SSO Education Series—From Trials to Practice: Key Breast Cancer Insights from SSO 2026

Securing Funding for Pilot Clinical Trials

In this episode of SurgOnc Today, Dr. Christina Angeles, surgical oncologist and Chair of the SSO Research Committee, sits down with two experienced surgical investigators, Dr. Andrew Lowy and Dr. Craig Slingluff, to discuss one of the most challenging steps in advancing surgical research: securing funding for pilot clinical trials. Drawing from their real-world experience designing and running surgical trials, our guests share practical strategies for identifying funding sources, building a competitive application, and navigating setbacks along the way. Whether you are a junior faculty member with your first research idea or a mid-career surgeon looking to expand your trials program, this episode delivers actionable advice to help you turn your clinical observations into funded research.

Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapies in Melanoma, How's It Going and What Is Next?

On this episode of SurgOnc Today, Dr. Amanda Kirane and Dr. Allison Betof discuss the clinical application of TIL therapy for melanoma patients, including the comprehensive care and teamwork required. They also discuss lessons learned and newer clinical trials optimizing the therapy.

SSO Education Series: Introduction to Value-Based Care in Surgical Oncology

In this episode of SurgOnc Today, we explore the evolving role of value-based care in surgical oncology. Drs. Casey Allen, Matthew Katz, and Cristina O'Donoghue join the discussion to define what "value" truly means in cancer care, examine the evidence behind programs such as ERAS and prehabilitation, and review emerging frameworks used to assess value in oncology. The conversation also addresses stakeholder collaboration and the critical intersection between value-based care and health equity. This episode offers practical insights for surgical oncologists seeking to deliver high-quality, patient-centered, and sustainable cancer care.

SSO Education Series—From Trials to Practice: Key Breast Cancer Insights from SSO 2026

In this episode of SurgOnc Today, Drs. Kelly Hewitt and Austin Williams review key breast cancer presentations from the 2026 Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Meeting. They discuss real-world implementation of SOUND and INSEMA, evolving approaches to axillary management in the neoadjuvant setting, and emerging data on omission of axillary surgery. Additional highlights include outcomes with partial breast irradiation in the setting of variable endocrine therapy adherence and contemporary management of rare breast malignancies such as angiosarcoma. Together, they explore how these findings are shaping multidisciplinary decision-making and the continued evolution of surgical de-escalation in breast cancer care.

Lessons Learned Series: Time from Idea to Clinical Trial Initiation - Not a Simple Ongoing Problem

On this episode of SurgOnc Today, Dr. Mihir M. Shah interviews Drs. Shailesh Shrikhande and Syed Ahmad about the barriers that slow clinical trial activation and the steps needed to move innovative ideas into practice more efficiently.