Oncology Leaders Explore AI, Advanced Therapies, and the Future of Clinical Pathways

Key Takeaways: 

• At Clinical Pathways Congress (CPC) 2026, panelists discussed how artificial intelligence (AI), precision medicine, and emerging cell and gene therapies are reshaping oncology clinical pathways.
• Expanding access to advanced therapies requires coordination across patient care, product delivery, and reimbursement, particularly as treatments move into earlier lines of therapy.
• Panelists emphasized the importance of physician-led governance, clinical workflow integration, and long-term patient monitoring to support the adoption of new technologies and treatments. 

Oncology clinical pathways must evolve beyond traditional treatment recommendations to incorporate precision medicine, advanced therapies, and the operational requirements of delivering increasingly complex care, according to panelists at CPC 2026.

During the session, Are You Ready for It? New Frontiers for the Pathways Ecosystem, Ira Klein, MD, MBA; Joe DePinto, head of cell, gene, and advanced therapies at McKesson; and Melissa Farley, PharmD, vice president of pharmacy at McKesson, discussed opportunities to modernize clinical pathways while preserving physician judgment and patient-centered care.

Connecting Precision Medicine With Clinical Decision Support

Klein emphasized that traditional guidelines provide a foundation for evidence-based oncology care, while pathways translate those recommendations into more focused treatment options.

However, advances in molecular testing and personalized medicine require consideration of additional factors, including previous treatments, comorbidities, socioeconomic circumstances, and patient preferences.

AI could help clinicians synthesize complex clinical information and identify relevant treatment options at the point of care.

Klein stressed that these tools should support, rather than replace, clinical judgment.

Addressing Barriers to Advanced Therapy Access

DePinto highlighted the growing complexity of cell and gene therapy delivery, particularly for autologous treatments requiring collection, manufacturing, and reinfusion of patient cells.

He described 3 interconnected processes that influence treatment access: the patient journey, product journey, and reimbursement journey.

Challenges include geographic limitations, prior authorization delays, specialized infrastructure requirements, and coordination among treatment centers.

DePinto suggested that pathways could help identify eligible patients earlier and streamline treatment coordination as advanced therapies expand into additional indications and earlier treatment settings.

Building Trust and Operational Readiness

Farley emphasized that successful pathway implementation requires more than clinical evidence and technological innovation.

She identified trust, timing, clinician autonomy, and continuous learning as essential principles for adoption.

AI-supported pathways must provide transparent, explainable recommendations and deliver relevant information within existing clinical workflows.

Farley also highlighted the importance of incorporating feedback from real-world treatment experiences, including toxicity management, patient needs, and operational challenges.

Implications for Oncology Clinical Pathways

The panelists emphasized that clinical pathways must increasingly address the full treatment journey, including patient identification, treatment delivery, reimbursement, and long-term follow-up.

As advanced therapies become more widely available, coordination between specialty treatment centers and community oncology practices will be critical for monitoring delayed adverse events and maintaining continuity of care.

The discussion also highlighted the need for transparency in pathway recommendations, particularly when financial considerations and institutional contracting arrangements influence treatment preferences.

Conclusion

At CPC 2026, panelists described a future in which clinical pathways integrate precision medicine, AI-supported decision-making, and advanced therapy delivery.

Their discussion underscored that successful innovation will depend on trustworthy technology, multidisciplinary collaboration, and operational readiness to translate scientific advances into accessible, individualized oncology care.

Reference 

DePinto J, Farley M, Klein I. Are you ready for it? New frontiers for the pathways ecosystem. Session presented at: Clinical Pathways Congress; November 10-11, 2026; Boston, MA.