The rapidly evolving landscape of cancer treatment data is creating unprecedented challenges for oncologists trying to deliver optimal patient care, according to leading healthcare executives at the Patient-Centered Oncology Care® meeting.
Dr. Davey B. Daniel, Chief Medical Officer of OneOncology, described experiencing a "panicky feeling" during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting while processing the volume of new clinical updates. "With all the practice-changing data coming out at major conferences, it's getting harder for physicians to keep up and practice medicine," he noted.
Challenges in Clinical Decision-Making
Dr. Stephen "Fred" Divers, CMO of American Oncology Network, emphasized that the depth and breadth of knowledge required for practicing oncologists has become "insurmountable." With typical patient consultations lasting only 15-20 minutes, physicians face significant pressure to integrate complex data into their clinical decision-making process.
"If you can't get the data to the hands of people making a decision at the point of care, then you're not doing the job," Divers stressed. He highlighted the particular challenges in precision medicine, where clinicians must interpret various molecular findings and determine their clinical relevance.
Navigating Complex Treatment Decisions
The executives discussed several specific challenges in contemporary oncology practice, including:
- Determining when early clinical trial data becomes actionable
- Interpreting various HER2 expression levels across different cancers
- Managing minimal residual disease (MRD) findings
- Integrating precision medicine test results into treatment plans
The Role of Real-World Evidence
Real-world evidence is emerging as a crucial tool for filling knowledge gaps where clinical trials aren't feasible. "Real-world evidence might get us to a place where patient data is continuously being curated and updated for physicians to learn from," Divers explained.
Interoperability and Data Integration
Despite a decade of health information exchanges, interoperability remains a significant hurdle. Both CMOs emphasized the need for better connectivity between healthcare systems and improved data sharing capabilities.
"Figuring out how we create interoperability of all precision tests to follow a patient through their journey is key," noted Divers. The executives agreed that while significant work remains to be done, these efforts are crucial for improving patient outcomes in oncology care.
