What are The CheckPoints movin’ and groovin’ to this summer?

Physician-scientists by day, a funk-loving musical troupe by night. You may have seen The CheckPoints—a 13 member cover band with a three-piece brass section and Jim Allison on harmonica—movin’, groovin’, and gettin’ down as a mainstay closing act at ASCO, AACR, or the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer annual meetings. 

During past performances, the band has put their own spin on motown classics like Brick House by the Commodores, as well as pop staples like Adele’s Rolling in the Deep and Walking on Sunshine by Katrina And The Waves. 

The ensemble, by design, straddles between two worlds: Cancer research and artistic expression. 

All in the same day, you might witness the band’s members at an annual meeting, all buttoned up, presenting something or other on the sustained clinical benefit of a phase III trial of checkpoint inhibitors. But come nightfall, the top buttons come undone and you’ll find them on stage belting out lyrics to “Sweet Home Chicago” or an immunotherapy-inspired cover song (The Cancer Letter, Oct. 5, 2018). 

In our annual roundup of what people in oncology are reading (or watching, or listening to), The Cancer Letter asked the SITC house band to craft a recommendation list that similarly blends these two worlds. The bandmates are keeping rhythm with the latest journal articles published in the academic literature, as well as songs, albums, and playlists that may have healing properties of their own. 

Their recommendations, which span many genres, can be found on this Spotify playlist. So, pop on some music, crack open a journal, and enjoy the vibes.

Here is our check-in with The CheckPoints: 

The moment this unprecedented advance in the treatment of this most-feared cancer diagnosis really sunk in was thrilling to all in the room, including myself.

John Timmerman

• “Daraxonrasib or Chemotherapy in Previously Treated Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer,” published in The New England Journal of Medicine

What many in oncology would call the paper of the year—John Timmerman picked the results of the RASolute 302 trial of daraxonrasib, a RAS inhibitor sponsored by Revolution Medicines, “without hesitation” (The Cancer Letter, April 17, June 5, 2026). 

“[I remember] the historic presentation at the ASCO Plenary Session on May 31, where lead author Brian Wolpin received a standing ovation when revealing the doubling of survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer by the new KRAS inhibitor daraxonrasib,” Timmerman said to The Cancer Letter. 

“Even though I knew about the data from previous presentations, the moment this unprecedented advance in the treatment of this most-feared cancer diagnosis really sunk in was thrilling to all in the room, including myself. 

“While the treatment is far from a cure, it is a huge first step in cracking this nasty malignancy, and I’m most excited about what is to come next scientifically. We already know now that disarming pancreatic cancers of RAS signaling not only slows cell growth, but alters the tumor immune microenvironment, possibly paving the way for effective immunological interventions, which alone have proven ineffective in pancreatic cancer. With a foot in the door, investigators will now begin to further pry the disease open, and learn what strategies work best once an oncogene-addicted cell’s major driver has been crippled.”

Prostate cancer has been one of the tumor types that has been particularly under-responsive to many flavors of immunotherapy, and identifying key mediators of resistance has wide-ranging implications.

Rachel Humphrey

• “Evolution of myeloid-mediated immunotherapy resistance in prostate cancer,” published in Nature

“Very elegant work from Larry Fong’s group showing critical regulators of immunotherapy resistance in prostate cancer and a mechanism to reverse it,” Humphrey said to The Cancer Letter. “Nice preclinical and clinical/translational confirmatory data. Prostate cancer has been one of the tumor types that has been particularly under-responsive to many flavors of immunotherapy, and identifying key mediators of resistance has wide-ranging implications. 

“We have now also been focusing on these SPP1+ myeloid populations in many of our datasets, including some ongoing single cell RNAseq analysis of Sipuleucel-T, the only FDA-approved cellular therapeutic for prostate cancer.”

• In the End, by Animal Liberation Orchestra

• Hot Damn, by Animal Liberation Orchestra

“A fantastic Bay Area band in the Phish/jam-band vein. Sooo many great songs,” Humphrey said. 

How could the bass player of The CheckPoints leave out Vulfpeck?! Joe Dart is a personal hero of mine. He is able to play the bass to heights never before seen. This album has a great mix of what’s made Vulfpeck a staple of festivals this summer. Catchy lyrics, wicked instrumentals, and a wacky sensibility like no other.

