Cancer journalPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000787
Emeka E Duru, Kwame Kissi-Twum, Kenechukwu C Ben-Umeh, T Joseph Mattingly
{"title":"Advancing Federal Coordination to Address Drug Shortages.","authors":"Emeka E Duru, Kwame Kissi-Twum, Kenechukwu C Ben-Umeh, T Joseph Mattingly","doi":"10.1097/PPO.0000000000000787","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PPO.0000000000000787","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Persistent shortages of essential medicines in the United States, especially generic oncology drugs, continue to compromise timely cancer care and patient safety. The presence of multiple high-level reports from federal agencies and industry experts has outlined similar recommendations, including the creation of a unified essential medicines list, transparent supply chain monitoring, domestic manufacturing incentives, and centralized federal coordination, among others, giving an optimistic direction. This manuscript synthesizes key findings from these reports and highlights misalignment across agency roles and priorities as a barrier to sustained progress. Case studies of cisplatin, vincristine, and methotrexate shortages underscore the high stakes of inaction. Drawing on recent coordination successes during the COVID-19 response, we propose a practical path forward: establishing a central federal coordinating body, legislating an essential medicines list developed using an established criticality-reach-vulnerability framework, reforming procurement incentives, and expanding the Strategic National Stockpile.</p>","PeriodicalId":9655,"journal":{"name":"Cancer journal","volume":"31 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145147886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer journalPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000786
Maxwell L Izen, June M McKoy, Linda Martin, Chadi Nabhan, Gretchen LeFever Watson, Joseph Magagnoli, Kenneth R Carson, Kevin Knopf, Edward Smith, Edward Zyszkowski, Mia Lynch, Demir Uslu, Peter Georgantopoulos, David Aboulafia, Charles L Bennett
{"title":"Mitigating the Impact of Drug Shortages in Oncology: Lessons Learned From the 2023 Shortages of Carboplatin and Cisplatin.","authors":"Maxwell L Izen, June M McKoy, Linda Martin, Chadi Nabhan, Gretchen LeFever Watson, Joseph Magagnoli, Kenneth R Carson, Kevin Knopf, Edward Smith, Edward Zyszkowski, Mia Lynch, Demir Uslu, Peter Georgantopoulos, David Aboulafia, Charles L Bennett","doi":"10.1097/PPO.0000000000000786","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PPO.0000000000000786","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose/background: </strong>Cancer drug shortages adversely affect cancer patient care and ultimately cancer patient lives. Shortages of cancer drugs used for pediatric cancer patients are well described.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Review of published literature, news reports, and grey literature on cisplatin and carboplatin shortages.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The shortages were multifactorial-reflecting supply chain disruption, limited redundancy in manufacturing, and dependence on out-of-country sources for injectable generic oncology drugs.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This report of carboplatin and cisplatin shortages extends concerns noted earlier with pediatric oncology drug shortages. Improvements in supply chain and consideration of on-shoring manufacturing is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":9655,"journal":{"name":"Cancer journal","volume":"31 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145147849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer journalPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000789
Shannon Bertagnoli, Ann Shastay, Rita K Jew
{"title":"What Does the Institute for Safe Medication Practices' Survey Tell Us About the Impact of Shortages on Patient Safety?","authors":"Shannon Bertagnoli, Ann Shastay, Rita K Jew","doi":"10.1097/PPO.0000000000000789","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PPO.0000000000000789","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The continuing crisis with drug shortages and supply chain disruptions results in ongoing patient safety and financial concerns. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) and ECRI conducted a survey from June 29, 2023, to July 27, 2023, inviting practitioners to share their experiences with drug, supply, and equipment shortages during the previous 6 months. Practitioners provided insight about drug, single-use supplies (e.g., tubing, syringes, cassettes), and durable medical equipment (e.g., infusion devices) shortages. Almost half (44%) of the survey respondents reported shortages impacting hematology and oncology medications. These shortages resulted in interrupted, modified, or delayed chemotherapy regimens (e.g., reduced doses, treatment withheld if noncurative intent) and significantly impacted health care organizations' clinical and operational resources, increased the risk for medication errors, and negatively affected the quality of patient care.</p>","PeriodicalId":9655,"journal":{"name":"Cancer journal","volume":"31 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145147895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer journalPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000794
