New Study from AccessHope Affirms Cancer Subspecialist Reviews Improve Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Paths

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Oct 24, 2023, 09:00 ET

AccessHope oncology subspecialists provided recommendations anticipated to improve pancreatic cancer outcomes in 94% of cases studied
Only 59% of cases had completed or initiated germline testing, which is universally recommended for patients with pancreatic cancer
A lack of supportive and palliative services was seen in 80% of cases studied

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AccessHope, LLC, a company changing the way leading-edge cancer expertise is delivered, today announced the publication of a new study in Journal of Personalized Medicine that explores how oncology subspecialist reviews of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (pancreatic cancer) cases can identify care gaps and provide recommendations intended to improve treatment outcomes.

"Pancreatic cancer carries a high mortality rate despite its relatively low prevalence, indicating a clear opportunity to better identify and address care gaps to ensure a comprehensive care approach and improve patient outcomes," said Dr. Afsaneh Barzi, lead investigator, vice president of Value and Strategy, and medical director for GI Oncology at AccessHope; medical director, employer strategy, and associate professor in the Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research at City of Hope. "Our new study confirms that AccessHope's collaboration with NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers can offer expertise designed to optimize care delivery in the majority of pancreatic cancer cases and, if adopted by treating physicians, could result in personalized treatments that align with guideline-concordant recommendations to support patient well-being and potentially decrease mortality rates."

Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer mortality in the U.S. but accounts for just 3% of cancer cases. Approximately 80-90% of patients with pancreatic cancer have unresectable tumors, meaning surgery is not a viable treatment option. Determining the correct stage of disease at diagnosis and ensuring timely and coordinated multidisciplinary care is critical to attaining optimal outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer.

The study on AccessHope's collaboration with NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers evaluated data from 94 pancreatic cancer cases between August 2019 and December 2022. The study revealed:

Guideline-concordant recommendations anticipated to improve outcomes in 94% of cases
Disagreement with current care approaches in 19% of cases, which included reasons like a lack of multidisciplinary evaluation prior to initiating treatment
Recommended enhancements to existing care plans in 75% of cases, most frequently recommending germline testing, somatic testing or the integration of supportive care services
Suggested care delivery alterations to improve cancer directed therapy (75%) and member well-being (32%), and benefit the family due to germline testing (37%)

The study was led by Dr. Afsaneh Barzi with contributions from additional AccessHope colleagues and experts from City of Hope and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Access the full paper on Journal of Personalized Medicine at: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/13/9/1377

About AccessHope
AccessHope, LLC, believes in putting the ever-growing body of cancer knowledge to work for the greater good. The company delivers a revolutionary cancer benefit that is changing the way leading-edge expertise is delivered. Through collaborations with City of Hope, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Emory Healthcare and Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Northwestern Medicine and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, AccessHope shares the latest discoveries in cancer care with employees' plans and local oncologists to help as they develop precise plans for treatment. The company brings the vast expertise of major medical centers to benefit people near and far. They never have to switch doctors. They never have to leave home. It's simply a better approach to cancer. And getting better every day. A subsidiary of City of Hope, a world-renowned independent cancer research and treatment organization, AccessHope offers the benefit to approximately 5 million members through more than 140 employers, including over 35 Fortune 500 companies. For more information about AccessHope, visit myaccesshope.org and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.