Oncology

This week, drug maker Roche released positive data from its phase 3 IMpower133 study that investigated an immunotherapy-based combination of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and chemotherapy in the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).

From the role of data in treatment decisions to the use of apps in tracking patient responses, technology is now front-and-center in cancer care. A special issue of Evidence-Based Oncology™, a publication of The American Journal of Managed Care®, explores the rise of point-of-care tools.

Cancer cells can take advantage of the BCL-2 protein to survive chemotherapy, but a drug that suppresses BCL-2 may have promise in patients with leukemia who produce too much of the protein.

During this year's American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, we sat down with 4 physicians to discuss their experiences with precision medicine, how it's changing oncology care, challenges associated with the shift, and where they think the future of precision medicine is headed.

Immune therapies, or check point inhibitors, have been very successful in a subset of patient with multiple different types of malignancies and has changed their trajectory tremendously, explained Victoria Villaflor, MD, associate professor of Medicine, hematology and oncology, Northwestern University.

As radiation oncologists met with policy makers in Congress as part of the 15th annual American Society of Radiation Oncology Advocacy Day, the need for a radiation oncology–specific alternative payment model (APM) was one of the key topics of discussion.

First-line treatment with atezolizumab plus chemotherapy helped patients with previously untreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) live significantly longer than those treated with chemotherapy alone.

During remarks at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Policy Conference, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, called for more data sharing and explained how the FDA is working to modernize the clinical trial process.

During the European Hematology Association’s 23rd Congress, held from June 14 to 17 in Stockholm, Sweden, researchers announced that the ELOQUENT-3 phase 2 study, evaluating elotuzumab with pomalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, met its primary endpoint in showing a statistically significant, clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival.

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.

Clinical guidelines that direct care at Joslin Diabetes Center, the world-renowned institution for diabetes treatment, research, and education, are now published in Evidence-Based Diabetes Management™, a publication of The American Journal of Managed Care®

This week in managed care, the top stories included Atul Gawande, MD, being named the CEO of the Amazon–Berkshire Hathaway–JPMorgan Chase healthcare venture; the Trump administration finalized rules for creating association health plans; an analysis found some cancer types are represented more than others in the Oncology Care Model.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the healthcare and mainstream press.

Patients with myelofibrosis who were treated with Janus-kinase (JAK) 1/2 inhibitors have an increased risk for developing B-cell lymphoma. However, researchers believe there is a pre-existing B-cell clone that patients can be tested for before treatment.

In a statement released yesterday, the FDA has announced that it is restricting the use of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who are not eligible for cisplatin-containing therapy.

Next-generation sequencings tests are just starting to change the landscape for cancer patients, explained Peter Paul Yu, MD, FASCO, FACP, physician-in-chief, Hartford HealthCare Cancer Center.

TAILORx is very good news for an estimated 60,000 women a year, who in years past would have received chemotherapy, possibly risking long-term physical and mental side effects, in addition to experiencing what is now an additional and recognized side effect of cancer treatment: financial toxicity.

For people living with HIV who achieve viral suppression from antiretroviral therapy, there is a reduced risk of developing both AIDS-defining cancer and non-AIDS-defining cancer.

Last month, the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah announced the opening of the Huntsman Center for Health Outcomes and Population Equity (HOPE). The research and clinical center is dedicated to preventing cancer and improving health among underserved populations.

While receiving a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is common for US adults, African American and Latino adults over age 50 who receive a new diabetes diagnosis may have another health issue to be concerned about: pancreatic cancer.

Last week, Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that the China National Drug Administration approved the country’s first immuno-oncology and first PD-1 therapy, nivolumab (Opdivo), for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Coverage of the latest clinical updates in cancer research.

Physicians participating in the Oncology Care Model now provider care for approximately 21% of Medicare patients with cancer. An analysis from Avalere Health found that those doctors treat some types of cancers more than others.

Lessons from the first meeting of The American Journal of Managed Care® Population Health Council.

AJMC® Convenes First Gathering of Institute for Value-Based Medicine to Share Best Practices in New Payment Models in Cancer Care