All-Star Panel Spells Out Onc Promises, Problems
April 1st 2006The decline in total cancer mortality in the United States that began in 2003 looks set to continue and even accelerate as more research moves "from bench to bedside"—unless the basic and translational science feeding that change is strangled by budget cuts and red tape, according to experts at the 11th Annual Conference of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).
Community Oncology Practices Struggle to Cope With the Extra Requirements of Medicare Part D
April 1st 2006Medicare Part D, the outpatient prescription drug plan that went into effect on January 1, is having a major impact on community oncology practices as they struggle to deal with widespread confusion as well as the extra requirements imposed by the private plans.
Assess Regularly for Treatment-Related Learning Problems
April 1st 2006Neuropsychologists play a key role in helping identify cognitive issues in childhood cancer survivors and in developing rehabilitation programs to increase their functioning, Lisa A. Jackson, PhD, said at the Cancer in the Classroom meeting hosted by Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Liver Transplant Ups Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
April 1st 2006Liver transplantation is lifesaving in patients with localized hepatocellular carcinoma, with some 75% of transplant recipients still alive 5 years later, compared with only 12% of other patients, finds the first large population-based study of this treatment for this disease.
AJN Releases Report on Care for Long-Term Cancer Survivors
April 1st 2006The American Journal of Nursing (AJN) recently released a consensus report based on the outcome of the invitational symposium, "The State of the Science on Nursing Approaches to Managing Late and Long-Term Sequelae of Cancer and Cancer Treatment," which took place in Philadelphia in July 2005. The report, which accompanied the March issue of AJN, offers action strategies and recommendations, from a nursing perspective, for addressing the health needs of the more than 10 million long-term cancer survivors alive today.
Commentary (Langer): Treatment of Stage I-III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in the Elderly
April 1st 2006Elderly patients with stage I-III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitute a peculiar patient population and need specific therapeutic approaches. Limited resections are an attractive alternative for elderly patients with resectable NSCLC because of the potential reduction in postoperative complications. Curative radiation therapy is an acceptable alternative for elderly patients who are unfit for or refuse surgery. Hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy is of particular interest for this population because of its favorable tolerance.
Commentary (Turrisi): Treatment of Stage I-III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in the Elderly
April 1st 2006Elderly patients with stage I-III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitute a peculiar patient population and need specific therapeutic approaches. Limited resections are an attractive alternative for elderly patients with resectable NSCLC because of the potential reduction in postoperative complications. Curative radiation therapy is an acceptable alternative for elderly patients who are unfit for or refuse surgery. Hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy is of particular interest for this population because of its favorable tolerance.
Treatment of Stage I-III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in the Elderly
April 1st 2006Elderly patients with stage I-III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitute a peculiar patient population and need specific therapeutic approaches. Limited resections are an attractive alternative for elderly patients with resectable NSCLC because of the potential reduction in postoperative complications. Curative radiation therapy is an acceptable alternative for elderly patients who are unfit for or refuse surgery. Hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy is of particular interest for this population because of its favorable tolerance.
FDA Guidances for Early Human Testing of New Drugs
March 1st 2006Officials at the National Cancer Institute have welcomed two new guidance documents issued by the FDA. The two aim at making it easier for clinical researchers to conduct small-scale human studies of exploratory drugs prior to phase I trials. The documents are designed to increase the number of promising drugs that researchers can evaluate by administering them at microdose levels to small numbers of patients before deciding whether the agents warrant further human study.
Inpatient Hem/Onc Unit Adds Phase I Clinical Trial Program
March 1st 2006When an adjacent hospital closed its research unit with cancer trials pending, the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital, Ohio State Univesity, Columbus, successfully added a clinical study component to an existing hematology-oncology unit, to ensure that patients could enroll in phase I trials and receive the care they need during their enrollment.
North Shore-LIJ Opens $17 Million Monter Cancer Center
March 1st 2006The North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System has opened its Monter Cancer Center, a $17 million, 37,000-square-foot facility that offers a spectrum of cancer services in a stunning outpatient setting, providing patients with a calming atmosphere complete with indoor gardens and skylights.
Unrelated CBTs Successful in Adult Acute Leukemia Pts
March 1st 2006Unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT) appears at least as effective as haploidentical T-cell-depleted peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) in adults with acute leukemia, with outcomes varying according to leukemia subtype, according to a retrospective analysis of European transplant patients.
Longer PFS With Maintenance Rituximab After CVP in FL
March 1st 2006In patients undergoing treatment for follicular lymphoma, (FL) maintenance rituximab (Rituxan) after a cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP) regimen appears to confer a survival benefit, Sandra Horning, MD, professor of medicine, Stanford University, said at the 47th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (abstract 349).
Clinical Care Doesn't End Post-treatment
March 1st 2006This case study illustrates some of the off-treatment issues your patients may face and provides some practical solutions to help patients overcome them whether you see them for regular follow-up or just receive an occasional phone call requesting assistance.
With Baby Boomers Aging, Medicare Financing System Must Be Restructured
March 1st 2006The Medicare program needs to be restructured if it is to remain solvent for the generation of baby boomers now reaching age 60. Since many cancer patients are Medicare beneficiaries, the health of the program is vital to the oncology community.
Commentary (Burt): Genetics of Colorectal Cancer
March 1st 2006Approximately 6% of colorectal cancers can be attributed to recognizable heritable germline mutations. Familial adenomatous polyposis is an autosomal dominant syndrome classically presenting with hundreds to thousands of adenomatous colorectal polyps that are caused by mutations in the APC gene.
Commentary (Offit): Genetics of Colorectal Cancer
March 1st 2006Approximately 6% of colorectal cancers can be attributed to recognizable heritable germline mutations. Familial adenomatous polyposis is an autosomal dominant syndrome classically presenting with hundreds to thousands of adenomatous colorectal polyps that are caused by mutations in the APC gene.
Commentary on Abstracts #613, #1645, #1035, and #1384
February 2nd 2006Thalidomide (Thalomid) has been commercially available in the United States since October 1998. The use of thalidomide in the treatment of malignancies is growing as its potential utility for treating multiple myeloma, renal-cell cancer, and AIDS-