Oncology

Patients with stage III colon cancer with deficient DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes who are treated with FOLFOX have a more favorable prognosis than those with proficient MMRs.

The American Journal of Managed Care® spoke with Jane L. Frederick, MD, FACOG, a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist, about the changing landscape of cancer treatment, partnering with oncologists, and helping patients gain financial assistance for their fertility preservation and treatment.

Study focused on liver cancer cases, over time, in different locations and the main causes.

A new study highlights how the beliefs of surgeons and radiation oncologists influences radiotherapy use in early-stage breast cancer among older women.

Technological advances will lead to improvements in clinical trials and greater participation in trials by patients, explained Michael Kolodziej, MD, national medical director of managed care strategy at Flatiron Health.

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.

The US Preventive Services Task Force already has recommendations for screening and intervention for obesity, but they often are not followed.

This week, the top managed care stories included speculation regarding who would replace Tom Price, MD, as HHS secretary; a report on breast cancer mortality trends and racial disparities from 1989 to 2015; and the FDA announced new strategies to improve patient access to less expensive drugs.

A new study in the journal BMJ concludes that most oncology drugs approved by the European Medicines Agency between 2009 and 2013 failed to display a benefit on survival or quality of life, even at 3.3 years following market entry.

As the health system evolves it will become increasingly important that practices understand business, explained Tesh Khullar, senior vice president of provider solutions at Flatiron Health.

A research study conducted in a mouse mammary cancer model has found that optimal timing, based on sequencing of immunotherapy agents, is important for treatment efficacy.

A new survey conducted by The Health Management Academy has identified a rapid investment by leading healthcare systems in precision medicine programs, with significant expectations of the impact of real-world outcomes on physician decision making.

There are 2 categories of challenges facing oncology practices as they transition to value-based payment models, said Aaron Lyss, director of value-based care for Tennessee Oncology.

While death rates from breast cancer declined 39% from 1989 to 2015, there are clear racial differences with black women having higher breast cancer death rates than white women, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society.

Clinical trials researching cancer therapies should be more inclusive of a broader range of patients, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and Friends of Cancer Research.

October is breast cancer awareness month, and as September ended, a new treatment received the FDA’s approval for advanced breast cancer and another was granted priority review for the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer.

Drug pricing is one area where there may be potential future policy changes that impact community oncologists, said Dan Todd, JD, principal at Todd Strategy.

Outreach interventions, including mail outreach invitations, may be effective in increasing the proportion of completed colorectal cancer screening, according to research.

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.

Key lessons learnt at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's policy meeting: Redefining Quality Measurement in Oncology.

Ensuring access to appropriate data and then using the information to improve healthcare outcomes remains an ongoing challenge-this was the conclusion drawn by panelists participating at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Oncology Policy Summit on Redefining Quality Measurement in Oncology.

This week, the top managed care stories included the end of the latest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act; a call to better include the patient's voice in cancer quality metrics; and an argument for caution regarding the newly approved CAR T-cell therapy, Kymriah.

Not only do patients with cancer incur higher costs when treated in the hospital outpatient setting compared with community oncology practices, they also have higher rates of emergency department visits, according to a recent study.

After examining over 1000 cases of high-grade gliomas in children and young adults, researchers have split these rare brain tumors into at least 10 different subtypes, which could help clinicians choose and deliver more effective treatments.