Congress Abstracts 2006

190

PERSONALIZED MEDICINE: WHAT NURSES NEED TO KNOW. Susan King, RN, MS, OCN^®, Genitope Corporation, La Jolla, CA.

Oncology nurses are all familiar with the targeted therapies that have been approved for use in a variety of cancers in recent years. Many of these targeted therapies have accompanying lab tests to confirm the patient's tumor expresses the target.

Clinical trials are currently underway studying patient-specific therapies. These include personalized immunotherapies made from the patient's tumor and designed to activate the patient's immune system to recognize and eliminate tumor cells while leaving normal cells unharmed.

Because these therapies are personalized therapies, with each therapy custom-made for one specific patient, the implications for nurses administering these products has never existed before. The product requires a significant amount of time to produce and cannot always be replaced immediately should an error in storing, handling or administration occur.

While personalized immuno therapies have been studied for many years, oncology nurses need to understand:

. the function of the immune system so they can explain these therapies to patients,

. the mechanism(s) of action of these types of treatments,

. the adverse events most often reported,

. the implication of administering other agents, such as steroids and monoclonal antibodies, which may effect the immune response,

. the implications of flow cytometry results in determining suitable patients, and

. the importance of specimen/biopsy handling in making these therapies.

The important role of the nurse in personalized medicine, specifically personalized immunotherapy will be described for oncology nurses not familiar with the work being done in this area. Their role is vital in specimen collection and handling, educating patients and other healthcare providers, including oncologists, pathologists, surgeons, pharmacists, as well as general practice physicians about these new agents being studied.