In my first Editor’s Note as editor in chief of Pharmacy Practice in Focus: Oncology (PPFO), I’d like to share reflections on what has already been a summer filled with conferences. In June, oncology professionals were kept quite busy with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois; Oncology Pharmacists Connect (OPC) conference in Austin, Texas; and Advanced Topics for Oncology Pharmacy Professionals (ATOPP) conference in St. Louis, Missouri. I hope that many of you were able to attend and stay informed of the progress within oncology practice. For those who were not able to attend, ASCO coverage was included in our July issue of PPFO. Coverage of the OPC and ATOPP meetings, and the Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists (SPPCP) virtual meeting held in May, are included in this August issue.
About the Editor in Chief
Zahra Mahmoudjafari, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, FHOPA, succeeds Lisa E. Davis, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, BCOP, as editor in chief of Pharmacy Practice in Focus: Oncology. Mahmoudjafari is a clinical pharmacy manager in the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program in the Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics at the University of Kansas Cancer Center in Kansas City, Kansas. Mahmoudjafari is a board-certified oncology pharmacist involved in several oncology-pharmacy organizations, such as the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA), currently serving as secretary on the HOPA board of directors. She has also been the chair or cochair of conferences such as Advanced Topics for Oncology Pharmacy Professionals and Oncology Pharmacists Connect. In 2022, she was the recipient of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Pharmacy Special Interest Group Lifetime Achievement Award and received the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s 40 Under 40 in Cancer Award.
Mahmoudjafari has presented nationally on her experience with managing high-cost therapies and on clinical topics such as cell and gene therapies, acute and chronic graft-vs-host disease, and the management of fungal infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Mahmoudjafari completed her pharmacy training at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and her PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. She completed her PGY-2 oncology residency at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah and most recently received her MBA from Henry W. Bloch School of Management, which is affiliated with UMKC.
This year’s OPC conference was nothing short of remarkable. The energy was palpable, with attendees engaging in robust discussions, providing timely updates from ASCO 2024, and exploring the latest advancements in oncology pharmacy. There were plenty of opportunities to speak to colleagues and make new friends. The benefits of attending are plenty: Attendees are able to stay updated with the latest research, network with peers, and gain insights that may be directly applicable to practice. The conference provides a platform to contribute to the collective knowledge of the oncology pharmacy community. I am already looking forward to next year’s conference back in Austin.
ATOPP also provided great insights with sessions, such as addressing the significant challenge of drug shortages and ensuring center readiness for the growing cell and gene therapy landscape. The SPPCP conference highlighted the value of integrating palliative care into oncology practice. To me, conferences are a way to learn about the latest advancements, but more importantly, they are a chance to network with like-minded colleagues, ask questions, and work together to improve patient outcomes. I leave every conference feeling energized and empowered to advocate for our teams and our patients.
In this issue of PPFO, we have 3 peer-reviewed papers. One paper, titled “Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Review of the Emerging Treatment Landscape and Toxicity Management of BTK Inhibitors,” provides a comprehensive review of treatment options and toxicity management recommendations for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). As CLL treatment continues to evolve, this review offers valuable insights for optimizing patient care and improving outcomes. The second peer-reviewed article, titled “Bispecific T-Cell–Engaging Antibodies in B-Cell Lymphoma: Efficacy, Safety, and Practical Considerations,” discusses practical considerations of bispecific T-cell–engaging antibodies (BsAbs) in the setting of lymphomas. With so many BsAbs recently approved, centers have been challenged with incorporating these new targeted agents into practice. Lastly, in our third peer-reviewed paper, titled “Management of Cytopenia Post CAR T-Cell Therapy,” the authors discuss recent consensus recommendations for managing cytopenia during chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy treatment. Despite extensive research on toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity, advancements in the management of cytopenia have been limited, so the authors discuss what is available in the literature regarding consensus and current practice.
With the coverage of the SPPCP virtual meeting in this issue, I am reminded of the first time I read Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. This book left a profound impact on me regarding the limitation of modern medicine when it comes to aging and death, and it left me with a deep appreciation for the role of palliative care. Palliative care teams play a crucial role in elevating patient care by addressing complex symptom management, optimizing medication regimens, and providing holistic support. Their expertise in managing pain, nausea, fatigue, and other distressing symptoms is invaluable in improving patients’ quality of life. As oncology pharmacists, we must advocate for the inclusion of palliative care specialists in our teams. By working collaboratively, we can ensure that our patients receive comprehensive, compassionate care that addresses their physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs.
I hope that these insights inspire you to stay engaged, continue learning, and consider attending an upcoming conference (whether virtual or in person) in the field of oncology pharmacy to connect with some like-minded colleagues. If any of these articles inspire you to contribute to the journal, please reach out to Managing Editor Alana Hippensteele, who will be happy to discuss your ideas further. Thank you for your dedication to the field of oncology pharmacy and for your continued support of PPFO. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our patients.
