Oncology Trials Report: Flu, Telehealth, Expanded Access & Caregivers
By Robert Maxwell

Oncology trials sit at the intersection of urgent clinical need and patient vulnerability. This report focuses on three practical areas often overlooked together: navigating infection risk during chemotherapy, how telehealth changes trial participation, and the pathways for accessing investigational drugs when trials are not an option. It also centers caregivers as critical communicators in research contexts.
Flu season, infection risk and chemotherapy
Navigating flu season while on chemotherapy is a top concern for patients and caregivers. Chemotherapy suppresses immunity in variable ways; timing, regimen intensity and individual comorbidities determine risk. Practically, prevention is comparative: vaccination plus strict exposure minimization tends to outperform either strategy alone. For many patients, inactivated influenza vaccine is recommended; live vaccines are generally avoided. Antiviral prophylaxis can be considered for high-risk exposures, and some centers use rapid testing and early antivirals more aggressively than others. A common fear is that attending trial visits will increase exposure. Telehealth can reduce those visits, but some assessments must remain in person. Many patients find clinical trials through dedicated platforms that match their condition with relevant studies, and those platforms increasingly surface trials with hybrid visit models that limit clinic exposure.Many patients fear isolation, infection and losing access to experimental therapies; transparent communication about risks, mitigation and contingency plans reduces anxiety.
Telehealth for research: practical comparisons and tips
Telehealth tips for cancer trial participants hinge on three comparisons: safety vs completeness of data, convenience vs rigor, and equity vs access. Video visits reduce infection risk and travel burden but can miss physical exam nuances. Remote monitoring tools (home vitals, ePROs) bridge gaps but introduce data variability. Compared to traditional trials, hybrid trials offer a middle path: strategic in-person visits for critical labs and imaging, with virtual follow-up for symptom checks. Operational tips include ensuring reliable connectivity, having a private space for sensitive conversations, and confirming how biospecimens or local labs are coordinated. Platforms and trial discovery tools help identify studies explicitly designed for telehealth, and some research sites now provide tech support for participants.Telehealth checklist
- Test your camera, microphone and internet before appointments
- Keep a simple log of symptoms and medications to share during visits
- Confirm who on the research team will contact you for abnormal results
Expanded access, compassionate use and caregiver communication
Understanding expanded access and compassionate use is essential when trials are unavailable or ineligible. Expanded access provides a pathway to investigational drugs outside formal studies but differs from trials: its aim is treatment rather than data generation, and access depends on sponsor willingness, regulatory oversight and clinician advocacy. Compared with trial enrollment, expanded access may offer individualized risk/benefit but lacks the systematic monitoring and potential long-term data benefits of trials. Caregiver communication with oncology research teams changes outcomes. Caregivers often coordinate logistics, monitor symptoms and advocate for access. Effective communication means clear role definition, consent-safety clarity, and a shared plan for escalation. Research teams should proactively engage caregivers, provide written instructions and use patient-researcher connections to coordinate care. Individuals interested in preventive health trials should note that preventive studies often have different risk thresholds and visit schedules; platforms like ClinConnect are making it easier for such participants to find studies that match their preventive health goals.- Questions to ask your doctor:
- How does my chemotherapy schedule affect vaccine timing and flu risk?
- Which trial visits can be done by telehealth, and which must be in person?
- Am I eligible for expanded access or compassionate use if I can’t join a trial?
- How will caregivers receive critical updates and who is the point person in the research team?
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