The Oncology Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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Australia’s PBS has introduced it’s first pan-tumour reimbursement listing for the immunotherapy combination nivolumab plus ipilimumab. In this inaugural episode of PBS Update, Professor Craig Underhill and Rachael Babin break down the key oncology changes from the March 2026 PBS update, including new listings for toripalimab and cabozantinib.

Follow PBS Update for regular discussions on PBS listings and oncology policy changes affecting Australian healthcare professionals.

Visit the Show Notes for links to the PBS updates discussed in this episode and to send us audio feedback or questions for future episodes.

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The Oncology Journal Club Podcast hosted by Professor Craig Underhill, Dr Kate Clarke and Professor Chris Jackson | Proudly Produced by The Oncology Network

Visit oncologynetwork.com.au for Show Notes, to send us Voice Notes and more information. 

We explore practical wins and bold ideas across supportive care, colorectal cancer prevention, immunotherapy timing, digital triage and equity. From halving hot flushes with an NK1/NK3 blocker to biomarker-guided aspirin in colon cancer, we weigh value, risk and what truly improves lives.

• Elinzanetant cutting severe hot flushes and improving treatment adherence
• Current non-hormonal options and gaps in symptom control
• Biomarker-selected aspirin reducing recurrences in colorectal cancer
• Limits of DFS, toxicity trade-offs and subgroup signals
• Rising early-onset colorectal cancer and system planning needs
• Possible environmental and microbiome drivers under study
• ASCO geriatric assessment guidance and G8 screening in clinics
• PD-1 with short-course radiotherapy boosting rectal pCR rates
• Large language models for safe, efficient symptom triage
• Rare cancers report on access, cost, and rural inequities
• Telehealth standards to link expertise closer to home
• Healthy workplace culture to retain a resilient oncology workforce

Join the Oncology Network, registration is free, and leave us a voice note on the OJC page at oncologynetwork.com.au. Physicians, don’t forget you can claim CME points for listening to the show!

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Welcome to The Oncology Journal Club Podcast Series 3
Hosted by Professor Craig Underhill, Dr Kate Clarke & Professor Christopher Jackson | Proudly produced by The Oncology Network

Welcome to Episode 6 of The Oncology Journal Club podcast. This is where we take a famously different approach to oncology research.

Has non-operative management finally found its place in treating certain cancers? This episode unpacks compelling new data that might challenge the surgeon's traditional role for some patients with mismatch repair deficient tumours. While rectal cancer patients show remarkable complete response rates to immunotherapy, the story gets more complex across different cancer types – raising fascinating questions about tumour biology, patient selection and the future of organ preservation.

We explore the delicate art of discussing immunotherapy outcomes with patients, navigating that narrow path between hope and realism. When treatments occasionally produce dramatic responses but more commonly offer limited benefits, how do oncologists communicate effectively without creating unrealistic expectations? Our hosts share practical strategies for these challenging conversations, emphasising that truly patient-centred care requires ongoing dialogue about prognosis.

The oncology research world is evolving too, with updated CONSORT and SPIRIT guidelines transforming how clinical trials are designed and reported. These frameworks now mandate greater transparency, clearer safety reporting and increased patient involvement in study design – potentially leading to more trustworthy and applicable research outcomes.

Plus, we examine an intriguing Chinese trial showing remarkable survival benefits from low-dose continuous capecitabine combined with aromatase inhibitors for metastatic breast cancer – a potential game-changer for resource-limited settings.

From this year's AACR meeting, we highlight what might be the first change in standard of care for locally advanced head and neck cancer in two decades, along with promising targeted therapies for specific molecular subtypes of lung cancer. 

Join our expert hosts Professor Craig Underhill, Dr. Kate Clarke and Professor Christopher Jackson as they navigate these developments with their trademark blend of critical analysis, clinical wisdom and humour. 

Subscribe to The Oncology Newsletter to stay informed about the evolving landscape of oncology care and research.

For links to the abstracts and bios of our hosts, head to the show notes on oncologynetwork.com.au.

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The Oncology Journal Club - Delivering Oncology News Differently

The Oncology Podcast, brought to you by Oncology News Australia, is proud to present Episode 44 in our series The Oncology Journal Club.

Welcome to this special Melanoma Update with Craig Underhill and Georgina Long.  Covering a wide range of developments including key papers at ASCO 2021.

Whilst melanoma rates in older patients are improving, young Australians are now more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma than any other cancer. It’s also set to be the number 2 cancer in the United States by 2050. 

Despite these sobering stats, the advances in this specialty in the last few years has been nothing short of phenomenal.  These advances are also relevant to other tumour types so I hope you will find value in this absolutely fascinating interview. 

