CANCER BUZZ

Precision medicine is increasingly critical to selecting the right treatment for patients with cancer, but pathology reporting can be lengthy, complex, and confusing—especially in this fast-paced molecular era.

According to Dr. Timothy C. Allen, one key to moving precision medicine forward lies in simplifying and standardizing pathology reports so patients can be better informed, understand their prognosis, and own the progress of their therapies. Hear how ACCC has conducted several analyses, surveys, and focus groups to pinpoint challenges as well as opportunities to improve pathology reports for both patients and providers.

Guest:

Timothy Craig Allen, MD, JD, FCAP

Professor and Chair, Department of Pathology The University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, MI

Related Content:

• Precision Medicine: Integration of Pathology with the Cancer Care Team
• [White Paper] Considerations for Pathology Reporting
• [White Paper] Patient-Centered Care: Reporting and Communicating Pathology and Ancillary Test Results
• Landscape of Pathology: Assess Your Program
• Pathology Survey Key Findings
• Precision Medicine: Transforming Complex to Clear
• CANCER BUZZ TV: Ep 09: Precision Medicine Disparities

Cellular immunotherapy researchers have long been focused on tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). These naturally occurring anti-cancer cells fight—from inside the tumor—against malignant cells. TIL Cell Therapy is currently being evaluated in clinical trials and encouraging study results have been presented and published.

In this episode, hear from two experts in cancer immunotherapy on the exciting potential of TIL Cell Therapy in melanoma and beyond, where cellular immunotherapy fits into the expanding range of cancer immunotherapies, and what community providers need to know.

Guests:

Sigrun Hallmeyer, MD Medical Director, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Cancer Service Line Medical Director, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Cancer Survivorship Program Co-Director, Medical Research, Advocate AuroraHealth Park Ridge, IL

Mark Faries, MD Co-director, Melanoma Program and Head of Surgical Oncology The Angeles Clinic & Research Institute Los Angeles, CA

Related Content:

• ACCC Immuno-Oncology Institute
• What is Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte TIL Therapy?
• Cell Therapy with TILs: Training and Taming T Cells to Fight Cancer
• Clinical Trials Using Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte Therapy
• Cancer immunotherapy update: FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitors and companion diagnostics
• TIL Therapy Explained by Steven Rosenberg, MD, PhD
• Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes show 'dramatic' results in metastatic melanoma
• Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte cell therapy 'potentially viable' option for advanced NSCLC

Oncology social workers are integral members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team, but their services are largely unreimbursed by payers, so cancer programs and practices must fund these positions from their bottom line. This, in turn, makes it challenging to hire additional oncology social work staff.

Hear about two new resources coming from ACCC to help demonstrate the value that oncology social workers play. In "Making the Business Case for Hiring an Oncology Social Worker," evidence-based data will show how oncology social workers help improve the quality of care and the patient experience, provide much needed support to other members of the multidisciplinary cancer team, and reduce costs of care. A new benchmarking survey will help uncover data to determine where psycho-oncology care stands for patients with cancer across the country and serve as a jumping-off point for future research.

Guest:

Krista Nelson, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW ACCC 2021-2022 President Program Manager of Quality & Research, Cancer Support Services & Compassion Providence Cancer Institute Portland, OR

Related Resources:

• Making the Business Case for New Staff
• Comprehensive Cancer Care Survey & Matrix
• [PODCAST] Ep 11: Sustaining Whole-Patient Cancer Care
• Real-World Lessons from COVID-19: Driving Oncology Care Forward
• Oncology Social Work Working Group
• [VIDEO PODCAST] Ep 01: Real-World Lessons from COVID-19
• [MINI-PODCAST] Ep 59: Collaboration and Innovation in the Time of COVID-19
• [MINI-PODCAST] Ep 64: A Summer of Disconnect for Cancer Professionals
• A Social Worker Leads ACCC, and Her Timing is Perfect

Biomarker testing is an important part of precision medicine; however, many commercial health plans and state Medicaid programs lack adequate coverage, which can have life-threatening consequences for patients with cancer who could benefit from biomarker testing.

Some good news: health insurance coverage advocates have seen "wins" in three states in 2021: California, Illinois, and Louisiana. In this episode, we spoke with two healthcare advocates who explore these recent policy changes as it relates to biomarker testing. Tune in to find out what these legislative changes mean for your program or practice—and discover approaches to advise policymakers in your state on biomarker testing.

