Oncology

A new study finds that women with ovarian cancer who were black or Hispanic tended to undergo more aggressive treatment and were less likely to receive hospice services at the end of life.

A new study published in Clinical Cancer Research provides evidence that researchers can use biomarkers to identify patients whose tumors will grow at a faster rate following immunotherapy treatment.

Providers have a responsibility to discuss the costs of cancer care with their patients earlier on, so the patients aren’t blindsided by enormous bills, said Samantha Watson, founder and CEO of The Samfund. These conversations would help patients prepare for the financial realities associated with cancer.

Hispanics and blacks with colorectal cancer report a higher burden of poor health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) compared with white patients, according to study results presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

In a reversal of previous policy, the FDA has announced it will allow the genetic testing company 23andMe to market its DNA tests directly to consumers.

Clinical pathways can successfully be used to drive physicians to choose a less costly regimen when the efficacy and toxicity of different treatment regimens for metastatic colorectal cancer are comparable, according to a study in the Journal of Oncology Practice.

A study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research predicts a shift in the number and the pattern of cancer incidence among those infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Over the last 4 decades, the incidence of thyroid cancer has risen by an average 3.6% per year, according to a recent analysis of cancer registry data. Researchers believe this reflects a true increase in the cancer’s occurrence that cannot be explained by overdiagnosis.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has released a statement raising serious concerns about right to try, while strongly supporting the FDA’s expanded access program.

A poll conducted by PatientsLikeMe shows that cancer patients have the same concerns as the general population about healthcare costs, but see benefits in the law that the healthy may have overlooked.

It can be difficult at times for the Florida Health Care Coalition to meet the needs of every stakeholder, but the patient’s best interest is always at the center, said Karen van Caulil, PhD, president and CEO of the Florida Health Care Coalition. The organization works with task forces and advisory groups to find solutions that put the patient first.

According to new research, a program that used standardized criteria to trigger palliative care consultations for patients with advanced cancer was associated with lower use of chemotherapy, fewer readmissions, and increased utilization of home-based support services after discharge.

The 5-year survival estimate from a study evaluating nivolumab in a subset of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is significantly longer following treatment discontinuation.

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.

Ted Okon, MBA, executive director of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), discusses what the FDA would look like with Scott Gottlieb, MD, as commissioner, how the fee scheme of pharmacy benefit managers are contributing to rising drug costs, and COA's upcoming conference.

The full approval comes in less than 2 years of the drug's accelerated approval by the FDA.

This week, the top managed care news included new radiology guidelines for early-stage breast cancer; 4 continuing healthcare challenges for President Donald Trump; and Medicare coverage for Dexcom's continuous glucose monitor.

Being blind, intellectually disabled, or having a spinal cord injury can reduce the probability of a person being screened for colorectal cancer.

A study published in the journal Cancer has found that the rate of advanced imaging at the time of breast cancer diagnosis reduced during the period between 2008 and 2015 in the state of Michigan.

Empathy is the root of dignity for patients, and healthcare providers need to consciously adjust their communication styles to demonstrate that empathy, according to Melissa Thompson, MBA, healthcare strategist, patient, and self-advocate. Some examples include not discussing the patient without including them and using inclusive language that brings the patient and provider together.

Many women with breast cancer turn to radiotherapy, a proven treatment that reduces the risks of recurrence and death. However, long-term smokers face a greater risk of lung cancer and cardiac mortality from radiotherapy.

The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Annual Meeting kicked off on March 28, 2017, in Denver, Colorado, with a look at the specialty pharmaceutical pipeline with Aimee Tharaldson, PharmD, senior clinical consultant for emerging therapeutics at Express Scripts.

Results from the randomized NOVA trial convinced the FDA to approve niraparib (Zejula) as maintenance treatment for adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer who are sensitive to platinum-based chemotherapy.

According to research conducted at the Colorado School of Public Health at CU Anschutz, nearly 75% of smokers have low socioeconomic status.

Women who were diagnosed with cancer at a young age are more likely to experience adverse birth outcomes like preterm birth, low birth weight, and cesarean delivery, particularly if the diagnosis occurred during pregnancy, according to a study in JAMA Oncology.

While the orphan drug market has been growing, a new study argues that the current unmet needs of patients with rare disease proves that current incentives are not efficiently stimulating orphan drug development.

At the 22nd Annual Conference of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, in Orlando, Florida, Paul M. Cinciripini, PhD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center delivered a presentation on a mission he said he has spent the better part of his life working on: getting patients with cancer to quit smoking cigarettes.

There are more costs involved in cancer treatment than just the price of the drugs, said Marianne Fazen, PhD, president and CEO of the Texas Business Group on Health. The process of selecting the right treatment also factors into spending, so it is important for patients to get a second opinion.

Despite the abundance of new drugs that have been approved recently and the promising clinical trials of other novel therapies, multiple myeloma remains incurable, explained Shaji Kumar, MD, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic. However, he believes that with better options for early intervention and personalized therapies, researchers are on a path to curing the disease.

At the 22nd Annual Conference of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, held March 23-25, 2017, in Orlando, FL, Gregory J. Riely, MD, PhD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, spoke about the what, when, and how of biomarker testing in non-small cell lung cancer.