Oncology

What is the most important research tool in biology paid for by taxpayers that they don't know exists? It might be GenBank, the open-access database maintained by the National Institutes of Health, which allows scientists to dramatically reduce the time it takes to find druggable targets and identify genes in the evolution of personalized medicine.

MicroRNA (miR)-21 has been revealed as an oncogene in cancer development, and is one of the miRNAs closely connected to angiogenesis. The authors aimed to explore the impact of miR-21 expression in both tumor and stromal compartments of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and correlations between miR-21 and angiogenic protein markers.

Lee Newcomer, MD, MHA, of Oncology, Genetics and Women's Health for UnitedHealthcare, says the National Comprehensive Cancer Network is transforming genetic testing by utilizing a tool called the NCCN Biomarkers Compendium, which encourages evidence-based decision-making.

Dietary factors, including meat, fruits, vegetables and fiber, are associated with colorectal cancer; however, there is limited information as to whether these dietary factors interact with genetic variants to modify risk of colorectal cancer. In this study, the authors conducted genome-wide association studies between genetic variants, diet, and the susceptibility to colorectal cancer.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Cyramza (ramucirumab) to treat patients with advanced stomach cancer or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, a form of cancer located in the region where the esophagus joins the stomach.

Shifting physician revenue from drug sales to cognitive services for mature pathways providers did not affect practice behavior in this payer-sponsored Oncology Medical Home.

The discovery of the genetic variant, in conjunction with other markers, could help in the development of future genetic screening tools to assess women's risk of developing invasive lobular cancer, and also gives researchers important new clues about the genetic causes of the disease and a related precursor to cancer called lobular carcinoma in situ.

Drug giants AstraZeneca and Pfizer are working on a new clinical trial design, to be launched in Britain in July or August of this year, to include multiple drugs for evaluation in a single trial. This is expected to be both time and cost saving and could significantly hasten drug development.

The world's largest organization of cancer doctors plans to rate the cost effectiveness of expensive oncology drugs, and will urge physicians to use the ratings to discuss the costs with their patients.

Men with blood group O are far less likely to suffer a recurrence of cancer after prostate tumour surgery than men with other blood types, researchers report.

Cancer survivors often encounter a variety of health issues, the most common of which include fatigue, peripheral neuropathy, and depression. To address those specific issues, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has developed 3 new sets of guidelines on cancer survivorship care.

Even as the cost of prescription drugs has plummeted for many Americans, a small slice of the population is being asked to shoulder more and more of the cost of expensive treatments for diseases like cancer and hepatitis C, according to a report to be released on Tuesday by a major drug research firm.

American College of Physicians High Value Care Coordination Toolkit is expected to improve communication between a patient's primary care physician and hematologist.

The results of the Phase 3 Prevail Study on enzalutamide showed significant benefit to prostate cancer patients including delaying the progression of metastatic disease, reducing the risk of death and delaying the start of cytotoxic chemotherapy.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) today issued three evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on the prevention and management of symptoms that affect many cancer survivors-neuropathy, fatigue and depression, and anxiety. The guidelines are the first three in a planned series of guidelines on survivorship care. The recommendations reinforce the need to care for the both physical and psychological needs of cancer survivors.

Professor Vincenzo Valentini, president of ESTRO and a radiation oncologist at the Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy, commented in a statement: The results from this trial are important and practice-changing. It is clear that an additional six months of hormonal treatment in addition to radiotherapy improves the outcome for men with localised prostate cancer. This option should now be considered for all these men with prostate cancer that is at risk of growing and spreading.

Women with diabetes are 14 percent less likely to be screened for breast cancer compared to women without diabetes, according to a study. "Managing the demands of a chronic condition such as diabetes is challenging for many women, leaving other preventative actions, like screening for cancer, to fall by the wayside," said a physician and author. "Our study found having diabetes posed a significant barrier to breast cancer screening even after considering a woman's socioeconomic status, a known contributor to disparities in care among women."

Specialty medications present a challenge for payers as costs for these expensive drugs consume an increasing portion of overall health care spending. In fact, specialty pharmacy spend is expected to rise from $92 billion in 2012 to $235 billion by 2018.

Highlights from recent AJMC conference coverage.

Patient access to some of the nation's best-known cancer-care centers could become a flashpoint in the simmering controversy surrounding the narrow networks being constructed by some insurers and healthcare providers.

Researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered that targeting the liver-X receptor to increase the expression of ApoE can prevent melanoma cells from metastasizing to the lung and the brain.

Early detection of precancerous adenomas by colonoscopy can prevent the development of cancer.

The ASCO task force has identified 3 goals for its strategic value initiative. First is that oncologists will have the skills and tools needed to evaluate the relative value of interventions, and will use these when discussing treatment options with their patients. Second is to have information readily accessible to help patients select high-value treatment that meets their individual needs. Third is to have an algorithm that can be used by those responsible for covering the costs of cancer care to define and assess the value of treatment options.