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Showing 14251 - 14300Lung Cancer Alliance Launches National Campaign to Increase Public Awareness of Lung CT Screening
Following the recent recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) that individuals most at risk for lung cancer be screened, Lung Cancer Alliance has launched a national multimedia public education campaign urging individuals to assess their risk for lung cancer. The “Moments” ...
September Is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
During September, we observe National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month to recognize those who have died and recommit ourselves to helping the women who are fighting for their health. Every year, more than 20,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which is the fifth leading...
Breast Cancer Researchers Awarded Komen for the Cure Grants
Susan G. Komen for the Cure recently announced it has awarded grant funding of more than $1.4 million to five researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine and a one-of-a-kind tissue bank. The grants will be part of the $42 million Komen will award in 2013 for cancer research. Grants Focus...
Couple Pledges $10 Million Gift to MD Anderson’s Head and Neck Cancer Center
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, recently announced that Charles and Daneen Stiefel, of Raleigh, North Carolina, have pledged $10 million to the Head and Neck Cancer Center at MD Anderson. In honor of their generosity, the institution will name the Charles and...
Sorafenib Granted Priority Review for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Bayer HealthCare and Onyx Pharmaceuticals recently announced that the FDA has granted priority review designation to the supplemental new drug application of sorafenib (Nexavar) tablets for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer....
FDA Approves Mechlorethamine Gel for Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
Ceptaris Therapeutics, Inc, recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted marketing approval for the orphan drug mechlorethamine gel (Valchlor) for the topical treatment of stage IA and IB mycosis fungoides-type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in patients who have ...
Undertreatment of Cancer Pain Remains a Persistent Problem in Oncology
Data indicate that for more than 2 decades, cancer pain has been undertreated in the United States. The paradox of this stubborn clinical problem is that oncology has the ability to manage the great majority of cancer pain. To clarify this issue, The ASCO Post recently spoke with nationally...
What Is the Optimal Treatment of Advanced Melanoma?
With exciting targeted and immunotherapeutic agents now part of the arsenal for metastatic melanoma, which drug should move to the head of the line? Mario Sznol, MD, Professor of Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, has been involved in key clinical trials of the...
Paging Dr. Google: Practicing Oncology in the Era of Social Media and Telemedicine
Over the past few decades, economic and political factors have reshaped oncology, especially in the community setting. To defray risk, we’ve seen a trend toward oncology practices partnering with hospitals or aggregating into larger networks. Moreover, the Internet and the advent of telemedicine...
Platinum-Based Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
The last issue of The ASCO Post reports encouraging results with platinum-based treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (September 15, 2013). We predicted these findings 4 years ago in a presentation at the 2009 Breast Symposium.1 We compared the activity of a series of agents (platinum, taxane, ...
To Die Beneath an Open Sky
I read the essay by Chandrakanth Are, MBBS, FRCS, FACS, published recently in The ASCO Post and found it both thoughtful and compelling (“A Great Privilege to Die Beneath an Open Sky,” The ASCO Post, September 15, 2013, page 1). Dr. Are made one statement with which I take exception, however, and...
'Doing Nothing' Is Not an Option
I applaud The ASCO Post for continuing to raise awareness about futile medical care at the close of life with the recent publication of a commentary by Dr. Chandrakanth Are (“A Great Privilege to Die Beneath an Open Sky,” The ASCO Post, September 15, 2013, page 1). I would suggest, however, that we ...
What You Need to Know About E-Cigarettes
“I’ve seen a lot of puzzled people,” Alexander V. Prokhorov, MD, PhD, said, referring to people who see others using electronic or e-cigarettes. That puzzlement can go beyond wondering why people are smoking in public places and whether they are breaking the law, or just being annoying, to...
PCORI Board Approves $114 Million for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Board of Governors recently approved 71 awards, totaling more than $114 million over 3 years, to fund comparative clinical effectiveness research designed to answer questions most important to patients and those who care for them. The awards...
William E. Evans, MD, Director, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, to Retire in July 2014
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital recently announced that William E. Evans, MD, Director and CEO, has decided to retire from his executive post in July of 2014. Dr. Evans has been with the organization for more than 40 years and has served as CEO for the past 10 years. Indelible Mark on History ...
St. Jude Children's Hospital Appoints Larry Kun, MD, Clinical Director
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital officials have named Larry Kun, MD, as Clinical Director and Executive Vice President. Dr. Kun will guide all aspects of clinical care and oversee clinical operations, clinical effectiveness practices and patient care quality programs for the 7,800 patients who ...
Donatori di Musica Initiative Creates a Unique Environment for Oncology Patients
“Surely again, to heal men’s wounds by music’s spell.” —Euripides, Medea (480-406 BC) Commonly defined as organized sound, music has a unique power to stir human emotions, moods, and impressions. The salutary effect of music on the sick has been reported since antiquity. Aristotle and Plato wrote...
