Oncology

An excisional biopsy, which is common in case a breast lump is detected, involves an incision along the contour of the breast and removeing the lump. However, this procedure can result in pain, scarring and breast deformity.

Low pre-surgery uptake of a labeled glucose analogue, a marker of metabolic activity, in the primary tumor of patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer is associated with increased overall survival and a longer time before tumor recurrence, a study shows. Patients with high labeled glucose uptake may benefit from additional therapy following surgery.

Studies presented at the annual meting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, in Chicago, evaluated the efficacy of an experimental vaccine and an angiogenesis inhibitor in preventing the recurrence of ovarian cancer.

A new study published by the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics finds that reimbursement approaches based on cost-per-quality-adjusted-life-year measures rather than drug effectiveness may limit access to innovative cancer treatments.

Two studies, published last week in Journal of Clinical Oncology, report improved survival as well as reduced caregiver burden following early initiation of palliative care in advanced cancer patients.

The Global Cancer Project Map is an interactive online database that allows users to search for cancer experts and research projects by country and by cancer type, and then to initiate contact with project principal investigators and program directors.

The study, published in The Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology, discovered cancer survivors perceive gaps in their care with respect to reviewing information, asking questions, obtaining answers, and making decisions.

The authors however cautioned that we still lack an understanding of biomarker-driven patient selection for PD-1 and PD-L1 agent. Adequate knowledge of the mechanism of action of these immuno-oncology agents could help optimize therapy, they add.

The ENABLE trial, conducted in rural regions of Vermont and New Hampshire, reports a positive impact on the 1-year survival of advanced cancer patients. A parallel study, ENABLE III, reported benefits to caregivers following early introduction of palliative care in these advanced cancer patients.

Currently, Keytruda is approved for patients with advanced melanoma previously treated with Yervoy and, in some patients, another type of drug as well. That second- and third-line status limits the number of patients eligible for the drug.

The NCI wants to encourage clinical trial investigators to review data from their completed clinical trials and treating oncologists to look back in their patient records to identify potential cases of exceptional responses and submit them for consideration in the initiative.

Diabetes is associated with more advanced stage breast cancer, according to a new study that confirms a strong link between diabetes and later stage breast cancer at diagnosis.

While keeping pace with the 2014 rate, the FDA is steaming ahead with approvals for a several breakthrough molecules. Everyone is not happy though, especially the payers who are looking at the $100,000 price tag on some of the specialty medications.

Dendreon's prostate cancer immunotherapy Provenge is now being backed by IQWiG just months after the German health technology assessor was poised to reject the treatment.

The Association for Molecular Pathology has provided comments to the FDA, urging increased regulation of next generation sequencing diagnostic tests to ensure consistent and proper performance of the tests.

Published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the study found that most Asian subgroups were less likely to die from cancer than non-Hispanic white patients.

During laboratory experiments, while growing these leukemic cells, the authors observed that some of the cancer cells in culture were changing shape and size into what looked like macrophages. Subsequent experiments confirmed that by manipulating some of the transcription factors, these human cancer cells could be transformed into macrophages, which can engulf and digest cancer cells and pathogens.

A retrospective review of evidence from studies that assessed the use of mind—body interventions, nutrition, physical activity, and combined complementary and alternative medicine approaches in cancer patients found not just improved disease support in cancer patients, but often times, improved survival as well.

In a show of solidarity, state oncology societies from across the United States today joined the American Society of Clinical Oncology in its call on Congress to repeal Medicare's Sustainable Growth Rate formula before the current payment patch expires at the end of the month.

Zarxio was approved earlier this month, the first biosimilar to be approved in the United States.

The study, conducted by Elissa Ozanne, PhD, at Dartmouth found that 11 of the 15 women, aged 45-79 years, interviewed before and after using the mHealth tool preferred it to a paper tool and found it easy to use.

Payers, oncologists, and oncology policy experts provide their feedback on the Oncology Care Model developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, which aims to link payment to the quality of care, improve access to care, and enhance information sharing.

"It's so ironic that CMMI, the innovation arm of CMS, is trying to sell us on implementing a new payment model for oncology while community oncology practices are struggling financially to keep their doors open because of CMS payment cuts," said Ted Okon, executive director, Community Oncology Alliance.

Training sessions with a psychologist, in women treated for breast cancer, helped women with their memory and to maintain their ability to pay attention to things-the so called "executive function and planning" activities.

The paper, published in the latest issue of the Journal of Economic Perspectives, found that while drug price was related to quality improvement over existing therapies, the price increase surpassed quality.