All Precision Medicine ACCCBuzz Articles

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LUNGevity Precision Medicine Summit: Improving Biomarker Testing

Molly Kisiel, MSN, FNP-BC
April 16, 2024

Highlights from a LUNGevity Lung Cancer Precision Medicine Summit that addressed critical issues surrounding biomarker testing in non-small cell lung cancer.

LUNGevity Health Equity Summit: A Focus on Biomarker Testing

April 11, 2024

LUNGevity invited ACCC and other stakeholders across the oncology world to Washington DC, for their second Health Equity Summit on Tuesday, March 12.

The Cost of Biomarker Testing: Moving from Support-based to Sustainable Solutions

December 12, 2023

ACCC, ACS CAN, and LUNGevity, launched a series of focus groups earlier this year aimed at making the case for increasing access to comprehensive genomic profiling for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Importance of Biomarker Testing, Patient Goals and Education When Treating Gastric Cancer

By Nataliya Uboha, MD, PhD
December 06, 2023

ACCC has developed an initiative to support health care providers in applying evidence-based treatment selection for patients with advanced/metastatic gastric cancer. Learn more.

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EHR Integration: The Next Necessary Step for Optimized Cancer Care

November 17, 2023

At the ACCC 40th NOC, an exclusive EHR Working Summit was held to understand and explore effective practices/workaround solutions for streamlined biomarker test ordering and results management.

CAR T-Cell Therapy: A Significant Advance for Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

By Nicole Tapay, JD
November 15, 2023

As CAR T-cell therapies provide new treatment options for patients with certain hematologic malignancies, it is important that more cancer centers and programs deliver them.

#ACCCNOC: Financial Advocacy, Value-Based Care + Biomarker Testing

October 05, 2023

Key takeaways from day 1 of #ACCCNOC.

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Precision Medicine in Rural and Underserved Areas: Unique Solutions for Unique Challenges

September 12, 2023

Through a series of education projects, ACCC is committed to providing the resources the multidisciplinary cancer care team will need to navigate the complex precision medicine landscape and deliver next generation cancer care.

The Road to Comprehensive Biomarker Testing for All

August 31, 2023

In the era of personalized medicine, biomarker testing is a tool the oncology workforce can and should leverage to deliver next generation cancer care.

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The Importance of Detecting NTRK Gene Fusions

August 02, 2023

In the past, patients diagnosed with rare cancer types often faced a bleak prognosis due to limited treatment options. Today, the story is different, as advances in precision medicine and the development of new, targeted therapies continue to permeate the oncology space.

A New Decade for Advancements in Immunotherapy

June 08, 2023

June is Cancer Immunotherapy Month, and ACCC is highlighting the important work that it and its partners are doing to increase patient access to these novel therapies.

Achieving Health Equity in Oncology with Precision Medicine Stewards

April 20, 2023

ACCCBuzz spoke with Luis E. Raez, MD, FACP, FCCP, to learn more about the importance of closing the gap in access to biomarker testing and strategies to improve equity and inclusion in precision medicine.

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ACCC Recognizes Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month

March 21, 2023

March is Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month. Learn more about the work ACCC is doing to support oncology professionals in treating patients with this disease.

Precision Medicine Trends: Stewardship Is on the Rise

March 16, 2023

With the variety of models and titles that have emerged under precision medicine stewardship, learn how one cancer program is breaking down the this complex landscape into streamlined workflows to improve efficiency and better support growing test volumes.

#AMCCBS: Clinical & Operational Updates in Oncology

March 09, 2023

Before opening the ACCC 49th Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit to its membership, ACCC held two pre-conference events on Wednesday, March 8. Learn more about what was discussed among invited speakers during these events.

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Technology & the Ideal Future State of Oncology

March 06, 2023

ACCC President Dr. David R. Penberthy's final Tech Talk featured 4 panelists, who shared their perspectives on how technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the use of big data are currently impacting cancer care delivery, as well as their vision of the ideal future state.

Precision Medicine: Stories from the CRISPR Revolution

January 31, 2023

Dr. Kevin Davies previews his opening keynote at the upcoming Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) 49th Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit (AMCCBS).

Strategies for Implementing ePROs in Cancer Care

January 05, 2023

As the director of Oncology Supportive Services at M Health Fairview, Jeff Kendall Psy D, LP has spearheaded the implementation of an electronic patient-reported outcomes program that will give healthcare providers an unprecedented insight on the symptoms patients may be experiencing.