Brad Reinfeld

• “Postprandial lipid metabolism durably enhances T cell immunity,” published in Nature

“On almost every cancer patient’s journey, they ask their provider, ‘What food should I eat to help control the cancer?’ In this time of instability, patients, and their families often seek control,” Reinfeld said to The Cancer Letter. “Their perspectives are typically informed more by layman’s articles, friends’ hearsay, YouTube videos, and TikToks, than the latest oncology literature. I often hear patients wonder, ‘Doc, doesn’t sugar feed cancers?’ Unfortunately, this is a vast oversimplification of the relationship between diet and tumorigenesis that we, as a field, need to clarify for our patients.These two studies uncover new relationships between diet and cancer biology that are important for patients, their loved ones, and many facets of clinical oncology. 

“The paper from Greg Delgoffe’s group at the University of Pittsburgh suggests that CAR T cells taken from patients after they eat a meal work better than CAR T cells made from fasted patients. The referenced adage ‘sugar feeds cancer’ ignores the importance of nutrient uptake and utilization in anti-tumor immune cells.”

• “Ketogenic diet mediates intestinal tumorigenesis through lipids not ketones,” published in Nature

“The second paper comes from MIT and shows that ketogenic diets paradoxically accelerate the development of small bowel cancer. How can this healthful diet do so much harm? Switching mice from a balanced diet to a keto diet increased dietary lipids, which, in turn, the cancer cells use as fuel to proliferate. Therefore, ketogenic diets may be reasonable to trial in healthy, fit patients looking to gain an edge in the gym, but they may provide malignant cells with more fuel for their growth.

“I hope that, as a field, we embrace nuance to provide patients with the current state of dietary interventions for cancer treatment. Unfortunately, this field is still in its infancy. I often tell my patients that, if possible, they should follow a heart-healthy diet rich in fiber, fruits, and vegetables, with a preponderance of lean meats (no different from what our fellow cardiologists endorse). 

“Given the equipoise in the field, I do tell my patients they can have donuts or cookies, just not a dozen of them in one sitting. Many of our patients have life-limiting diagnoses, and without compelling improved overall survival data, I find it hard to say eliminating certain foods completely from their diet is an itch worth scratching in this time of uncertainty.”

• Lover’s Game, by The War and Treaty

“The War and Treaty is a band I fell in love with as a graduate student living and playing music in Nashville,” Reinfeld said. “A genre-bending country/blues/R&B group that brings love in our uncertain times.”

• The Bywater Sessions, by Jon Cleary

“Mr. Cleary is an interesting fellow to say the least,” Reinfeld said. “UK-born, but New Orleans-raised. His piano playing has all the flair of Professor Longhair. His songs travel from irreverent to playful, while keeping that NOLA beat on the two and four. Dial Jon up on your Spotify, and it feels like you are celebrating Mardi Gras, whether it’s a hot, steamy summer day, or snowing in the dead of winter!

• The Beautiful Game, by Vulfpeck

“How could the bass player of The CheckPoints leave out Vulfpeck?!” Reinfeld said. “Joe Dart is a personal hero of mine. He is able to play the bass to heights never before seen. This album has a great mix of what’s made Vulfpeck a staple of festivals this summer. Catchy lyrics, wicked instrumentals, and a wacky sensibility like no other.”

Last year, I would say my most listened to song is the melody of the telemetry monitor in the cardiac intensive care unit alarming arrhythmias, or the lullaby of bed alarms on the floors overnight. In those few moments where I can explore new music, I’ve become quite enamored with RAYE.

Anna Crosetti

• “Cytokine-mediated CAR T therapy resistance in AML,” published in Nature Medicine

“As a budding oncologist, my interests have focused on cellular therapies in acute leukemias, particularly the challenge of the highly immunosuppressive and complex tumor microenvironment in high-risk myeloid malignancies,” Crosetti said to The Cancer Letter. “An interesting read I came across this year was by Baghwat and colleagues. Their team looked at anti-CD123 CAR T cells in a small group of AML patients who ultimately relapsed, despite therapy. They explored the role of cytokine mediated resistance of AML, particularly driven by the JAK/STAT pathways that are inherently activated by cytokine release syndrome in CAR T-cell activation. It highlights the complex interplay of cytokines in the healthy bone marrow response and the same pathways hijacked by acute leukemias to maintain survival and proliferation.”

• WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! by RAYE

• So Easy (To Fall in Love), by Olivia Dean

• Oscar Winning Tears., by RAYE

• Click Clack Symphony., by Hans Zimmer and RAYE

As a medical resident at Mass General Hospital, Crosetti says she hasn’t had a lot of time to explore new music. She finds herself returning to some crowd favorites, including a song that The CheckPoints is known to cover by the artist RAYE. 

“Last year, I would say my most listened to song is the melody of the telemetry monitor in the cardiac intensive care unit alarming arrhythmias, or the lullaby of bed alarms on the floors overnight,” Crosetti said. “In those few moments where I can explore new music, I’ve become quite enamored with RAYE, the artist who wrote the very popular song ‘Where is My Husband.’ My original career plan was musical theater, for which I have clearly changed course. Her music touches that inherent love for dramatic, dynamic vocal and instrumental pieces with musical breaks that mirror the overture one might hear in the beginning of a Broadway show. 

“They are great songs for running along the Boston Charles River Esplanade.”

• “Whole-protein screening and multi-modal profiling of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells at single-cell resolution,” published in Nature
• “Immune modulatory vaccines targeting tumor microenvironment antigens: recent advances in oncology and beyond,” published in Nature Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy

It’s a great danceable song, but most importantly, it was therapeutic because of a recent relationship breakup in which I had to show someone the door.

Thomas Gajewski

• “Dual tumour-myeloid targeting of glioblastoma with GPNMB CAR-T cells,” published in Nature

“It was an advance in glioblastoma, but more importantly validated GPNMB on tumor-associated myeloid cells as a therapeutic target,” Gajewski said to The Cancer Letter. “This pathway will be valid in a wide range of difficult to treat cancers.”

• The Door, by Teddy Swims

“It’s a great danceable song, but most importantly, it was therapeutic because of a recent relationship breakup in which I had to show someone the door. I felt validated,” Gajewski said. 

• Best of Vivaldi, a Spotify playlist by Deutsche Grammophon

“In the mornings, when I am sipping Earl Grey tea and doing the NYT puzzles, I’ve been listening to this Spotify playlist. It’s actually amazing and varied music, and calms my mind before the intensity of the day.”

There’s something about his Batiste’s turn of phrase that makes me breathe a little deeper and relax into this genius blend of genre and time periods.

Karen Popkin

• “Beyond Distraction: Music Therapy for Chronic Pain Management in People with Advanced Cancer,” published in Integrative Cancer Therapies

“As a long-time music therapist, who has experienced meaningful shifts in best practice that are growing the field, I found this study not only informative, but also affirming,” Popkin said to The Cancer Letter. 

• Beethoven Blues, by Jon Batiste

“There’s something about his Batiste’s turn of phrase that makes me breathe a little deeper and relax into this genius blend of genre and time periods,” Popkins said. 

• Everybody Scream, by Florence + The Machine

• At Peace, by Ballake Sissoko

• “LUMI-lab: A foundation model-driven autonomous platform enabling discovery of ionizable lipid designs for mRNA delivery,” published in Cell

• “A multiobjective AI model for LNP engineering enhances tissue-selective mRNA delivery,” published in Nature Biotechnology

• “Engineering drug-responsive replication machinery for precise control of self-amplifying RNA,” published in Nature Biomedical Engineering

• Jazz House 2026 by Brass House Collective 

It’s music that, although improvised on the spot, can be re-listened to dozens of times. It can—and I have. It’s an utter pleasure every single time.

Ferran Prat

• Sun Bear Concerts, by Keith Jarrett

“I don’t think saying that ‘Jarrett is the Mozart of the 20th century’ is far off,” Prat said to The Cancer Letter. “Whereas the Köln Concert is Jarrett’s most famous record, the Sun Bear Concerts in Japan may be his most ‘complete’ and deep work. It’s music that, although improvised on the spot, can be re-listened to dozens of times. It can—and I have. It’s an utter pleasure every single time.”

“I read too many papers each week to pick one,” Wolchok said to The Cancer Letter. “I’m an editor for the Journal of Experimental Medicine, so there are just too many to pick from!”

• Tedeschi Trucks Band

“I’m going to hear them with Rachel Humprey in a few weeks,” Wolchok added.