Guests:

Hilary Gee Goeckner, MSW

Senior State & Local Campaign Manager, Medicaid

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)

Kristen Santiago, MS

Senior Director of Public Policy Initiatives

LUNGevity Foundation

Related Content:

• BiomarkerLIVE Project Overview
• [PODCAST] Ep 37: Financial Barriers to Biomarker Testing
• [VIDEO PODCAST] Ep 09: Precision Medicine Disparities
• [Abstract #123] Identifying barriers to equitable biomarker testing in underserved patients with NSCLC: A mixed-methods study to inform quality improvement opportunities
• [Abstract] A United States study focused on patients' understanding of, attitudes towards, and barriers to the use of biomarker testing for NSCLC
• Advanced NSCLC Biomarker Testing (CME/CMLE on-demand course)
• Current and Future Trends in NSCLC Biomarker Testing: The American Experience
• Biomarkers for Lung Cancer Screening and Detection
• Biomarker Testing for Patients with Advanced NSCLC: Real-World Issues and Tough Choices (ASCO Educational Book)
• Biomarkers in Lung Cancer (first page preview only)

Advances in the application of precision oncology have resulted in an increased demand for genetic counseling services. While the genetic counselor workforce is on the rise, disparities in access are widespread. Certain barriers to genetic counseling—from geography to business challenges— are impacting who can access, and benefit from, genetic counseling services.

In this episode, Dr. Colleen Campbell, University of Iowa Health Care, explains specific policy changes that can help ensure access across diverse patient groups–while also benefiting those hospitals and genetic counselors who provide these services.

This podcast is sponsored by the Iowa Oncology Society.

Guest:

Colleen Campbell, Ph.D., MS, LGC Clinical Assistant Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine;

Director, Genetic Counseling Operations, University of Iowa Health Care;

Assistant Director, Iowa Institute for Human Genetics;

Secretary/Treasurer of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC)

Related Content:

• A Multidisciplinary Consortium to Advance Genetic Counseling in Oncology
• The Need for Increased Access to Genetic Counselors
• Improving Access to Oncology Genetic Counseling
• Eliminating Precision Medicine Disparities Overview
• [Video Podcast] Ep 9: Precision Medicine Disparities
• Transforming Complex to Clear: New Precision Medicine Tools

In this special podcast episode, we talk with oncology social worker and ACCC President Krista Nelson, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW, about finding opportunities to practice gratitude each day for colleagues and patients.

Hear how taking the time to pause and connect during your workday can support your psychological health by reconnecting to the passion behind your job, helping you provide care with intention and compassion, and strengthening your well-being and positive social connections.

Guest:

Krista Nelson, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW ACCC 2021-2022 President Program Manager of Quality & Research, Cancer Support Services & Compassion Providence Cancer Institute

Portland, OR

Related Content:

• Mindfulness Meditation Series
• Real-World Lessons from COVID-19: Driving Oncology Care Forward
• [VIDEO PODCAST] Ep 01: Real-World Lessons from COVID-19
• [MINI-PODCAST] Ep 28: Staff Resiliency During COVID-19
• Trending Now in Cancer Care: Focus on COVID-19's Impact
• [MINI-PODCAST] Ep 59: Collaboration and Innovation in the Time of COVID-19
• [MINI-PODCAST] Ep 64: A Summer of Disconnect for Cancer Professionals
• [MINI-PODCAST] Ep 67: Coping with Pandemic Grief
• A Social Worker Leads ACCC, and Her Timing is Perfect

To support the optimization of care for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), six ACCC Cancer Program Members applied to participate in a process improvement initiative. Hear from Wendi Waugh, Director of Cancer Services, Southern Ohio Medical Center, as she walks us through the design and implementation of their plan, which focused on the need to better understand the causes of potentially preventable emergency department visits among patients with NSCLC who are undergoing active treatment. She'll then share her three tips for cancer programs who may consider a quality improvement approach to reviewing and improving their care processes. Guest:

Wendi Waugh, BS, RT(R)(T), CMD, CTR

Administrative Director of Cancer Services & Community Health and Wellness

Southern Ohio Medical Center

Related Content:

Fostering Excellence in Care and Outcomes in Patients with Stage III and IV NSCLC

National NSCLC Quality Care Initiative

NSCLC Resource Library

6 Steps to Improve Care Coordination for Lung Cancer Patients

[PODCAST] Ep 24: Improving Lung Cancer Care

Biomarker Testing Implementation Roadmap for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Key Takeaways in Biomarker Testing, Patient Safety, Care Coordination, and Clinical Research for NSCLC

Advanced NSCLC Biomarker Testing (CME/CMLE on-demand course)

A New Deal for Cancer: Lessons from a 50 Year War, was published on November 16, 2021 in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the landmark National Cancer Act. Dr. Randall A. Oyer, ACCC Immediate Past President and co-author of Chapter Two, A View from the Ground: The Changing Landscape of Cancer, addresses the complexity and lack of coordination and cooperation among four major care delivery settings, and how this holds us back from reaching our greatest potential in the war against cancer.

