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Showing 7451 - 7500A Primary Care Doctor’s Tough-Love Medicare Fix
Bookmark Title: Curing Medicare: One Doctor’s View of How Our Health Care System Is Failing the Elderly and How to Fix It Author: Andy Lazris, MD Publisher: CreateSpace Publication date: September 13, 2014 Price: $13.75; paperback, 290 pages Several years ago I decided to write a book about...
Opening Doors: ASCO Aims to Increase Workforce Diversity Through Physician Mentoring Program
Olumide Gbolahan, MD, faced a familiar dilemma among aspiring oncologists. Dr. Gbolahan, an internal medicine resident of the Morehouse School of Medicine, wanted extra time and experience in an oncologic elective summer rotation to ease his transition from internal medicine to oncology. Unsure of...
The Promise of Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Cancer Therapy
The concept of using activation of the innate immune system and an inflammatory response against a bacterial component to instigate an antitumor response was studied in the 1960s, which led to the development of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin, now used in the treatment of superficial bladder ...
Selected Abstracts From 2015 ASH Annual Meeting
Here are several abstracts selected from the proceedings of this year’s American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, highlighting therapeutics in acute leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes. For full details of these study abstracts, visit...
Necitumumab in Metastatic Squamous Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
In the Clinic provides overviews of novel oncology agents, addressing indications, mechanisms, administration recommendations, safety profiles, and other essential information needed for the appropriate clinical use of these drugs. On November 24, 2015, necitumumab (Portrazza) was approved for use ...
Ductal Carcinoma in Situ and Relevant Endpoints for Omission of Standard Treatments: Are We There Yet?
The optimal management strategy for ductal carcinoma in situ has become increasingly controversial with respect to potential overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Much of the controversy for ductal carcinoma in situ stems from its exceptional breast cancer–specific survival, which approaches close to...
Journal of Oncology Practice Expands Research Coverage and Debuts a New Look
Launched by ASCO in 2005 to provide oncologists with original research on the delivery of high-quality cancer care, the Journal of Oncology Practice (JOP) enters its 11th year with a new look and feel. Beginning in January 2016, JOP will be copublished by ASCO and Harborside Press, the publisher of ...
Clinical Trial System Badly in Need of Overhaul, Say Panelists at Friends-Brookings Conference
Cancer clinical trials in three distinct phases, as they have been conducted for decades, are probably no longer the best way to bring a drug or biologic agent to market. This was the consensus of three panels at the 8th Annual Conference on Clinical Cancer Research convened by Friends of Cancer...
Partnering Therapies for Estrogen Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer Requires Close Monitoring and Patient Communication
Partnering endocrine therapy with new targeted agents for women with estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer “changes the nature of endocrine therapy from something easily tolerated, with not a lot that you have to do as physicians to monitor it,” William J. Gradishar, MD, of the Robert H. Lurie...
Nivolumab as Single-Agent Treatment for BRAF V600 Wild-Type Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma
In the Clinic provides overviews of novel oncology agents, addressing indications, mechanisms, administration recommendations, safety profiles, and other essential information needed for the appropriate clinical use of these drugs. On November 24, 2015, nivolumab (Opdivo) was approved for use as...
Nivolumab in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma After Antiangiogenic Therapy
In the Clinic provides overviews of novel oncology agents, addressing indications, mechanisms, administration recommendations, safety profiles, and other essential information needed for the appropriate clinical use of these drugs. On November 23, 2015, nivolumab (Opdivo) was approved for use in...
Expert Point of View: Susan M. O’Brien, MD
Until recently, chlorambucil (Leukeran) was the standard of care for older patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in Europe. In several studies, chlorambucil combined with newer drugs—for example, anti-CD20 antibodies, obinutuzumab (Gazyva), or ofatumumab (Arzerra)—improved survival,...
