jack.Schalken@radboudumc.nl Q: Science is universal but the practice of medicine varies widely by geography, economics, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Role of “Rapid Science” in Facilitating and Rewarding Collaboration in Biomedical Research

Sarah Greene, MS, Chief Executive Officer, Rapid Science, Brooklyn, NY; Email sg@rapidscience.org Q: You are the leader of Rapid Science, an innovative initiative intended to speed up the process of […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Q&A: Air Traffic Control for Cancer

David K. Cundiff, MD, Retired internist and palliative care physician from LA County + USC Medical Center; Email: dkcundiff@whistleblowerdoctor.org. Jeff Shrager, PhD, Director of Research, Cancer Commons; Adjunct Professor, Symbolic Systems Program, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Options to Treat a Glioblastoma

Al Musella, DPM, President, Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc., Hewlett, NY; Email: musella@virtualtrials.com Phone: 888-295-4740 Q: You direct an established foundation that supports research and information […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Lung Cancer Screening…The Clock is Ticking

Paul R Billings MD, PhD, CEO and Chairman of Synergenz LTD Q: Lung cancer screening of smokers (spiral CT over 3 years) is paid for by CMS (reimbursement), has a […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Value of Molecular Disease Models for Cancer Treatment Planning

Smruti Vidwans, PhD, Chief Science Officer at CollabRx Q: You have been notified that your article entitled “A Melanoma Molecular Disease Model” is among the top 10% of most cited […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How to Initiate Treatment for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia March 2016 vs July 2017

Jerald P. Radich, MD, Director of the Molecular Oncology Lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine Q: […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How to Initiate Treatment for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia March 2016 vs July 2017

Jerald P. Radich, MD, Director of the Molecular Oncology Lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine Q: […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How to Treat Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Bassel El-Rayes, MD, Professor and Vice Chair for Clinical Research, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Associate Director for Clinical Research, and Director of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program Winship Cancer Institute […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

You, Me, and 23: DTC Gene Tests

Melinda Roberts, Web and Product Development Lead Globiana Inc. Q: Many people are interested in their own genes and wonder whether they are predisposed to cancer or other maladies.  You recently […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Leading Retractions in the Cancer Research Literature

Ivan Oransky, MD, is co-founder of Retraction Watch. Oransky is Distinguished Writer In Residence at New York University’s Arthur Carter Journalism Institute, and editor at large of MedPage Today. Adam Marcus is also […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Treating Metastatic Malignant Melanoma, March 2016 vs April 2017

Keith Flaherty, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Director of Developmental Therapeutics, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Q: A lot has happened in the field of Metastatic Melanoma […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Is the PBM Now Your Doctor?

Charles Bennett, MD, PhD, MPP, Smart State and Frank P and Jose M Fletcher Chair, Medication Safety and Efficacy, Smart State Center of Economic Excellence, University of South Carolina and […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Preventing Breast Cancer: Research Worth Watching

Susan Love, MD, MBA Chief Visionary Officer, Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, Encino, CA Q: The goal of the Dr Susan Love Research Foundation is “…..to find the cause of […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

2017 USPSTF on PSA: A Bad Idea

Richard J. Ablin, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon), Dr. h.c. Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, The Arizona Cancer Center and BIO5 Institute, Tucson, AZ 85724. Ronald Piana, Freelance […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Big 2017 Change on PSA by USPSTF

Marc B Garnick, MD, Editor in Chief, HMS Annual Report on Prostate Diseases; Gorman Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA . E. David Crawford, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Forget Moonshots: Biomedicine Needs an Air Traffic Control System

Jeff Shrager, PhD, Director of Research, Cancer Commons; Adjunct Professor, Symbolic Systems Program, Stanford University Q: There never seem to be enough patients matched to cancer clinical trials to quickly test […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Proposed FDA “Conditional Approval”- More Details

Al Musella, DPM, President, Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc., Hewlett, NY. Marty Tenenbaum, PhD, Founder and Chair, Cancer Commons, Los Altos, CA. Q: Your April 5, 2017 blog […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Next Steps for Improving Clinical Evidence and Consistency of Payment for Precision Oncology

Kathryn A. Phillips, PhD, Professor of Health Economics and Health Services Research; Founding Director UCSF Center for Translational and Policy Research on Personalized Medicine; Dept. of Clinical Pharmacy; Institute for Health […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Conditional Approval: Right Solution for the Wrong Problem

Shannon Brownlee, MS, Senior Vice President of the Lown Institute, a think tank in Boston. She is also co-founder of the Right Care Alliance, a social movement for transforming health care. […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

In Memorium: Richard E. Horowitz, M.D.