Subspecialty Insights in Immuno-Oncology: A Closer Look at APPs

By Sarah Sagorsky, MPAS, PA-C
December 27, 2022

The first post in ACCC's "Subspeciality Immuno-Oncology Insights" series—the APP perspective and real-world strategies for tackling current challenges in the delivery of immunotherapies for cancer.

Precision Medicine Stewards: The Next Step in Personalized Medicine

December 15, 2022

ACCC shares how a precision medicine steward—a dedicated navigator focused specifically on biopsy samples and biomarker testing processes and results—can make a daunting biomarker testing process incredibly efficient for cancer programs and practices everywhere.

Manipulating Data to Make Precision Medicine Magic

November 22, 2022

Dr. John Strickler from Duke Cancer Institute sat down with ACCCBuzz to talk about molecular profiling and data, including the cancer institute's own journey in oncology precision medicine.

Rare Cancer and the Cancer Patient Equity Act of 2021

October 25, 2022

Introduced in 2021, the Cancer Patient Equity Act seeks to provide coverage of certain cancer diagnostic and laboratory tests under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and more.

Challenges to Advancing Cancer Risk Identification & Reduction

October 04, 2022

ACCCBuzz shares highlights from the NCCN Policy Summit: Reducing the Cancer Burden through Prevention and Early Detection, highlighting the real impacts felt by patients and providers in cancer risk identification and reduction.

State Legislation Requiring Coverage of Biomarker Testing Gains Momentum

By Matt Devino, MPH
September 30, 2022

State legislation across the U.S. is tackling health insurance coverage for comprehensive biomarker testing. Learn more about what's going on where you live and across the nation.

Multiple Myeloma: Considering First-Line Treatment Options

September 28, 2022

ACCCBuzz spoke with Dr. Dan Vogl to learn more about the treatment options available to patients with multiple myeloma, including the benefits of adding anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies in either first- or second-line treatment.

Quality Improvement in Stages III & IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Care

September 23, 2022

Care optimization is everything in today’s rapidly changing healthcare landscape. Learn how ACCC's nationwide quality improvement (QI) initiative helped Southern Ohio Medical Center Cancer Center develop and implement plans to support the optimization of care for patients diagnosed with Stages III and IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Converging Goals: Public Health & the Cancer Moonshot Initiative

September 22, 2022

On September 16, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network convened experts and stakeholders in D.C. for a policy summit spotlighting today’s cancer screening and prevention landscape. Learn what speakers discussed, including what changes need to happen to create an equitable future for all people at risk—or not—for cancer.

Expanding Access to Bispecific Antibodies in Community Cancer Care

August 03, 2022

Learn how ACCC's bispecific antibody initiative “Best Practices in Expanding Access to Bispecific Antibodies and Adverse Event Management”—developed in partnership with the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer—will help expand the use of these novel therapies and optimize care for patients with cancer.

ACCC Commemorates World Lung Cancer Day—10 Years Strong

August 01, 2022

Communities around the globe recognize August 1 as World Lung Cancer Day—a day to commemorate, educate, and support individuals and families impacted by lung cancer. Read highlights on a few ACCC initiatives that are helping cancer care teams better support their patients with this disease.

Rapid Access Diagnostic Clinic Expedites Cancer Treatment

July 19, 2022

To fill a care gap, The James Cancer Hospital opened a new set of front doors to its facility—The James Cancer Diagnostic Center—to ensure all patients with a concern for cancer could be quickly evaluated, even if they didn’t have a confirmed diagnosis.

MRD Testing in Multiple Myeloma

By Eva Pan, PharmD, BCOP
July 05, 2022

Measurable residual disease (MRD) has gained traction as a compelling marker for disease status across various hematologic malignancies, including multiple myeloma. Learn how MRD is uniquely suited to help evaluate the depth of treatment response.

MRD Testing in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

By Eva Pan, PharmD, BCOP
June 29, 2022

With data already demonstrating the role of MRD for CLL response assessment and prognosis, cancer programs should prepare themselves for implementation of MRD testing for appropriate patients.

2022 ACCC Hill Day: Members Meet with Congress

June 24, 2022

Advocating on behalf of their patients and programs, ACCC members from 14 states participated in Virtual Hill Day, speaking with Congress and their staff on key legislation asks regarding access to care, telehealth, prior authorizations, and more.

