Pharmacist-Led Video Consultation to Identify and Mitigate Drug Interactions Among Patients Initiating Oral Anticancer Drugs.

Purpose: The past decade has seen an increase in oral anticancer drug (OACD) approvals. Polypharmacy and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) likely contribute to OACD toxicity. We assessed a one-time pharmacist-led video consultation to identify DDIs.

Association Between Copayment Assistance, Insurance Type, Prior Authorization, and Time to Receipt of Oral Anticancer Drugs.

Purpose: Oral anticancer drugs (OACDs) have become increasingly prevalent over the past decade. OACD prescriptions require coordination between payers and providers, which can delay drug receipt. We examined the association between insurance type, pursuit of copayment assistance, pursuit of prior authorization (PA), and time to receipt (TTR) for new OACD prescriptions.

Researcher Experience and Comfort With Telemedicine and Remote Patient Monitoring in Cancer Treatment Trials.

Background: Since the onset of COVID-19, oncology practices across the US have integrated telemedicine (TM) and remote patient monitoring (RPM) into routine care and clinical trials. The extent of provider experience and comfort with TM/RPM in treatment trials, however, is unknown. We surveyed oncology researchers to assess experience and comfort with TM/RPM.

Impact of a Hospital-Based Specialty Pharmacy in Partnership With a Care Coordination Organization on Time to Delivery and Receipt of Oral Anticancer Drugs.

Purpose: Oral anticancer drug (OACD) prescriptions require extensive coordination between providers and payers, which can delay drug receipt. Specialty pharmacies facilitate communication between multiple entities. In 2018, our cancer center partnered with a freestanding organization to implement a hospital-based specialty pharmacy (HB-SP).

Factors Associated With Patients Not Receiving Oral Anticancer Drugs.

Importance: Oral anticancer drugs (OACDs) are increasingly prescribed for cancer treatment and require significant coordination of care. Retrospective studies suggest that 10% to 20% of OACD prescriptions are never received by the patients, but the reasons behind this are poorly understood.

Objectives: To estimate the rate of failure to receive OACD prescriptions among patients with cancer and to examine the underlying reasons for this failure.

Performance status and end-of-life care among adults with non-small cell lung cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Adults with impaired performance status (PS) often receive immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) despite limited efficacy data and unknown effects on end-of-life care.

Methods: This was a retrospective, single-site study of 237 patients with advanced NSCLC who initiated ICI treatment from 2015 to 2017. Cox regression was used to compare the overall survival (OS) of patients who had impaired PS (≥2) at the start of ICI treatment with those who had PS 0 or 1 using Cox regression.

Impact of Age on Outcomes with Immunotherapy in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Introduction: Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of NSCLC, but little is known about the activity of programmed cell death 1 and programmed death ligand 1 blockade across age groups.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with NSCLC who initiated programmed cell death 1 and programmed death ligand 1 inhibitors from January 2013 through July 2017. Medical records and radiographic imaging were reviewed to determine progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).