BACKGROUND: Oncologists treating patients with targeted therapies encounter adverse events (AEs) that pose management challenges, lead to dosing inconsistencies, and impact patient quality of life.
Oncologists' practices and attitudes in the management of targeted therapy-related AEs in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are poorly understood. We sought to identify unmet needs associated with AE management and understand oncologists' treatment optimization strategies.
METHODS: A 24-item online survey was administered in August 2012 to 119 US oncologists treating patients with advanced RCC. The survey solicited responses regarding demographics, practice settings, AE management practice patterns and beliefs, treatment barriers, and patient education.
RESULTS: Respondents indicated that between 25% and 50% of patients require dose modification/discontinuation because of AEs. The greatest barrier to optimizing treatment for RCC is the unpredictability of patient responses to treatment (43%). Most respondents (78%) discuss AE management with patients, but only a minority of them proactively reach out to patients (46%). Most practitioners (70%) refer patients to nononcology specialists when faced with unfamiliar AEs, although finding interested physicians (43%) and time constraints (40%) were the most commonly cited barriers to consulting with other specialties.
CONCLUSION: Results suggest that many patients require dose modification/discontinuation because of AEs and that nononcologists are a frequently utilized resource to manage these events. There is a need for predictive drug toxicity markers to establish counseling and prevention, along with opportunities for increased education on supportive care techniques to maintain health-related quality of life and consistent dosing.
Written by:
Ruiz JN, Belum VR, Creel P, Cohn A, Ewer M, Lacouture ME. Are you the author?
Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA; Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, Denver, CO; MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Reference: Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2014 Oct;12(5):341-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.clgc.2014.04.001
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25035283