Lyndsey Reich, Kevin B Knopf
{"title":"The Oncology Drug Shortages and Its Impact on Community Hospitals.","authors":"Lyndsey Reich, Kevin B Knopf","doi":"10.1097/PPO.0000000000000794","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PPO.0000000000000794","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The ongoing shortage of oncology drugs, particularly generic chemotherapies like platinum agents, has had a disproportionate impact on community and safety net hospitals in the United States and globally. These institutions, often serving rural and underserved populations, face significant challenges due to limited financial resources. This article examines the practical implications of these shortages through the lens of a community hospital, where creative solutions were employed to maximize limited resources where drug shortages were concerned. This article also highlights the emergence of gray and black markets, raising concerns about drug quality, especially in low-income and middle-income countries. Broader market dynamics-including rising platinum prices and recent health care policy changes-threaten to deepen disparities in cancer care. Systemic reforms are required to improve supply chain resilience, ensure equitable drug access, and protect vulnerable institutions and populations from the consequences of ongoing and future drug shortages.</p>","PeriodicalId":9655,"journal":{"name":"Cancer journal","volume":"31 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145147929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer journalPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000793
Charles L Bennett, Kevin B Knopf
{"title":"Introduction to a Supplement From the Cancer Journal: The Journal of Principles and Practice of Oncology.","authors":"Charles L Bennett, Kevin B Knopf","doi":"10.1097/PPO.0000000000000793","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PPO.0000000000000793","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9655,"journal":{"name":"Cancer journal","volume":"31 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145147918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer journalPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000788
Jason Westin, Dominic Sawaya, Shimere Williams Sherwood, Julie R Gralow
{"title":"The Oncology Drug Shortage: ASCO's Vision and Proposals for Resolving This Public Health Emergency.","authors":"Jason Westin, Dominic Sawaya, Shimere Williams Sherwood, Julie R Gralow","doi":"10.1097/PPO.0000000000000788","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PPO.0000000000000788","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The issue of drug shortages is a persistent and complex one. There is an urgent need for a wide-ranging, multifaceted strategy to address drug shortages and bold, comprehensive solutions. Professional societies, such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), have a crucial role to play in advocating for governmental action and raising awareness to combat these critical shortages of lifesaving and life-prolonging medications. ASCO's proposed solutions focus on reforming economic incentives related to generic drug pricing to foster market sustainability and encourage investment in high-quality manufacturing. This will require significant collaboration, including government intervention and public-private partnerships.</p>","PeriodicalId":9655,"journal":{"name":"Cancer journal","volume":"31 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145147892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer journalPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000790
Laura Bray
{"title":"What an Oncology Drug Shortage Looks and Feels Like to Patients and What Can Be Done About It.","authors":"Laura Bray","doi":"10.1097/PPO.0000000000000790","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PPO.0000000000000790","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Drug shortages continue to pose a serious threat to health care systems worldwide, often depriving patients of essential, life-saving medications. This article presents the patient perspective on drug shortages through the work of Laura Bray, founder of Angels for Change-a nonprofit committed to ending drug shortages through advocacy, awareness, and supply chain resilience. Inspired by her personal journey when her daughter's cancer treatment was nearly derailed by a shortage, and informed by her professional background in supply chain management, Bray launched a grassroots movement that now connects patients, providers, manufacturers, supply chain leaders, and policymakers. The article explores Bray's belief in a patient-centered supply chain, her creation of the Drug Shortage Hotline, and her collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to systemic change. It also highlights the industry and policy reforms she champions to prevent future shortages and create a more reliable pharmaceutical system. Through the lens of Angels for Change, the piece illustrates the transformative power of patient advocacy and cross-sector cooperation in addressing one of health care's most urgent challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":9655,"journal":{"name":"Cancer journal","volume":"31 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145147845","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer journalPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000792
