Cancer Therapy AdvisorReport From ASCO 2023: Centering on the Patient and Focusing on GU Cancers

Unpacking Innovations in Patient-Centric Care for Genitourinary Cancers from ASCO 2023

The 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting was a focal point for innovations and research in genitourinary oncology. The conference presented a variety of studies that emphasized patient-centered care, clinician wellness, and technological advancements, offering a multi-faceted view of current trends and challenges.

Key Points:

• Virtual Prostate Cancer Clinic: Hartford Healthcare’s virtual clinic reported high patient satisfaction and 100% multidisciplinary consultation, compared to 28% in traditional settings.
• Serious Illness Conversations: NIH-sponsored studies found that nudges to both clinicians and patients were more effective in initiating these conversations, although only 14.1% actually had them.
• Choosing Treatment for mRCC: A survey revealed that 69% of patients were unaware of their risk status, highlighting the need for improved communication in treatment selection.
• QoL and PROs: The inclusion of patient-reported outcomes in pivotal trials has increased from 5.5% in 2006 to 31% in 2022, but much improvement is still needed.
• Predicting Bladder Cancer: The HUNT Lung Cancer Risk Model was applied to predict bladder cancer with an AUC of 0.751.
• ADT and Risk of Dementia: Androgen deprivation therapy was associated with a 60% increased risk of dementia, particularly with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists.
• Testicular Cancer Education: Research indicated poor baseline knowledge about testicular cancer and self-examination, suggesting a need for educational interventions.
• Adverse Financial Events: Patients who experienced adverse financial events had a higher risk of mortality, with prostate cancer patients being the most affected.
• Germline Genetic Testing: Despite increasing rates, testing is still low across cancer types and shows racial and ethnic disparities.
• The Man Van in London: This initiative successfully identified medical conditions in high-risk men, including 14 cases of prostate cancer, and facilitated referrals for various health issues.

Additional Points:

• The conference theme was “Partnering with Patients: The Cornerstone of Cancer Care and Research.”
• Clinician burnout and the importance of finding “the joy in oncology” were also discussed.

Conclusion:

• The ASCO 2023 meeting provided a comprehensive overview of current research and innovations in genitourinary oncology. The focus on patient-centered care, clinician wellness, and technological advancements offers actionable insights for healthcare professionals.

Among 1.37 million cancer patients in the study, genetic testing results were found for 6.8%. Use of germline testing was highest among patients with male breast cancer (50%), ovarian cancer (38.6%), female breast cancer (26%), multiple primary cancers (7.5%), endometrial cancer (6.4%), pancreatic cancer (5.6%), colorectal cancer (5.6%), and prostate cancer (1.1%). Over time, genetic testing increased notably for pancreatic cancer, from 1.2% of 2013 diagnoses to 18.6% of 2019 diagnoses.

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