Verastem Oncology’s Post

Prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers rank among the top ten newly diagnosed cancers, yet clinical trials for these diseases often lack adequate representation. How does this affect patient care, and what can we do about it? Join us in exploring the critical gaps in GU cancer clinical trials, from race and ethnicity to age and sex. Addressing these gaps is crucial for ensuring that clinical trial results are generalizable and beneficial to all patients. Without adequate representation, we miss critical insights into how different demographic groups respond to treatments, potentially compromising the effectiveness and safety of therapies across the board. Explore the path to more inclusive trials and better patient outcomes: https://ow.ly/T67A50SK5Hp #Oncology #GenitourinaryCancer #CancerResearch #HealthEquity #PatientCare

A recent article in Healthcare Business Today, authored by our CEO, Dr. Raghav Murali-Ganesh. Value-Based Care is a widely used term in the healthcare industry, so lets unpack the practical application in oncology. What are the different levers, and when should they be employed? In this article Raghav describes the landscape of oncology and healthcare from both the perspective of an oncologist and as the CEO/Co-Founder of Osara Health. #valuebasedcare #oncology #behaviorchange

How can we bridge the gap in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance for patients with cirrhosis? Dr. Robert Wong’s recent study reveals key barriers, including gaps in clinician knowledge, particularly among primary care providers, about cirrhosis diagnosis and cancer screening guidelines. With less than 30% of patients receiving regular screening, this issue is critical. The discussion emphasizes the need for better education and support to address these gaps and improve outcomes for high-risk patients. Explore more about the study’s findings and how they could impact clinical practice: https://ow.ly/EeCr50ThpUT #OncologyEducation #LiverCancer #HCCSurveillance #CancerScreening #MedicalEducation

future of CRC screening is here!!

5 Key Takeaways from a New Study on Patient Perspectives in Clinical Trials - Patients are more likely to participate in trials if they trust their doctor and if the trial is convenient. - The consent process should be clear and concise. - More trials need to be conducted in community settings, where the majority of patients receive their care. - Collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and community stakeholders is essential to overcome the challenges and maximize the potential of community-based trials. - The call to action: Clinical trials are essential for advancing medical knowledge and developing new treatments, but they cannot succeed without the participation of patients. This study underscores the importance of making clinical trials more accessible and appealing to patients in community settings. By addressing their concerns, providing convenient options, and fostering collaboration, we can unlock the full potential of community-based research and accelerate progress in healthcare. What are your thoughts on this topic? Share your experiences or questions in the comments below! #clinicaltrials #clinicalresearch #healthcare #cancer #communityhealth #patientaccess

This latest publication based on our work with the medical oncology team at the Ottawa Hospital examines the measurement of the severity of hot flashes in women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Hot flashes can reduce the quality of life and are related with treatment discontinuation. One of the key points in this work was the measurement of change. Usually the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is used to determine if a change is big enough. For example, when evaluating interventions that can help with hot flashes, a change of two points on a standardized hot-flashes-severity scale is considered clinically meaningful. However, we know from the measurement of pain that whether a change is meaningful for a patient depends on the baseline (for example, whether the baseline pain was low or high). We therefore developed a scoring scheme for a standardized hot flashes measure examining the impact of the baseline on the meaningfulness of a change from the patient's perspective. It turns out that change is most meaningful at high baselines (i.e., when the severity of hot flashes is already high at baseline). So at high severity baselines an improvement or deterioration has a larger impact on the patients' perceptions. When the severity baseline is low the patients do not perceive changes (up or down) as being very meaningful. This means that future studies evaluating interventions they should focus on recruiting patients with high severity at baseline rather than try to cover the full distribution of hot flashes severity. The study then used that change score to evaluate a number of different interventions in a cohort study.

85% of US adult cancer patients are treated in community settings, with over 900,000 patients treated each year, a testament to the accessibility and impact of community oncology. Community oncology or privately owned oncology clinics prioritize local, affordable care that lessens the burden of cancer by keeping patients close to their support networks. Recently, Applied Clinical Trials published an overview of patient perceptions of cancer clinical trials and the consent process among those who are currently enrolled in, or who recently completed, a cancer clinical trial at a community oncology center in Canton, Ohio. Check out the surprising insights they share about motivation to enroll, travel, concerns, and consent in the full article. They reinforce the benefits of the community setting. #clinicaltrials #clinicalresearch https://lnkd.in/e32fYzBG

Enhancing Multidisciplinary Team Processes in Lung Cancer Care is crucial for providing the best possible care for patients. Our latest article highlights the importance of Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) and outlines the steps involved in the MDT meeting process. This article also sheds light on the challenges faced by MDTs and proposes a self-assessment toolkit to help hospitals improve their MDT processes. Key takeaways from the article include the composition of an optimal MDT, the steps involved in the MDT meeting process, and the challenges faced by MDTs. Read the full article to learn more about how MDTs can improve lung cancer care and why value-based partnerships are crucial. Don't miss out on this valuable information! #lungcancer #MDT #healthcare #cancercare #CollectiveIntelligence #highvaluecare #carepathway #ValueBasedPartnerships #CommunityofPractice

Meet Terri Conneran, a lung cancer survivor who turned her fight into a force for global patient empowerment through KRAS Kickers. Despite facing the immense challenges of lung cancer, Terri’s story is one of resilience, innovation and the power of community support. Terri's experience with her diagnosis highlights the importance of genetic testing, targeted therapies and the crucial role of mental health care in the oncology landscape. Her initiative, KRAS Kickers, is a testament to how knowledge, research and advocacy can significantly impact survivorship. It underscores the importance of empowering patients to be active participants in their treatment decisions, bridging the gap between medical science and those it aims to serve. Read about Terri Conneran's journey of resilience and #empowerment in the battle against lung cancer in our latest issue of Oncology Compass Digest. #Oncology #LungCancer #Patient #OncologyCompass

Why do cancer patients need "open and honest communication about prognosis" if we have very advanced metastatic solid tumours? So we can participate fully in decisions about the last period of our lives "Question:  Is oncologic treatment of very advanced disease associated with improved survival? "Findings:  In this cohort study of 78 446 adult patients from a nationwide database of patients with 6 common metastatic solid tumors, there was no statistically significant survival benefit for patients treated at practices that used more systemic therapy for very advanced cancer compared with patients treated at practices that used less. "Meaning:  In seeing no improvements in survival among practices with highest rates of treatment for very advanced disease, oncologists may hesitate before offering additional therapy and focus on open and honest communication about prognosis, allowing patients to make informed decisions. "Conclusions and Relevance:  In this cohort study, patients with metastatic or advanced cancer treated at practices with higher NQF 0210 rates did not have improved survival. Future efforts should focus on helping oncologists identify when additional therapy is futile, developing goals of care communication skills, and aligning payment incentives with improved end-of-life care." #cancer #palliativecare #endoflife #patientcommunication