Guest:

Randall A. Oyer, MD

Medical Director, Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health

Related Content:

• A New Deal for Cancer: Lessons from a 50 Year War
• ACCC Community Oncology Research Institute
• Health Equity Resources
• [Blog] ACCC Pursues Health Equity Through ACORI
• [Blog] New Legislation Expands Access to Clinical Trials
• [Blog] Cancer Survivors Share Their Stories
• [Blog] Bill to Improve Access to Genetic Counseling Introduced in House and Senate

While the identification of actionable biomarkers is fueling huge advancements in precision medicine and targeted therapies for the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), access to these tests and associated therapies are not consistent throughout the healthcare system and have the potential to worsen existing health disparities.

Hear from two authors of an ACCC/LUNGevity Foundation study that identified key areas of clinician need related to biomarker testing in NSCLC, including increased guideline familiarity, practical applications of guideline-concordant testing, enhancing patient-clinician discussions and education, and access to appropriate clinical trials.

Guests:

Christopher S. Lathan, MD, MS, MPH

Chief Clinical Access and Equity Officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute;

Associate Medical Director, Dana-Farber at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center;

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Nikki Martin

Director of Precision Medicine Initiatives

LUNGevity Foundation

Related Content:

Fostering Excellence in Care and Outcomes in Patients with Stage III and IV NSCLC

[PODCAST] Ep 37: Financial Barriers to Biomarker Testing

[Abstract #123] Identifying barriers to equitable biomarker testing in underserved patients with NSCLC: A mixed-methods study to inform quality improvement opportunities

[Abstract] A United States study focused on patients' understanding of, attitudes towards, and barriers to the use of biomarker testing for NSCLC

Molecular Diagnostics in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Advanced NSCLC Biomarker Testing (CME/CMLE on-demand course)

Current and Future Trends in NSCLC Biomarker Testing: The American Experience

Biomarkers for Lung Cancer Screening and Detection

Biomarker Testing for Patients With Advanced NSCLC: Real-World Issues and Tough Choices (ASCO Educational Book)

Biomarkers in Lung Cancer (first page preview only)

Caring for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) depends on many factors and can vary as much as the patients themselves. As such, shared decision-making—those collaborative conversations between patient and physician that guide the treatment trajectory—are critical to align goals and help determine what's best for each patient.

Due to the challenges COVID-19 presents for immune-compromised individuals, clinicians are having more complex discussions with their patients diagnosed with AML—including how to proceed with the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot.

Guests:

Jonathan Abbas, MD

Director of Acute Leukemia Program

Tennessee Oncology

Ehab Atallah, MD

Professor of Medicine and Section Head of Hematological Malignancies

Medical College of Wisconsin

Catherine Lai, MD, MPH

Director of Leukemia

Georgetown University Medical Center

Related Content

Podcasts:

• • What Comes Next for Telehealth?
• • [PODCAST] Ep 66: CLL, COVID-19, and Why Patient Registries Matter
• • [VIDEO PODCAST] Ep 02: Myeloma Care Strategies & COVID-19
• • [VIDEO PODCAST] Ep 04: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Navigating Uncertainty
• • [PODCAST] Ep 57: COVID-19 Challenges: Managing Patients with CLL

Webinars:

• • Returning to Practice in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Hematology Disease Education
• • The COVID-19 Vaccine for Patients with CLL and Other Cancers
• • Multiple Myeloma Dispensing Models Six-Part Webinar Series
• • Supporting the Patient Journey: A Closer Look at Adult ALL

Publications:

• • MRD Testing Implementation Roadmap
• • Multidisciplinary Multiple Myeloma Care: Models of Quality Improvement Oncol Issues. 2021;36(2):50-61.
• • Multiple Myeloma Dispensing Models: Effective Practices to Improve Patient Care & the Patient Experience
• • Multidisciplinary Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Care: Models of Quality Improvement [Oncology Issues]

This podcast is produced as part of the "Returning to Practice in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Hematology Disease Education" program.

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s)/faculty member(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of their employer(s) or the Association of Community Cancer Centers.