Home-Based Chemotherapy at Mayo Clinic Suggests Safe Option for Patients With Cancer

Patients with cancer treated at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, safely received IV chemotherapy in their homes through a pilot program designed to reduce the burden of treatment while maintaining close medical oversight, according to a study published in NEJM Catalyst.

For patients who spend hours traveling to and sitting in infusion centers, the findings suggest that for some patients, chemotherapy may be delivered at home without compromising safety. Researchers reported no treatment-related infusion reactions or catheter-related infections among patients treated through the program.

Safely closely monitored, no serious complications observed

In the pilot study, 10 patients collectively received 93 intravenous chemotherapy infusions in their homes between April 1 and August 31, 2023. Throughout treatment, a virtual command center closely monitored patients. Remote patient monitoring tools transmitted health data to the care team, and mobile clinical staff traveled to patients’ homes to administer chemotherapy. This structure allowed patients to remain at home while being connected to their oncology team.

Across all 93 infusions, there were no infusion reactions and no catheter-related infections. Minor complications did occur. Researchers reported two cases of hypokalemia and two unrelated falls. All were managed in the home setting. None of the patients required emergency room visits or hospitalization.

For patients, these findings may help address a common concern: whether receiving chemotherapy outside of a traditional infusion center is safe. In this small group, safety outcomes were closely tracked, and no serious treatment-related complications were observed.

Patients reported comfort and emotional support at home

Beyond safety, researchers examined how patients felt about receiving chemotherapy at home. Of the 10 participants, eight received surveys and seven responded. One respondent skipped select questions. Among respondents, six of six reported feeling comfortable interacting remotely with their care team by phone or tablet. Seven of seven said they felt emotionally supported by their care team during home treatment. Most participants surveyed reported high satisfaction with at-home care and said they would recommend the model to others.

For patients, this may translate to fewer disruptions to daily life. Receiving chemotherapy at home can mean avoiding travel time, parking challenges and long hours in infusion centers. It may also reduce time away from family or caregivers.

The program, called Cancer CARE (Connected Access and Remote Expertise) Beyond Walls, was developed to address logistical, financial and emotional burdens associated with traditional cancer treatment models. By combining virtual oversight, remote patient monitoring, mobile health services and a software platform connected to the electronic medical record, the program aims to deliver care where patients live while maintaining the standards of an academic cancer center.

As patients live longer with cancer, repeated visits to centralized infusion centers can place a strain on patients and caregivers. These challenges may be especially significant for older adults and individuals in rural or underserved areas who face added barriers to accessing care.

Larger trial underway to compare home and standard infusion care

The pilot study was conducted at Mayo Clinic and led by Dr. Roxana S. Dronca, with Dr. Cheryl L. Willman as senior author. Although the results are early and based on 10 patients, Mayo Clinic has launched a randomized clinical trial to further evaluate home-based chemotherapy compared with standard infusion care. The trial began in August 2023 and is examining safety, patient experience, outcomes and costs.

For patients, this next step is important. A randomized trial will help determine whether home-based chemotherapy can be offered more broadly and how it compares directly with receiving treatment in an infusion center.

If additional research confirms the program’s findings, home-based chemotherapy could expand options for where patients receive care. It may also help reduce barriers that make it difficult for some patients to participate in treatment or clinical trials.

For patients considering what this research means, the key takeaway is that, in this early experience, chemotherapy delivered at home was closely supervised and did not result in serious treatment-related side effects. Ongoing research will help clarify which patients may benefit most from this approach and how it may fit into future cancer care delivery.

Reference

1. “Cancer CARE (Connected Access and Remote Expertise) Beyond Walls — Safety, Feasibility, and Patient Experience of Home-Based Chemotherapy,” by Dr. Roxana S. Dronca, et al., NEJM Catalyst.

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