Welcome to JADPRO Live Spotlights!

Poster Roundup: Clinical, Industry Encore, and APSHO Patient Advocacy Poster Review

Lisa H. Christenson, DNP, APRN, CNP, FAPO, of Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, discussed three poster abstracts that caught her eye. In the Industry Encore category, she reviewed “Efficacy and safety of less frequent dosing with elranatamab (ELRA) in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM): a US subgroup analysis from MagnetisMM-3.” This abstract presented an analysis evaluating the efficacy and safety of using less frequent dosing of elranatamab, suggesting its potential as a long-term management strategy that reduces toxicity and treatment burden. (Abstract JL1309EH)

In the APSHO Patient Advocacy category, Dr. Christenson commented on “Social Needs Screening in Oncology: Results from a National Insight-Gathering with Patients.” This abstract summarized the results from a survey of 495 cancer patients regarding their experiences and expectations, revealing a critical need for routine social and financial needs screening in oncology care, noting that nearly half of patients report never being asked about these vital areas toward integrating social need screening into oncology care. (Abstract JL1312P)

The third abstract Dr. Christenson covered was “One Year In: Reviewing a Multidisciplinary Approach to Outpatient Bispecific T-Cell Engager Therapy” from the Clinical category. This abstract reviewed the value of team collaboration and innovative initiatives like QR code bracelets for safety management in community oncology settings to expand treatment access for patients. (Abstract JL1334C)

Navigating Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Evidence-Based Approaches in a Changing Landscape

Patricia Mangan, RN, MSN, APRN-BC, CRNP, of Abramson Cancer Center, discussed how rapidly the treatment landscape for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma is changing, discussing how four bispecific T-cell engagers and two CAR-T cell therapies have provided a game-changing benefit and improved the previously poor prognosis for patients refractory to the three main classes of drugs. This shift in treatment delivery has led to the AP stepping in as a lead for managing potential toxicities and monitoring these immunotherapies, allowing treatments that initially required admission to now be conducted as an outpatient procedure, often in clinics solely run by APs.

Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy (ACI): Managing Multi-Organ Toxicities Associated With Cell Therapies and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors & Poster Roundup

Madeline Merrill, MSN, AGNP-BC, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discussed a pre-conference collaborative session between Society for Immunotherapy in Cancer and APSHO that focused on advances in cancer immunotherapy, covering T-cell engagers, their mechanism of action, and the management of toxicities. She also reviewed an abstract from the Clinical category, “Time to subsequent therapy in patients (pts) with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer (pA/rEC) receiving dostarlimab plus carboplatin-paclitaxel (DOST+CP) compared with pts receiving placebo plus CP (PBO+CP) in the ENGOT-EN6-NSGO/GOG-3031/RUBY trial,” noting that dostarlimab plus chemotherapy showed prolonged and sustained benefits in primary, advanced, and recurrent endometrial cancer. (Abstract JL1347ES) Another Clinical poster she reviewed, “Piloting an Advanced Practice Provider-Led Inpatient Consultation Service for Unintended Hospitalizations in Early Drug Development Clinical Trial Participants,” looked at a 6-month pilot consult program, using APPs via phone for clinical trial patients unexpectedly admitted to the hospital. (Abstract JL1338C)

New Drug Updates: Hematologic Malignancies

Puja R. Patel, PharmD, BCOP, of Northwestern Medicine Delnor Cancer Center, discussed key developments in hematology, including five new drug approvals and six updated indications. Highlights included a bispecific antibody for multiple myeloma, showing a 71% objective response rate, and a tyrosine kinase inhibitor for chronic myeloid leukemia, which achieved a 68% major molecular response in trials. The presentation mentioned an antibody-drug conjugate, Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and a monoclonal antibody, with these drugs reflecting remarkable progress in advancing the standard of care.

New Drug Updates: Solid Tumors

Chaely Medley, MSN, AGNP-C, Novant Health Cancer Institute–Forsyth, discussed cutting-edge solid tumor drug updates, including the TKI avutometinib/defactinib for KRAS-mutated ovarian cancer, and several highly effective new drugs for NSCLC. The presentation featured promising TKIs, such as taletrectinib and zongertinib, and antibody drug conjugate datapotamab-deruxtecan for locally advanced or metastatic pretreated EGFR-mutant NSCLC. These new drugs act as "magic bullets" aimed at sparing patients from typical systemic chemotherapy toxicities. These new options necessitate appropriate paired RNA and DNA testing and careful therapy sequencing. APPs must educate patients regarding novel toxicities, such as stomatitis and ocular issues, and supportive care measures.

Optimizing the Care of Patients With Higher-Risk Myelofibrosis

Tajuana Bradley, MSN, APRN-BC, of Georgia Cancer Specialists, discusses advancements in myelofibrosis management, emphasizing personalized care through risk stratification and shared decision-making. She highlighted the SIMPLIFY 1 and 2 trials, showing momelotinib’s benefits, particularly transfusion independence and anemia treatment, which improve patients’ quality of life. The session stressed tailoring therapies to cytopenias and involving patients in treatment decisions to enhance outcomes. Supportive care and patient education were noted as crucial for managing side effects like diarrhea. 

