Hi ,

Welcome back to the Oncology Insights Newsletter which fosters your continuous growth in oncology pharmacy practice

Last time you learned about freestanding headstands, how you know if treatment for ALL is working, and whether your career is as stable as you think it is

This week you'll learn about driving vs following, sacituzumab govitecan withdrawal in bladder cancer, and overcoming an addiction to browser tabs

Have a great week!

Kelley

🧠 IPS (Insight, Pearl, Sundry)

Insight

Drive like there is no one in front of you

Driving is one of those experiences that become muscle memory over time - it becomes second nature

Sure, you have to pay attention to watch for pedestrians and other drivers, but it’s not like it was when you were first learning when you had your hands in the 10 and 2 o’clock positions, the radio off so you could concentrate, and were constantly checking your mirrors

And because of that, you might notice that you easily fall into a “follower” position

I was driving down a somewhat winding road following another car when the realization hit me that I was following exactly where that other car was driving

This would normally be fine, except the other car was driving in and out of the lines. And because I was fairly blindly following them, instead of watching the road myself, I wasn’t driving in the lines either

It made me think how else we are following others through life…

👉 Selecting a career because that’s what others have been successful in

👉 Following workplace “norms” even when they don’t align with your values

👉 Pursuing board certification because of expectation rather than personal accomplishment

👉 Feeling pressure to reach certain life milestones at a certain age (getting married, having kids)

We need to drive our own car (insert other relevant word here like life, career, etc) and not just blindly follow the person in front. Be aware of where you’re going and how you are getting there, so you can correct an unexpected detour quickly.

Pearl

The oncology world is all about progress - and sometimes progress means taking a step back

Sacituzumab govitecan was granted accelerated approval in 2021 for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC)

In late 2024, the indication was withdrawn. Why? Because it just couldn’t clear the bar in its confirmatory trial.

Here’s the breakdown:

👉 Accelerated Approval: it hit the scene as most accelerated approvals do: based on overall response rates (ORR) in the single arm, phase 2 TROPHY-U-01 trial (ORR was 27%, not earth shattering)

👉 Phase 3 TROPiCS-04 Trial: the FDA requires confirmatory studies after accelerated approval is granted. This trial evaluated sacituzumab govitecan vs physician’s choice single-agent chemo in mUC patients post-platinum chemo and anti-PD-(L)1 therapy.

👉 Primary Endpoint Missed: there was not a statistically significant improvement in overall survival (OS) demonstrated in the intent to treat population

👉 Safety Concerns: more deaths were seen in the sacituzumab govitecan arm from adverse events, particularly early neutropenic complications like infections

💡Reminder: sacituzumab govitecan carries a Boxed Warning for severe or life-threatening neutropenia, emphasizing the need for close monitoring and GCSF use when appropriate

This outcome underscores the critical role of confirmatory trials in the accelerated approval pathway, and why we oncology pharmacists have to understand this pathway

While providing patients with faster access to promising therapy advances is important, it is equally important to make sure these therapies actually improve survival and are safe for patients

Sundry

2025 is the year I break free from my browser tab addiction 😳😅

There’s something magical about the start of a new calendar year - it kind of feels like spring 🌷 to me because everything seems a little brighter and cheerier

A new year gives us the opportunity to get in alignment with what matters - what will truly help us make progress in the months ahead

Recently, I bought a new computer, and during the shopping process, I had to come to terms with my addiction to browser tabs

Yep, I’m one of those people with an embarrassing number of browser tabs and windows open at any given time 🤦‍♀️

Running an online business pulls me in a lot of directions, and my tab chaos had been slowing me down - both literally and mentally. Instead of solving the problem with a more expensive computer to handle this high workload, I decided to realign with what’s important to me: having a tidy, streamlined workspace where I can focus and find what I need quickly.

So, I’ve been doing a digital cleanup, organizing files, and giving the browser Arc a real shot (I’d heard great things but avoided it - because, honestly, I didn’t need another window open)

Already, I feel lighter and more relaxed, with a workflow that feels aligned and intentional

That’s what I wish for you in 2025: more alignment, focus, and flow in your personal and professional life

A new year is the perfect time to take stock of where you are on your oncology journey by asking yourself:

❓ What can you simplify to make room for growth?

❓ What’s taking up space that no longer serves you?

❓ How can you align your time and energy with what matters most?

❓ What habits or routines can you refine to create more momentum at work?

❓ What’s one area you can prioritize this year to have the biggest impact on your career?

❓ What’s one step you can take today to set yourself up for success in the next few months?

Here’s to a year of progress, perseverance, and purpose 💪

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When you're ready, here are ways to get help

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