Laura Joszt, MA

Oncologists may be able to use circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to guide treatment decisions and predict which patients will have disease recurrence, according to 2 studies in JAMA Oncology.

Despite growing interest in addressing social determinants of health and recent research into interventions that address food insecurity, there are only a small number of low-quality studies in the area.

Healthcare does not necessarily need to be disrupted, but it does need to evolve and utilize technology so that cancer care can move beyond the conventional walls of the healthcare delivery system, said Susan Dentzer, visiting fellow at the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, during her keynote speech at the Quality Cancer Care Alliance’s Leadership Summit.

As orphan drugs account for an increasing share of drugs approved, they are driving up the cost of drug launches and drug prices. In a new paper, America's Health Insurance Plans analyzes these rising costs and the use of orphan drugs and asserts that policy makers need to revisit the Orphan Drug Act.

All patients with metastatic breast cancer should undergo genetic testing based on the prevalence of P/LP variants in patients with metastatic breast cancer, which can have therapeutic implications.

In 2 studies published in The Lancet Neurology, ozanimod was well tolerated and had a lower relapse rate in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis.

Using vorinostat with pembrolizumab can help improve the efficacy of the immunotherapy in non–small cell lung cancer.

An Expanded Treatment Protocol study that provided expanded access of the FDA-approved ruxolitinib, which treats polycythemia vera (PV) in patients who are intolerant or resistant to hydoxyurea, affirmed the safety and efficacy findings of the trials used for approval.

Patients with complex needs may need more complex solutions to manage their health issues. Innovations in technology and integration of data have made it possible to improve patient interactions with the pharmacy to better manage their diseases. The American Journal of Managed Care® recently spoke with Christine Sawicki, senior director, specialty product development and innovation, CVS Health, about the impact new technology can have on patient experience, health outcomes, and drug spending.

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who had disease progression on multiple therapies may benefit from treatment with the oral therapies selinexor and dexamethasone.

New and effective antibiotics are rarely prescribed in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections, which are a family of the most drug-resistant bacteria.

Even as more competition entered the market, the prices of self-administered disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) rose steadily from 2006 to 2016, and seniors with Medicare Part D coverage saw a 7.2-fold increase in out-of-pocket costs.

Fatal adverse events (AEs) associated with alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis (MS) may occur more frequently than previously understood based on past published literature, researchers found.

Outside of breast cancer, cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors have not been as successful as tumors develop resistance. New research shows that a murine double minute (MDM2) antagonist can help CDK4/6 inhibitors overcome resistance, offering a potential second-line treatment option in melanoma.

The neighborhood you live in not only impacts your health but also can predict if you’ll die prematurely, according to new research published in the journal Health & Place.

Chronic pain, obesity and cancer, multiple myeloma patterns, pancreatic cancer screening updates, and more.

Health plans on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges will be required to display quality ratings starting with the 2020 plan year, according to an announcement from CMS, which is expanding the 5-star rating system it uses on Medicare plans to the health insurance exchanges.

Researchers showed the potential of combining 2 precision medicines to overcome treatment resistance.

Chronic active lesions, which are identified by their darkened outer rims, are associated with more aggressive multiple sclerosis and earlier disability, according to new research from the National Institute of Health.

In Latin America, there has been slower uptake of newer therapies to treat multiple myeloma (MM) in public clinics versus private clinics, which has led to disparities in outcomes.

Patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), a precursor to multiple myeloma (MM), can progress from low- or intermediate-risk to MM in just 5 years, according to researchers who are now recommending all patients with MGUS undergo blood testing and risk assessment.

People who have better cardiovascular health, as scored by the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7, at age 50 have a lower risk of developing dementia over the next 25 years, according to a new study.

In the 5 years before being diagnosed, patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were less likely to receive vaccinations than comparator groups, according to a new study from the Technical University of Munich and published in Neurology.

Mistrust in healthcare can have big repercussions and can perpetuate ongoing health disparities. Here are 5 things about medical mistrust.

A new understanding of how poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors work could expand the patient populations who are treated, according to a study. The researchers also identified a potential biomarker to indicate which patients would benefit the most.

Research has uncovered 2 pathways through which lung adenocarcinoma can develop, and that knowledge could help target treatments to patients who will benefit the most, according to a new study published in Cancer Cell.

The brain shrinkage that occurs in patients with multiple sclerosis may be the result of a specific brain cell: When projection neurons are damaged, the brain shrinks.

A case study from The Ohio State University highlights how initiatives addressed system-level drivers of burnout and not only improved the health of faculty, staff, and students, but also saved money.

Some cancers, such as breast cancer and leukemia, were well-funded compared with their incidence, mortality, and person-years of life lost, while others, such as gastrointestinal and brain cancers, were all poorly funded.

While poor sleep quality is common in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), it is unclear which factors other than sleep disordered breathing may contribute to poor sleep quality for these patients. A study published in ERJ Open Research found that providers should target depression and coexisting sleep disorders in order to improve sleep quality and quality of life for patients with ILD.