Abstract PO3-02-01: Educational Opportunities to Improve Community Healthcare Professionals’ Management of High-Risk HR-Positive/HER2-Negative Early Breast Cancer
Authors: Becker Marie , Quill Timothy , Hamilton Erika , O'Shaughnessy Joyce 
Published: May 2024

Background: The treatment landscape for patients with hormone receptor–positive/HER2-negative early breast cancer (HR+/HER2- EBC) has evolved with the emergence of adjuvant CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy as a new option for patients with a high risk of disease recurrence. Adjuvant abemaciclib plus aromatase inhibitors (AIs) is guideline recommended for high clinical risk HR+ disease and reduces risk of recurrence regardless of Ki-67 expression level. Here, we examine healthcare professionals’ (HCPs’) awareness and practice regarding the use of adjuvant abemaciclib.

Methods: Between November 2022 and June 2023, we conducted a series of regional educational activities for HCPs focused on management of high-risk HR+/HER2- EBC. Each activity included an interactive lecture led by a clinical investigator with expertise in managing patients with high-risk HR+/HER2- EBC and polling questions designed to assess key aspects of HCP knowledge and practice in the optimal management of high-risk HR+/HER2- EBC. A wider HCP audience was able to view an interactive on-demand webcast with the same content and embedded polling questions.

Results: In total, 701 HCPs participated in one of 20 live (n = 373) activities or the one associated on-demand (n = 328) webcast. The distribution of HCP participation differed between the live and online activities with more physicians participating in the online activity vs the live activity (59% vs 34%, respectively); the converse was true for nurse participation (9% online vs 34% live). Polling result trends were similar between the live and online activities. At baseline, 38% (n/N = 182/405) of HCPs chose adjuvant therapy with an AI plus abemaciclib for a patient with high-risk, node-positive HR+/HER2- EBC consistent with expert and guideline recommendations. Following the education, 92% (n/N = 405/439) of HCPs selected AI plus abemaciclib for appropriate patients. Before education, 32% of HCPs (n/N = 147/454) were aware that adjuvant abemaciclib plus endocrine therapy improved invasive disease-free survival compared with endocrine therapy alone in patients with high-risk, node-positive HR+/HER2- EBC regardless of Ki-67 expression level, which increased to 87% (n/N = 370/425) following the education. Regarding the management of grade 2 neutropenia associated with adjuvant abemaciclib therapy, HCP knowledge was low at baseline (32%, n/N = 141/446) and improved to 80% (n/N = 332/415) after education.

Conclusions: HCPs’ knowledge of and practice concerning adjuvant abemaciclib as a newer approved therapy for patients with high-risk HR+/HER2- EBC remain suboptimal. These results suggest an ongoing need for expert guidance and educational activities on the use of adjuvant abemaciclib therapy for appropriate patients with high-risk HR+/HER2- EBC. As the treatment landscape for HR+/HER2- EBC continues to evolve with the potential approval of additional new therapies, this need will only increase with a clear impact on optimizing and individualizing adjuvant therapy strategies for patients with HR+/HER2- EBC.

Citation Format: Marie Becker, Timothy Quill, Erika Hamilton, Joyce O'Shaughnessy. Educational Opportunities to Improve Community Healthcare Professionals’ Management of High-Risk HR-Positive/HER2-Negative Early Breast Cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO3-02-01.