On the Edge of Breakthrough: Voices of Cancer Research – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of On the Edge of Breakthrough: Voices of Cancer Research, Dr. Monty Pal is joined by Dr. Saro Armenian, Chair of Pediatric Oncology at City of Hope, to discuss the latest innovative research driving advancements in cancer survivorship and cardio-oncology.

Dr. Armenian shares his compelling journey into oncology, the challenges of addressing long-term treatment effects on patients, and the promising future of CHIP clinics and de-escalation of therapy. Learn how world-leading oncologists are shaping the future of cancer care by bridging leading-edge science with compassionate, patient-centered care at the speed of life.

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Welcome to On the Edge of Breakthrough: Voices of Cancer Research, your gateway to the latest in cancer care innovation. Hosted by Dr. Monty Pal, a medical oncologist and researcher at City of Hope, we’ll bring you inside one of the top 5 cancer research and treatment institutions in the U.S., where innovation and hope go hand-in-hand.

Join Dr. Pal as he sits down with some of the world’s leading cancer experts as they explore some of the most pressing challenges and promising innovations in oncology today.

Whether you're a seasoned healthcare professional, a curious researcher, or simply someone passionate about the fight against cancer, this podcast is your front row seat to hear about the discoveries defining the future of cancer care.

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In this episode of On the Edge of Breakthrough: Voices of Cancer Research, Dr. Monty Pal sits down with Dr. Loretta Erhunmwunsee, a thoracic surgeon and lung cancer researcher at City of Hope,.

From her roots in underserved communities to today, where she is at the forefront of lung cancer research, Dr. Erhunmwunsee brings a unique perspective to understanding how environments and where we live can shape our health. Her latest groundbreaking research looks at how air pollution and neighborhood locations may not only increase cancer risk — but also influence tumor biology. She explores why diversity in healthcare matters and shares her vision for making leading-edge cancer care accessible to all.

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What does it take to bring tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy to more patients and make the therapy more effective for those already eligible?

In this episode of Edge of Breakthrough, Dr. Monty Pal sits down with Dr. Kelly Mahuron, a surgical oncologist at City of Hope, to unpack how TIL therapy is evolving. From identifying eligible patients and surgical harvesting of TILs to cell expansion and reinfusion, Dr. Mahuron breaks down the entire  process of TIL therapy, highlighting how her cross-disciplinary team is working to improve patient outcomes, reduce toxicity, and eventually expand treatment beyond melanoma.

They also explore the next generation of TILs  f, and  how oncolytic viruses and modified immune environments might bring TILs to more resistant cancers such as pancreatic and colorectal tumors.

Learn how surgical precision, immunotherapy, and translational research come together to push the boundaries of what's possible in cancer treatment. . Tune in to the full conversation now.

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In this episode of On the Edge of Breakthrough: Voices of Cancer Research, Dr. Monty Pal sits down with Dr. Yuman Fong, an internationally renowned surgical oncologist and Chair of Surgery at City of Hope, to explore the leading-edge innovations shaping the future of surgical oncology.

Dr. Fong shares his incredible journey from studying medieval literature to being one of the first-ever surgeons to conduct surgery in space. They discuss the evolution of oncolytic viruses, the role of AI in cancer surgery, and how remote robotic surgical procedures are transforming patient care worldwide. Dr. Fong also shares  his insights on balancing an intense surgical career with family life, mentorship, and finding passions outside the operating room.

Don’t miss this fascinating conversation about the future of cancer care, where groundbreaking science meets human connection.

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In this episode of On the Edge of Breakthrough, Dr. Monty Pal is joined by Dr. Stephen Forman, a giant of cancer care and  hematologic malignancies and pioneer of cellular immunotherapy. 

Dr. Forman reflects on decades of progress in bone marrow transplantation, CAR T cell therapy, and the future of cellular therapies. But this conversation isn’t just about lab science. It’s about the human side of innovation: the infrastructure, access, and emotional support needed to truly care for patients through some of the most complex treatments in cancer care.

