Dr Bupathi on Treating Patients With RCC in Community vs Academic Settings

Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS, oncologist, Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, co-chair, genitourinary (GU) research, US Oncology, the US Oncology Network, associate director, GU Cancer Research, Sarah Cannon, discusses treating patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in community vs academic settings.

Bupathi begins by stating that understanding the differences between treating patients with RCC in community vs academic settings is crucial. Traditionally, the perception has been that the most innovative work occurs in academic centers, and that the community is less engaged in these innovations. However, it's vital to emphasize that most patients with cancer are treated in the community, and it is thereby essential for community oncologists to grasp both the latest drugs available for patients and the adverse effects that are associated with these drugs to help advance cancer care for these patients, he emphasizes. The significance of community oncology treatment and research is just as profound as that of the treatment and research endeavors by academic counterparts, motivating Bupathi to address this topic.

However, numerous challenges remain within this line of thought, Bupathi says. Insurance services and collaboration with colleagues, specifically specialists in different institutions, present hurdles. Unlike oncologists at academic institutions, who are part of unified institutions, community oncologists must overcome various barriers to ensure optimal patient care, he expands. Despite these challenges, Bupathi explains that significant strides have been made to better treat patients in community settings, and there have been successes.

For example, Sarah Cannon and US Oncology Research have a robust committee ofinvestigators who acknowledge that they are actively transforming and improving patient care by offering innovative therapeutic approaches, he emphasizes. Bupathi says that once novel therapies are identified, oncologists will be able to streamline the available treatment processes, identifying treatment sites capable of catering to the specific patient population best suited for a given drug, he concludes.