Kenneth Komorny
{"title":"Impact of a Drug Shortage at a Comprehensive Cancer Center: It Is Time to End Drug Shortages.","authors":"Kenneth Komorny","doi":"10.1097/PPO.0000000000000792","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PPO.0000000000000792","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Shortages of oncology medications have unique complications for dedicated cancer centers and comprehensive cancer centers. Mitigation solutions for medication shortages at these types of health systems can help extend supply and decrease existing demand run rates, but these shortages can eventually lead to suboptimal patient outcomes. Health care's collective focus should be on ending drug shortages, not mitigating them.</p>","PeriodicalId":9655,"journal":{"name":"Cancer journal","volume":"31 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145147854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer journalPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000795
Maxwell L Izen, Mia Lynch, Charles L Bennett
{"title":"National Stockpiling of Pediatric Cancer Medications in the United States: An Alternative Approach to Hospital-Based Storage for Essential Oncology Drugs.","authors":"Maxwell L Izen, Mia Lynch, Charles L Bennett","doi":"10.1097/PPO.0000000000000795","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PPO.0000000000000795","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite continued efforts, pediatric oncology patients face, at times, insurmountable barriers to cancer medication access, creating an ongoing public health crisis with potentially tragic consequences. These shortages adversely impact pediatric patients in the United States and their ability to complete pivotal drug regimens. Resource availability and accessibility are exacerbated by a lack of oversight and predictability in the practices of manufacturers, distributors, and hospitals. In this review, we specifically examined the impact of current drug inventory practices within hospitals and subsequently developed recommendations for implementing pediatric cancer drugs into Strategic National Stockpiles for a more regulated approach to drug distribution.</p>","PeriodicalId":9655,"journal":{"name":"Cancer journal","volume":"31 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145147899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cancer journalPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000785
Maxwell L Izen, June M McKoy, Linda Martin, Chadi Nabhan, Gretchen LeFever Watson, Joseph Magagnoli, Kenneth R Carson, Kevin Knopf, Edward Smith, Edward Zyszkowski, Mia Lynch, Demir Uslu, Peter Georgantopoulos, David Aboulafia, Charles L Bennett
{"title":"Cancer Drugs and United States Tariffs: Attention Must Be Paid.","authors":"Maxwell L Izen, June M McKoy, Linda Martin, Chadi Nabhan, Gretchen LeFever Watson, Joseph Magagnoli, Kenneth R Carson, Kevin Knopf, Edward Smith, Edward Zyszkowski, Mia Lynch, Demir Uslu, Peter Georgantopoulos, David Aboulafia, Charles L Bennett","doi":"10.1097/PPO.0000000000000785","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PPO.0000000000000785","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Trump Administration has signaled its intent to impose tariffs on pharmaceuticals worldwide, raising uncertainty about the potential impact on cancer treatments in the United States. Increasing concern surrounds the possibility that these tariffs may compromise the quality of care and adversely affect the survival outcomes of cancer patients across the country. The proposed tariffs on pharmaceuticals threaten to worsen already high drug costs and disrupt access to essential cancer treatments. As Martha Basey of Patients for Affordable Drugs points out, \"We know that already one in three people in the United States can not fill their prescriptions because of high costs. We expect the pharmaceutical companies not to let this chaos over trade go to waste Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation and try to raise prices while pointing the finger at tariffs.\" Given the complex global supply chain and existing drug shortages, tariffs risk increasing prices without encouraging more domestic production or improving patient care. For these reasons, policy experts strongly caution against imposing broad tariffs on cancer medicines and advocate for alternative solutions to protect access to and affordability of these medications.</p>","PeriodicalId":9655,"journal":{"name":"Cancer journal","volume":"31 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145147933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}