ASCO 2026 sparked passionate conversations about some of the emerging topics in the field of oncology. During a live taping of the popular medical truth-buster podcast, Only Oncologists in the Building, DocUpdate CEO and Founder Dr. Osama Hashmi joined hosts Dr. Shaalan Beg, Dr. Shruti Patel, and Dr. Emil Lou in their spirited discussion of ASCO's most controversial subjects: the validity of molecular testing and readiness of cancer vaccines.
Are Molecular Screening Tests Ready to be Advertised to the Public?
One of the most compelling aspects of the discussion was the skepticism surrounding the clinical application of molecular testing among oncologists. Dr. Shruti Patel, a clinical assistant professor at Stanford Medicine, and Dr. Emil Lou, a Time100 Health Honoree and professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Minnesota, grounded their reasoning not in opposition to the technology's potential, but in favor of full transparency with patients.
Dr. Patel believes that the evidence supporting ctDNA (circulating tumor DNA) is not strong enough and is giving patients "false hope," despite its incorporation in certain NCCN guidelines for colon and rectal cancers. Similarly, Dr. Lou stated that he does not yet buy into MCED (multi-cancer early detection) screenings presented at ASCO this year. MCED screenings are marketed as an effective way to catch cancer in its early stages, yet not all cancers shed detectable DNA into the bloodstream. Furthermore, many of the cancers that do shed may not do so at detectable levels until later stages of the disease, diminishing the value of early detection.
Dr. Patel argued that these pan-cancer tests require greater evidence before being prematurely marketed to patients. The concerns raised by the panelists are likely to extend beyond physicians, as uncertain screening results can have a broader impact across an entire cancer care team.
Are there Definitive Data Supporting the Efficacy of Cancer Vaccines?
Cancer vaccines emerged as another prominent topic of discussion. These vaccines have shown early clinical promise, yet lack definitive evidence. Dr. Lou said that despite advancements in technologies such as genomic sequencing, the data surrounding these cancer vaccines are not where they need to be, referencing the "tip of the iceberg" pilot data research presented at this year's ASCO.
What stood out was the additional layer of complexity that Dr. Shaalan Beg, a healthtech executive at ConcertAI, introduced to the discussion. He mentioned that the research may have a confounding variable, potentially contributing to the success seen in clinical trials. For instance, the mRNA component of the COVID-19 vaccine was speculated to have had a positive influence on immunotherapy treatment, since patients who received both the mRNA vaccination and immunotherapy demonstrated improved cancer outcomes. However, more research is needed to determine clinical efficacy and shed greater light on confounding variables and discrepancies.
What was positive to hear was that the panelists agreed that cancer vaccines show early promise, specifically in melanoma and early stage IV colorectal cancer, yet a desire for more concrete evidence persists. The topics discussed were both controversial in nature yet fascinating in delivery. Throughout the panel, one theme was consistently presented: the desire to balance clinical realism with scientific optimism.
Taking a Seat at the Table
The later half of the discussion included Dr. Osama Hashmi, in which he primarily outlined his journey to creating Impiricus and DocUpdate, ultimately connecting it to what he believes to be the responsibility of all physicians. Throughout his portion of the panel, Dr. Hashmi emphasized that physicians possess a unique perspective on the problems facing healthcare and, therefore, are uniquely positioned to solve them. As he mentioned, it is not "hard to find a problem in healthcare that needs to be fixed" — all that is needed is a humble outlook, a curious mind, and for one to keep digging.
Leading to the founding of Impiricus and DocUpdate, Dr. Hashmi understood that risks were involved, but saw the risk of being a physician without a seat at the table as more severe. As a pre-med student, I found Dr. Hashmi's portion of the panel particularly motivating as he discussed the importance of incorporating technology to advance patient care. His reflections served as a reminder to both current and future healthcare professionals that the commitment to patient care extends beyond the clinic, requiring lifelong learning and discovery in an effort to improve the healthcare system.
References
Doherty, K. (2025, February 12). NCCN updates ctDNA stance in colon, rectal, and MCC guidelines. OncLive. https://www.onclive.com/view/nccn-updates-ctdna-stance-in-colon-rectal-and-mcc-guidelines
