Oncology News Central

15/08/2024

South County Health faces an exodus of hematology/oncology physicians amid funding and staffing crises. This alarming trend highlights a growing challenge in community cancer care.

Amid financial disputes and unresolved disagreements on bridging budgetary gaps, nearly all of the hematology/oncology providers have quit from a major health system in Rhode Island in a wave of physician resignations.

15/08/2024

As health systems consolidate, ensuring quality and coordinated cancer care is more critical than ever. Dr. Nader Massarweh, MD, Associate Chief of Staff for Surgery at Atlanta VA Health Care System, outlines the challenges & strategies needed to meet the needs of vulnerable patients in a shifting landscape.

Associate Professor of Surgery at Emory University, Nader Massarweh, MD, MPH, FACS, shares insights on the challenges of maintaining high-quality oncology care amid U.S. hospital merging into larger health systems.

15/08/2024

U.S. News & World Report has released the 2024-25 rankings for the best cancer hospitals in the U.S.! Congratulations to the top 5:

1. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
2. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Tap to learn more.

Learn more about the 2024–2025 US News & World Report cancer center rankings. The U.S. News & World Report evaluates these cancer centers on the basis of quality, patient outcomes, and expert opinions.

15/08/2024

"With 20M adult cancer survivors in the US, it's time for comprehensive survivorship guidelines," says Dr. Smita Bhatia, the director of the Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship and the Gay and Bew White Endowed Professor in Pediatric Oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Explore how advances like immunotherapy may shape long-term care.

Survivorship guidelines for pediatric patients have been established, but “such guidelines do not exist in the adult world,” says Smita Bhatia, MD, MPH. As the number of adult cancer survivors rapidly rises, major oncology societies must help create long-term health recommendations, she tells Ro...

14/08/2024

Subcutaneous (SC) formulations of cancer immunotherapies like amivantamab are set to transform oncology care. Faster treatment times and better outcomes, but barriers remain. “Hearing about these findings from PALOMA-3 at ASCO 2024, I was very excited about it. My answer is, yes, yes, yes. I think we need to get this into clinics sooner rather than later,” said Eric Kumar Singhi, MD, a thoracic medical oncologist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Subcutaneous drugs used to treat cancer can be delivered within just a few minutes in clinic or at home, making care more convenient for patients and freeing up clinic resources. However, barriers to wider acceptance remain.

14/08/2024

Experts discuss challenges with FDA's BCG-unresponsive NMIBC definition. Concerns include heterogeneity in clinical trials and impact on drug development. Dr. Smith and Dr. McConkey of Johns Hopkins in Washington, DC highlight the need for standardized criteria.

In 2018, the FDA issued a guidance for the drug industry that defined BCG-unresponsive non–muscle invasive bladder cancer. Some bladder cancer specialists now say that the guidance is complicating patient care. “It’s making it pretty damn confusing,” said one expert.

13/08/2024

Now that elacestrant is approved, what's next? Dr. Erin Cobain of the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center in Ann Arbor discusses genetic testing strategies and the future of SERDs in treating metastatic breast cancer.

The FDA approval of elacestrant for use in patients with metastatic breast cancer who have an ESR1 mutation has led to questions about genetic testing strategies. Erin Frances Cobain, MD, answers crucial questions and considers what’s next for the use of oral selective estrogen receptor downregula...

13/08/2024

Study: Vitamin D supplements significantly extend treatment-free survival in asymptomatic CLL patients. Promising results, especially in those under 65. Tamar Tadmor, MD and Joanna M. Rhodes, MD share clinical insights and commentary.

Vitamin D supplementation was associated with significantly longer treatment-free survival in patients with asymptomatic CLL under active surveillance, a new study showed. Among patients younger than 65 years, supplementation was also associated with a significantly longer time to first treatment.

13/08/2024

FDA approved CAR T-cell therapy lisocabtagene maraleucel for R/R mantle cell lymphoma, offering a crucial new treatment for patients with limited options. Read more on this important development:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the CAR T-cell therapy lisocabtagene maraleucel (Breyanzi) for adults with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma who have received at least two prior lines of systemic therapy, including a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

12/08/2024

"The Silence Doctors Are Keeping About Millennial Deaths": Exploring the challenges doctors face in discussing terminal illness with younger patients. Dr Sunita Puri discusses her recent article in the Atlantic that highlights the emotional conflicts in palliative care.

