Incorporating Molecular Testing to Support Personalized Cancer Care
Although this series is no longer available for credit, we invite you to explore the educational resources created for each activity to continue advancing awareness and education around molecular testing in cancer care. We hope these resources provide valuable insight and help your team and other healthcare professionals continue to incorporate molecular testing into clinical practice.
Molecular testing is a foundational element of personalized medicine. Understanding and overcoming challenges in implementing best practice guidelines for molecular testing supported better diagnosis and guided treatment decisions. “Incorporating Molecular Testing to Support Personalized Cancer Care” was a three-part educational program that focused on the adoption of best practice guidelines and the incorporation of evidence from an MD Anderson Cancer Network™ Performance Improvement and Quality Improvement (PI/QI) program (a program of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center). Piloted at two Cancer Network sites, this PI/QI program aimed to optimize the use of molecular testing in thyroid and lung cancers.
“Incorporating Molecular Testing to Support Personalized Cancer Care” was designed specifically for oncologists and other multidisciplinary healthcare team members who were part of community-based cancer centers across the United States, with the goal of improving molecular testing practices and enhancing personalized care by implementing PI and QI interventions. Dr. Ecaterina Dumbrava, an oncologist at MD Anderson, was the principal investigator and lead faculty for this program. She was also the presenter for the activities, along with Sophie Péloquin, MMedSc, Vice-President of AXDEV Group, an organization specializing in PI/QI and educational and implementation research in healthcare.
Dr. Dumbrava briefly describes personalized medicine and reviews some of the key NCCN guideline recommendations for molecular testing in thyroid and non-small cell lung cancers using cases from the PI/QI program.
Dr. Dumbrava stresses the vital role of patients’ understanding of molecular testing for informed shared decision-making in personalized cancer care. Through simulated patient-provider conversations, she offers valuable suggestions and examples to enhance communication with patients and their families during discussions about molecular testing.
Péloquin outlines a three-step process for implementing effective PI or QI interventions. The process includes the Diagnostic Phase, focusing on identifying local needs and challenges, followed by the Planning and Implementation Phase. The final step is the Evaluation Phase, involving tracking progress and measuring impact. Dr. Dumbrava explains how PI/QI concepts were applied in the Cancer Network PI/QI program.
Toolkit
A toolkit of references and resources that reinforce and expand upon the education, including updated guidelines, patient communication strategies, and foundational education about PI and QI, is provided.
Program Faculty
Ecaterina (Cathy) Dumbrava, MD
Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics,
Division of Cancer Medicine, MD Anderson
Sophie Péloquin, MMedSc
Vice-President of AXDEV Group
These activities were supported by an educational grant from Lilly.
Brought to you by the Society for Translational Oncology, in collaboration with AXDEV Global and MD Anderson Cancer Network™, a program of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The Society for Translational Oncology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Q&A
Listen to expert-led strategies and lessons learned in applying PI/QI methodologies to enhance molecular testing and improve oncology care.
This video is for informational purposes.