Samantha Hitchcock

Articles by Samantha Hitchcock

With 2 CAR T-cell therapies now approved and more moving quickly through early-phase clinical trials, 4 healthcare experts reflected on the evolving field of CAR T-cell therapy, their understanding of its current and future applicability for patients, the process for administration and the challenges and obstacles that remain unaddressed during an Association of Community Cancer Centers interactive panel.<br /> &nbsp;

Axel Grothey, MD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with colon cancer. Grothey, a medical oncologist at the West Cancer Center, explained how he would treat these patients based on case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives presentation.

H. Jack West, MD, recently discussed the treatment options and considerations he makes when treating patients with stage III and IV non&ndash;small cell lung cancer. West, medical director of the Thoracic Oncology Program, Swedish Cancer Institute, explained the nuances that go into his treatment decisions when discussing 2 case scenarios during a&nbsp;<em>Targeted Oncology&nbsp;</em>live case-based peer perspective presentation.

Although the Oncology Care Model has policy goals of improving care quality and reducing costs, data operationalization has proven to be more complex and confusing than anticipated since its debut in 2015 from the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services.&nbsp;Despite these challenges, many OCM-participating practices have been successful and reap the benefit of value-based care.

During a presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research&rsquo;s inaugural Advances in Malignant Lymphoma meeting, Mehta-Shah, associate professor in the Department of Medicine with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, presented preliminary data showing how new pathway-dependent strategies using novel agent combinations may represent a new way to treat patients with T-cell lymphomas.

Timothy M. Kuzel, MD, recently spoke on the treatment decisions and consideration he makes when treating patients with renal cell carcinoma. Kuzel, chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology, deputy director of Rush Cancer Center, Rush University Medical Center, explained his treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology </em>live case-based peer perspectives presentation.

Kartik Konduri, MD, recently spoke on the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with non&ndash;small cell lung cancer. Konduri, medical director of the Chest Cancer Research and Treatment Center, Baylor University Medical Center, explained his treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives presentation.

The majority of community oncology practitioners test less than half of patients with early or metastatic breast cancer for germline BRCA1/2 mutations, according to the results of a recent survey by the Association of Community Cancer Centers.&nbsp;Further findings from the survey suggest that this could be due to issues with identifying patients would should be offered BRCA testing, patient concerns, and a lack of access to testing and genetic counseling.

While the approval of new agents represents a great step forward in the treatment of&nbsp;chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), physicians are now challenged with how to best utilize these new treatment options,&nbsp;according to a presentation by Anthony Mato, MD, MSCE, at the 2nd Annual Live Medical Crossfire: Hematologic Malignancies.

Rami S. Komrokji, MD, recently discussed the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Komrokji, professor of oncologic sciences, University of South Florida, and vice chair of the Department of Hematologic Malignancies, Moffitt Cancer Center, explained his treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives presentation.