Fully Remote Telehealth Cancer Clinical Trial Aims to Expand Treatment Access Nationwide
A groundbreaking telehealth trial offers remote access to innovative pancreatic cancer treatment, enhancing patient participation and care coordination nationwide.
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A fully remote phase 2 telehealth trial (NCT06906562)1 that delivers oral pancreatic treatment directly to patients’ homes while coordinating care with local oncologists was launched recently at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and the Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James). The trial, which opened May 8, 2025, seeks to enroll patients with FGFR-mutated pancreatic cancer.
Traditional clinical trials require patients to repeatedly visit large academic medical centers, posing financial, logistical, and emotional burdens, explained Sameek Roychowdhury, MD, lead investigator of the trial.
“Instead of making patients go to the clinical trial, this approach brings the trial to the patient,” Roychowdhury, professor of medical oncology at OSUCCC – James, Columbus, said. “They could be in any state in the country and participate without leaving their home.”
Overall, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and Europe, with the median overall survival for advanced disease being less than 12 months.2 The trial targets patients whose tumor contain FGFR mutations, found in about 1% to 5% of pancreatic cancers, or roughly 500 patients annually in the United States.3
Due to the rarity of the mutation, pharmaceutical companies often deprioritize drug development for such small patient populations. By using a telemedicine model, Roychowdhury’s team drastically reduces costs while maintaining rigorous monitoring.
The 2 primary objectives of the trial include determining the efficacy of single-agent pemigatinib (Pemazyre) in patients with advanced or metastatic pancreas cancer with FGFR2 gene fusions or translocations, and response rate. Secondary objectives include efficacy, safety, and tolerability.
How the Telehealth Trial Operates
The process begins when community oncologists identify eligible patients through genomic testing. Patients then undergo virtual informed consent, with standard of care, routine tests such as bloodwork and imaging conducted locally. The oral FGFR inhibitor pemigatinib is shipped directly to patients, and weekly telehealth visits assess adverse events, including dry mouth and vision changes, while local oncologists arrange routine scans and supportive care. Investigators at OSUCCC manage treatment, interpret scans, and assess side effects.
Patients receive pemigatinib orally once daily on days 1 to 14 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo blood sample collection, computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging, and optical coherence tomography throughout the study. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 30 days, then every 4 months for 1 year.
Pandemic Experience Proves Feasibility
The COVID-19 pandemic forced oncology teams to adapt quickly, demonstrating that remote cancer care is feasible. Roychowdhury recalled a patient who began FGFR inhibitor therapy entirely via telehealth in March 2020, meeting her in person only after 6 weeks of treatment.
“We did everything remotely: consent, scans, lab work, even an eye exam,” Roychowdhury said. “That experience showed us this model could work long-term.”
Challenges and Future Expansion
Although the current trial focuses on oral therapy, Roychowdhury believes IV-based treatments could also be adapted. Key next steps include refining the telehealth prototype based on early patient experiences, developing a nationwide telemedicine trials network to connect academic centers, community oncologists, and pharmaceutical partners, and changing clinical trial databases such as ClinicalTrials.gov to prioritize accessibility over geographic proximity.
“When you haven’t done something before, it looks challenging, but we’ve already proven it works,” Roychowdhury said. “Now, we’re making it happen.”
The success of this model could revolutionize precision oncology and rare cancer research, allowing patients in rural or underserved areas to access cutting-edge therapies without relocation. As Roychowdhury noted, “We’re not just improving trials, we’re redefining who gets to join them.”
The trial is funded by Incyte, the supplier of pemigatinib, along with the Gateway for Cancer Research Foundation and Pelotonia, a grassroots cancer research movement based in Columbus, Ohio. The trial is led by Dr Roychowdhury and Dr Zachary Risch at OSUCCC-James.
