Oncology

As more practices adopt the COME HOME model, they are adapting it to fit their needs, explained Barbara McAneny, MD, chief medical officer of New Mexico Oncology Hematology Consultants. However, some practices may not have the resources to keep up with data collection requirements while ramping up clinical interventions.

A phase 3 trial in patients with advanced melanoma found that nivolumab (Opdivo) outperformed ipilimumab (Yervoy) in terms of recurrence-free survival.

Advanced radiotherapy treatment, combined with chemotherapy, in small cell lung cancer leads to higher survival rates and lower toxicity, according to a new study.

A collaborative research study, based on survey results gathered by the American Cancer Society, has found a correlation between depressive symptoms in cancer caregivers and a decline in their physical health.

The FDA has approved expanding the use of the DigniCap Cooling System to prevent chemotherapy-associated alopecia for all patients with solid tumors.

As practices adopt the Oncology Care Model, practices should consider how this change will influence the practice and make efforts to continue engaging with the staff during this process, said Basit Chaudhry, MD, PhD, founder of Tuple Health.

New clinical trial research presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology 19th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer suggests that ARMO BioSciences’ immuno-oncology drug, AM0010, is effective in treating patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

A new liquid biopsy test that uses flow cytometry to detect cancer cells has been FDA approved for chronic leukemia, acute leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome, and myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Differential pricing structures are necessary for products with surrogate endpoints and to account for revolutionizing treatments in order to have a more sustainable value equation, according to Scott Ramsey, MD, PhD, of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

This week, the top managed care news included the Senate announcing it would delay voting on the healthcare bill until after July 4; the FDA outlined a plan to expedite drug approvals; and Joe and Jill Biden launched the Biden Cancer Initiative.

As a cancer survivor, Rose Gerber, director of patient advocacy for the Community Oncology Alliance, is personally aware of the many long-term issues that can arise during survivorship. These can include physical effects like bone health and emotional issues like the fear of recurrence.

Among a group of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who were previously unresponsive to rituximab, a new antibody could help enable the immune system to attack the cancer cells, according to a study in PLOS One.

Palliative care offers the chance to boost the quality of cancer care, but outdated beliefs that these services should not start until the end of life limit its use. The current issue of Evidence-Based Oncology™, a publication of The American Journal of Managed Care®, explores ways to bring palliative care to more patients who need it.

Radiotherapy is responsible for a significant reduction in breast cancer mortality. However, the treatment may lead to the development of a different cancer or heart disease in the future.

New research finds that hypofractionated radiation therapy is as effective as conventional radiation for treating prostate cancer while offering more convenience for patients.

The study, published in Lancet Oncology, has found that nivolumab reduced the rate of clinically meaningful deterioration compared with investigator’s choice among platinum-refractory patients being treated for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.

Several studies looked at older diabetes drugs for possible effects on breast cancer prevention, as well as the effects of diet and alcohol use on breast cancer risk.

On Monday, June 26, 2017, the Biden Foundation announced the launch of the Biden Cancer Initiative, their new venture to continue the fight to make progress in cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and care.

As part of its new Drug Competition Action Plan, the FDA has announced it will seek to spur innovation by allowing for accelerated approvals of generic drugs without competitors. It also published a list of drugs without approved generics that could be eligible for this expedited review process.

Data from multiple studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Venclexta/Venclyxto in treating relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia, according to Roche.

A new study finds an association between Medicaid disenrollment in Tennessee and higher rates of late-stage breast cancer diagnoses and delays to treatment.

At the 8th Annual Oncology Market Access & Pricing USA 2017 meeting hosted by eyeforpharma, the discussion included raw material short supplies, pragmatic trials, risk-sharing, and understanding these challenges to meet stakeholder goals.

Researchers at Indiana University have confirmed the clinical utility of 2 laboratory tests that can distinguish benign pancreatic cancer lesions that mimic early signs of cancer and spare patients of unnecessary pancreatic cancer screenings or surgeries.

The US Multi-Society Task Force recently released new recommendations for colorectal cancer (CRC) screenings. Since there has been an increase in CRC among younger Americans, while incidences in those over age 50 is decreasing, the recommendations consider the importance of systematic screening tests even for people without any CRC symptoms.

The FDA has approved Genentech’s Rituxan Hycela for subcutaneous injection for the treatment of certain blood cancers. Rituxan Hycela has similar outcomes as Rituxan, but can be delivered in 5 to 7 minutes compared with 1.5 hours for Rituxan.