HOPA Now

HOPA Now is the official podcast of the Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy Association, an organization dedicated to supporting pharmacy practitioners and promoting the advancement of Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy to optimize the care of individuals impacted by cancer.

These educational podcasts are part of our BCOP Preparatory and Recertification Course, which is designed to prepare oncology pharmacists preparing to sit for the BCOP Certification Exam, as well as meet the BPS requirement to complete a BCOP Preparatory/Recertification Review Course.

In this episode of HOPA Now, Dr. Lisa Holle discusses genitourinary cancer clinical pearls, including bladder cancer survival benefit options such as split dose treatments, primary treatment options for early and late-stage renal cancers, bone modifying agent recommendations for patients with bone metastases and management for asymptomatic patients.

In this episode you will learn:

Genitourinary Cancers: Top 10 Clinical Pearls

• Bladder cancer survival benefit options, including split-dose treatments
• The relationship between vitamin B12 deficiencies and bladder resections
• The primary treatment of early-stage renal cancer with one exception
• Criteria for the treatment of stage 4 renal cancer
• Bone-modifying agent recommendations for renal cancer
• Management for asymptomatic, early-stage prostate cancer patients
• Relugolix as an ADT option in some prostate cancers
• Considerations for treatment of relapsed or refractory prostate cancer patients
• Dosing of bone-modifying agents used in prostate cancer patients
• Radiation therapy recommendations based on cancer stages
• Preferred chemotherapy for nonseminoma and seminoma
• Bleomycin pulmonary toxicity

Mentioned in This Episode:

HOPA

Quotes:

“In early-stage renal cancer, no established role exists for adjuvant therapy except in patients with stage 3 renal cell cancer of clear cell histology and high risk for relapse.” — Dr. Lisa Holle

“Bone-modifying agents are recommended for renal cell cancer patients with bone metastases.” — Dr. Lisa Holle

“Early-stage prostate cancer patients have a very high rate of 10-year survival.” — Dr. Lisa Holle

HOPA Now is the official podcast of the Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy Association, an organization dedicated to supporting pharmacy practitioners and promoting the advancement of Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy to optimize the care of individuals impacted by cancer.

These educational podcasts are part of our BCOP Preparatory and Recertification Course, which is designed to prepare oncology pharmacists preparing to sit for the BCOP Certification Exam, as well as meet the BPS requirement to complete a BCOP Preparatory/Recertification Review Course.

In this episode of HOPA Now, Dr. Daniel Melzer highlights the top ten clinical pearls regarding various forms and stages of lung cancer and the treatment options for these different disease diagnoses. He also shares chemotherapy treatments and survival rates and other considerations that can help determine future therapy options in various diagnosis situations.

In this episode you will learn:

Lung Cancer Considerations and Treatments

• Stage four non-small cell lung cancer targeted therapy guidelines
• Diagnoses in which treatment must be an immunotherapy plus chemotherapy combination
• Metastatic disease considerations for first- and second-line setting situations
• The importance of histology when determining if a patient needs targeted therapy
• Chemotherapy treatment options and survival rates for stage one, two, and three cancer patients
• How first-line treatment for small cell lung cancer depends on staging
• Timing of relapse considerations to help determine future therapy options

Mentioned in This Episode:

HOPA

Tweetables:

“There is a higher overall rate of survival in patients that receive pembrolizumab in the first-line setting.” — Daniel Melzer

“In stage two and stage three patients, there is a survival benefit in receiving chemotherapy versus observation.” — Daniel Melzer

“First-line treatment for small cell lung cancer depends on staging.” — Daniel Melzer

HOPA Now is the official podcast of the Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy Association, an organization dedicated to supporting pharmacy practitioners and promoting the advancement of Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy to optimize the care of individuals impacted by cancer.

These educational podcasts are part of our BCOP Preparatory and Recertification Course, which is designed to prepare oncology pharmacists preparing to sit for the BCOP Certification Exam, as well as meet the BPS requirement to complete a BCOP Preparatory/Recertification Review Course.

In this episode of HOPA Now, Dr. Allison Baxley covers the high points of the pathology, diagnostic workup, and biology of GI cancers, including colon cancers, exocrine pancreatic cancers, upper GI cancers, gastric cancers, and hepatocellular carcinoma. She covers testing and recommendations, demographics and risk factors, the role of genetics, staging locations, and distinct variations between these various GI cancers.