by Dr. George Lundberg Searching for Truth in Cancer Clinical Trials Richard E. Horowitz, MD, Clinical Professor of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine at USC; Emeritus Professor of Pathology, UCLA School […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Still Rare but Deadly

John R. Craig, MD PhD, Retired pathologist and formerly Medical Director, St. Jude Cancer Center, Fullerton, CA; Member, Board of Directors, FibroFoundation Q: You were the lead author in a […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

A Proposed New FDA Drug Approval Pathway: “Conditional”

  Al Musella, DPM, President, Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc., Hewlett, NY. Marty Tenenbaum, PhD, Founder and Chair, Cancer Commons, Los Altos, CA Q: The delay time […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

AACR: Advances in Immunotherapy to Continue

Srivani Ravoori, PhD, Associate Director, Science Communications; American Association for Cancer Research Intro: The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) publishes a forecast blog post at the start of each year to ask prominent […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

A Fully Integrated Histo-Molecular Pathology Report

Margaret L. Gulley, MD, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Q: The CAP, ASCO, ASCP and AMP have developed guidelines for interpretation and […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Paying for Precision Oncology – Who Decides?

Patricia Deverka, Principal Researcher, Health Care Group American Institutes for Research, Chapel Hill, NC; Adjunct Associate Professor, Center for Pharmacogenomics & Individualized Therapy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

A Plea for Gold Standards in Precision Oncology

George Lundberg, MS, MD, ScD, MASCP, FCAP, Chief Medical Officer and Editor in Chief, CollabRx, a Rennova Health Company; Editor at Large, Medscape; Executive Adviser, Cureus; Consulting Professor of Pathology […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Precision Oncology: Requirements for the Next Leap Forward

Razelle Kurzrock, MD, Chief, Division of Hematology and Oncology, UCSD School of Medicine; Senior Deputy Director, Clinical Science; Director, Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy; Director, Clinical Trials Office, UCSD Moores […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Clarity Still Awaited for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Nelson N. Stone, MD, Professor of Urology and Radiation Oncology at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, NY; CEO and Founder, 3DBiopsy, Inc., Aurora, CO. E. David Crawford, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

AACR: Advances in Precision Medicine to Continue

Srivani Ravoori, PhD, Associate Director, Science Communications; American Association for Cancer Research Intro: The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) publishes a forecast blog post at the start of each year to ask prominent […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Why the 21st Century Cures Act is a Good Thing

Mary Woolley, President and CEO of Research!America Q: You attended the December signing by President Obama of the 21st Century Cures Act and are recognized to be a strong supporter. […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Best Uses of PM&R in Patients with Cancer

Val Jones, MD, Medical Director of Admissions, Saint Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, Spokane, WA Q: Your principal practice in Spokane, Washington is Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. What do you find to […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Importance of Clinical Trial Matching

Adrienne Craig-Kennard, MBA, VP Global Business Development & Strategic Alliances at CollabRx Q: You have served as Vice President, Global Business Development and Strategic Alliances of CollabRx for more than […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Autopsy is Essential in Proper Cancer Care

David S. Priemer, M.D., Resident Physician in Anatomic Pathology and Neuropathology, Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indianapolis, IN; priemerd@iu.edu Q: The numbers show that […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Future of Nursing Care for Advanced Cancer Patients

Karen Donelan, ScD, EdM, Senior Scientist in Health Policy, Mongan Institute Health Policy Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA 02114; kdonelan@mgh.harvard.edu Q: You […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

21st Century Cures Act, Societal Net Negative or Positive?

Daniel R. Hoffman, Ph.D., Health Care Consultant in Glenmoore, PA. Q: Many people are praising the recently passed 21st Century Cures Act. But there are also critics. What are some […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Role of the NCQA in Advancing Cancer Care

Margaret E. O’Kane, MHA. Founder and President, National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Washington, DC. Q: Under your visionary leadership, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has established and […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Clinical Trial Matching for Patients with Molecularly Characterized Tumors

Smruti Vidwans, PhD, Chief Science Officer at CollabRx Q: Clinical Trials is such an important topic, but it is so broad. Is there a way to provide better matching for […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Complementary/Alternative Approaches in Advanced Cancer

Marc S. Micozzi, MD, PhD, Editor of Fundamentals of Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 5th ed. (2015), Elsevier Health Sciences, 759 pp; Editor of Complementary and Integrative Medicine in Cancer and Prevention: Foundations […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Best Use of Palliative Care in Cancer Patients

Malinda Bell, MD, Associate Professor Michigan State University College of Human Medicine; Clinical Associate Professor Western Michigan University Dept of Emergency Medicine Q: Many, even millions, of Americans are living […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Will Advanced Computing Help Eradicate Cancer?

