Bench to Bedside

With summer fast approaching, it's time to talk sun safety! In Kansas, cases of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, increased significantly from 2008 to 2017. Protection from the sun's rays could prevent about 90% of all skin cancer cases. Since youth are especially at risk for overexposure to the sun with extended times outdoors, KU Cancer Center’s outreach network, the Masonic Cancer Alliance, implemented Pool Cool, a program to educate young people on sun safety behaviors. On this episode of the podcast Ashley Adorante from Pool Cool is taking a break while visiting pools across the state to share her top tips for staying safe in the sun and preventing skin cancer! After listening to this episode, we invite YOU to be a part of the podcast! We want to hear your thoughts on the conversations we have here, topics you’d like to learn more about and any questions you may have for our guests. Call our Bench to Bedside hotline at 913-588-3880 and leave us a voicemail, or you can email your comments and questions to benchtobedside@kumc.edu. Your comments may be shared on a future episode! Links from this episode: Learn more about the Pool Cool program Check your sun safety knowledge with this True or False quiz with Ashley on KU Cancer Center's Instagram Learn more about skin cancer risks and prevention

Earlier this season, we shared a conversation on the podcast with Dr. Barrett Rollins, Linde Family Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chief Scientific Officer Emeritus at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. His recently released book, In Sickness: A Memoir, shares his unbelievable journey as Dr. Rollins discovers that his wife Dr. Jane Weeks, a prominent breast cancer researcher at Dana-Farber, had been suffering from untreated metastatic breast cancer for years and had been hiding it from everyone in her life. Many of our listeners were interested in learning more about this story, and we wanted to give them a chance to be a part of the discussion. Listeners called into our Bench to Bedside hotline, where they can leave voicemails with questions or comments for our guests, and we invited Dr. Rollins back to the podcast to respond to these questions. After listening to this episode, we invite YOU to be a part of the podcast! We want to hear your thoughts on the conversations we have here, topics you’d like to learn more about and any questions you may have for our guests. Call our Bench to Bedside hotline at 913-588-3880 and leave us a voicemail, or you can email your comments and questions to benchtobedside@kumc.edu. Your comments may be shared on a future episode! Links from this episode: Listen to Dr. Rollins and Dr. Jensen on Episode 7 of this season of the Bench to Bedside podcast, “Secrets and Sickness with Dr. Barrett Rollins” on Apple, Spotify and Google. Find links to additional podcast platforms and listen online here. Buy the book "In Sickness: A Memoir" on Amazon Visit Dr. Rollins' website Dr. Rollins’ Spotify Playlist - This collection of songs spans several genres and decades, but each of them plays an important role in the life and relationship of Barrett and Jane. The playlist features everything from an achingly beautiful classical piece by Brahms that was played at Jane’s funeral, to the sweetly romantic pop songs that punctuate the couple’s relationship. “In Sickness” official video trailer “In Sickness” official book club guide If you appreciated this episode, please share, rate, subscribe and leave a review. For the latest updates, make you are following us on social media by searching for KU Cancer Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

On this episode of the Bench to Bedside podcast, we are doing something a little bit different. As our host, Dr. Roy Jensen - vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center - is usually the one asking the questions of our expert guests, but today, Dr. Jensen is the one in the hot seat! Megan Peters - digital communications manager for the cancer center and producer of the Bench to Bedside podcast - is joining the conversation today to ask some of the questions we’ve received for Dr. Jensen, including how he began his journey to a career in cancer research and care, why cancer prevention (especially smoking cessation) is so important to him, how he and his wife, Linda, raised thier three sons follow their own paths in life, and more! You won’t want to miss this insightful conversation! After listening, we invite you to call our Bench to Bedside Hotline at (913) 588-3880 and leave us a voicemail message with your comments or questions for Dr. Jensen and the podcast team. You can also send us an email at benchtobedside@kumc.edu. Your comments and questions may be shared on an upcoming episode!  Links from this episode:  Learn more about Dr. Roy Jensen Learn about KU Cancer Center’s NCI comprehensive designation Get more information about cancer prevention Smoking cessation tools from KU Cancer Center Dr. Jensen’s Favorite Tunes Spotify playlist If you appreciated this episode, please share, rate, subscribe and leave a review. For the latest updates, make you are following us on social media by searching for KU Cancer Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Visit our podcast homepage at kucancercenter.org.

