Combination therapy is a treatment modality that combines two or more drugs, and it has become a cornerstone of cancer treatment. Combination regimens can decrease the risk of a tumor becoming drug-resistant, increase the chances of eliminating cancers by targeting several cancer growth processes simultaneously, and, in some cases, improve survival. But despite these benefits, combination therapies are not without risks, particularly when they incorporate both IV and oral therapies.
The risks associated with combination regimens include the potential for additional side effects, the difficulty of determining which medication is responsible for them, and the challenge of ensuring accurate patient adherence to often-complex medication schedules. Because oral medications are taken at home, care team members have less control over patient adherence to prescribed regimens.
To better help community cancer centers help their patients adhere to combined IV and oral therapy treatment regimens, this project highlights effective practices that address: coordination of care; the management of adverse events and side effects; and patient and provider education about treatment adherence, persistence, and compliance. To achieve this, ACCC has engaged a multidisciplinary panel of experts to serve on a project advisory committee. In it's capacity, this project has conducted patient and provider surveys and interviews, and held two focus groups that addressed education about potential adverse events and the psychosocial impact of combination therapy regimens. In so doing, this initiative gathered information about the complexities of managing patients with cancer on IV/oral combination treatments in the community setting and profile effective practices that address those challenges.
For more information on this projects outcomes, please contact the ACCC Provider Education department.
Combination therapy can be used to treat many types of cancers. However, once combined [intravenous (IV) and oral agents] can cause overlapping toxicities and challenges in treatment of patients. To further examine issues surrounding combination therapy, the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) conducted a mixed-methods study titled, “Oncologic Intravenous and Oral Combination Regimens: Strategies for Care Coordination."
Study aims were to evaluate barriers when patients are treated with IV/oral combination regimens and identify effective practices around care coordination and the management of treatment-related adverse events (AEs).
Study highlights include identifying challenges and key opportunities in managing patients treated with combination IV and oral therapy and provides insights on effective practices clinicians may utilize as they communicate with patients, deliver education, and manage side effects.