Full bios and the list of all papers discussed are available on our website.

For the latest oncology news visit www.oncologynews.com.au and for regular oncology updates for healthcare professionals, subscribe for free to get the weekly The Oncology Newsletter.

The Oncology Podcast - An Australian Oncology Perspective

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The Oncology Journal Club - Delivering Oncology News Differently

The Oncology Podcast, brought to you by Oncology News Australia, is proud to present Episode 43 in our series The Oncology Journal Club.

Hans Prenen talks us through a topical BRAF inhibitor therapy aka Toxorub!

Craig Underhill tackles another big guidelines paper full of practical information and analysis, and our host Eva Segelov Debunks an Urban Myth on The “Abscopal Effect”.

With the usual top quality banter, papers you won’t hear of anywhere else and expert analysis from our Hosts, you are in for another great episode of The Oncology Journal Club!

Full bios and the list of all papers discussed are available on our website.

For the latest oncology news visit www.oncologynews.com.au and for regular oncology updates for healthcare professionals, subscribe for free to get the weekly The Oncology Newsletter.

The Oncology Podcast - An Australian Oncology Perspective

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The Oncology Journal Club - Delivering Oncology News Differently

The Oncology Podcast, brought to you by Oncology News Australia, is proud to present Episode 42 in our series The Oncology Journal Club.

Welcome to this ‘New York State of Mind’ special episode – the last episode in our ASCO 2021 coverage.

This episode is really special.

Eva Segelov and Craig Underhill are joined by some of our favourite guests – yes its Steve Vogl and Balazs Halmos from New York!

Full bios and links to the paper are available on our website.

For the latest oncology news visit www.oncologynews.com.au and for regular oncology updates for healthcare professionals, subscribe for free to get the weekly The Oncology Newsletter.

The Oncology Podcast - An Australian Oncology Perspective

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The Oncology Journal Club - Delivering Oncology News Differently

The Oncology Podcast, brought to you by Oncology News Australia, is proud to present Episode 41 in our series The Oncology Journal Club.

In celebration of NAIDOC week, today’s episode is dedicated to cancer care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Eva, Craig and Hans discuss relevant papers and Eva also interviews Professor Gail Garvey from the Menzies School of Health Research.

Full bios and links to the paper are available on our website.

For the latest oncology news visit www.oncologynews.com.au and for regular oncology updates for healthcare professionals, subscribe for free to get the weekly The Oncology Newsletter.

The Oncology Podcast - An Australian Oncology Perspective

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The Oncology Journal Club - Delivering Oncology News Differently

The Oncology Podcast, brought to you by Oncology News Australia, is proud to present Episode 40 in our series The Oncology Journal Club.

In today’s special ASCO 2021 episode Eva Segelov and Hans Prenen chat all things GI ASCO 2021 with Marc Peeters and Pamela Kunz.   Addressing both upper and lower GI, both interviews cover practice changing developments and controversial trials.  

Full bios and links to the paper are available on our website.

For the latest oncology news visit www.oncologynews.com.au and for regular oncology updates for healthcare professionals, subscribe for free to get the weekly The Oncology Newsletter.

The Oncology Podcast - An Australian Oncology Perspective

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The Oncology Journal Club - Delivering Oncology News Differently

The Oncology Podcast, brought to you by Oncology News Australia, is proud to present Episode 39 in our series The Oncology Journal Club.

In today’s special ASCO 2021 episode Eva Segelov and Hans Prenen chew the ASCO 2021 fat with Bishal Gyawali.  It’s a thorough and entertaining discussion covering practice changing developments, global oncology, drug approval processes and controversial trials.  

Full bios and links to the paper are available on our website.

For the latest oncology news visit www.oncologynews.com.au and for regular oncology updates for healthcare professionals, subscribe for free to get the weekly The Oncology Newsletter.

The Oncology Podcast - An Australian Oncology Perspective

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The Oncology Journal Club - Delivering Oncology News Differently

The Oncology Podcast, brought to you by Oncology News Australia, is proud to present Episode 38 in our series The Oncology Journal Club.

In today’s special ASCO 2021 episode Craig Underhill talks to Lisa Horvath and Craig Gedye about all things GU cancer. It’s a thorough and entertaining discussion covering practice changing developments and controversial trials. 

Full bios and links to the paper are available on our website.

For the latest oncology news visit www.oncologynews.com.au and for regular oncology updates for healthcare professionals, subscribe for free to get the weekly The Oncology Newsletter.

The Oncology Podcast - An Australian Oncology Perspective