Dr. Gandara on Online Treatment Decision Tool for Lung Cancer

David R. Gandara, MD, director, Thoracic Oncology Program, professor, senior advisor to director, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, treasurer, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), a 2017 Giant of Cancer Care^® in Lung Cancer, discusses the idea for an online treatment decision tool for lung cancer.

Gandara presented a study noting development and implementation of a web-based educational tool that allows thoracic oncologists to assess the knowledge of new treatments. This would be done around the world and by practitioner. There would be a panel of 5 lung cancer experts who go through nearly 300 scenarios on how a patient might present with advanced non—small cell lung cancer. All the demographics—gender, age, and more—are available. Patient preferences are also considered, whether it be to live longer or general quality of life. Biomarkers like EGFR and PD-L1 status are also associated with this tool.

A practitioner would enter all this information into the system and await the guidance of the 5-person panel. The oncologist can then compare the decision they would have made on their own with the panel’s expert decision.