Introduction:
As bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) gain prominence in cancer treatment and expand from haematology to solid tumours, optimising their use and management becomes essential for improving patient outcomes. However, integrating BsAbs into clinical practice is challenging due to their complex safety profiles, including potentially life-threatening conditions like cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), which require rapid identification and management.
Aims:
To assess the knowledge, practices, and confidence of multidisciplinary cancer clinicians regarding BsAbs. Capturing real-world experiences and identifying knowledge gaps guides resource development across the eviQ Program and aligns with our goal of ensuring clinicians are well-equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to manage BsAb therapy effectively and enhance patient care.
Methods:
We conducted a national survey of cancer clinicians to assess their knowledge, practices, and confidence regarding BsAbs. Participants were asked about their roles, experience with BsAbs, and challenges in integrating these therapies into clinical practice.
Results:
Of the 74 survey respondents, 5 were excluded as non-clinical participants. The remaining cohort comprised 14 medical professionals, 29 nurses, 24 pharmacists, and 2 individuals in other roles. Among them, 43% reported caring for patients receiving BsAbs, while 29% did not, and 28% did not respond. As expected, 47% of respondents were from metropolitan public hospital settings. Key themes included managing CRS and ICANS, varied confidence levels, and a need for improved education and standardised protocols, with a noted lack of national standards and inconsistent institutional practices.
Conclusion:
As cancer treatments advance, eviQ's role in standardising protocols is crucial. The survey highlights the need for uniform BsAb therapy protocols and better education. We've identified key resources and formed a working group to develop universal and product-specific information. Centralised protocols reduce duplication, foster cross-specialty collaboration, enhance care quality, and allow clinicians to focus on patient care.