OncTimes Talk

Since the release of 5-year follow-up data from the Phase IIb KEYNOTE-942 study, in which the mRNA vaccine intismeran autogene is used in combination with pembrolizumab to treat high-risk resected melanoma, the potential of new and more effective immune therapies for solid tumors has been increasingly discussed. In this episode of OncTimes Talk, we hear from a key melanoma specialist at the world's largest center for melanoma research. 
Alexander C. J. van Akkooi, MD, PhD, FRACS, FSSO, Associate Professor of Melanoma Surgical Oncology at the Melanoma Institute Australia, University of Sydney, and the Department of Melanoma Surgical Oncology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia, talks about the growing range of immunological therapy options for patients with melanoma. He discusses how the newer mRNA cancer vaccines could enhance therapy if mature data fulfil their early promise.

In this episode of OncTimes Talk, Karen Knudsen, MBA, PhD, CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, discusses barriers to clinical trial participation, the promise of AI in oncology, and the challenges facing cancer research funding. She explores why patient voices, equitable access, and a stronger translational research infrastructure are critical to the future of cancer care.

Dr. Shari Pilon-Thomas joins OncTimes Talk to discuss groundbreaking findings published in Frontiers in Immunology showing that topical bicarbonate treatment can counteract tumor acidosis and enhance anti-tumor immune responses. The conversation explores the science behind acidic tumor microenvironments, improved T-cell activity, and the clinical potential of this innovative immunotherapy approach.

In this episode of OncTimes Talk, Dr. Susan MacDonald interviews Dr. Barbara Levy about the evolution of breast cancer screening. Together, they discuss balancing early detection with overtesting, empowering patients to advocate for themselves, and designing healthcare systems that put people first.

In this episode, we explore how Lytix Biopharma is advancing a new kind of cancer treatment designed to both destroy tumors and train the immune system to fight back. Dr. Øystein Rekdal joins Dr. Susan McDonald to discuss the science behind LTX-315, a first-in-class oncolytic peptide, and its ability to trigger systemic immune responses even in heavily pretreated patients. From late-stage melanoma to earlier intervention strategies, this conversation highlights how reprogramming the tumor microenvironment could open new doors for patients and redefine the future of immunotherapy.