The book “In Sickness: A Memoir” shares the unbelievable story of Dr. Barrett Rollins, professor at Harvard Medical School and Chief Scientific Officer Emeritus at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and his wife Dr. Jane Weeks, a prominent researcher at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In 2008, Dr. Rollins discovered a secret his wife had been keeping from him …. she had been suffering from untreated metastatic breast cancer for six years. As the couple went about their public roles as authorities on cancer research and treatment, Dr. Rollins helped his wife continue to hide her breast cancer and delay treatment, until it was too late. Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, speaks with Dr. Rollins about his journey, the cancer research community’s reaction to his wife’s diagnosis and death, complex questions about healthcare, relationships and medical ethics, as well as why he decided to publish a memoir about his experience. What do YOU think about this incredible conversation! After listening, we invite you to call our Bench to Bedside Hotline at (913) 588-3880 and leave us a voicemail message with your comments or questions for Dr. Rollins and the podcast team. You can also send us an email at benchtobedside@kumc.edu. Your comments and questions may be shared on an upcoming episode!   Links from this episode:  Buy the book "In Sickness: A Memoir" on Amazon: https://a.co/d/bVe2hPw Visit Dr. Rollins' website: https://barrettrollins.com/ Dr. Rollins’ Spotify Playlist - This collection of songs spans several genres and decades, but each of them plays an important role in the life and relationship of Barrett and Jane. The playlist features everything from an achingly beautiful classical piece by Brahms that was played at Jane’s funeral, to the sweetly romantic pop songs that punctuate the couple’s relationship: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0ZJh2yeXFVLFluSli6FrBV?si=a5d784745ad643d8 “In Sickness” official video trailer: https://youtu.be/vIIeyvMnrEc “In Sickness” official book club guide: https://barrettrollins.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BR_InSickness_BookClubGuide-latest.pdf If you appreciated this episode, please share, rate, subscribe and leave a review. For the latest updates, make you are following us on social media by searching for KU Cancer Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

What is a clinical trial? Why should people diagnosed with cancer consider a clinical trial? Are clinical trials safe? In this follow up episode, we answer those and all your burning questions about this topic with our first repeat guest on the podcast, Dr. Tara Lin, Medical Director of the KU Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office. Links from this episode: Listen to the first part of our conversation with Dr. Lin on Episode 3 of the Bench to Bedside podcast - Cancer Clinical Trials: Why Diversity Matters: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cancer-clinical-trials-why-diversity-matters/id1583289928?i=1000605372184  Learn more about clinical trials at KU Cancer Center: https://www.kucancercenter.org/cancer-clinical-trials Dr. Tara Lin shares the five things you may not know about clinical trials on the KU Cancer Center blog: https://www.kucancercenter.org/news-room/blog/2021/09/five-things-you-may-not-know-about-clinical-trials   Learn more about the KU Cancer Center clinical trials finder app, available for download on Apple and Android: https://www.kucancercenter.org/news-room/news/2023/02/clinical-trial-finder-application-adds-patient-friendly-feature Dr. Roy Jensen on the importance of clinical trials for cancer (video): https://youtu.be/6QSIYBUPEtU If you appreciated this episode, please share, rate, subscribe and leave a review. For the latest updates, make you are following us on social media by searching for KU Cancer Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Do you have questions about cancer? Would you like to participate in this podcast? We want to hear from you! Send us an email with your questions at benchtobedside@kumc.edu or leave us a voice message at (913) 588-3880. Your question may be featured on a future episode.