Oncology Meetings
October International Clinical Trials Workshop October 17-18 • Santiago, Chile For more information: www.asco.org/ASCOv2/About+ASCO/International+Affairs/International+Clinical+Trials+Workshops 64th Annual Scientific Meeting of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of RadiologistsOctober...
Felice Schnoll-Sussman, MD, Named Director of Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell
NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center has appointed Felice Schnoll-Sussman, MD, Director of its Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health. Dr. Schnoll-Sussman, has served as the Center’s Director of Research since 2007 and Acting Director since 2012. As Director, Dr....
Focus on the Wisconsin Association of Hematology & Oncology
The Wisconsin Association of Hematology & Oncology (WAHO) is among the youngest of ASCO’s State Affiliates. Formerly known as the Wisconsin Association of Medical Oncologists, WAHO was officially formed just 2 years ago and is already having an impact on oncologists and patients with cancer...
Advances in Medical Oncology Over the Next Decade
The next 10 years are expected to usher in unprecedented advances in oncology, including molecularly driven diagnostic and therapeutic developments, whole genome sequencing that results in true precision-based medicine, survivorship care plans that address long-term quality of life concerns, and...
ASTRO Offers Five Recommendations as Part of Choosing Wisely Campaign
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) released its list of five radiation oncology-specific treatments that are commonly ordered but may not always be appropriate as part of the national Choosing Wisely® campaign, an initiative of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation....
Cisplatin Plus Radiation Therapy for Advanced Cervical Cancer Improves Disease-Free Survival vs Radiotherapy Alone
Adding the chemotherapy drug cisplatin to a treatment plan of radiation therapy and high–dose rate brachytherapy for patients with stage IIIB cervical cancer is beneficial, according to research presented recently at the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s 55th Annual Meeting.1 Study Details...
Protecting Hippocampus During Whole-Brain Radiation Substantially Reduces Rate of Cognitive Decline
Protecting the stem cells that reside in and around the hippocampus substantially reduces the rate of cognitive decline in patients during whole-brain radiotherapy without a significant risk of recurrence in that area of the brain, a new study shows. Results of the phase II clinical trial of...
Fewer Weeks of Neoadjuvant Hormone Therapy Reduces Side Effects in Patients With Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer: RTOG 9910
A shorter course of androgen suppression therapy prior to radiation therapy, when compared to an extended course of androgen suppression therapy, yields comparable outcomes and fewer adverse effects for intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients, according to research presented recently at the 55th ...
Long-Term Androgen Deprivation in Patients With Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer Does Not Improve Overall Survival
Men with advanced prostate cancer typically receive hormonal therapy to reduce the level of androgens in their bodies. Although hormone therapy alone will not cure prostate cancer, lowering androgen levels can reduce the size of prostate tumors or stall their growth. A secondary analysis of the...
View From a Cancer Ward in Botswana
Julie Livingston, PhD, MPH, is a Professor of History at Rutgers University. She is also an African historian with interdisciplinary training in public health and anthropology. Among other issues, her work considers the challenges of delivering oncology services in southern Africa, where there is a ...
Aftermath of the AIDS Pandemic: Cancer Care in Botswana
The Republic of Botswana is slightly smaller than the state of Texas and with a population of just over 2 million people it is one of the world’s most sparsely populated countries. Botswana was among Africa’s poorest countries at the time it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966....
FDA Approves Neoadjuvant Pertuzumab for Early-Stage Breast Cancer
On September 30, 2013, the FDA granted accelerated approval to pertuzumab (Perjeta) in combination with trastuzumab (Herceptin) and docetaxel for patients with early-stage breast cancer in the neoadjuvant setting. Pertuzumab is the first FDA-approved drug for the neoadjuvant treatment of breast...
Alcohol Consumption Between Menarche and Pregnancy and Breast Cancer Risk: Factors in Risk Accumulation
In a study recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute and summarized in this issue of The ASCO Post, we found a relationship between alcohol intake between menarche and first pregnancy and risk for breast cancer. Placing this study in context can help us interpret the data...
Jean B. Owen, PhD, Named 2013 ASTRO Honorary Member at Annual Meeting
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) selected health-care researcher Jean B. Owen, PhD, as the 2013 Honorary Member, the highest honor ASTRO bestows on distinguished cancer researchers, scientists, and leaders in disciplines other than radiation oncology, radiobiology, and radiation...
A Great IDEA: Supporting the Next Generation of Oncology Leaders in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Leadership has been cited as a critical success factor for improving access to cancer care in low- and middle-income countries.1 Effective clinical leaders in these countries can be transformative by supporting the development of cancer treatments to meet the needs of their patients, by advocating...
Association of Community Cancer Centers Honors Paul F. Engstrom, MD, With Annual Clinical Care Achievement Award
Paul F. Engstrom, MD, Acting Chairman of Medical Oncology and Senior Vice President of Extramural Research Programs at Fox Chase Cancer Center was recently honored by the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) at the organization’s 30th National Oncology Conference in Boston. Dr. Enstrom...
