Empowering Community Oncology: Infrastructure Investments for Bringing Novel RRFL Therapies to Patients

In 'Empowering Community Oncology: Infrastructure Investments for Bringing Novel RRFL Therapies to Patients,' Tara Graff, DO, MS delves into the following critical question:

What do you see as the most important infrastructure investments a community oncology practice can make to improve patient access to newer combination regimens in the RRFL setting?

Tara Graff outlined a practical framework for community oncology practices looking to establish safe and successful programs with novel regimens, emphasizing that while tafasitamab-based combinations can be adopted with relatively minimal operational changes, bispecific antibodies require more deliberate infrastructure investment, but that every community site has the capacity to build this capability with the right approach. She identified team building as the single most critical foundation for success, stressing that a physician champion alone is not sufficient: nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and research staff must all be trained, aligned, and capable of managing patients, communicating effectively, and educating on the nuances of novel therapy administration and side effect management. Tara Graff also highlighted the value of peer learning from similar community sites as a practical and often underutilized strategy for overcoming site-specific barriers, noting that the blueprint for a successful program will look different for every practice depending on geography, staffing, and capabilities, but that the investment is worth making.

Throughout the conversation, the experts provide a comprehensive reflection on the field and the factors that may shape how clinicians approach care moving forward.

In the next episode, 'Looking Ahead: Optimism, Emerging Therapies, and the Future of RRFL Care,' Tara Graff will share her closing reflections on the relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma landscape, including what gives her the most optimism for her patients looking ahead, the gaps she hopes will be closed in the near future, and her vision for how the field's continued move toward novel combination therapies and earlier-line innovation will ultimately reshape outcomes for patients with this chronic disease.