Author Interviews, Cancer Research, Cannabis / 12.06.2026

Editor's Note: Cannabis laws and regulations vary by country, state, and territory. This interview is for educational purposes only. Cannabis products discussed here are not endorsed by MedicalResearch.com. Patients should consult their oncologist or healthcare provider before using any cannabis or cannabinoid product, particularly during cancer treatment. Cannabis products should not be used while driving, by children, if pregnant, nursing or planning to become pregnant or mixed with other substances that can affect cognition. Cannabis products may also be contraindicated in other medical conditions or situations.

cannabis-and-cancer-posterMedicalResearch.com Interview with: Raphael E. Cuomo, PhD Associate Professor University of California, San Diego Developer and Host, Cannabis and Cancer (Apple TV Documentary)  
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this documentary? What are the primary components of cannabis plants? Response: I created Cannabis and Cancer because cannabis is now widely discussed by patients, clinicians, policymakers, and the general public, but there is still a lot of confusion about what the science actually says. Much of the public conversation treats cannabis as either broadly harmful or broadly beneficial. The reality is more complex. The documentary is meant to separate questions that are often conflated: whether cannabis exposure may influence the risk of developing cancer, whether cannabis use may affect cancer treatment or symptoms, and whether it may influence survival after a cancer diagnosis. These are very different scientific questions, and each one requires a different type of evidence. Cannabis plants contain many biologically active compounds. The most widely discussed are cannabinoids, especially THC and CBD. THC is the main intoxicating compound and is responsible for many of the psychoactive effects. CBD is not intoxicating in the same way, but it still has biological effects. Cannabis also contains other cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and plant compounds that may influence how different products affect the body.
Pancreatic / 05.06.2026

[caption id="attachment_74104" align="alignleft" width="200"]dr_avishek_kumar Dr. Avishek Kumar[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Avishek Kumar, MD Board-Certified Medical Oncologist and Hematologist Edison, NJ (NYC Metro) MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this announcement? Response: Pancreatic cancer has been one of the hardest cancers to treat in all of oncology. It is often found late. It spreads early. For decades, it has not had the kind of breakthroughs we have seen in lung cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, or other tumors. In the majority of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, treatment has mostly meant chemotherapy. Regimens like FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel can help. They can extend life. They can shrink cancer. But the benefit is often limited, and the side effects can be tough. Once the cancer grows after first-line treatment, the options get even more narrow. That is why the daraxonrasib data matter. Daraxonrasib, also known as RMC-6236, is an investigational oral targeted drug. It is designed to block active RAS signaling. That is a big deal because pancreatic cancer is one of the most RAS-driven cancers we see. Most pancreatic cancers have a KRAS mutation or another alteration in that pathway. For years, KRAS was considered "undruggable." We knew it was driving the cancer. We just did not have a good way to hit it. This new data suggests that may be changing. In previously treated advanced RAS-mutated pancreatic cancer, daraxonrasib appeared to improve median overall survival compared with standard chemotherapy. Reports have described survival of about 13.2 months versus 6.7 months. In pancreatic cancer, that is not a small finding. That is meaningful. Very meaningful.
Breast Cancer, Cancer Research, JAMA, Weight Research / 13.05.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_73639" align="alignleft" width="125"]Bernard F. Fuemmeler, PhD, MPHProfessor and Gordon D. Ginder, MD Chair in Cancer Research Associate Director of Population Science, Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Director of Research, Family Medicine and Population Health Dr. Fuemmeler[/caption] Bernard F. Fuemmeler, PhD, MPH Professor and Gordon D. Ginder, MD Chair in Cancer Research Associate Director of Population Science, Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Director of Research, Family Medicine and Population Health [caption id="attachment_73640" align="alignleft" width="125"]Kristina L. Tatum, PsyD, MSInstructor Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences School of Public Health Dr. Tatum[/caption] Kristina L. Tatum, PsyD, MS Instructor Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences School of Public Health A large population-based analysis of more than 841,000 breast cancer patients across the United States examines whether GLP-1 receptor agonist use is associated with improved survival and lower recurrence risk — with findings that researchers describe as very promising.
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1RAs, have been used since 2005 and as the GLP1RAs treatments and delivery methods have improved, their use has markedly increased. Now it is estimated that nearly 1 in 8 US adults report ever using a GLP-1RA, which includes many people who are using them to treat obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea. There has been some preclinical data from mouse models to suggest that maybe GLP1RAs have an anticancer effect reducing the effects of obesity on tumor growth or progression. We were interested to understand to what extent GLP1RA use among cancer patients might be associated with cancer outcomes, like length of survival after cancer treatment or the chance of recurrence. In our large population-based study using an aggregate of de-identified electronic health record data from more than 841,000 patients with breast cancer across the US, we found that GLP-1 RAs use was associated with significantly improved survival and lower recurrence risk among patients with obesity or type 2 diabetes. Among patients with obesity, GLP-1 RAs use was associated with approximately 65% lower risk of death and a 56% lower risk of recurrence over 10 years compared with nonuse. We also observed substantially improved outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes compared with insulin or metformin.
Author Interviews, Lymphoma / 17.12.2025