Adjuvant Denosumab Improves Disease-Free Survival in Estrogen Receptor–Positive Postmenopausal Breast Cancer
There is good news about denosumab (Prolia). The primary analysis of the ABCSG-18 trial showed that adjuvant denosumab (given at low doses) reduces the risk of clinical fracture by 50% in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer who are taking an aromatase inhibitor.1 More good news is that...
National Cancer Database Study Indicates Racial Differences in Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Use in Women With Breast Cancer
In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Killelea et al found that chemotherapy, particularly neoadjuvant chemotherapy, was more frequently given to black, Hispanic, and Asian women vs white women with stage I to III breast cancer, with the difference largely attributable to more...
Study Finds Cardiovascular Disease Is Prevalent and Often Asymptomatic in Childhood Cancer Survivors
Although historically the leading cause of death among survivors of childhood cancer has been cancer recurrence, adverse late effects of cancer therapy have become the leading cause of death 30 years after diagnosis, and those deaths are frequently attributed to premature cardiovascular disease,...
Adding Ibrutinib to Bendamustine/Rituximab May Increase Progression-Free Survival in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma
In the phase III HELIOS trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Chanan-Khan et al found that the addition of the Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib (Imbruvica) to bendamustine (Treanda)/rituximab (Rituxan) increased progression-free survival in patients with chronic lymphocytic ...
Study Reports Improved Survival With Lapatinib and CapeOx in Asian and Younger Patients With HER2-Positive Advanced Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma
In a phase III trial (TRIO-013/LOGiC) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Hecht et al found that the addition of lapatinib (Tykerb) to capecitabine-oxaliplatin (CapeOx) in patients with previously untreated HER2-amplified advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma did not improve overall...
FDA Expands Pembrolizumab Label to Include Approval in Initial Treatment of Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma
On December 18, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the pembrolizumab (Keytruda) label to include approval of the drug for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. This expansion now includes the initial treatment of patients with unresectable or...
Fractionated Stereotactic Radiation More Effective Than Single-Dose Radiation in Pituitary Tumors
A recent study at Houston Methodist Hospital proved that multiple small doses of highly focused radiation therapy is safer and more effective than a single larger dose of radiation at destroying pituitary gland tumors. The findings on the use of fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy were published ...
Adding Ibrutinib to Bendamustine/Rituximab Increases Progression-Free Survival in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma
In the phase III HELIOS trial, reported in The Lancet Oncology, Chanan-Khan et al found that adding the Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib (Imbruvica) to bendamustine (Treanda)/rituximab (Rituxan) increased progression-free survival in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or...
FDA Allows Marketing of Cooling Cap to Reduce Hair Loss During Chemotherapy
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the first cooling cap to reduce hair loss in female breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy for marketing in the United States. Hair loss is a common side effect of certain types of chemotherapy, commonly associated with the treatment of...
Repeating Abnormal PSA Tests Reduces Number of Unnecessary Biopsies
For more than 20 years, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test has been used to help screen for prostate cancer. However, in recent years, some task forces have called for this blood test to be abandoned because it leads to many unnecessary biopsies. Now, a new study from The Ottawa Hospital and...
SABCS 2015: Pathologic Complete Response to Presurgery Chemotherapy Improves Survival for Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Patients with stage II or stage III triple-negative breast cancer who had a pathologic complete response (pCR) after presurgery chemotherapy had increased event-free and overall survival compared with those who had more than minimal residual invasive disease at surgery following presurgery...
SABCS 2015: Denosumab Improves Disease-Free Survival for Postmenopausal Patients With Hormone Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer
Adding denosumab (Xgeva) to adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy improved disease-free survival for postmenopausal patients with early-stage, hormone receptor–positive breast cancer, according to results from the phase III ABCSG-18 clinical trial presented at the 2015 San Antonio Breast...
ASH 2015: Young Adults With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Have Encouraging Survival With Pediatric Chemotherapy Regimen
Using a pediatric chemotherapy regimen to treat young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) significantly improved their outcomes compared to what has historically been achieved with “adult” treatment protocols, report Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists. Overall survival...