In this episode, you will learn:

Gastrointestinal Cancers Fundamentals

• The basic pathophysiology and common genetic predisposition of colon cancers
• Recommendations for testing at various stages at colon cancers, including those with metastatic disease
• BRAF testing and recommendations and common patient response
• Considerations for diagnostic workup and staging process that may affect treatment decisions during early-stage disease
• An overview of exocrine pancreatic cancers origination, prognosis, staging decisions and treatment options
• The role of genetics in pancreatic cancers and recommendations for chemotherapy and PARP inhibitors
• Upper GI cancers including esophageal, gastric, and esophagogastric junction cancers and their histologics
• Distinct variations between the geography, demographics and risk factors of adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas in esophageal cancers
• Staging locations and clinical trials for EG junction tumors
• Specific hereditary risk factors for gastric cancer
• A brief overview of hepatocellular carcinoma including demographics, risk factors, and pathologic types

Mentioned in This Episode:

HOPA

Quotes:

“All colon cancer patients should be tested for MSI and MMR status.” — Dr. Allison Baxley

“In patients with early-stage disease, there are several things during the diagnostic workup and staging process that may affect treatment decisions.” — Dr. Allison Baxley

“For gastric cancer specifically, there are several hereditary risk factors that put a patient at higher risk.” — Dr. Allison Baxley

HOPA Now is the official podcast of the Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy Association, an organization dedicated to supporting pharmacy practitioners and promoting the advancement of Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy to optimize the care of individuals impacted by cancer.

These educational podcasts are part of our BCOP Preparatory and Recertification Course, which is designed to prepare oncology pharmacists preparing to sit for the BCOP Certification Exam, as well as meet the BPS requirement to complete a BCOP Preparatory/Recertification Review Course.

In this episode of HOPA Now, Dr. Allison Baxley covers some of the most important clinical topics in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. She covers treatment recommendations and updates for colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, landmark trials in esophageal and gastric cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

In this episode, you will learn:

Gastrointestinal Cancers: Top 10 Clinical Pearls

• A review of the landmark MOSAIC clinical trial and its subsequent recommendations
• An outline of the treatment paradigm of rectal cancer and its chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation treatment options
• Molecular markers that are relevant in metastatic colon cancer and their effect on the choice of biologic agents
• Primary tumor location in metastatic colorectal cancer and its influence on certain biologic agents
• An overview of three landmark studies concerning adjuvant treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients
• The standard first-line options for metastatic treatment of pancreatic cancer
• The unique role of pharmacists in the unique supportive care needs of pancreatic cancer patients
• Landmark trials in esophageal and gastric cancer and drug regimen recommendations
• An overview of recent findings and recommendations regarding hepatocellular carcinoma

Mentioned in This Episode:

HOPA

Quotes:

“This trial showed us that certain stage two patients don’t benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy at all.” — Dr. Allison Baxley

“All patients with metastatic colorectal cancer should be tested for K-Ras, N-Ras, and B-Ras status.” — Dr. Allison Baxley

“It’s clear that colon tumors have different molecular characteristics depending on where they arise.”  — Dr. Allison Baxley

“Nearly all pancreatic cancer patients also require some degree of pancreatic enzyme replacement due to either their disease or surgery.” — Dr. Allison Baxley

HOPA Now is the official podcast of the Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy Association, an organization dedicated to supporting pharmacy practitioners and promoting the advancement of Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy to optimize the care of individuals impacted by cancer.

These educational podcasts are part of our BCOP Preparatory and Recertification Course, which is designed to prepare oncology pharmacists preparing to sit for the BCOP Certification Exam, as well as meet the BPS requirement to complete a BCOP Preparatory/Recertification Review Course.

In this episode of HOPA Now, Dr. Shrina Patel offers an overview of the incessant ovulation theory, biopsy options for diagnosis and treatment, and the progression and timing of HPV to ovarian cancer over time. She also gives an overview of endometrial cancer based on epidemiology, histology, and prognosis, and explains the pathways of serous carcinoma and clear cell carcinoma in the treatment of endometrial cancer.

In this episode, you will learn:

Gynecologic Malignancies Fundamentals

• Defining the incessant ovulation theory as a potential cause of sporadic ovarian cancer
• Understanding how potential mutagenic lesions in DNA are normally encountered and common risk factors of ovarian cancer
• Biopsy options for diagnosis and fine needle aspiration warnings in treatment of ovarian cancer
• The progression and timing of HPV associated lesions to ovarian cancer
• Treatment of and demographics surrounding HPV
• An overview of endometrial cancer classifications based on epidemiology, histology, and prognosis
• The pathways of serous carcinoma and clear cell carcinoma in the treatment of endometrial cancer

Mentioned in This Episode:

HOPA

Quotes:

“The etiology of ovarian cancer is complex and incompletely understood.” — Dr. Shrina Patel

“The progression and timing of HPV associated lesions to ovarian cancer typically happens over ten to twenty years.” — Dr. Shrina Patel

“Type 2 cancers are considered high grade by definition and primarily include serous carcinoma and clear cell carcinoma.” — Dr. Shrina Patel

 HOPA Now is the official podcast of the Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy Association, an organization dedicated to supporting pharmacy practitioners and promoting the advancement of Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy to optimize the care of individuals impacted by cancer.