ACCC Tools for Immuno-Oncology Survivorship Care

June 03, 2022

In recognizing Cancer Immunotherapy Month and National Cancer Survivors Day (June 5), ACCC is highlighting the resources it has created to assist the multidisciplinary team in creating and adapting survivorship care plans to meet these patients’ unique needs and support toxicity management for better outcomes.

The Promise of MRD Testing in Hematologic Malignancies

May 05, 2022

Testing for measurable residual disease can shape treatment choices and patient management to achieve better outcomes, and the need persists for members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team to better understand the purpose, use, and significance of this testing in all cancer treatment settings.

Act Locally: No One Is Left Alone

April 20, 2022

Carolina Blood and Cancer Care Associate's No One Left Alone (or NOLA) initiative is a multi-phase pilot program aimed at lessening disparities in cancer care in three key areas: care access, biomarker testing, and clinical trials.

Must-Listen Podcasts on Precision Medicine

December 13, 2021

While precision medicine in cancer care is becoming more widespread, its rapid evolution in oncology requires ongoing discussion. ACCC’s podcast, CANCER BUZZ, features lively expert discussions about emergent issues in cancer care. Here we highlight some of those podcasts.

ACCC’s Precision Medicine Tools Help Guide Survivorship Care

December 02, 2021

Cancer has become the focus of some of the most promising precision medicine applications available today. The evolution of immunotherapy treatment for patients with cancer has given rise to a new class of cancer survivors whose novel experiences with these treatments require new tools and resources.

Transforming Complex to Clear: New Precision Medicine Tools

November 09, 2021

ACCC has launched Transforming Complex to Clear—a precision medicine campaign that has developed a range of tools and resources to help bring clarity to complex patient care decisions. Designed for multidisciplinary cancer teams, learn more about how these resources can enable clinicians to make educated and confident decisions.

ACCC Launches Precision Medicine Campaign

November 04, 2021

In launching its new campaign, "Transforming Complex To Clear," ACCC brought together expert panelists to discuss effective practices and offer tips to address current barriers to biomarker testing in the community setting.

Barriers to Liquid Biopsy

October 14, 2021

Liquid biopsy, a genetic test that can eliminate some of the most serious potential drawbacks of traditional tissue biopsy, is gaining more traction in cancer care. But there remain significant barriers to its widespread use.

New Legislation Expands Access to Clinical Trials

By Matt Devino, MPH
July 14, 2021

Beginning January 2022, CMS will be required to cover for Medicaid patients the routine costs associated with participating in clinical trials. Learn what states and provider organizations can do to leverage this mandate to address barriers to care in the community and reduce inequities in clinical trial participation.

ACCC Recognizes Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month With RFP

March 24, 2021

To help address the ongoing prevalence of colorectal cancer, ACCC is inviting its members to submit proposals for quality improvement initiatives in treating metastatic forms of this cancer.

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Improving Access to Clinical Trials for Rural Populations

March 08, 2021

Montana is one of the most rural states in the U.S., with nearly half of its population living in rural regions. Accordingly, accessing healthcare services can be difficult for Montana’s citizens, and gaining access to clinical trials is particularly challenging.

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Oncology Research in Community: Leveraging the Role of Pharmacist

January 12, 2021

In the final installment of ACCC’s webinar series honoring American Pharmacists Month, experts discussed the integral role pharmacists play in supporting clinical trial research in the community setting, and they identified opportunities for extending the pharmacist role in an increasingly complex research landscape.

The Best (and Worst) of 2020

December 30, 2020

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Moving Immunotherapy Patients Into Survivorship: A Conversation

December 11, 2020

Recent advances in immuno-oncology (IO) therapies have led to rapid, effective treatments for subsets of patients with cancers that have proven resistant to conventional treatments.

Fostering Excellence in Care and Outcomes for Patients with Stage III and IV NSCLC

November 13, 2020

Growing knowledge of NSCLC subtypes and molecular biomarkers for this disease has led to changes in how NSCLC is diagnosed and staged.

June Is Cancer Immunotherapy Month

June 25, 2020

In recognition of Cancer Immunotherapy Month, ACCCBuzz talked to Sigrun Hallmeyer, MD, the chair of the ACCC Immuno-Oncology Institute’s Executive Committee.