FORT MYERS, Fla. — A best practices program developed at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) has been shown to improve outcomes for adult patients prescribed selinexor for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM).
Results obtained from a one-year retrospective observational study using data collected by FCS’ Real-World Evidence team were recently published in Current Oncology. Co-authors of the study, “Impact of a Best Practices Program in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Receiving Selinexor,” include medical oncologists and hematologists FCS President & Managing Physician Lucio N. Gordan, MD, FCS Manager, Real-World Evidence Amanda Warner, MS, BSN, RN, OCN, CAPM, FCS Senior Vice President & Data Officer Trevor Heritage, PhD, Matthew Fink, MD, FCS Assistant Managing Physician David Wenk, MD, Shachar Peles, MD, FCS Chief Value & Procurement Officer Paul Chadwick, FCS Director of Pharmacy Clinical Services, and Rx To Go Natasha Khrystolubova, RPH, BPharm, BCOP.
Lucio N. Gordan, MD said, “At FCS, we embrace a multifaceted approach to cancer care that engages all members of the clinical and supportive care team in partnership with the patient. He added, “Our findings, as detailed in this article, support the hypothesis that a best practices program designed around specific anticancer drugs can optimize prescribing practices, leading to better disease control and improvements in a patient’s cancer care journey.”
Despite the emergence of several new therapies approved in recent years for the treatment of RRMM, most patients will relapse due to resistant tumor cells that remain in the body. Selinexor is an oral selective nuclear export inhibitor, a class of medications that suppress tumor growth, and sometimes used in combination with other medications and therapies.
The goal of the FCS program was to optimize treatment response and survival utilizing a comprehensive, proactive approach that involved educating providers on Selinexor dosing guidelines and toxicity management, keeping patients adherent and compliant with their therapy and proactively addressing adverse reactions.
An assessment of electronic medical records conducted at the conclusion of the best practice (BP) period encompassed 41 patients who received selinexor-based therapy compared to 68 patients who received selinexor-based therapy pre-BP implementation. The authors concluded, “The implementation of a BP program tailored to selinexor where patients received lower starting doses than those approved by the FDA and in combination with standardized antiemetic therapy reduced the likelihood of treatment failure, increased treatment duration and lowered the incidence of DLTs (dose limiting toxicities).”
Multiple myeloma affects white blood cells in the bone marrow. Cancerous tumors can weaken the body’s immune system, damage bones and lead to end-organ damage. MM is the second most common hematologic malignancy in the U.S. Two thirds of newly diagnosed patients are 65 years or older. There is no cure; the median age at death is 75 years.
The FCS Real-World Evidence team works with internal and external partners providing insights to improve treatment decisions and clinical outcomes based on evidence generated using real-world data.
About the Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) offers patients access to more clinical trials than any private oncology practice in Florida. The majority of new cancer drugs recently approved for use in the U.S. were studied in clinical trials with FCS participation.* Recognized for our research, FCS is a recipient of the national Clinical Trials Participation Award presented by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). FCS physicians, trained in prestigious medical schools and research institutes, are consistently ranked nationally as Top Doctors by U.S. News & World Report.
Celebrating its 40th year in 2024, FCS has built a national reputation for excellence that is reflected in exceptional and compassionate patient care, driven by innovative clinical research, cutting-edge technologies and advanced treatments, including targeted therapies genomic-based treatment and immunotherapy. Our highest values are embodied by our outstanding team of highly trained and dedicated physicians, clinicians and staff.
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