Articles by Floortje J. Backes, MD
An expert discusses how long-term safety considerations are evaluated through clinical trial data and postmarketing surveillance, emphasizing the importance of reporting unexpected adverse events to the FDA, considering patient-reported outcomes beyond just high-grade toxicities, and working closely with specialists like ophthalmologists using standardized assessment tools and treatment algorithms to manage drug-specific adverse effects like visual complications from folate receptor–targeting therapies.
An expert discusses how different adverse event profiles of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) influence treatment decisions by requiring careful patient selection based on comorbidities like prior lung disease, implementing baseline assessments and monitoring protocols for pneumonitis and ocular toxicities, and recognizing that early detection and management of adverse effects allows for continued treatment through dose modifications.
An expert discusses how clinicians and institutions can streamline biomarker-driven therapy decisions by establishing rapid turnaround times for biopsies and pathology results, maintaining in-house testing capabilities, coordinating efficiently between interventional radiology and pathology teams, and ensuring insurance approvals don’t delay treatment initiation for patients who may deteriorate quickly.
An expert discusses how multidisciplinary collaboration can be enhanced through shared knowledge of available drugs and biomarkers among oncologists and pathologists, standardized interpretation methods across different cancer types, and clear communication about trial-specific algorithms to optimize treatment plans and ensure proper biomarker assessment.
An expert discusses how the biggest barriers to incorporating antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) include lacking biomarker knowledge and how payer restrictions can be overcome through early biomarker testing, proper documentation of target expression levels, and following FDA or National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines to ensure patient access to appropriate therapies.
