The Pathology-Oncology Connection: Labs in Action – Why This Dynamic Partnership Drives Precision Medicine
Did you miss Episode 8 of the Better Testing, Better Treatment podcast series, titled "The Pathology-Oncology Connection: Labs in Action"?
In this insightful episode, host Karishma Asiani leads a lively discussion with two critical voices in the fight against cancer: Dr. Chandler H. Park, a Genito urinary medical oncologist and Co-director of GU cancer clinical trials at the Norton Cancer Institute, and Dr. Sameer Talwalkar, a hematopathologist and molecular pathologist at CPA Lab, Norton Healthcare.
The Dynamic Partnership
The episode explores the vital connection between pathologists and oncologists, a partnership central to Diaceutics' mission of enabling better testing and better treatment. Dr. Park and Dr. Talwalkar emphasize that this collaboration is critical in the field of precision medicine. Pathologists are described as the "detectives of the medical world," unravelling disease mysteries through microscopic examination, while oncologists are the "warriors on the front lines," using those discoveries to design lifesaving treatments.
A powerful case study highlighted how their close working relationship—facilitated by quick communication via text or secure chat—changed a patient’s treatment course. When Dr. Park needed HER2 IHC 3+ testing for a patient with stage 4 bladder cancer to qualify them for an FDA-approved pan-tumour treatment, Dr. Talwalkar was able to prioritize the IHC assay, providing results in 24 to 48 hours, unlike mutation analysis which can take days or weeks.
Optimising Testing and Navigating Barriers
The experts discuss key strategies for optimising diagnostics and tissue procurement. For instance, in bladder cancer, they implemented an FGFR reflex testing protocol for newly diagnosed, eligible patients, ensuring results are automatically ordered by the pathologist signing out the case. This expedites patient care by having results available when the oncologist sees the patient.
The panel also addressed the challenges in the field, noting that insufficient tissue remains a significant barrier to optimum patient care. Historic tissue, often used for diagnosis, may have DNA that is damaged or denatured by the time new testing is required.
The Future of Precision Oncology
Looking ahead, Dr. Park and Dr. Talwalkar discuss how innovation will strengthen their relationship. They agree that the biggest change for pathologists will be the digitalization of glass slides, coupled with the deployment of AI to improve diagnosis and turnaround time. AI can already be used for tasks such as Gleason scoring and complex data analysis for immunotherapy purposes.
However, the rise of molecular diagnostics will lead to reports containing more information, such as NGS reports with 30 or 40 actionable mutations. This flood of data will necessitate even stronger communication between pathologists and oncologists to determine the true driver mutation and predict clinical benefit.
At the heart of the conversation is the understanding that communication is the key to improving patient survival and care.