Oncology

A letter published in JAMA Internal Medicine questions the FDA's acceptance of surrogate endpoints for what the authors describe as "costly, toxic drugs that do not improve overall survival."

A new evidence-based guidance update provided by the American Cancer Society, published yesterday in JAMA Internal Medicine, recommends a delay in initiating screening mammograms in women with an average risk of developing the disease.

A recent study finds that newly diagnosed cancer patients with incomes below $50,000 are less likely to participate in clinical trials than patients with higher incomes, providing more evidence that income disparities in trial participation remains a serious problem.

A panel discussion at the PMC/BIO Solutions Summit in Washington, DC, saw an exchange on widespread and appropriate education of personalized medicine among payers, providers, patients, and families.

There are a number of financial hardships patients with cancer can face, even if they are insured, such as loss of employment, depletion of retirement accounts, and bankruptcy, said Veena Shankaran, MD, MS.

Top managed care stories this week include comparing US healthcare spending and outcomes to other wealthy nations, identifying how many Americans are affected by Medicaid expansion coverage gaps, and a look at adolescents and young patients with cancer.

NCCN Evidence Blocks add affordability to Guidelines recommendations on safety, efficacy, quality, and consistency of regimens.

The results of a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases necessitate a wake-up call for stakeholders to develop a new approach that can overcome the rapidly-growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

Not just providers of care, but payers as well have been having a hard time embracing the rapidly-evolving and dynamic field of personalized medicine, according to panel members at the recently held PMC/BIO Solutions Summit.

The analysis by Anthem Inc, has identified a need for more widespread implementation of these interventions aimed at reducing healthcare utilization.

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine failed to confirm epidemiologic and preclinical data that vitamin D and calcium can reduce the risk of colorectal neoplasia.

One way to make all patients with cancer, regardless of socioeconomic status, feel like they're on the same level when receiving treatment is to ensure they know they're being taken care of, said Mary Lou Smith, MBA, co-founder of the Research Advocacy Network.

The Samfund, the first and largest group created to help young adults address the costs of cancer, is featured in the current issue of Evidence-Based Oncology, a publication of The American Journal of Managed Care. Samfund officers Samantha Watson, MBA, and Michelle S. Landwehr, MPH, address the challenges of "financial toxicity" for young adult survivors.

A panel discussion during the 2nd PMC/BIO Solutions Summit identified barriers and discussed the path forward to improve clinical integration of precision medicine.

The financial aftereffects of cancer have a tremendous impact on young adults as they move forward with their lives after treatment.

Updates on FDA approvals and extended indications for oncology drugs.

Evaluation of Prosigna's risk of relapse score as a predictor of response to multiagent neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HR+/HER2 breast cancer patients.

An update on recent progress in oncology managed care.

The Patient-Centered Oncology Care meeting provides a great opportunity for stakeholders from across healthcare to get together, and when that happens very good things can come from it, according to Peter Bach, MD, MAPP, director of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's Center for Health Policy and Outcomes.

Earlier this year, the legislature laid the groundwork for Medicaid expansion to occur in 2016.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology has issued a statement asking for an improved evidence base for treating older adults with cancer.

A new study, published in JAMA Oncology has identified a widespread gap in counseling services for patients who undergo BRCA testing.

A study presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting has found that cancer increases cardiac stress, which is further accentuated by chemotherapy.

Stand Up 2 Cancer, in collaboration with the American Association for Clinical Research, will be funding innovative research grants with a potential to further translational cancer research.

Adolescent and young adult cancer patients face multiple barriers to ensuring adequate care: from unsure providers to financial constraints. Improved care coordination and recognition of the needs of this population can lead to much improved outcomes.

Evidence-Based Oncology spoke with Rajen Mody, MBBS, from the University of Michigan Health System, about his experiences treating young cancer patients, the survivorship program offered by the University of Michigan, and next generation sequencing.

Changes in the healthcare marketplace are steadily pushing changes for physicians and specialty practices of all kinds. Blaming the 340B drug discount program is both misleading and unproductive.

The new test, developed by Dako, will provide information on the survival benefit of patients with non-squamous NSCLC treated with nivolumab.

Top managed care stories this week include how much waiting to see the doctor costs patients, Express Scripts announced it will cover both PCSK9 inhibitors, and HHS proposed simplifying rules for providers using electronic health record.

A new study published in JAMA Oncology has identified disparate survival outcomes across sites of care.