Collaborative Funding Model to Improve Quality of Care for Metastatic Breast Cancer in Europe

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in women. Currently, BC is treated with a holistic and multidisciplinary approach from diagnostic, surgical, radio-oncological, and medical perspectives, and advances including in early detection and treatment methods have led to improved outcomes for patients in recent years. Yet, BC remains the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women and there is an array of gaps to achieve optimal care. To close gaps in cancer care, here we describe a collaborative Request For Proposals (RFP) framework supporting independent initiatives for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients and aiming at improving their quality of care. We set up a collaborative framework between Pfizer and Sharing Progress in Cancer Care (SPCC). Our model is based on an RFP system in which Pfizer and SPCC worked together ensuring the independence of the funded projects. We developed a three-step life cycle RFP. The collaborating framework of the project was based on an RFP with a USD 1.5 million available budget for funding independent grants made available from Pfizer and managed in terms of awareness, selection, and monitoring by SPCC. Our three-step model could be applicable and scalable to quality improvement (QI) initiatives that are devoted to tackling obstacles to reaching optimal care. Through this model, seven projects from five different European countries were supported. These projects covered a range of issues related to the experience of patients with MBC: investigator communication, information, and shared decision-making (SDM) practices across Europe; development, delivery, and evaluation of a scalable online educational program for nurses; assessment of disparities among different minority patient groups; development of solutions to improve compliance or adherence to therapy; an information technology (IT) solution to improve quality of life (QoL) of patients with MBC and an initiative to increase awareness and visibility of MBC patients. Overall, an average of 171 healthcare professionals (HCPs) per project and approximately 228,675 patients per project were impacted. We set up and describe a partnership model among different stakeholders within the healthcare ecosystem-academia, non-profit organizations, oncologists, and pharmaceutical companies-aiming at supporting independent projects to close gaps in the care of patients with MBC. By removing barriers at different layers, these projects contributed to the achievement of optimal care for patients with MBC.