Helen Sadik, PhD, Scientific Knowledge Engineer, CollabRx Q: Computers and artificial intelligence show both great progress and great promise in many fields. Can “Big Data”, A.I., and the Watson ilk […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Essential Value of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)

Catherine D. DeAngelis, MD, University Distinguished Professor Emerita, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Professor of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Editor in Chief […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Making Cancer Care Great Again

Michael L. Millenson, President of Health Quality Advisors LLC and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine Q: Donald Trump’s campaign for the presidency included […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How to Control American Drug Costs

Brian Klepper PhD, Health Care Analyst, CEO of Health Value Direct and an advisor to The Lundberg Institute Q: Many newer (as well as many older) drugs are of great […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Expanded-Compassionate Use of an Investigational Drug

Vivek Subbiah, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Investigational Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX Q: You have exhausted surgical, radiation, and […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The “Hutch” and Improving Baseball: World Series Edition

Jerald P. Radich, MD, Director of the Molecular Oncology Lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How to Decide to Offer a New Lab Test

Jared N. Schwartz, MD PhD LLC Past President, College of American Pathologists; Opinions his own; Charlotte, NC. Q: Pathologists are faced with the need to set up additional lab tests […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Preventing Hair Loss from Cancer Chemotherapy

Richard B. Schwab, MD. Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine Q: Loss of hair is a predictable adverse effect of […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Mutational Oncology: The Basics

Vivian B. Douglas, PhD. Associate Knowledge Engineer, CollabRx San Francisco, California Q: Many mature clinicians find “Mutational Oncology” to be a bit mysterious. Please help them understand. As they pertain […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

The Most Relied Upon Journals in Precision Oncology

George Lundberg, MS, MD, ScD, MASCP, FCAP, Chief Medical Officer and Editor in Chief, CollabRx, a Rennova Health Company; Editor at Large, Medscape; Executive Adviser, Cureus; Consulting Professor of Pathology […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Length and Quality of Life in Cancer Patient Treatment

Professor Michael Baum, Professor Emeritus of Surgery & Visiting Professor of Medical Humanities. University College, London, UK. Q: Although you have practiced as a surgeon in the British National Health […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Canadian/American Cancer

Cynthia Martin, MA is a freelance/ghost writer (who tried to write a serious piece). Q: As a journalist, you are a savvy native Canadian consumer/patient who also knows a lot […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Conflict of Interest in Cancer Clinical Trials

Kevin B. Knopf, MD MPH, Medical Director, Cancer Commons San Francisco, California Q: Clinical trials are the lifeblood of continuing drug development in the US. Yet they are often undersubscribed. […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Can Preclinical Data Guide Clinical Cancer Therapy?

Keith Flaherty, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Director of Developmental Therapeutics, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital. Q: Under what circumstances and to what extent are you willing […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Circadian Cancer Therapy

William Hrushesky, MD FACP, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer Rythmalytics LLC (Cicada Circadian Coach), West Orange NJ; Chief Medical Officer Ambulatory Monitoring Inc., Ardsley, NY Q: Are there meaningful advantages […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Generic Drugs vs. Biosimilar Biologics

Y. Tony Yang, ScD, LLM, MPH., Associate Professor, Department of Health Administration and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. Charles Bennett, MD, PhD, M.P.P., Smart State and Frank P and Jose […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Driver and Passenger Mutations in Cancer Cell Genes

Michelle Turski, PhD, Senior Scientific Knowledge Engineer, CollabRx Q: What are the similarities and differences between “driver” mutations and “passenger” mutations and in what common malignancies is that distinction most […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Patients and Physicians Should Share Decisions in Oncology

Brian Klepper, PhD, CEO and Founding Principal of Health Value Direct Q: Many of us have been touched by the publication of your sensitive but serious criticism of your wife’s care once her […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Targeted Therapy for Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia

Javier Munoz MD, FACP, Hematologist/Oncologist at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert, AZ and Hematology-Oncology Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Using Patient Navigators to Improve Cancer Care

Valerie Fraser Cancer Research Advocate/­Patient Navigator; Inflammatory Breast Cancer International Consortium (IBC-IC) Huntington Woods, Michigan Q: What are Patient Navigators and why are they sometimes necessary for some cancer patients. How […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

CollabRx and the 2016 Cancer Moonshot

George Lundberg, MS, MD, ScD, MASCP, FCAP, Chief Medical Officer and Editor in Chief, CollabRx, a Rennova Health Company; Editor at Large, Medscape; Executive Adviser, Cureus; Consulting Professor of Pathology […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Sun Exposure and Skin Cancer Risk

David Polsky, MD, PhD, Professor of Dermatology and Pathology; Alfred W. Kopf, MD, Professor of Dermatologic Oncology; Director, Pigmented Lesion Section; The Ronald O. Perelman Dept of Dermatology; New York […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Is there a Better Descriptive Name than Personalized Medicine?