Dr. Roy Jensen sits down for a conversation with Dr. Joseph McGuirk, division director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics program. They discuss exciting advances in the research of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, as well as Dr. McGuirk’s journey to becoming a national leader in cellular therapy research and treatment. Dr. McGuirk also details a traumatic childhood experience, which inspired him to become a cancer researcher and doctor. In addition, Anne Holzbeierlein, an acute myeloid leukemia survivor who was treated at by Dr. McGuirk at KU Cancer Center, shares her story, as well as advice for others who may be facing a similar diagnosis. If you appreciated this episode, please share, rate, subscribe and leave a review. For the latest updates, make you are following us on social media by searching for KU Cancer Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Do you have questions about cancer? Would you like to participate in this podcast? We want to hear from you! Send us an email with your questions at benchtobedside@kumc.edu or leave us a voice message at (913) 588-3880. Your question may be featured on a future episode. Links from this episode: Learn more about CAR T-Cell therapy and the future of this type of treatment via Dr. McGuirk's interview on the KU Cancer Center blog: https://www.kucancercenter.org/news-room/blog/2023/03/optimizing-the-immune-system-to-beat-cancer Read more about Anne Holzbeierlein's cancer story: https://www.kucancercenter.org/news-room/patient-stories/2019/08/leukemia-survivor-credits-clinical-trial Learn more about Dr. McGuirk: https://findadoctor.kucancercenter.org/provider/Joseph+P+McGuirk/1220250 Watch Dr. McGuirk talk about CAR T-cell treatment on the Bench to Bedside video series: https://youtu.be/l5BtuODYRZ4 Learn more about clinical trials at KU Cancer Center: https://www.kucancercenter.org/cancer-clinical-trials Find our Clinical Trials Finder App on Google and the Apple Store: https://www.kucancercenter.org/news-room/news/2023/02/clinical-trial-finder-application-adds-patient-friendly-feature 

On this special episode of the Bench to Bedside podcast, hear a conversation between Dr. Christy Hagan, a breast cancer researcher at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, and Lauryn Werner, an MD/PhD student working in Dr. Hagan’s lab. Listen as they share how they ended up in the cancer research field, what their mentorship relationship looks like, how they balance their work and personal lives, and what it felt like when Lauryn herself was diagnosed with the very cancer they are studying. If you appreciated this episode, please share, rate, subscribe and leave a review. For the latest updates, make you are following us on social media by searching for KU Cancer Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Do you have questions about cancer? Would you like to participate in this podcast? We want to hear from you! Send us an email with your questions at benchtobedside@kumc.edu or leave us a voice message at (913) 588-3880. Your question may be featured on a future episode. Links from this episode: Learn more about Dr. Christy Hagan’s research: https://www.kucancercenter.org/news-room/news/2021/04/turning-up-the-heat-study-to-explore-immunotherapy-in-breast-cancer Lauryn Werner’s cancer journey: https://youtu.be/TWRZiO9fga4 Follow the Hagan Lab on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HaganlabKUMC Go behind the scenes in the Hagan Lab on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Coh-uyOpSxA/ Learn more about cancer research at KU Cancer Center: https://www.kucancercenter.org/research/research-areas Learn more about training and education at KU Cancer Center: https://www.kucancercenter.org/training-education Watch Dr. Hagan on the Bench to Bedsideweb series: https://youtu.be/u2tuYC5bcu8

Currently, only 4 percent of people who participate in a clinical trial are Black and 5 percent are Hispanic. On this episode of the Bench to Bedside podcast, Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, speaks with Dr. Tara Lin, medical director of the cancer center’s Clinical Trial Office, and Dr. Ronald Chen, Chair and professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and associate director for Health Equity at the cancer center, about why diversity in clinical trials is important to the health of our region, and what The University of Kansas Cancer Center is doing to give all communities access. Ullyses Wright, a member of the cancer center’s patient research advocacy group (PIVOT) and cancer prevention clinical trial participant, also joins the conversation to share his perspective as a leader in the Kansas City African American community. If you appreciated this episode, please share, rate, subscribe and leave a review. For the latest updates, make you are following us on social media by searching for KU Cancer Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Do you have questions about cancer? Would you like to participate in this podcast? We want to hear from you! Send us an email with your questions at benchtobedside@kumc.edu or leave us a voice message at (913) 588-3880. Your question may be featured on a future episode. Links from this episode: Learn more about clinical trials at KU Cancer Center: https://www.kucancercenter.org/cancer-clinical-trials Learn more about the need for diversity in clinical trials: https://www.kucancercenter.org/yourvoice Learn more about the KU Cancer Center clinical trials finder app, available for download on Apple and Android: https://www.kucancercenter.org/news-room/news/2023/02/clinical-trial-finder-application-adds-patient-friendly-feature Clinical Trials - Why Diversity Matters video: https://youtu.be/vDnsFKd4alE KU Cancer Center uses art to raise awareness about access to clinical trials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnQkN-JnS_8 Learn more about KU Cancer Center’s patient research advocacy group, PIVOT: https://www.kucancercenter.org/research/give-back/patient-research-advocacy Dr. Tara Lin shares the five things you may not know about clinical trials on the KU Cancer Center blog: https://www.kucancercenter.org/news-room/blog/2021/09/five-things-you-may-not-know-about-clinical-trials   Dr. Ronald Chen shares efforts to eliminate cancer health disparities in Kansas and beyond: https://www.kucancercenter.org/research/transformative-research/beyond-the-bench/2020/leading-the-way