These educational podcasts are part of our BCOP Preparatory and Recertification Course, which is designed to prepare oncology pharmacists preparing to sit for the BCOP Certification Exam, as well as meet the BPS requirement to complete a BCOP Preparatory/Recertification Review Course.

In this episode of HOPA Now, Dr. Shrina Patel covers dosage recommendations for ovarian cancer patients and the importance of molecular testing in order to provide treatment and maintenance recommendations and highlights the critical role of pharmacists in ensuring adherence to drug recommendations. She also offers an overview of drug treatments based on various inclusions and exceptions, addresses specific patient treatments, and covers radiation and management of varying acute and chronic toxicities.

In this episode, you will learn:

Gynecologic Malignancies: Top 10 Clinical Pearls

• Chemotherapy and dosage recommendations based on different ovarian cancer stages
• The importance of molecular testing for patients in order to provide treatment and maintenance recommendations
• The role of pharmacists in ensuring adherence to oral PARP inhibitors
• How and why the pharmacist needs to define a patient as platinum-resistant, sensitive, or refractory
• Recommended drugs for patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer
• An overview of bone metastases and recommended drugs for proper treatment
• Radiation and management of its associated acute and chronic toxicities
• Hypertension and handling agent limiting bevacizumab treatments
• Inclusions and exceptions to treating patients with pembrolizumab and lenvatinib
• Recommendations for patients with uterine serous carcinoma

Mentioned in This Episode:

HOPA

Quotes:

“There are no randomized data supporting the use of this regimen in patients with stage 2 disease.” — Dr. Shrina Patel

“Oral chemotherapy has revolutionized oncology, yet with great achievements come challenges.” — Dr. Shrina Patel

“Radiation — with or without chemotherapy — is associated with acute and chronic toxicities.” — Dr. Shrina Patel

HOPA Now is the official podcast of the Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy Association, an organization dedicated to supporting pharmacy practitioners and promoting the advancement of Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy to optimize the care of individuals impacted by cancer.

These educational podcasts are part of our BCOP Preparatory and Recertification Course, which is designed to prepare oncology pharmacists preparing to sit for the BCOP Certification Exam, as well as meet the BPS requirement to complete a BCOP Preparatory/Recertification Review Course.

In this episode of HOPA Now, Dr. Christy Harris addresses the main differentiating characteristics of sarcomas from all other cancers, including risk factors and prognosis, focusing mainly on soft tissue sarcomas. She reviews sarcoma identification and considerations, latest breakthroughs and treatments regarding GIST, and offers details for cytotoxic and other targeted treatments.

In this episode, you will learn:

Adult Sarcomas Fundamentals

• Differentiating characteristics of sarcomas from most other cancers
• An overview of the histology and two main categories of sarcomas
• Identification and percentages of various soft tissue sarcomas
• Risk factors and prognosis of soft tissue sarcomas
• Considerations regarding risk factors to remember when reviewing adult sarcomas
• The correlation between presentation and prognosis of sarcomas and their location
• Latest breakthroughs and treatments regarding GIST
• Details for cytotoxic and other targeted chemotherapy treatments

Mentioned in This Episode:

HOPA

Quotes:

“These characteristics described require us to approach this cancer differently than other neoplasms.” — Dr. Christy Harris

“Some sarcomas are technically considered to be benign tumors but have severe comorbidities so must be treated as a malignant tumor.” — Dr. Christy Harris

“Presentation of a sarcoma as well as its prognosis is heavily dependent on where it is located in the body.” — Dr. Christy Harris

HOPA Now is the official podcast of the Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy Association, an organization dedicated to supporting pharmacy practitioners and promoting the advancement of Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy to optimize the care of individuals impacted by cancer.

These educational podcasts are part of our BCOP Preparatory and Recertification Course, which is designed to prepare oncology pharmacists preparing to sit for the BCOP Certification Exam, as well as meet the BPS requirement to complete a BCOP Preparatory/Recertification Review Course.

In this episode of HOPA Now, Dr. Christy Harris addresses the top ten clinical pearls regarding adult sarcomas, including an overview of the approval, dosage, and warnings of various drug treatments including doxorubicin, avipritinib, pexidartinib, and tazemetostat. She concludes with recommendations for regimens and collaborations that will produce optimal results for all clinical trials and patients.

