Hosted by Professor Craig Underhill, Dr Kate Clarke & Professor Christopher Jackson | Proudly produced by The Oncology Network
Welcome back to The Oncology Journal Club podcast — our favourite episode of the year!
This week, the team reflect on the achievements of 2025, highlighting key developments, initiatives and papers that have made — and will continue to make — a real impact on clinical practice. As CJ says, it’s a privilege to work in what is the “single most innovative and thoughtful field in all of medicine” — and we are indeed lucky to have our brains tickled every month by this wonderful podcast.
And of course, it wouldn’t be OJC without some laughs and a few naughty jokes — and this year, we even have the inaugural OJC Christmas haiku!
Thank you for listening. We hope you enjoy the final episode of The Oncology Journal Club for 2025.
About The Oncology Journal Club:
We have taken an old concept and updated it with a new format. In each episode, a team of expert contributors will review topical journal papers and interview special guests who are leaders in their fields to help keep you informed of the latest developments on the go.
We hope you enjoy listening and find this a valuable and entertaining resource.
PAPERS:
FOLLOW UP FROM EPISODE 10:
Zippelius A, et al. Unveiling the molecular and immunological drivers of antibody-drug conjugates in cancer treatment. Nat Rev Cancer. 2025 Dec;25(12):925-944. doi: 10.1038/s41568-025-00869-w. Epub 2025 Oct 2. PMID: 41039110. Access online here.
MOST IMPACTFUL DEVELOPMENTS:
CJ:
Gyawali, B et al. Common Sense Oncology principles for the design, analysis, and reporting of phase 3 randomised clinical trials. The Lancet Oncology, Volume 26, Issue 2, e80 – e89. Access online here.
Eisenhauer, E A. et al. Guidance for discussants of randomized cancer trials at major meetings. European Journal of Cancer, Volume 220, 115357. Access online here.
Kate:
Patient Centered Dosing Initiative
Craig:
Cancer Australia Cancer Plan Access online here.
Release of the National Framework for Genomics in Cancer Control (February 2025) Access online here.
Launch of the Australian Comprehensive Cancer Network (ACCN) in May 2024, and the ACCN Discussion Forum
Publication of the National Optimal Care Pathways Framework (October 2024)
Launch of the National Cancer Data Framework (November 2025)
Implementation of activities under the Improving First Nations Cancer Outcomes budget measure
Launch of National Lung Cancer Screening Program
TOP PAPERS OF THE YEAR:
CJ:
Janjigian YY, et al. Perioperative Durvalumab in Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2025 Jul 17;393(3):217-230. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2503701. Epub 2025 Jun 1. PMID: 40454643. Access online here.
Courneya KS, et al. Structured Exercise after Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2025 Jul 3;393(1):13-25. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2502760. Epub 2025 Jun 1. PMID: 40450658. Access online here.
Kate:
Partridge, A.H., et al. Interrupting Endocrine Therapy to Attempt Pregnancy after Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med 2023;388:1645-1656. May 3, 2023. Access online here.
Cortés J, et al. Trastuzumab Deruxtecan versus Trastuzumab Emtansine for Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2022 Mar 24;386(12):1143-1154. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2115022. PMID: 35320644. Access online here.
Tolaney SM, et al. Trastuzumab Deruxtecan plus Pertuzumab for HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2025 Oct 29. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2508668. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41160818. Access online here.
Harbeck N, et al. Neoadjuvant trastuzumab deruxtecan alone or followed by paclitaxel, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab for high-risk HER2-positive early breast cancer (DESTINY-Breast11): a randomised, open-label, multicentre, phase III trial. Ann Oncol. 2025 Oct 21:S0923-7534(25)04968-3. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2025.10.019. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41130363. Access online here.
Loibl S, et al. Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Residual HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2025 Dec 10. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2514661. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41370739. Access online here.
Year in Review. San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025. Access online here. Note: Accessible to attendees… or in Kate’s words, ‘registered people’.
Craig:
Powles T, et al. ctDNA-Guided Adjuvant Atezolizumab in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2025 Dec 18;393(24):2395-2408. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2511885. Epub 2025 Oct 20. PMID: 41124204. Access online here.
Vulsteke , C. et al. Perioperative (periop) enfortumab vedotin (EV) plus pembrolizumab (pembro) in participants (pts) with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who are cisplatin-ineligible: The phase III KEYNOTE-905 study. ESMO 2025 Congress. LBA2. Access online here.
