Oncology

Jerry Conway provides a DNA-centric view of organizing treatment plans with respect to the use of some advances in genomic technology.

Dr Klein moderates this discussion, including co-editor in chief of The American Journal of Pharmacy Benefits Dr Jan Berger. The panel addresses a variety of topics as they relate to companion diagnostics in targeted treatments. Panelists respond to issues such as who should take responsibility in genetic counseling to ensure that patients have the best experience possible-whether it be in person or telephonic. Other topics covered in this discussion include appropriate consumerism in this space, the employer's role in genetic counseling, and how medical professionals are being trained or educated about these processes.

Karen uses this session to analyze payer perspectives in genetic counseling. She describes the process involved with genetic counseling and the role of the counselor. She notes that the path to becoming a genetic counselor can often be more rigorous than in other specialties. Ms Lewis also discusses the surge of interest that genetic counseling has seen in recent years.

Bruce Feinberg, DO, vice president and chief medical officer of Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions, Clinical Pathways, begins this next segment from a different perspective.

Dr Klein begins the panel discussion by asking participants to name one of their biggest challenges. Dr Newcomer responds that time and the fact that there are not enough PhDs are challenging. Ms Torda suggests that standardized data and data collection remains difficult. Dr Scanlon says it's the nimbleness of structuring data.

Dr Newcomer says that he welcomes the transition of oncology from being evaluated in process measures to outcome measures. He says that while quality measures can be quick and messy, these results are used for the purpose of finding gaps and seeing if those gaps can be improved.

Implications of Healthcare Reform: 'No' Will Be Heard is led by Cliff Goodman, PhD, in a panel discussion featuring A. Mark Fendrick, MD, co-editor in chief of The American Journal of Managed Care, John L. Fox, MD, MHA, and Ira M. Klein, MD, MBA, FACP. The panelists determine what it means when a patient says no.

Ethan Basch, MD, a self-described triple-threat, discusses incorporating patient-centered outcomes into clinical trials. He begins his presentation by describing a colleague's published research article, Pazopanib versus Sunitinib in Metastatic Renal-Cell Carcinoma. The study found that not only did Pazopanib cost an estimated $5800 and Sunitinib $7800, but Pazopanib was superior to Sunitiniib in 11 out of 14 quality-of-life indicators.

Dr Peter Bach says professionals are looking at opportunities for new payment models and care redesign, but there are also threats that might surface. Each type of insurance payment model has different levels of risk factors. New payment models, such as the UHC pathways program and CMMI demo, have limited risk.

The value of genetic testing in breast cancer is subject to debate, but it also holds promise. One recent clinical trial simulated by a group of researchers, for instance, found that the 7 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (7SNP) genetic test for breast cancer was cost-effective when used for MRI screenings in patients at intermediate risk of developing the disease over their lifetime.

All the economic studies of genomic tests for breast cancer rely on modeling rather than randomized controlled trials or other direct trial data.

Cancer drug prices have doubled in the past decade, from an average of $5,000 per month to more than $10,000.

Progress in treating multiple myeloma, or cancer of the plasma cells in bone marrow, has advanced significantly over the past decade. Today, questions about the disease often involve finding a treatment that balances the goal of putting a patient into remission especially if stem cell transplantation is a possibility against the toxicity of the treatment itself.

With grants from government sources looking less certain, partnerships between academic research center and pharmaceutical companies are more important than ever to keep breakthrough hematology therapies in the pipeline, said Burt Adelman, MD, a hematologist who serves as executive vice president and chief medical officer for Dyax Inc.

New therapies to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) will receive plenty of attention this week at the 55th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans. At an education session that opened the meeting Saturday, a physician with the Mayo Clinic made it clear that cost considerations are a reality for many older patients.

Research on how tools impact health, costs is 'inconclusive,' but clinicians say better-informed patients avoid unnecessary care, frustration