Lungcast

While major advances in screening, targeted treatment and immunotherapy have transformed outcomes for non-small cell lung cancer, progress against small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has lagged behind. In this episode, Jacob Sands, MD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School joins us to share insights into the present state of SCLC treatment, from staging and standard therapies to new research on vaccines that could one day change the course of this aggressive disease.

This episode featuring clinician-scientist and expert in liquid biopsy development, Dr. Lindsey Cotton, who explores the evolving science of lung cancer biomarkers and their role in early detection. Listen in to learn more about the current landscape, benefits and challenges of both organ-specific and multi-cancer tests. The highly informative discussion aims to clarify what these tests can and cannot tell us today, along with a forecast for tomorrow.

This special episode features 2 interviews on-site at the 2025 American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference in San Francisco: Harold P. Wimmer, CEO of the American Lung Association, and Francesca Polverino, MD, PhD, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine and spokesperson for the ALA.View the latest conference coverage from this meeting here: https://www.hcplive.com/conference/ats#Lungcast #HealthNews

It has been more than a decade since lung cancer screening guidelines via low-dose CT, based on the USPSTF’s B recommendations, have been put into place. To discuss the guidelines’ ambitions and obstacles, we are joined by the University of Illinois Health System’s Mary Pasquinelli, DNP, who specializes in lung cancer, lung cancer screening and pulmonary nodule management. While a lifesaving procedure for at-risk individuals, the uptake of screening on a population-level—though increasing—has been slower than expected.Want more Lungcast? Visit us at HCPLive.com/podcasts/lungcast or www.lung.org/professional-education/lungcast

In this episode, Dr. Meredith McCormack of Johns Hopkins University and Dr. Loretta Que of Duke University to discuss “race-based normal values” in medicine, particularly in regard to pulmonary function tests (PFT).The controversial practice of using a patient’s self-reported race to adjust a standard “normal” range has been shown to lead to potential misdiagnosis and healthcare disparities. Drs. McCormack and Que talk at length about their key roles in the growing movement to phase out a reliance on race in PFT interpretation.Want more Lungcast? Visit us at HCPLive.com/podcasts/lungcast or www.lung.org/professional-education/lungcast

For a probing discussion detailing the American Lung Association’s recent 2024 “State of Lung Cancer” report, we are joined by esteemed thoracic medical oncologist Dr. Jacob Sands of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. Offering insight into actionable targeted mutations, Dr. Sands addresses how precision oncology is fundamentally changing lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.The novel immunotherapy drugs, though proven to be safe and effective with significant improvements in response and survival rates, have challenges as well—this episode covers the gamut.Episode Highlights0:00 Start1:00 Topic of discussion2:42 Introducing Jacob Sands, MD3:39 NCCN guidelines for lung cancer6:51 Recently-approved drugs for lung cancer13:46 Patient responses to targeted mutations17:58 Off-target side effects with drugs21:34 State of Lung Cancer report23:04 Estimated number of candidates for targeted therapies26:13 Insurance coverage for biomarker testing28:12 Other issues with ordering biomarkers31:20 Closing comments32:36 OutroWant more Lungcast? Visit us at HCPLive.com/podcasts/lungcast or www.lung.org/professional-education/lungcast

Episode Highlights0:15 Intro1:10 Introducing the Lung Health Cohort Research Study3:49 The enrollment strategy7:10 Seeking “the cholesterol of lung disease”11:50 The role of industry support14:09 Imaging strategies for long-term lung assessment17:59 Recruitment challenges23:05 Final thoughts26:20 OutroFor our 50th episode, Ravi Kalhan, MD, of Northwestern Medicine, George Washko, MD, of Harvard University, and Amy Olson, MD, Executive Director of Medical Affairs for Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, join us for a panel discussion around improving patient outcomes through innovative lung health research, such as with the American Lung Association Lung Health Cohort Research Study. Tune in to learn more about their collaborative efforts to help identify biomarkers and lifestyle patterns for more accurate identification of disease processes, ideally at onset. Want more Lungcast? Visit us at HCPLive.com/podcasts/lungcast or www.lung.org/professional-education/lungcast