Forde PM, et al. Overall Survival with Neoadjuvant Nivolumab plus Chemotherapy in Lung Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2025 Aug 21;393(8):741-752. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2502931. Epub 2025 Jun 2. PMID: 40454642. Access online here.
Martling A, et al. Low-Dose Aspirin for PI3K-Altered Localized Colorectal Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2025 Sep 18;393(11):1051-1064. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2504650. PMID: 40961426. Access online here.
BLOW YOUR OWN TRUMPET PAPERS:
Kate:
New Zealand Society for Oncology ASM: Access online here. Save the date for 2026! 15–17 October, Wellington.
Craig:
Gao B, et al. Nivolumab and Ipilimumab Combination Treatment in Advanced Ovarian and Endometrial Clear Cell Cancers: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2025 Sep 1;11(9):982-989. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.1916. PMID: 40608313; PMCID: PMC12232261. Access online here.
Carlino MS, et al. Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Advanced Mismatch Repair-Deficient/Microsatellite Instability-High Noncolorectal Cancers: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2025 Nov 13:e254721. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.4721. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41231502; PMCID: PMC12616531. Access online here.
CJ:
Cancer and other medicines funded from 2024 Budget. Pharmac. Access online here.
OJC CHRISTMAS HAIKU:
Bingo cards fill fast
Manageable trend and favour
Follow up pending
Kate names late effects
Pelvic fields, we blush, we learn
Outcomes are people
Craig clears his throat once
Common sense before new hype
Truth takes time
TEAM:
Craig Underhill
Professor Craig Underhill
Professor Craig Underhill completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in 1987 at Melbourne University. He completed medical oncology training in Melbourne and worked as the Senior Clinical Research Registrar at Guy’s Hospital, London.
In 1998 arrived in Albury-Wodonga and established a medical oncology practice and clinical trials unit which has developed expertise and infrastructure to ensure the initiation of high quality trials. The research Unit lead by Dr Underhill has twice been awarded NSW Premier’s Award for Innovation in Cancer Clinical Trials, the inaugural award in 2009 and then again in 2012.
Dr Underhill is the VCCC Regional Oncology Lead and advocates for the increased access to clinical trials for regional Victorians and leads the VCCC teletrials program.
You can find Craig on X/Twitter here: @CraigUnderhill
Kate Clarke
Dr. Kate Clarke
Dr Kate Clarke (MBChB (Otago), FRACP) is a proud New Zealander with a real love for beautiful Aotearoa. Dr Clarke continues to work at being Tangata Tiriti. Much of her research and patient advocacy has an equity focus. Dr Clarke is grateful to her patients, students, whanau and colleagues for the knowledge and awhi they share. Ehara taku toa, he takitahi, he toa takitini.
Dr Clarke completed her medical training in Otago, Wellington and London. She has a holistic approach and is passionate about patient-centred care, and believes patients can and should play an active role in their healthcare. Her clinical experience covers a broad range of solid tumour malignancies with special clinical interest in colorectal cancer, upper gastrointestinal cancers and breast cancer.
Chris ‘CJ’ Jackson
Professor Christopher Jackson
Chris Jackson is Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Otago, Dunedin, and a medical oncologist at Dunedin Hospital and Mercy Cancer Care. He specialises in GI cancers and melanoma, teaches medical students and specialists-in-training, and is heavily involved in both national and international cancer policy, leadership and research.
He was previously the medical director of the Cancer Society of NZ, and his advocacy led to the funding of new cancer drugs, to the development of a new national cancer plan, and to the birth of the national cancer agency Te Aho o Te Kahu. He currently chairs the agency’s clinical committee and serves on the advisory board. In addition, he is on the programme board of the International Cancer Benchmarking Project, and is a founding member of the Common Sense Oncology movement.
Chris is a self-confessed Radiohead tragic, and recent convert to Crossfit (even though you didn’t ask).
Connect with CJ on X/Twitter: @drkiwicj
PRODUCER:
Rachael Babin
Rachael Babin is Host of The Oncology Podcast, Editor-in-Chief of The Oncology Newsletter, and Publisher of Oncology News Australia and The Oncology Network.
With a background in oncology communications and academic publishing, Rachael is happiest sitting behind the mic chatting to interesting people about the impact their work makes in oncology.
Connect on Twitter: @OncologyNewsAus