Dr. Forman also explains the urgency of expanding healthcare access, and reveals the  best practices for building scalable models to deliver the next-generation immunotherapy for patients who need them now.

Listen as they unpack what it means to move from an innovative experiment in the lab  to real impact on the front lines of cancer care.

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In this episode of On the Edge of Breakthrough, host Dr. Monty Pal sits down with Dr. Charles Brenner, an internationally recognized expert in metabolism and the founding Chair of the Department of Diabetes & Cancer Metabolism at City of Hope. Together, they explore the metabolic links between diabetes, obesity, and cancer, and how understanding those connections could lead to new ways to prevent and treat multiple diseases.

Dr. Brenner shares insights from his research into lean fatty liver disease (otherwise known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease or MASLD), and how certain genetic factors may be quietly driving both metabolic dysfunction and cancer risk. They also discuss the rise of GLP-1 therapies and how a new class of compounds targeting FGF21 might offer a potential  new therapeutic option that could help curb sugar cravings and support liver health.

This episode takes listeners deep into the science of energy balance, NAD metabolism, fatty liver disease, and what it truly means to be on the edge of a breakthrough.

Tune in now and stay updated on the science shaping the future of cancer care.

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In this special episode of On the Edge of Breakthrough, recorded live at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting, host Dr. Monty Pal sits down with two of City of Hope’s newest clinical leaders: Dr. Walter Stadler, Chief Clinical Officer at City of Hope Chicago, and Dr. Alan Bryce, Chief Clinical Officer at Hope Phoenix.

Together, they explore what it takes to build a national model for research-driven care, from creating system-wide infrastructure for precision medicine to integrating AI across core services like  pathology, real-time cross-network collaboration, and genomic innovation throughout  40+ sites. The episode dives into the growing complexity of cancer treatment, the burden on individual providers, and how building smarter systems can accelerate access to trials, for all  communities.

The discussion touches on simplifying clinical trial design, rethinking dose strategies, and the institutional commitment to pushing forward both early detection and long-term survivorship.

If you're interested in where oncology is headed next—from both a research and systems perspective—this episode is a must-listen.

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Welcome back to Season 2  On the Edge of Breakthrough: Voices of Cancer Research. In this powerful episode, Dr. Monty Pal welcomes Dr. Linda Malkas, Dean of Translational Sciences at City of Hope, for a conversation that spans childhood stargazing in Queens to leading one of the most ambitious cancer drug developments in recent history.

Dr. Malkas shares how a chance encounter with a grieving father sparked her quest to take on an “undruggable” target, resulting in AOH1996, a promising molecule designed to selectively attack cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. Named in memory of 8-year-old Ana Olivia Healy, the drug is now moving through clinical trials and showing potential to improve standard of care treatments across multiple cancers.

This episode dives into the science, the setbacks, and the synchronicity that fueled this journey, from organic chemistry and DNA fascination to late-night lab work, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the unique ecosystem at City of Hope that made it all possible.

It’s a remarkable story of science, heart, and the human drive to say “yes” to the impossible. Listen now.

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In this episode of On the Edge of Breakthrough: Voices of Cancer Research, Dr. Monty Pal sits down with Dr. Enrique Velazquez Villarreal, a physician-scientist in City of Hope’s Department of Integrative Translational Sciences, whose path into medicine and research is anything but typical.

Dr. Velazquez Villarreal talks about growing up in Mexico, entering medical school at 17, and the many mentors—who shaped his decision to pursue oncology - three of whom he lost to colorectal cancer He shares how his early exposure to both surgery and underserved communities led him to seek answers not only through the scalpel, but through software. The episode dives into his groundbreaking work integrating clinical data with genomics, artificial intelligence, and multi-omics tools to tackle one of the most alarming trends in oncology: the rise of colorectal cancer in young Hispanic patients. He also unpacks his mission to make AI useful, accessible, and truly impactful in the clinic—not just in research papers.

This is a deeply thoughtful conversation about data, technology, and the very human reason behind why it all matters.

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