Women in Oncology: Leukemia Therapies in Humans, for Humans

Catherine E. Lai, MD, MPH, an associate professor and physician leader of the Leukemia Clinical Research Unit at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, moderates a discussion with Judith Karp, MD; Azra Raza, MD; and Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD, on the leukemia treatment legacies they hope to be remembered for.

Karp is Professor Emerita of Oncology and Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she was a professor of oncology and the director of the Adult Leukemia Program in the Division of Hematologic Malignancies at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, until her retirement in 2013. Raza is a professor of medicine and the director of the MDS Center at Columbia University. Le Beau is the Arthur and Marian Edelstein Professor of Medicine and the director of the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center.

In this episode, Karp, Raza, and LeBeau discuss their proudest career accomplishments, including the investigation of potential treatments using a patient’s first cancerous cell, advances in cytogenetics, and a rational design for clinical trials involving cell cytokinetics, all of which have ultimately contributed to improved leukemia treatment.

Additionally, the 3 experts share their thoughts on inspiring fresh faces in leadership positions and upholding integrity in their work. They also emphasize the importance of developing therapies using human cells and the crucial nature of treating patients with empathy and understanding during every step of their disease.