Panel Discussion: Understanding the Benefits and Pitfalls of Artificial Intelligence in Oncology

Amy Pierre, MSN, ANP-BC, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Flatiron Health, discussed a panel on AI’s role in oncology, emphasizing its applications in improving documentation, patient comprehension, and policymaking through real-world insights. AI integrates text, audio, and visuals but requires critical oversight, transparency in data training, and safeguards to ensure it complements rather than replaces clinical expertise. The discussion highlighted AI’s potential to enhance care while maintaining the essential role of human judgment in oncology. 

Poster Roundup: APSHO Patient Advocacy, Clinical, and Industry Encore Poster Review

Kevin Brigle, PhD, ANP, of Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, discussed three poster abstracts that caught his eye. In the APSHO Patient Advocacy category, he reviewed “Empowering Cancer Patients: The Impact of Bag It Cancer Patient Navigation Bags” about a nonprofit initiative that provides cancer patients with educational toolkits to improve communication with providers, organization, and coping. (Abstract JL1205P)

In the Clinical category, Kevin reviewed “Managing Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance in a Virtual Setting” about a virtual MGUS management pathway that uses nurse navigators and APPs for risk stratification, virtual evaluations, and referrals. (Abstract JL1233C)

The third abstract he reviewed was “Daratumumab + Bortezomib/Lenalidomide/Dexamethasone in Patients With Transplant- ineligible or Transplant-deferred Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: Results of the Phase 3 CEPHEUS Study” from the Industry Encore category. The study found that daratumumab-based quadruplet regimens improve MRD negativity, progression-free survival, and outcomes in myeloma patients. (Abstract JL1206EH)

New Drug Updates: Hematologic Malignancies

Zahra Mahmoudjafari, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, FHOPA, of the University of Kansas Cancer Center, discusses a presentation that highlighted key updates in hematology since Sept. 2023, focusing on motixafortide, imetelstat, denileukin, and axatilimab. The four newly approved drugs are used for transplant, leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome. The presentation also mentioned 11 expanded indications, which spanned follicular lymphoma, CLL, ALL, and multiple myeloma. 

New Drug Updates in Hematologic Malignancies & Establishing a Survivorship Program in a Malignant Hematology and Cellular Therapy Practice

Kirollos S. Hanna, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, FACCC, of Minnesota Oncology and the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, discusses notable FDA approvals and expansions in the BTKi space and antibody drug conjugates, aimed at B-cell cancers, including DLBCL, and the BRUIN study, which looked at the promising use of pirtobrutinib in patients with CLL and SLL. He also reviewed some of the challenges of setting up a survivorship program for patients with hematologic malignancies. He describes the crucial role advanced practice providers can play in determining the optimal timing for survivorship care plans and referral to survivorship care, as well as developing long-term follow-up strategies (Abstract JL1130C).

Improving Outcomes for Patients With Metastatic HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Rose DiMarco, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, discusses a presentation that reviewed practice guideline updates for patients with metastatic HER2-overexpressing breast cancer, the increased clinical relevance of the new “HER2-low” category of HER2 expression, and best practices when monitoring and managing adverse events associated with novel HER2-targeted agents for advanced disease.

New Drug Updates in Hematologic Malignancies, Development of an Advanced Practice Provider-Led Virtual Anemia Consult Clinic, Indirect Treatment Comparison of Momelotinib vs Pacritinib Safety and Anemia Outcomes in Patients With Myelofibrosis

Susan Woodward, MSN, APRN, AOCNP®, of Moffitt Cancer Center, discusses bispecific antibodies that were approved in the past year as well as other drugs for FL, MM, and MF, and the new set of toxicities these agents bring with them. She also reviewed a poster that showed a model developed by APs to expedite the evaluation and management of anemia in patients with cancer, improving health-care access for patients coping with anemia (Abstract JL1112C). Another poster she reviewed compared safety outcomes between momelotinib and fedratinib separately in JAK inhibitor–experienced and JAK inhibitor–naïve patients with myelofibrosis (Abstract JL1109EH).

New Drug Updates in Hematologic Malignancies & Patient Perspectives on Returning to Cancer Care in a PostCOVID Environment

Ann McNeill, RN, NP, MSN, APN, of the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, discusses the advancements in ADC, BTKi, and bispecific antibodies drugs for R/R MM, lymphoma and AML. She also reviews the challenges faced by patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Insights from these patients can help advanced practitioners better understand the hurdles to accessing cancer care in the post-pandemic healthcare environment in which inequalities and vulnerabilities remain (Abstract JL1112P).

Metastatic NSCLC: Advancing Precision-Targeted Treatment

Sarah E. Sagorsky, MPAS, PA-C, of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center on the Bayview campus, discusses a presentation that reviewed new molecular-targeted treatment options for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, related updates to clinical practice guidelines, the implications of biomarker testing, and evidence-based best practices for monitoring and managing adverse events associated with these therapies.

CLL: The Evolving Landscape of Frontline Therapy

Christopher D'Andrea, PA-C, of the Cleveland Clinic, discusses the currently recommended agents for frontline therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the latest trial data, and real-world practice of treatment medications.

Multiple Myeloma: Navigating Treatment Options and Addressing Patient Needs

Amy Pierre, MSN, RN, ANP-BC, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Flatiron Health, discusses a presentation about managing patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma; what to consider in early relapse disease, including the use of triplets in patients with one-to-three prior lines of therapy; and sequencing treatments (bispecifics and CAR-T therapy) in advanced disease.