Episode Highlights0:16 Intro2:24 Asthma action plans3:52 Asthma Peak Week6:28 School nurse’s role11:05 SMART inhaler strategy for kids14:25 Addressing vaping among students20:18 Discussing vaccines with children and parents24:01 School air quality issues?27:50 Final thoughts29:42 OutroAs families jump into the new school year, this episode brings together Chicago-based allergist and immunologist Dr. Juanita Mora and pediatric pulmonologist Dr. S. Christy Sadreameli of Johns Hopkins Hospital to share their tips for making the return to school as smooth as possible in regard to lung health. The lively conversation homes in on asthma control and the phenomenon often referred to as ‘peak week,’ along with the prevalence and hazards of vaping and e-cigarettes affecting the school aged population. Grab your pencils and take notes!Want more Lungcast? Visit us at HCPLive.com/podcasts/lungcast or www.lung.org/professional-education/lungcast

Episode Highlights0:15 Intro3:39 Update in pre-lung cancer genome atlas research17:06 Next steps: applying innovations in bronchoscopy21:45 When we can anticipate results25:05 Understanding the lung’s microbiome29:21 Utility of fragmentomics31:01 OutroDr. Steven Dubinett at University of California, Los Angeles and Dr. Avrum Spira at Boston University revisit our virtual studio to provide an update on their lung cancer interception research, as currently funded by the American Lung Association and LUNGevity Foundation. With the goal of combating cancer at a preliminary stage, Drs. Dubinett and Spira are focused on refining molecular and imaging markers to help identify high-risk premalignant lesions. These findings hope to lead to future therapeutics halting the progression of cells likely to cause invasive cancer.Want more Lungcast? Visit us at HCPLive.com/podcasts/lungcast or www.lung.org/professional-education/lungcast

Episode Highlights0:11 Intro1:05 Introducing Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, MD, MS2:09 Understanding asthma endotypes and phenotypes5:03 The effect of SMART guideline updates11:50 Are pulmonary & allergy specialists adopting it?12:46 The value of biologics in asthma care18:11 Could they interrupt the atopic march?19:53 COVID-19 risks in asthma23:24 Environmental and non-viral illness impacts on asthma26:11 Research into asthma care inequities31:47 HFA-containing metered dose inhalers35:37 OutroIn honor of World Asthma Day, Dr. Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir of Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York visits our virtual studio to talk about all things asthma. Dr. Lovinsky-Desir, who has a deep understanding of how environmental factors impact children with asthma, touches upon inequities in asthma care, the role of climate change and COVID-19 lessons learned. She also hones in on whether biologic therapies may help interrupt pathways in the atopic march.Want more Lungcast? Visit us at HCPLive.com/podcasts/lungcast or www.lung.org/professional-education/lungcast

0:16 Intro2:28 Recent modifications to the lung allocation score5:11 Monitoring chronic graft rejection9:23 The rising use of ex vivo lung perfusion 16:17 The presence of post-COVID patients on the lung transplant waitlist21:01 Impact of long Covid on transplant rehabilitation22:51 Double lung transplant in bilateral lung cancer—what’s the future?26:52 Effect of LAS on lung transplant survival racial disparity31:05 What lies ahead in the practice of lung transplantation35:00 OutroCleveland Clinic’s Maryam Valapour, MD, MPP, rejoins the broadcast, along with her colleague Kenneth McCurry, MD to discuss optimization of the lung allocation system to continue reducing waitlist times and patient mortality. It includes commentary on how recent changes to scoring protocols are expected to impact ongoing disparities related to race and socioeconomic status. They additionally talk about the role of transplantation in patients who have severely damaged lungs resulting from COVID-19 infection, an update since our April 2021 conversation.Want more Lungcast? Visit us at HCPLive.com/podcasts/lungcast or www.lung.org/professional-education/lungcast

Episode Highlights0:15 Intro1:48 Remembering the 1964 Surgeon General Report3:01 The impact of the report on cardiology6:47 The strategies and impact of anti-smoking campaigns10:33 The modern vaping challenge17:38 OutroIn recognition of 60 years since the 1964 Surgeon General Report—a historic contribution to our understanding of the negative health impacts of cigarette smoking—host Albert Rizzo, MD, meets with preventive cardiology expert Viet Le, DMSc, PA-C to reflect on the myriad of cascading effects delivered by this landmark report.Want more Lungcast? Visit us at HCPLive.com/podcasts/lungcast or www.lung.org/professional-education/lungcast