ASH 2015: Genetic Variants Discovered in Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia That Indicate Higher Risk for Osteonecrosis, Avascular Necrosis
Two new studies to be reported at the 57th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting highlighted new insights on genetic mutations in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) that indicate a higher risk for debilitating chemotherapy-associated bone damage. The study findings were...
Systematic Review Informing ACS Updated Guideline for Breast Cancer Screening in Women at Average Risk
Findings of a systematic review of the benefits and harms of breast cancer screening commissioned by the American Cancer Society (ACS) to inform its updated guideline on screening in average-risk women were reported in JAMA by Myers et al of the Duke Evidence Synthesis Group. Their findings were...
RSNA 2015: Subsolid Lung Nodules Pose Greater Cancer Risk to Women Than Men
Women with a certain type of lung nodule visible on lung cancer screening computed topography (CT) exams face a higher risk of lung cancer than men with similar nodules, according to a new study (SSA04-02) presented by Boiselle et al November 29 at the Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of...
Study Identifies Ovarian Cancer Cell Hierarchy
Can any cancer cell form another tumor, or is it only select cancer stem cells that give rise to new cancer cells? The answer, a new study finds, is both. Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center looked at human ovarian cancer cells, and found that, for the most part,...
Female Hormone Supplements With Estrogen and Progestin Linked to Breast Cancer Risk in African American Women
Postmenopausal African American women who use female hormone supplements containing estrogen and progestin (“combination” therapy) are at an increased risk for estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer. The study, published by Rosenberg et al in the Journal of the National Cancer...
Less Favorable Characteristics for Breast Cancer Diagnosed After Biennial vs Annual Screening in Premenopausal Women
In a study reported in JAMA Oncology, Miglioretti et al found that diagnosis of breast cancer after biennial vs annual mammography screening was associated with a higher risk of less favorable tumor prognostic characteristics among premenopausal women. They also noted a nonsignificantly higher risk ...
Yoga Helps Maintain Quality of Life, May Lessen Side Effects in Men Undergoing Prostate Cancer Treatment
Men with prostate cancer who are undergoing radiation therapy can benefit from yoga, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania reported at the Society for Integrative Oncology’s 12th International Conference. The new, first-of-its-kind study, led...
Increased Risk of Second Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Among Patients Receiving Immunosuppressive Therapy
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate had an increased risk of a second nonmelanoma skin cancer, and adding anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) may increase that risk, according to results of a retrospective cohort study reported in JAMA Dermatology. A similar association...
Some Rare HER2 Mutations May Not Be Capable of Causing Breast Cancer Growth
Results of a new laboratory study by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers suggest that some rare “missense” mutations in the HER2 gene are apparently not—on their own—capable of causing breast cancer growth or spread. In a related finding, the research team said...
Investigational NAE Inhibitor Pevonedistat Shows Potential Activity in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Lymphoma
A phase I study evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetic profile, pharmacodynamic effects, and antitumor activity of the first-in-class investigational NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) inhibitor pevonedistat (TAK-924/MLN4924) in patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoma or multiple myeloma has found...
Cancer Survivors Are Less Likely to Receive Callbacks From Potential Employers
Job applicants who are cancer survivors are less likely to receive callbacks from potential retail employers than those who did not disclose their health history, according to a recent study by Rice University and Pennsylvania State University researchers. Study Findings The study, published by...
Preclinical Study Finds Pediatric Low-Grade Gliomas With CRAF Fusions May Require Differential and Combinatorial Targeted Therapies
Pediatric low-grade gliomas are the most common type of brain tumor diagnosed in children, and represent a heterogeneous group of tumors, which are poorly classified based on histology and location, according to Payal Jain, a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, and lead author of a...
No Difference in Overall Survival, Poorer Relapse-Free Survival With Adjuvant Intermittent vs High-Dose Interferon Alfa-2b in Stage III Melanoma
The final analysis of a European Dermatologic Cooperative Oncology Group phase III trial, reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Mohr et al, showed that adjuvant intermittent vs standard high-dose intravenous interferon alfa-2b was associated with no difference in overall survival but...
