Episode Highlights:

Welcome to The DBT Podcast, where host Dr. Neel Shah explores the evolving landscape of diagnostic medicine through conversations with leading experts. In this episode, Dr. Shah welcomes Dr. Kyle Parker, a practicing pathologist whose daily work sits at the intersection of laboratory science, technology, and patient care. Dr. Parker shares how pathology drives cancer diagnosis, how tools like flow cytometry and ctDNA analysis are transforming detection, and why these innovations matter for patients and providers alike.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How pathologists collaborate with clinicians to diagnose cancers
• How flow cytometry works and why it has become such a powerful diagnostic tool
• How quickly labs can now generate results compared to past methods
• The difference between a pin-prick sample and a full blood culture
• How circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can reveal cancer-specific mutations
• Whether blood tests may eventually replace tissue biopsies
• How a pathologist determines whether a tissue sample is cancerous

(1:30) The doctors talk about flow cytometry and how they work together to determine a diagnosis.

(5:35) Learn about the progress made in cytometry

(6:20) How long did it used to take to get enough data and how long does it take now?

(6:51) How was this testing method discovered and how does it work?

(11:04) What information can be determined from a pin prick versus a blood culture?

(12:47) All of our cells have DNA in them. How is is this DNA used to cancer detected in the blood?

(14:39) Will it be possible to one day identify cancers through blood samples or will be still need tissue samples?

(16:20) There are more than 200 different types of tissue in the human body…Dr. Parker describes how he determines if a sample is cancerous.

The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for questions about your health. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. Neither the host, the guests, nor Flint Rock LLC assume any liability for actions taken based on the content of this podcast.