Everyone has a personal experience with cancer, but what exactly IS this disease that affects so many? On this episode of the Bench to Bedside podcast, we are joined by Dr. Danny Welch, associate director for Education at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, to answer that complex question. Dr. Welch’s career has centered on the spread – or metastasis – of cancer. And a personal connection has been a driving force behind his career — his mother died of metastatic cancer. He is passionate about cancer education and excels at explaining complex scientific research in a way that anyone can understand. If you appreciated this episode, please share, rate, subscribe and leave a review. For the latest updates, make you are following us on social media by searching for KU Cancer Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Do you have questions about cancer? Would you like to participate in this podcast? We want to hear from you! Send us an email with your questions at benchtobedside@kumc.edu or leave us a voice message at (913) 588-3880. Your question may be featured on a future episode. Links from this episode:  Learn more about Dr. Welch’s research on cancer metastasis: https://www.kucancercenter.org/research/transformative-research/beyond-the-bench/2019/the-m-word   The four hallmarks of metastasis: https://www.kucancercenter.org/news-room/news/2019/05/kucc-researcher-identifies-four-hallmarks-of-metastasis The definition of cancer: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer Dr. Welch on the Bench to Bedside video series: https://youtu.be/AM3bdOULgjo  

On this episode of the Bench to Bedside podcast, Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, speaks with Dr. Melissa Javellana, a gynecological oncologist, about cervical cancer and her journey to becoming a cancer physician and researcher. Also joining the conversation, Ashley, a mom of two, shares why she made the decision to get her children the HPV vaccine – a shot that prevents cervical cancer. If you appreciated this episode, please share, rate, subscribe and leave a review. For the latest updates, make you are following us on social media by searching for KU Cancer Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Do you have questions about cancer? Would you like to participate in this podcast? We want to hear from you! Send us an email with your questions at benchtobedside@kumc.edu or leave us a voice message at (913) 588-3880. Your question may be featured on a future episode. Links from this episode: Learn more about cervical cancer: https://www.kucancercenter.org/cancer/cancer-types/cervical-cancer Learn more about HPV vaccination: https://www.kucancercenter.org/news-room/blog/2019/10/lowering-cervical-cancer-risk Learn about the gynecological cancer care team at KU Cancer Center: https://www.kucancercenter.org/cancer/cancer-types/gynecologic-cancer/gynecologic-cancer-care-team Learn more about Dr. Javellana: https://findadoctor.kucancercenter.org/provider/Melissa+L+Javellana/2298196 Learn more about gynecological cancer research at KU Cancer Center: https://www.kucancercenter.org/research/transformative-research/beyond-the-bench/2021/a-new-tool-in-the-early-detection-of--ovarian-cancer

A new season of Bench to Bedside is returning for it's 10th season in March 2023! The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s weekly series - now exclusively in podcast format - is hosted by Roy Jensen, MD, vice chancellor and director of the cancer center. The award-winning show provides a glimpse into the latest research discoveries that are transforming cancer care, along with conversations from the top experts in the field as well as patients and caregivers. Before transitioning to podcast-only format, Bench to Bedside aired weekly as a video series on Facebook Live for nine seasons. Join Dr. Jensen weekly to learn from the best and brightest minds in cancer. Find Bench to Bedside on the cancer center’s website or your favorite podcast platform. Please share, rate, subscribe and leave a review of this podcast, and make sure you are following us on social media by searching for KU Cancer Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Do you have questions about cancer? Would you like to participate in this podcast? We want to hear from you! Send us an email with your questions at benchtobedside@kumc.edu or leave us a voice message at (913) 588-3880. Your question may be featured on a future episode.

