Heather A. Wakelee, MD, FASCO

Articles

Initial Approach to Management of RET-Positive NSCLC

December 25th 2024

Panelists discuss the initial approach to the management of RET-positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), focusing on treatment strategies and the role of targeted therapies such as RET inhibitors in first-line treatment.

Clinical-Decision Making: When to Treat Advanced NSCLC Without Mutational Results

December 25th 2024

Panelists discuss how to balance the need for comprehensive biomarker testing with the urgency to initiate treatment in patients with advanced disease and explore situations where treatment might be started before test results are available.

Practical Considerations in Metastatic NSCLC: Access and Timing of Testing

December 17th 2024

Panelists discuss strategies for clinicians without access to in-house molecular testing, focusing on how to ensure appropriate turnaround times when outsourcing tests and share insights on the typical timeline for receiving biomarker testing results at their respective institutions.

Testing Methodologies and Standards in Metastatic NSCLC

December 17th 2024

Panelists discuss the various tests available for detecting genetic mutations in advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including next-generation sequencing (NGS), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Sanger sequencing, and explore whether one method is considered the “gold standard” according to the NCCN guidelines. They also address the appropriate use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing, comparing it to tissue testing in this disease state.

Next Steps to Stage IIIB NSCLC Patient Case Awaiting Molecular Testing and Usability of Liquid Biopsy

December 10th 2024

Panelists discuss how molecular testing is crucial in guiding treatment for advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), emphasizing the prevalence of mutations like BRAF, KRAS, MET, RET, and EGFR, and their impact on selecting targeted therapies.

Patient Case: 67 Year-Old Male With Stage IIIB+ NSCLC Awaiting for Mutation Testing

December 10th 2024

Panelists discuss how the treatment approach for a 67-year-old man with stage IIIB+ non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) awaiting mutation testing involves balancing the urgency of initiating therapy with the importance of molecular testing to guide targeted treatment decisions.

Dr Wakelee on the Implications of the TRUST-II Trial of Taletrectinib in ROS1+ NSCLC

November 13th 2023

Heather Wakelee, MD, FASCO, discusses the significance of early data on the use of taletrectinib in patients with ROS1-positive non–small cell lung cancer from the phase 2 TRUST-II trial.

Dr Wakelee on Unmet Needs in Cancer Care Because of the United States Chemotherapy Shortage

August 7th 2023

Heather Wakelee, MD, FASCO, discusses unmet needs in cancer care stemming from the ongoing platinum chemotherapy shortage in the United States, highlighting the need for newer, better drugs to help treat patients.

Dr Wakelee on Key Trials With Perioperative Immunotherapy in Early-Stage NSCLC

August 4th 2023

Heather Wakelee, MD, FASCO, discusses the clinical significance of updated data from several key trials evaluating perioperative immunotherapy in early-stage non–small cell lung cancer.

Neoadjuvant Strategies in Resectable Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

July 26th 2022

Comprehensive review on various neoadjuvant strategies under review in the setting of resectable non–small cell lung cancer.

Molecular Testing in Advanced-Stage NSCLC: Use of Liquid Biopsy

July 5th 2022

Expert oncologists briefly highlight the role of liquid biopsy in the setting of advanced-stage non–small cell lung cancer.

Use of Molecular Profiling in Early-Stage Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

July 5th 2022

A focused discussion on the use of molecular profiling in early-stage non–small cell lung cancer to inform decisions on adjuvant and neoadjuvant strategies.

Real-World Data and Barriers to Use of Molecular Testing in NSCLC

June 28th 2022

A brief review of real-world data behind molecular profiling in non–small cell lung cancer, followed by a discussion on barriers to testing and uptake.

Optimal Molecular Testing Practices in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

June 28th 2022

Expert panelists share insight on molecular testing practices across all subtypes of non–small cell lung cancer to optimally inform treatment decisions.

Dr. Wakelee on Immediate Therapy Options in Lung Cancer

February 10th 2020

Heather A. Wakelee, MD, discusses therapy options when patients with lung cancer must receive treatment options immediately rather than wait for molecular testing results.

Dr. Wakelee on First Trial to Combine Antiangiogenic Agents With Immunotherapy in NSCLC

August 30th 2019

Heather A. Wakelee, MD, medical oncologist, thoracic specialist, professor of medicine at Stanford University, discusses results from the phase III IMpower150 trial in non–small cell lung cancer.

Dr. Wakelee on Rationale to Explore Osimertinib With Concurrent Chemotherapy in EGFR-Mutant NSCLC

August 30th 2019

Heather A. Wakelee, MD, professor of medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, discusses the rationale to explore osimertinib (Tagrisso) in combination with concurrent chemotherapy in patient with EGFR-mutant non–small cell lung cancer.

Dr. Wakelee on Advances in EGFR-Mutant NSCLC Treatment

July 28th 2019

Heather A. Wakelee, MD, professor of medicine (oncology), Stanford University Medical Center, discusses osimertinib and its role in treating patients with EGFR-mutant non–small cell lung cancer.

Dr. Wakelee on FDA Approval of Frontline Pembrolizumab in NSCLC

October 25th 2016

Heather A. Wakelee, MD, associate professor of Medicine (Oncology), Stanford University Medical Center, regent, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) discusses the FDA approval of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in the frontline setting for patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Dr. Wakelee on BIRCH Trial for Atezolizumab in Patients With NSCLC

September 24th 2016

Heather A. Wakelee, MD, associate professor of Medicine (Oncology), Stanford University Medical Center, regent, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) discusses updated efficacy findings from the BIRCH trial, which was a phase II study of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for patients with PD-L1–selected advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Wakelee discussed these findings during an interview at the 2016 IASLC Multidisciplinary Symposium on Thoracic Oncology.