Dr. Wu shares insights on her team’s development of engineered antibodies and fast‑clearing mini‑body fragments. These fragments can initially be used for PET imaging and then later paired with therapeutic radioisotopes to precisely target tumors, which help clinicians see where the treatment is going and how well it may work.

She also talks about two exciting initiatives at City of Hope: CEA‑directed agents (targeted cancer therapies) that are being used in clinical imaging and therapy; and PSCA‑targeted radiopharmaceuticals, which are entering first‑in‑human studies for pancreatic and prostate cancers. These new approaches use imaging to zero in on the tumor target, confirm safety, then deliver the radiation therapy directly to cancer cells.

In this episode of On the Edge of Breakthrough: Voices of Cancer Research, Stacy Gray, M.D., A.M., Director of Clinical and Scientific Strategy and Vice President of System Strategy at City of Hope, joins Monty Pal, M.D., F.A.S.C.O. in an engaging discussion of how precision medicine and AI are transforming cancer care and why listening to patients is the key to it all.

Dr. Gray highlights City of Hope’s leadership in precision medicine, from expanded germline testing and the INSPIRE program to emerging early‑detection studies using whole‑body MRI and liquid biopsy. The episode dissects how system‑wide integration and new technologies can expand access to expert opinions, match patients to clinical trials and ensure high‑quality cancer care, regardless of a patient’s geographic location.

Oncologists sometimes worry that sharing genomic results without concrete recommendations may increase patients’ anxiety. But as Dr. Gray notes, research shows that what patients want most is actionable information that helps them understand what comes next. Her work has helped catalyze innovations such as molecular tumor boards and large‑scale genomic programs that make testing more accessible and clinically meaningful.

In the season 4 premiere of On the Edge of Breakthrough: Voices of Cancer Research, Monty Pal, M.D., F.A.S.C.O., welcomes Marcel van den Brink, M.D., Ph.D., President of City of Hope Los Angeles and City of Hope National Medical Center, Chief Physician Executive and the Deana and Steve Campbell Physician Executive Distinguished Chair.

From mentorship and team science to the intersection of clinical care, innovation and personal resilience, this episode offers a candid look at the experiences and values driving one of cancer research’s most impactful leaders.

Together, they trace Dr. van den Brink’s remarkable journey from his early medical training in Holland—including formative mentorship under pioneering immunologists—to pivotal experiences that brought him to the U.S. and shaped his career as a physician-scientist. Van den Brink reflects on the challenges of navigating academic systems, the grit required during demanding residency years and the turning points that led him to leadership roles at premier cancer centers.

The conversation highlights Dr. van den Brink’s groundbreaking scientific contributions, including discoveries that have advanced understanding of T cell biology, the thymus, immune recovery and the microbiome’s role in transplant outcomes. He discusses his philosophy of fostering open, collaborative research environments and the importance of rethinking traditional academic models to empower the next generation of scientists.