Have you ever wondered how drugs make it from the laboratory into your medicine cabinet? On this episode of #BenchToBedside we will dig deep into how each drug gets its start, after decades of research and testing. Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, will speak with Dr. Scott Weir, director of the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Institute for Advancing Medical Innovations, about the journey these drugs take to make it to you. Jim Baxendale, a bladder cancer survivor and research collaborator, will also join the conversation to share his story.

Learn how scientists and cancer survivors are working together to decipher our DNA and building the foundation for future cancer therapies. Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, will talk with Dr. Jennifer Gerton, an investigator at Stowers Institute for Medical Research and Mary Frances Haake, a member of PIVOT - KU Cancer Center's patient research advocacy group, about how understanding our genetic makeup may help us develop new cancer treatments.

According to the American Cancer Society, Black women are more than 40 percent likely to die from breast cancer than white women, despite fewer cases being diagnosed. On this episode of #BenchToBedside, Dr. Joan Lewis-Wambi, associate professor in the department of cancer biology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, and Dr. Danny Welch, associate director for education at the cancer center, will join us to talk about the latest in breast cancer research. Tonia Yelder, breast cancer survivor and member of PIVOT - KU Cancer Center's patient research advocacy group - will also join to share her experience.

Approximately 89,000 people in the U.S. will receive a primary brain tumor diagnosis this year. And for those with cancerous brain tumors, life as they know it is changing, with most patients living up to five years after their diagnosis. Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, will discuss the latest advances in brain cancer research and treatment with neuro-oncologist Dr. Tolga Tuncer, and Drs. Fen Wang and David Akhavan, who are both radiation oncologists.  

Proton therapy is the newest tool we have for fighting cancer. Join us on #BenchToBedside as we look inside the brand new Proton Center at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, which is set to open in just a few weeks. We are going to examine the impact it’s having on patient’s lives with Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of KU Cancer Center and Dr. Ronny Rotondo, medical director of proton therapy.  

Between 5 and 10 percent of all cancer cases occur because of an inherited genetic mutation. But there are tests that can help tell if you are at a greater risk.   Drs. Lauren Nye and Jennifer Klemp discuss how genetic testing may help answer your questions about your cancer risks and determine a path forward. Becky Burns, a breast cancer survivor and member of KU Cancer Center's patient research advocacy group, PIVOT, will also join us to share how genetic testing played a part in her cancer journey.

More than 200,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma every year in the U.S. In fact, melanoma is the least common diagnosed type of skin cancer and the most deadly. Through advancements in treatment, including immunotherapy, people are living longer.   Dr. Roy Jensen, director and vice chancellor of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, will speak with Drs. Gary Doolittle and Luke Selby about the newest advances in melanoma research and therapy, and how they will affect those in our community suffering from this disease. They will also discuss risks and prevention, including what you should be looking for in a suncreen to prevent skin cancer. In addition, we will hear from a patient who will share his melanoma story.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for men and women combined. Thanks to improvements in early detection and treatment, the number of people who die from this disease has dropped. Today, there are more than 1.5 million colorectal cancer survivors in the U.S.   Dr. Roy Jensen, director and vice chancellor of KU Cancer Center, will talk with Drs. Anwaar Saeed and Ajay Bansal, who are exploring ways to better treat and prevent colorectal cancer. Tom Conley, a cancer survivor, will also join the conversation to share his experience as a participant in one of Dr. Saeed's clinical trials.

It sounds like it’s pulled straight from the plot of a science fiction movie, but doctors and scientists are finding ways to bring artificial intelligence (AI) into the clinic. Dr. Roy Jensen and Dr. Prateek Sharma, discuss this topic, and Kayla Delich, a stage 3 colorectal cancer survivor, also shares her story.