[caption id="attachment_71819" align="alignleft" width="150"]Marco Davila Dr. Davila[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Marco Davila, MD, PhD Hematologist/Oncologist, Senior Vice President and Associate Director for Translational Research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Buffalo, NY) - study senior author [caption id="attachment_71820" align="alignleft" width="150"]Co-author Meredith Stone, PhDAssistant Director for Cell Therapy Translation in Dr. Davila’s lab at Roswell Park - presenting author Dr. Stone[/caption] Co-author Meredith Stone, PhD Assistant Director for Cell Therapy Translation in Dr. Davila’s lab at Roswell Park - presenting author       MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: While CD19-targeted CAR T cell therapy has garnered clinical success and FDA approval for the treatment of large B cell lymphoma, approximately half of patients suffer from primary resistance or relapse. Increasing evidence suggests that resistance mechanisms are supported by the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cytokines secreted by CAR T cells can remodel the TME, determining the phenotype and function of other immune cells.
Author Interviews, Cancer Research / 24.09.2025

[caption id="attachment_70763" align="aligncenter" width="500"]next-gen-cancer-sequencing Freepix image[/caption] Cancer is one of the most complex and heterogeneous diseases known to medicine. Tumors can differ not only between patients but also within a single individual, with subclones evolving over time and influencing how the disease progresses or responds to treatment. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has become a critical tool in oncology, helping researchers and clinicians unravel this complexity at the molecular level. By analyzing DNA and RNA at high resolution, NGS enables the detection of mutations, copy number changes, gene fusions, and expression patterns that shape tumor biology. This information provides insight into cancer drivers, mechanisms of resistance, and therapeutic targets. Importantly, it also supports precision medical oncology, where treatments are guided by the specific molecular features of a patient’s tumor rather than by one-size-fits-all approaches.
Author Interviews, Cancer Research / 28.01.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_66204" align="alignleft" width="200"]Christopher Choi, PhD, MBASenior Vice President of Industry Partnerships Associate Professor of Oncology Technical Director of GMP Engineering & Cell Manufacturing Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Buffalo, NY Dr. Choi[/caption] Christopher Choi, PhD, MBA Senior Vice President of Industry Partnerships Associate Professor of Oncology Technical Director of GMP Engineering & Cell Manufacturing Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Buffalo, NY MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?  What is a GMP facility? Response: The opening of the Roswell Park GMP Engineering & Cell Manufacturing Facility (GEM) facility marks a significant milestone in advancing cell and gene therapy research at Roswell Park. Our GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) facility is a specialized manufacturing space designed to produce cell-based and gene-based products under stringent regulatory conditions to ensure product safety, quality and consistency. These facilities are critical for translating innovative research into clinical-grade products that meet regulatory standards for use in patient care. The GEM Facility is part of our commitment to driving the next generation of cancer treatments and other advanced therapies, addressing a critical bottleneck in the development of these transformative technologies.