Clinical Realities of Biomarker Utilization in Advanced Endometrial Cancer

In this episode, titled ‘Clinical Realities of Biomarker Utilization in Advanced Endometrial Cancer,’ the expert Oncology Pharmacists explored the following questions:

What is the role of the pharmacist in ensuring that the proper immunotherapies are selected for patients with endometrial cancer?

Why might biomarker testing be underutilized in clinical oncology practice?

How can pharmacists advocate for more comprehensive biomarker testing in endometrial cancer?

Led by the moderator, Megan May, the panelists discussed the pharmacist's critical responsibility in reviewing patient age, comorbidities, and biomarkers to match the right immunotherapy regimen to the patient's specific histology and disease state. Justina Salib and the panel examined the multimodal barriers to testing, such as sample availability in neoadjuvant settings, turnaround times, and insurance hurdles. The experts also shared insights on the rising adoption rate of biomarker testing—noting it reached 81% in 2021—while highlighting the work still needed in community oncology centers and for patients with public insurance. Furthermore, the experts discussed the importance of state-level advocacy and the pharmacist's role as an "extra set of eyes" to ensure updated testing reflects the most current evidence-based data.

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

The next episode in this series, ‘Overcoming Financial and Familiarity Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Management’, features the panelists advancing their conversation on endometrial cancer and focusing on financial toxicity, co-pay assistance, and the use of NCCN Evidence Blocks in clinical decision-making.