To INFINITY and Beyond! Rethinking Treatment Paradigms and Common Sense Trial Design
Hosted by Professor Craig Underhill, Dr Kate Clarke & Professor Christopher Jackson | Proudly produced by The Oncology Network
The Oncology Journal Club team take a deep dive into three standout papers:
- Craig kicks us off with a timely perspective on the long-term toxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors—are we ready to widen the lens? He highlights the need for more comprehensive research on survivorship issues including quality of life, financial impact and psychological outcomes.
- Kate brings us the exciting results from the INFINITY study on gastric and gastroesophageal cancers which shows impressive complete response rates in dMMR gastric cancers but at prohibitive costs — and poses a big question: are we ready to rethink treatment paradigms?
- And CJ unpacks the Common Sense Oncology principles for designing better phase 3 trials — Common Sense Oncology principles offer a patient-centred framework for designing and reporting clinical trials.
- Of course, we’ve also got our Quick Bites—those quirky, surprising papers that made us raise an eyebrow or two. From RNA vaccines in pancreatic cancer to updated ASCO guidelines for small cell lung cancer, it’s a rapid-fire segment you won’t want to miss.
The Oncology Podcast – An Australian Oncology Perspective
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:
Kate: Raimondi A, et al. Tremelimumab and durvalumab as neoadjuvant or non-operative management strategy of patients with microsatellite instability-high resectable gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: the INFINITY study by GONO. Ann Oncol. 2025 Mar;36(3):285-296. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2024.11.016. Epub 2024 Dec 3. PMID: 39637944. Access online here.
Accompanied by: Ilson DH. Locally advanced microsatellite instability-high esophagogastric cancer: are we ready to change our treatment paradigm? Ann Oncol. 2025 Mar;36(3):233-234. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2025.01.010. PMID: 39984221. Access online here.
CJ: Gyawali B, et al. Common Sense Oncology principles for the design, analysis, and reporting of phase 3 randomised clinical trials. Lancet Oncol. 2025 Feb;26(2):e80-e89. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00451-0. PMID: 39914429. Access online here.
Craig: Cronin C, O’Sullivan A, Naidoo J. Long-Term Toxicity of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors-Time to Widen the Lens. JAMA Oncol. 2025 Feb 27. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2024.6809. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40014359. Access online here.
QUICK BITES:
CJ: Eisenhauer EA, et al. Guidance for discussants of randomized cancer trials at major meetings. Eur J Cancer. 2025 Mar 7;220:115357. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2025.115357. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40117861. Access online here.
Xi M, et al. Radiofrequency Ablation Versus Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Recurrent Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Randomized, Open-Label, Controlled Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2025 Mar 20;43(9):1073-1082. doi: 10.1200/JCO-24-01532. Epub 2024 Dec 18. PMID: 39693584. Access online here.
Kate: Sethna Z, et al. RNA neoantigen vaccines prime long-lived CD8+ T cells in pancreatic cancer. Nature. 2025 Feb 19. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08508-4. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39972124. Access online here.
Craig: Kalemkerian GP, Khurshid H, Ismaila N; Systemic Therapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer Guideline Expert Panel. Systemic Therapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer: ASCO Guideline Rapid Recommendation Update. J Clin Oncol. 2025 Jan;43(1):101-105. doi: 10.1200/JCO-24-02245. Epub 2024 Nov 20. Erratum in: J Clin Oncol. 2025 Feb 10;43(5):623. doi: 10.1200/JCO-24-02719. PMID: 39565968. Access online here.
Siegel RL, Kratzer TB, Giaquinto AN, Sung H, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2025. CA Cancer J Clin. 2025 Jan-Feb;75(1):10-45. doi: 10.3322/caac.21871. Epub 2025 Jan 16. PMID: 39817679; PMCID: PMC11745215. Access online here.
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