Comparative Effectiveness Research: Its Time Has Arrived
Reigning in the nation’s runaway medical costs was an underlying theme of President Obama’s health-care reform platform. Citing projects like The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care, which documented large gaps in the quality, costs, and outcomes of health services around the country, the...
American Society of Radiologic Technologists Mammography Checklist
The American Society of Radiologic Technologists has provided a preparation checklist to assist women in preparing for their annual mammograms. Tips include: Schedule your mammogram just after your menstrual period, when your breasts are less tender. Wear a two-piece outfit on the day of your...
Germline Mutations and Breast Cancer Prognosis: Does the Cause Matter?
Since the discovery of BRCA1 and BRCA2, investigators have sought to determine whether the presence of a germline mutation independently influences the outcome of a breast cancer diagnosed in a woman with an inherited mutation. The question is highly relevant to an unaffected woman with a mutation, ...
New President and CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center Reflects on Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
On October 8, 1904, a group of Philadelphia physicians and businessmen who were concerned about the escalating incidence of cancer in the city signed a charter that established the American Oncologic Hospital, one of the nation’s first hospitals solely devoted to cancer care. Seven decades later—2...
ASCO Releases Statement on the Impact of the Government Shutdown on Cancer Care
All nonessential government services were suspended at midnight on October 1, 2013, after Congress failed to reach a budget compromise to keep the government funded before the start of the new fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2013. ASCO issued a statement in response to the government shutdown...
Psychosocial Health in Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cancer
The study by Lund and colleagues discussed in this issue of The ASCO Post reinforces concerns about psychosocial health in long-term survivors of childhood cancer. Taking advantage of national registries, these investigators demonstrated that, when compared to the general population, survivors are...
Challenging and Changing the Standard of Care for Cervical and Ovarian Cancers
“It was a very exciting session this year, particularly for cervical cancers,” said Paul Haluska MD, PhD, of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, in speaking of the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting’s gynecologic oncology session and the abstracts highlighted recently at Best of ASCO in Chicago. In one...
FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Status to Entinostat for Advanced Breast Cancer
Syndax Pharmaceuticals Inc announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated entinostat as a Breakthrough Therapy for the treatment of locally recurrent or metastatic estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer when added to exemestane in postmenopausal women whose disease ...
Telomere Length May Be a Prognostic Marker for Prostate Cancer
Cancer cells are known to have short telomeres, but just how short they are from cancer cell to cancer cell may be a determining factor in a prostate cancer patient’s prognosis, according to a study1 led by scientists at Johns Hopkins. “Doctors are looking for new ways to accurately predict...
Applying Molecular Profiling to Clinical Practice: Promises and Challenges
A “new kind of pathology,” with anatomy and histology being supplemented by molecular etiology, has been emerging over the past decade and promises better response rates among patients with cancer, as genomic alterations continue to be identified and treated with targeted therapies. “The list of...
FDA Approves Nab-Paclitaxel for Late-Stage Pancreatic Cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approved uses of paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension, albumin-bound (nab-paclitaxel, Abraxane) to treat patients with late-stage pancreatic cancer. “Patients with pancreatic cancer are often diagnosed after the...
FDA Approves First Generic Capecitabine to Treat Colorectal and Breast Cancers
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first generic version of capecitabine (Xeloda), an oral chemotherapy agent used in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer and breast cancers. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA has gained FDA approval to market generic capecitabine in 150...
Expert Point of View on ductal carcinoma in situ
In an e-mail interview, E. Shelley Hwang, MD, an expert who has coauthored several papers on ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), weighed in on the two abstracts about management of DCIS featured in this issue of The ASCO Post—one presented by Melissa L. Pilewskie, MD (perioperative MRI in DCIS, page...
SIDEBAR: Expect Questions About Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy: Carefully Review Risks and Alternatives
Physicians were considered the most important source of information about contralateral prophylactic mastectomy in a survey of 123 women who were diagnosed with cancer in one breast and chose to have the contralateral procedure. While 80% of the women reported that they spoke with their physicians...
Better Risk Communication Strategies Needed to Ensure Decision to Have Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy Is Evidence-Based
Overestimating the risk that cancer in one breast will affect the other breast may cause many young women with breast cancer to choose contralateral prophylactic mastectomy even though most know it does not clearly improve survival. In a survey of 123 women who were diagnosed with cancer in one...
Association of Community Cancer Centers' 2013 Innovator Award Recipients Announced
Ten cancer programs that have developed pioneering solutions to address the challenges of treating cancer patients have received the Association of Community Cancer Centers’ (ACCC) 2013 Innovator Awards. Established in 2011, ACCC’s Innovator Awards are sponsored by GE Healthcare. The award...
Oncology Meetings
November Graft vs Host Disease National SymposiumNovember 1 • Independence, OhioFor more information: www.cowdenfoundation.org/gvhd-home/ Washington State Medical Oncology Society Fall 2013 Oncology ConferenceNovember 1 • Seattle, WashingtonFor more information: www.wsmos.org Quality Care...
