Dr Wakelee on Unmet Needs in Cancer Care Because of the United States Chemotherapy Shortage

Heather Wakelee, MD, FASCO, professor, medicine, chief, Division of Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, deputy director, division chief, Medical Oncology, Stanford Cancer Institute, president, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, discusses unmet needs in cancer care stemming from the ongoing platinum chemotherapy shortage in the United States, highlighting the need for newer, better drugs to help treat patients.

Notably, a statement from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), released in June 2023, reported that 93% of cancer centers in the United States reported a shortage of carboplatin, while 70% of these centers reported a shortage ofcisplatin. These data were found using the NCCN Best Practices Committee Carboplatin and Cisplatin Shortage Survey, which were collected from May 23, 2023, through May 31, 2023.

Some of the 27 surveyed cancer centers in the United States noted that carboplatin has been in short supply for many months, but that at the time of the survey, this shortage had reached a critical stage, citing that some institutions may be out of their supplies of the drug in the days or weeks following the survey. Supplies on hand are reportedly limited, which may disrupt some patients’ care.

Wakelee says that this platinum shortage in the United States has been a difficult hurdle to overcome because it has affected patient care. Therefore, there have been many ongoing discussions as to why this shortage may be occurring, she expands. Moreover, Wakelee emphasizes that oncologists may sometimes have an easier time accessing expensive medications for patients that sometimes only have marginal benefits. However, for the proven, effective drugs, such as platinum chemotherapy, that aren't as costly, there are shortages, she says. This is indicative of where market forces can have a negative effect, Wakelee notes.

The onus is now on all oncologists to ensure that as they strive to acquire newer drugs, they also consider how to help patients through this shortage, to be certain that the standard drugs and medications that are known to be effective are not disregarded, Wakelee concludes.