ABC3: Patients Speak Out Against 'Damaging Messages' About Metastatic Breast Cancer, Call for Inclusion in Discussion About Treatment Costs
Organizations that issue “damaging messages” about advanced breast cancer need to be identified and educated to change the way they talk about the disease, a patient told the Advanced Breast Cancer Third International Consensus Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, on November 5, 2015. In...
Dexamethasone Reduces Pain Flare After Palliative Radiotherapy for Bone Metastases
In a Canadian phase III trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Chow et al found that prophylactic dexamethasone reduced the incidence of radiation-induced pain flare compared with placebo in patients receiving palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases. Study Details In this double-blind trial,...
Only 1 in 5 U.S. Patients With Pancreatic Cancer Gets Key Blood Test at Diagnosis
Only 1 in 5 patients with pancreatic cancer in the United States receives a widely available, inexpensive blood test at diagnosis that can help predict relative outcome (compared to others with the same disease stage) and guide treatment accordingly, a Mayo Clinic study showed. People who test...
Researchers Discover SEC23B, Gene Associated With Cowden Syndrome, Contributes to Thyroid Cancer Risk
Cleveland Clinic researchers have discovered a gene associated with Cowden syndrome, an inherited condition that carries high risks of thyroid, breast, and other cancers, and a subset of noninherited thyroid cancers. These findings were published by Yehia et al in the American Journal of Human...
Immunotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer Boosts Survival by More Than 75% in Preclinical Models
A new study in mice by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that a specialized type of immunotherapy—even when used without chemotherapy or radiation—can boost survival from pancreatic cancer by more than 75%. The findings are promising, and human clinical...
ASCO Calls for Comprehensive Payment Reform to Address Issue of Site Neutrality
ASCO has called for comprehensive physician payment reform to support the full scope of services required by patients with cancer, rather than jeopardizing patient outcomes by reducing the available resources in a particular cancer care setting in an effort to achieve "site neutrality" in...
ASTRO 2015: Pediatric Patients With Ependymoma Have Favorable Outcomes With Immediate Postsurgical Radiation Therapy
Outcomes for pediatric patients as young as 12 months old with ependymoma who are treated with immediate postoperative radiation therapy are favorable and consistent, based upon tumor surgical resection and tumor grade, according to research presented by Merchant et al (Abstract 1) on October...
ASTRO 2015: Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy May Be an Acceptable Treatment for Some Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer
Long-term patient-reported outcomes indicate that for some men with localized prostate cancer, hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) may be a reasonable treatment option and result in similar quality-of-life outcomes, compared to conventional radiation therapy, according to...
ASTRO 2015: Patients With Intermediate-Risk Meningiomas Who Receive Postoperative Radiotherapy Have a 96% 3-Year Progression-Free Survival
Patients with intermediate meningiomas treated with radiation therapy after surgery experienced a 96% 3-year progression-free survival rate and had minimal adverse events, according to research presented by Rogers et al October 21, 2015, at the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s...
ASTRO 2015: Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy Causes Less Inflammation Than 3D Conformal Radiotherapy in Lung Cancer Patients
Patients with stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who receive intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) have 44% fewer cases of severe pneumonitis and improved likelihood of completing consolidative chemotherapy after radiation, compared to patients who receive three-dimensional...
Study Compares Maintenance Strategies After First-Line Oxaliplatin/Fluoropyrimidine/Bevacizumab in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
In a German noninferiority phase III trial (AIO 0207) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Hegewisch-Becker et al found that maintenance treatment with bevacizumab (Avastin) was noninferior to a fluoropyrimidine plus bevacizumab in time to maintenance strategy failure following first-line treatment...
American Cancer Society Updates Its Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines for Average-Risk Women
After commissioning a systematic evidence review of the breast cancer screening literature to inform an update of its 2003 breast cancer screening interval guideline, the American Cancer Society (ACS) released new guidelines for women at average risk of breast cancer. The recommendations include...