Jerald P. Radich, MD, Director of the Molecular Oncology Lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Seeing the Forest for the Trees: How Cancer Evolution Affects Treatment

Lisandra E. West, PhD, Senior Scientific Knowledge Engineer, CollabRx. Q: How might current thinking on tumor evolution/heterogeneity and sequential mutational profiling inform optimal therapy selection? A: I’d like to share some […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Multiple Sequential Biopsies now Standard of Care in NSCLC

Gregory Otterson, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine; Interim Division Director of Medical Oncology; Co-Director, Thoracic Oncology Program; Program Director, Hematology & Medical Oncology Fellowship Program; The Ohio State University Wexner […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Use CUREUS to Build Rapid Learning Communities

John R. Adler, Jr., MD, CEO & Editor-in-Chief Cureus.com; Dorothy & TK Chan Professor, Emeritus, Stanford University Q: CollabRx, and its “sister” not for profit organization “Cancer Commons”, are dedicated […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Should All Potentially Lethal Tumors Be Sequenced?

Lisandra E. West, PhD, Senior Scientific Knowledge Engineer, CollabRx. Q: Is there enough benefit to justify sequencing all patients’ tumors? – Perspective from a scientific knowledge engineer. A: As a scientist […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Use of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) in Detection and Management of Lung Cancer

Ruth L. Katz, MD, Professor of Pathology, Director Image Analysis Lab; Chief research Cytopathology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer center, Houston, Texas. Q: Liquid biopsy is “all the rage” […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Can Precision Oncology Develop Despite Pharmaphobia?

Thomas P. Stossel, MD, American Cancer Society Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Senior Physician, Hematology Division, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA; Visiting Scholar, American Enterprise Institute; Secretary, Options […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How do Phase 1 Clinical Trials for Cancer Drugs Work?

Razelle Kurzrock, MD, Chief, Division of Hematology and Oncology,UCSD School of Medicine; Senior Deputy Director, Clinical Science; Director, Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy; Director, Clinical Trials Office, UCSD Moores Cancer […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

NextGenU.org and the Prevention of Cancer

Erica Frank, MD, MPH, Professor and Canada Research Chair, University of British Columbia; Founder and President, NextGenU.org; Founding Member, CollabRx Editorial Advisory Board Q: What is Next Gen U and […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Targeted Therapy and/or Immunotherapy for Cancer

Paul R. Billings MD, PhD, Internist, Clinical Geneticist, and Immunologist: Founder and Executive Chairman, PlumCare LLC; Chairman, Biological Dynamics Inc; Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer, Omicia; Principal, Bethesda Group LLC; […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

A Full House for Myeloma Therapy: What’s Next in the Cards?

Robert Orlowski, MD, PhD, Florence Maude Thomas Cancer Research Professor and Professor of Medicine (Lymphoma/Myeloma) and Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX Q: Some […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Managing Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Bassel El-Rayes, MD, Professor and Vice Chair for Clinical Research, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Associate Director for Clinical Research, and Director of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program Winship Cancer […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Compassionate Use of Investigational Drugs

Arthur L Caplan, PhD Director, Division of Medical Ethics, NYU Langone Medical Center. Amrit Ray MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Q: What is the ethical […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Single Cell Biology in Cancer Research and Treatment

Gavin Gordon, PhD, Senior Director, Global Pharma & Clinical Trials Alliances, Fluidigm Corporation Q: What do you see as the best roll for single cell biology in cancer research and […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

How to Initiate Treatment for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Jerald P. Radich, MD, Director of the Molecular Oncology Lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine Q: […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Making NGS Work for Oncologists

Smruti Vidwans, PhD, Chief Science Officer at CollabRx Q: Your group has recently described an Actionability Framework for designing treatment strategies for cancers that are characterized by mutations. What is […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Treating Metastatic Malignant Melanoma

Keith Flaherty, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Director of Developmental Therapeutics, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital. Q: What is your basic approach to handling a new young […]

Curious Dr. George | Plumbing the Core and Nibbling at the Margins of Cancer

Introducing a New CollabRx Blog

George D Lundberg, MD, Editor in Chief and Chief Medical Officer & Denise Bartolome, Managing Editor and Webmaster   Q: Why are we starting The CollabRx Blog? A: With our new blog, […]