Melina Marmarelis, MD, Thoracic Medical Oncologist, UPenn joins us for an interview about precision medicine. She discusses biomarker information, such as histology (currently most valuable), but also molecular testing such as NF2, MTAP, CDKN2A mutations that can be used when determining precision medicine treatments. Other topics discussed are BAP1 mutations, PDL1 expression, mutational burden, and oncolytic viruses. The interview is moderated by Julie White, BSN, OCN, RN who is the patient services director at the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. More information is available at curemeso.org.

Michael Offin, MD, MSKCC, joins us for an informative session about chemotherapy drugs, their uses, side effects, and supportive medications.

Andreas Rimner, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, joins us for a conversation about radiation oncology and currently available clinical trials. He discussed various ways patients can benefit from radiation therapy, including an overview of different types of radiation and different modes of treatment. Radiation therapy can be applied alone, or in combination with other treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. Dr. Rimner is a radiation oncologist who specializes in caring for people with cancers of the chest, known as thoracic cancers. These include non-small cell and small cell lung cancers, pleural mesotheliomas, thymomas, lung metastases, sarcomas, and other rare tumors of the chest. He works closely with a highly skilled team of experts from many areas — including surgeons, medical oncologists, radiologists, medical physicists, and radiation therapists — to determine the best treatment options for his patients. HIs team uses the most advanced radiation techniques, including stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) or stereotactic ablative body radiation (SABR), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), intensity-modulated pleural radiation therapy (IMPRINT), MR-guided radiation therapy, and proton radiation to precisely target cancers while limiting damage to normal tissues.

MesoTV is a program by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. This program is made possible by our generous sponsors: Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC (MRHFM); Bristol Myers Squibb; Novocure, Merck, The Gori Law Firm, TCR2, AstraZeneca, Early Lucarelli Sweeney & Meisenkothen.

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