Dialogues

Mar 6, 2025, 05:53

The Comfort Corner #4: Dialogue with Prof. Alexandre Chan, hosted by Martin Harutyunyan

In this episode of ‘The Comfort Corner’ OncoDaily, Professor Alexandre Chan, a leading clinical pharmacist and president-elect of MASCC, is interviewed by Martin Harutyunyan, a medical oncologist and palliative care specialist. Prof. Chan shares his journey in oncology pharmacy, discusses innovations in managing cancer-related fatigue and chemo brain, and highlights the importance of evidence-based supportive care. Tune in for valuable insights on advancing supportive care in oncology and improving quality of life for cancer patients.

Prof. Alexandre Chan is a distinguished clinical pharmacist and expert in supportive care in oncology. Prof. Chan is the Founding Chair of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice at the University of California, Irvine, and has dedicated his career to improving the quality of life for cancer patients. He is also the President-Elect of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC).

With over 300 peer-reviewed publications, Prof. Chan’s research focuses on supportive care and cancer survivorship, including cancer-related cognitive impairment, cancer-related fatigue, and integrative oncology. He has also pioneered research on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and its impact on chemobrain. Currently funded by an NIH National Cancer Institute R01 grant, he investigates BDNF augmentation in chemobrain to improve the quality of life for cancer patients.

Dr. Martin Harutyunyan is a medical oncologist and palliative care specialist who currently serves as the Head of the Palliative Medicine Service at Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center in Yerevan, Armenia. He has been working as a medical oncologist at the same center since October 2021.

Dr. Harutyunyan has made significant contributions to research and patient care throughout his career. He has worked as a clinical researcher at the “City of Smile” Charitable Foundation and as a medical coordinator at the Union of Armenian Doctors.

Dr. Harutyunyan’s played a key role in the launch of a Palliative Medicine Service at Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center.

00:00 Introduction
02:24 Oncology Pharmacy: A Journey in Supportive Care
05:58 Advancing Supportive Care Globally
08:32 The Power of Inquiry and Collaboration
12:02 MASCC’s Future: Growth, Collaboration & Recognition
14:48 Evidence-Based Supportive Care: Emerging Strategies