Presented at the 63rd ASH Annual Meeting, December 11-14, 2021, in Atlanta, GA.
Limaya Atembina , MSW 1 Leigh Boehmer, PharmD, BCOP 1, Kelly Terrell, MBA, BSN, RN, BMTCN 2, Rima Koka, MD, PhD 3, Murali Janakiram, MD, MS 4, Axel Grothey, MD 5, Amy L. Morris, PharmD6, Srinivas Devarakonda, MD 7, Barbara Rogers, CRNP, MN, AOCN, ANP BC8, Ronan J. Kelly, MD, MBA 9, Jesus G. Berdeja, MD 10, Firas El Chaer, MD 6
Association of Community Cancer Centers1,Barnes Jewish Hospital 2, University of Maryland Medical Center 3, City of Hope 4, West Cancer Center & Research Institute 5, University of Virginia Health System 6, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center 7, Fox Chase Cancer Center 8, Baylor University Medical Center 9, Sarah Cannon Research Institute Tennessee Oncology 10
Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) are an emerging class of novel immunotherapy agents that have led to majorakthroughs in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. By targeting two separate antigens at the same time, BsAbs candge tumor cells to cytotoxic immune cells and bypass several limitations of conventional monoclonal antibody treatment (Fan et al., 2015).
In 2020, the Association of Community Cancer Centers ( launched an ongoing education program to identify and address barriers to awareness, preparedness, adoption, and use of BsAbs to treat cancer. As part of this program, ACCC developed a survey with an expert Advisory Committee to gain an understanding of multidisciplinary cancer providers’ experiences with BsAbs The survey primarily assessed experiences with blinatumomab, the first FDA approved bispecific antibody for the treatment of malignancy (Newman Benani , 2016).
ACCC built the survey using Qualtrics online survey software and administered it via an eblast to ACCC members, specifically targeting oncologists, advanced practice providers, nurses, and pharmacists.
Using blinatumomab as an example, this survey highlighted challenges to the use of BsAbs and identified opportunities to overcome these obstacles. Translation of best practices for use in the community must be established to reach all eligible patients with cancer who may benefit from these therapies. With this survey data, ACCC is positioned to offer this support. Through its education program, ACCC will build on the survey results to develop content and resources that prepare multidisciplinary providers to welcome BsAbs into the community to treat cancer.