In this episode, you will learn:

Adult Sarcomas: Top 10 Clinical Pearls

• An overview of the origin and main categories of sarcoma cancers
• Doxorubicin as the standard treatment option for sarcoma cancers
• Recommendations for dosage and monitoring of ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy
• Targets as an area of possible therapeutic benefit in various sarcomas
• An overview of the newly recognized gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
• The role, approval, and warnings associated with the new drugs avipritinib and pexidartinib
• Understanding epithelioid sarcomas next new therapy — tazemetostat
• Oral targeted therapies that best demonstrate advancement in the cancer arena

Mentioned in This Episode:

HOPA

Quotes:

“Sarcomas are a large, heterogeneous group of cancers that arise from connective tissues such as bone, skeletal and smooth muscle, adipose tissue and cartilage.” — Dr. Christy Harris

“Doxorubicin remains the standard for treatment for most sarcomas. Other agents may be added to it, but doxorubicin remains the workhorse of the sarcoma world.” — Dr. Christy Harris

“Targets have been identified as possible areas of therapeutic benefit for a number of sarcomas.” — Dr. Christy Harris

“Sarcomas are an uncommon tumor for most clinicians to see, but there is an increasing number of oral targeted therapies for individual tumors that demonstrate some advancement in the cancer arena.” — Dr. Christy Harris

HOPA Now is the official podcast of the Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy Association, an organization dedicated to supporting pharmacy practitioners and promoting the advancement of Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy to optimize the care of individuals impacted by cancer.

These educational podcasts are part of our BCOP Preparatory and Recertification Course, which is designed to prepare oncology pharmacists preparing to sit for the BCOP Certification Exam, as well as meet the BPS requirement to complete a BCOP Preparatory/Recertification Review Course.

In this episode of HOPA Now, Dr. Samantha Reiss discusses the background and pathophysiology of central nervous system malignancies with a focus on malignant brain tumors and high-grade gliomas. This session covers epidemiology, grading and classification, risk factors, and clinical presentation of central nervous system malignancies. She concludes with an overview of workup and diagnosis information and recommendations for further treatment.     

In this episode, you will learn:

Central Nervous System Malignancies Fundamentals

• Data surrounding the epidemiology and characterizations of central nervous system malignancies
• Understanding the WHO classification and grading system through tumor molecular classification
• Genetic alterations including IDH mutations, 1p19q codeletion, and O-6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase
• Risk factors and signs and commonly presented symptoms in CNS malignancies
• An overview of diagnosis, workup, and prognosis information and recommendations for further treatment

Mentioned in This Episode:

HOPA

Quotes:

“Central nervous system malignancies are a heterogeneous mix of neoplasms arising from various cells in the CNS.” — Dr. Samantha Reiss

“Primary brain tumors are classified by their histologic similarities based on their cells of origin and classified by their degree of differentiation.” — Dr. Samantha Reiss

“Genetics are only weakly associated with gliomas and there are few rare hereditary syndromes that are associated with increased risk of glioma.” — Dr. Samantha Reiss

 HOPA Now is the official podcast of the Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy Association, an organization dedicated to supporting pharmacy practitioners and promoting the advancement of Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy to optimize the care of individuals impacted by cancer.

These educational podcasts are part of our BCOP Preparatory and Recertification Course, which is designed to prepare oncology pharmacists preparing to sit for the BCOP Certification Exam, as well as meet the BPS requirement to complete a BCOP Preparatory/Recertification Review Course.

In this episode of HOPA Now, Dr. Samantha Reiss details the standard care for glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain tumors. She highlights main considerations surrounding the use of temozolomide, TTFs, and bevacizumab, and touches on the more controversial topics of treating elderly patients and retreatment care options for recurrent glioblastoma. She concludes with an overview of anaplastic gliomas in patients who harbor the 1P19q codeletion and those who don’t.

In this episode you will learn:

Central Nervous System Malignancies: Top 10 Clinical Pearls

• Standard of care for glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain tumors
• Considerations when determining if temozolomide is an absolute standard of care for patients with MGMT unmethylated tumors
• Supportive care for the upfront treatment of glioblastoma and options for PJP prophylaxis
• The role of the medical device tumor treating fields (TTF) in the upfront treatment of glioblastomas
• Controversial talking points regarding the treatment of glioblastomas in elderly patients
• The role of bevacizumab as a treatment of glioblastoma and toxicities to monitor for
• Recurrent glioblastoma considerations and retreatment care options
• Goals for the treatment of low-grade gliomas and the role of chemotherapy in this setting
• Anaplastic gliomas in patients who harbor the 1P19q codeletion and those who don’t

Mentioned in This Episode:

HOPA

Quotes:

“This trial showed an overall improvement in survival from 12.1 months with radiation alone compared to 14.6 months with radiation plus temozolomide and the survival benefit lasted through the five-year follow-up.” — Dr. Samantha Reiss

“Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting from temozolomide therapy is dose-dependent and standard emetic prophylaxis should be considered for all patients.” — Dr. Samantha Reiss

“The addition of tumor treating fields improved progression free-survival and overall survival in this patient population.” — Dr. Samantha Reiss

“Timing of radiation therapy should be considered to speed the progression and possibility of late neurotoxicity that patients can experience after brain radiation.” — Dr. Samantha Reiss