Oncology

This week, the top managed care stories include an update for prostate cancer screening guidelines; the consequences of conflicting breast cancer guidelines; and Florida seeks work requirements for Medicaid.

Study identifies need for surgeons to maximize benefits of genetic testing for surgical decisions in breast cancer.

A new study has explored factors that impact patient adherence to oral chemotherapy regimens and found that improved satisfaction with their treatment and clinician was most strongly linked to better adherence.

Adding a test that evaluates stool samples for DNA and protein biomarkers to the list of tools providers can use to boost quality ratings is seen as an additional boost for Cologuard.

A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has found that the extent to which clinicians follow breast cancer screening guidelines for patients of different ages varies by their specialty and by which set of recommendations they trust most.

Exposure to tobacco smoke as a fetus or during early childhood can cause genetic changes that can increase a child’s risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

CAR-T cell treatment can have a number of side effects, with the most serious being cytokine release syndrome, according to David L. Porter, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. However, there are some promising therapies like interleukin-6 blockers that can reverse this reaction.

A new study finds that women with ovarian cancer who were black or Hispanic tended to undergo more aggressive treatment and were less likely to receive hospice services at the end of life.

A new study published in Clinical Cancer Research provides evidence that researchers can use biomarkers to identify patients whose tumors will grow at a faster rate following immunotherapy treatment.

Providers have a responsibility to discuss the costs of cancer care with their patients earlier on, so the patients aren’t blindsided by enormous bills, said Samantha Watson, founder and CEO of The Samfund. These conversations would help patients prepare for the financial realities associated with cancer.

Hispanics and blacks with colorectal cancer report a higher burden of poor health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) compared with white patients, according to study results presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

In a reversal of previous policy, the FDA has announced it will allow the genetic testing company 23andMe to market its DNA tests directly to consumers.

Clinical pathways can successfully be used to drive physicians to choose a less costly regimen when the efficacy and toxicity of different treatment regimens for metastatic colorectal cancer are comparable, according to a study in the Journal of Oncology Practice.

A study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research predicts a shift in the number and the pattern of cancer incidence among those infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Over the last 4 decades, the incidence of thyroid cancer has risen by an average 3.6% per year, according to a recent analysis of cancer registry data. Researchers believe this reflects a true increase in the cancer’s occurrence that cannot be explained by overdiagnosis.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has released a statement raising serious concerns about right to try, while strongly supporting the FDA’s expanded access program.

A poll conducted by PatientsLikeMe shows that cancer patients have the same concerns as the general population about healthcare costs, but see benefits in the law that the healthy may have overlooked.

It can be difficult at times for the Florida Health Care Coalition to meet the needs of every stakeholder, but the patient’s best interest is always at the center, said Karen van Caulil, PhD, president and CEO of the Florida Health Care Coalition. The organization works with task forces and advisory groups to find solutions that put the patient first.

According to new research, a program that used standardized criteria to trigger palliative care consultations for patients with advanced cancer was associated with lower use of chemotherapy, fewer readmissions, and increased utilization of home-based support services after discharge.

The 5-year survival estimate from a study evaluating nivolumab in a subset of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is significantly longer following treatment discontinuation.

Every week, The American Journal of Managed Care® recaps the top managed care news of the week, and you can now listen to it on our podcast, Managed Care Cast.

Ted Okon, MBA, executive director of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), discusses what the FDA would look like with Scott Gottlieb, MD, as commissioner, how the fee scheme of pharmacy benefit managers are contributing to rising drug costs, and COA's upcoming conference.

The full approval comes in less than 2 years of the drug's accelerated approval by the FDA.

This week, the top managed care news included new radiology guidelines for early-stage breast cancer; 4 continuing healthcare challenges for President Donald Trump; and Medicare coverage for Dexcom's continuous glucose monitor.