Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing (CJON)

Treatment technology evolution in radiation therapy for patients with cancer has increased patient volumes and improved patient outcomes, leading to specialized nurses in radiation oncology (RO). The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation conducted a role delineation study in 2023 to define RO nursing roles and responsibilities. An RO task force composed of content experts defined 110 tasks and 71 knowledge statements. Experts refined and organized the statements into eight domains, offering insight into the scope of RO nursing by defining nursing roles and responsibilities, laying the groundwork for further subspecialty recognition.

Tumor-agnostic cancer therapies look beyond the cancer’s tissue of origin and histology, instead focusing on targeting genomic alterations that drive cancer growth and progression across multiple tumor types. Eight drugs or drug regimens have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 2017 for six distinct tumor-agnostic indications. With research ongoing, additional tumor-agnostic drug approvals are anticipated, as well as expansion of the clinical scope of use for these therapies, which necessitates that oncology nurses understand their role in cancer care.

This article provides a structured outline of the steps of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy navigation from patient referral to cellular infusion, and discusses barriers in navigating care for patients who are eligible for CAR T-cell therapy. Experiences in navigating patients receiving cellular therapies, data from peer-reviewed scientific articles, and narrative reviews are included. Barriers to receiving CAR T-cell therapy can often be prospectively mitigated by experienced CAR T-cell nurse coordinators.

Cancer care has advanced during the past three decades. Despite improved survival, pancreatic cancer has failed to make much progress in diagnosis and treatment, and it remains one of the most fatal cancers. Clinicians have recognized the complexity of care for patients with pancreatic cancer, developing new models of care delivery to meet clinical needs, improve quality of life, and increase survival. A nurse practitioner–led multidisciplinary clinic has the potential to deliver expedited patient-centric care and improve patient outcomes.