Oncologists are struggling with the rising cancer mortality rate among millennial patients. Sunita Puri, MD, spoke with Robert A. Figlin, MD, about how age bias and other factors have led to challenges in providing the care that younger adults with terminal cancer both want and need.

12/08/2024

New options for relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia: pirtobrutinib and CAR-T Therapy. Dr. Daniel Ermann of the Hunstman Cancer Center in Salt Lake City discusses the latest treatment advancements and key considerations.

When it comes to the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory CLL, “within the last eight months or so, we have had some exciting new events,” says Daniel A. Ermann, MD. Two newly FDA-approved options create “a difficult choice,” he explains to Robert A. Figlin, MD.

12/08/2024

Study: Are we over-monitoring CAR T-cell therapy patients? New research led by Dr. Nausheen Ahmed (U Kansas Cancer Center) shows that new-onset CRS & ICANS are “exceedingly rare” after 2 weeks in non Hodgkin lymphoma cases. https://bit.ly/3SyfA6X

11/08/2024

69% of 340B contract pharmacies are now tied to PBMs, according to a new analysis by Avalere for COA. This shift raises questions about the program’s impact on community oncology. Ted Okon, MBA, provides an in-depth look at what this means for patient care and policy.

New data are raising fresh concerns about the diversion of funds under the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Ted Okon, MBA, executive director of the Community Oncology Alliance, said the “eye-opening” analysis has significant implications for community oncologists.

11/08/2024

Big changes are coming to ICD-10-CM in 2025, with new codes for lymphoma in remission & other key updates. Make sure your oncology practice is prepared to accurately report & maximize revenue 💵. Stay ahead by reviewing changes now. Dreama Sloan-Kelly, MD, CEO of Dr. Sloan-Kelly Consulting breaks it down. https://bit.ly/4dbYjZO

11/08/2024

FDA grants approval for vorasidenib in IDH-mutant Grade II gliomas. Landmark advancement in neuro-oncology with substantial PFS benefit. https://bit.ly/46AWL9g

10/08/2024

For its 35th annual list, US News reviewed nearly 5K hospitals to create rankings based on patient survival, safety, and the hospital’s reputation among board-certified physicians in the US were considered. Tap to see the list. https://bit.ly/3Lp4zAX

10/08/2024

FDA Approval: Dostarlimab-gxly + chemotherapy is now FDA-approved for all adults with advanced or recurrent , regardless of MMR/MSI status. This approval expands on the previous indication, showing significant survival benefits.

The U.S. FDA extended the approval for dostarlimab (Jemperli) to include adults with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer, regardless of mismatch repair or microsatellite instability status. The previous approval only included those cancers that had DNA repair deficiency.

10/08/2024

A recent study published in JCO Oncology Practice highlights that the majority of metastatic breast cancer patients experience substantial treatment-related side effects and prefer flexible dosing options. Author Aditya Bardia, MD, MPH, from the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, Los Angeles shares insights.

Most patients with metastatic breast cancer have experienced at least one substantial treatment-related side effect and are open to flexible dosing options, a new study found. The results underscore broader challenges in identifying optimal dosing for cancer drugs, experts say.

10/08/2024

📹 Exciting advancements in lung cancer treatment highlighted at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting! "Unprecedented" NSCLC and SCLC data presented by leading experts, Eric K. Singhi, MD, Sandip P. Patel, MD and Maya Khalil, MD. Their commitments to change clinical practice highlights the excitement surrounding the data.

The 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting was unofficially dubbed “ASCO Lung,” after “unprecedented” data.

09/08/2024

Slideshow: Clinical trials drive progress. Without patient participation, medical advances would come to a halt. — Dr. William Wierda. Tap for more oncologist perspectives.

At the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, the Patient Power team asked researchers what they would want to say to patients participating in clinical trials, and here are their responses.

