Podcast Summary: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast with Dr. Dhruv Bansal

Episode Date: December 24, 2025
Guest: Dr. Dhruv Bansal, MD, MBA, Director of Immunotherapy, Precision and Thoracic Oncology at Endeavor Health
Host: Laura Dardo

Overview

In this engaging episode, Dr. Dhruv Bansal shares his expertise as director of immunotherapy and precision oncology at Endeavor Health. The discussion dives deep into the evolving landscape of cancer care, with a strong focus on advances in immunotherapy, precision medicine, and data-driven oncology. Dr. Bansal offers real-world examples of practice-changing innovation, the power of multidisciplinary collaboration, and his outlook on future cancer breakthroughs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Bansal’s Research Focus and Mission

• Biomarkers and Patient Outcomes
  • Dr. Bansal’s research centers on finding biomarkers to explain why certain patients benefit more from immunotherapy, especially in stage 4 lung cancer.
  • “Why is it that some patients with stage 4 lung cancer, for an example, live 10, 4, 10 plus years?...So we are trying to find why are some patients doing so much better than others and what are the reasons behind it.” (01:18, Dr. Bansal)
  • Ten years ago, median survival for stage 4 lung cancer was less than a year. Now, it’s common for patients to live 5-10 years in remission due to advances in treatment.

Impact of Precision Medicine

• From Sledgehammer to Scalpel
  • Precision medicine has “completely changed how we treat these patients” (02:54).
  • Dr. Bansal contrasts old chemotherapy (“more like a sledgehammer”) with today’s precise molecular therapies that deliver more effectiveness and fewer side effects.
  • "Now we have these precise treatments that target the cancer...with much fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy for the rest of the body and they are much more effective. So you're getting the benefit of a more effective treatment with less side effects. So I mean, that's a win win." (03:31, Dr. Bansal)

Bridging Research and Practice

• Staying Current in a Rapidly-Evolving Field
  • Keeping up requires significant ongoing education—reading journals, attending conferences, peer collaboration, and hands-on research.
  • “The good thing is the pace of discoveries is so fast that patients have new treatment options like nearly every month now.” (04:19, Dr. Bansal)

Data and Molecular Tumor Boards

• Team-Based Data-Driven Decisions
  • Weekly molecular tumor boards include oncologists, pathologists, pharmacists, and data from genomic testing to guide tailored care decisions.
  • “We have a very robust molecular tumor board...and make sure that these patients are getting the appropriate treatment recommendations.” (06:01, Dr. Bansal)

Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Data Science

• AI and Transcriptome Analysis
  • Collaborations with data scientists and external partners utilize clinical and genomic data to pinpoint markers that predict a patient’s response to immunotherapy.
  • “For one of the projects, we ran some AI algorithms to see what are the markers in the transcriptome...we were able to tell, pretty much divide up the patients in four different buckets...and we were able to tell from their genetic makeup of their cancers why that is.” (07:11, Dr. Bansal)
  • Shift from DNA to RNA (transcriptome) analysis leads to more accurate predictions for immunotherapy response.

Future Breakthroughs in Oncology

• Cellular Therapies and Vaccines
  • Dr. Bansal expresses optimism: “I do think in the next 10 years, a lot of the cancers would be cured or curable.” (08:51, Dr. Bansal)
  • Highlights:
    • Next-generation treatments like cellular therapies (CAR T cells, bispecific T cell engagers, antibody-drug conjugates) are changing the prognosis for previously grim cancers (e.g., small cell lung cancer).
    • Example: Targeting DLL3 in small cell lung cancer patients with bispecifics leading to long-term survival, with these treatments now FDA approved within the last two years. (09:32, Dr. Bansal)
    • Vaccines, especially mRNA-based, are expected to play an increasing role in treatment and possibly prevention; currently in clinical trials.
    • “We can see in the near future how vaccines would play a big role in cancer treatment, maybe prevention. But I think that's a little further out, definitely in treatment that vaccines are coming in a big way.” (10:45, Dr. Bansal)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the Promise of Immunotherapy:
  • "Now I commonly have a patient in my clinic who is 5, 10 years out from lung cancer diagnosis. Stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis is in remission." (01:27, Dr. Bansal)
• On Precision Medicine:
  • “In the past we had only chemotherapy. I think of chemotherapy more like a sledgehammer...Now we have these precise treatments that target the cancer. Mostly the cancer have much fewer side effects...and they are much more effective.” (03:18, Dr. Bansal)
• On Cell Therapies:
  • “This sounds like science fiction, but it's happening every day in clinic.” (09:26, Dr. Bansal)
• On the Future:
  • “The pace at which discovery is happening, this seems like a reality now.” (08:54, Dr. Bansal)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 01:08 — Dr. Bansal describes his research focus and the quest for biomarkers in immunotherapy.
• 02:54 — The transformational impact of precision medicine on patient care.
• 04:39 — Strategies for integrating new research into clinical practice.
• 05:56 — Using data and tumor boards for personalized treatment.
• 06:57 — Collaboration between clinicians and data scientists; AI in biomarker discovery.
• 08:47 — Future breakthroughs expected in the next 2-10 years: cell therapies and vaccines.

Tone and Language

Dr. Bansal speaks with clear enthusiasm, humility, and hope, conveying complex topics in an accessible way. He balances optimism about cancer cures with thoughtful explanations, always focusing on patient benefit and interdisciplinary teamwork.

Summary Takeaway

Dr. Bansal provides an inspiring and authoritative perspective on cancer care’s transformation—driven by precision medicine, data science, and collaborative discovery. His insights showcase how a future once considered unimaginable is now increasingly within reach for cancer patients and clinicians alike.