09/08/2024

⚕️Meet Dr. Vivek S. Kavadi, the incoming CEO of ASTRO, who is ready to tackle the big challenges in radiation oncology. From economic pressures to the future of the specialty, he's committed to advocating for practitioners and patients alike.

Amid economic challenges and reimbursement issues, ASTRO’s incoming CEO, Vivek S. Kavadi, MD, MBA, says the specialty “appears to be at some critical inflection points.” He shared his concerns and plans for the future.

08/08/2024

“Groundbreaking” therapy may “change the way we think about cancer treatment,” said Edwin Choy, MD, director of the Sarcoma Oncology Program at Mass General Hospital in Boston. https://bit.ly/3YwaSuA

08/08/2024

FDA Approval: Denileukin diftitox gets the green light for relapsed/refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. It's the first novel systemic therapy for CTCL since 2018, offering new hope for patients.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved denileukin diftitox-cxdl (Lymphir) for adults with relapsed or refractory cutaneous t-cell lymphoma following at least one prior systemic therapy.

08/08/2024

A recent study published in JCO Oncology Practice highlights that the majority of metastatic breast cancer patients experience substantial treatment-related side effects and prefer flexible dosing options. Breast oncologist, Aditya Bardia, MD shares insights.

Most patients with metastatic breast cancer have experienced at least one substantial treatment-related side effect and are open to flexible dosing options, a new study found. The results underscore broader challenges in identifying optimal dosing for cancer drugs, experts say.

07/08/2024

FDA Approves Vorasidenib for Grade II Gliomas: A major win in neuro-oncology with significant PFS improvement. Findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The FDA approved vorasidenib (Voranigo) after surgery for adults and pediatric patients aged at least 12 years with grade 2 astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma with a susceptible IDH1 or IDH2 mutation. This marks the FDA’s first approval of a systemic therapy for patients with these cancers.

07/08/2024

"As I reflect on my journey from post-communist Eastern Europe to becoming a senior clinician-researcher, I share advice for current fellows: stay curious, remain humble, be positive, build your community, balance work and life, and find your niche." - Balazs Halmos, MD, on advice to his younger self.

A senior clinician-researcher shares what he did right, what he did wrong, and what would do differently if he was just starting out in the field of oncology.

07/08/2024

🔬 In our latest survey, 69% of private practice physicians reported using AI in their daily work, with the most common application being medical records documentation. As artificial intelligence continues to advance, how do you see it impacting oncology practice? https://bit.ly/3LVxjla

06/08/2024

🧾 New codes for lymphoma in remission and more are coming. Ensure your oncology practice stays on top of these changes to maintain accurate billing and avoid headaches. Dreama Sloan-Kelly, MD, CEO of Dr. Sloan-Kelly Consulting shares details.

Oncologists will have new ICD-10-CM options to report starting Oct. 1, when the 2025 code set kicks in. These options include new diagnosis codes for lymphoma in remission, primary CNS lymphoma, Fanconi anemia, and more. Here’s what to know to be prepared.

06/08/2024

Study: Recent findings suggest the FDA’s 4-week monitoring period for CAR T-cell therapy might be due for an update. Dr. Nausheen Ahmed from the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City and team found that new-onset CRS and ICANS are “exceedingly rare” after 2 weeks, potentially allowing for more personalized patient care. This could improve access and reduce costs for many.

The FDA’s current guidance for CAR T-cell therapies requires a 4-week monitoring period. However, new findings suggest that key toxicities of concern are rare after 2 weeks. A change in monitoring requirements may help reduce barriers to CAR-T access for some patients.

06/08/2024

🎉 Meagan O. O'Neill, MS, takes the helm as the new Executive Director of the Association of Cancer Care Centers! Her deep experience in oncology consulting, coupled with her personal journey as a caregiver, positions her to lead ACCC’s mission of improving cancer care across the nation.

The Association of Cancer Care Centers has hired Meagan O’Neill, MS, as its new executive director. O’Neill, who started in the role on July 15, is only the third executive director in the organization’s history, and the first woman to serve in the role.