News Briefs

New web platform alerts docs to updated guidelines

The NCCN and Proventys have collaborated on a web platform that provides oncologists with expert recommendations and evidence to deliver individualized patient care. Proventys CDS Oncology automates the NCCN guidelines according to individual patient characteristics and enables clinicians to assess evidence-based recommendations efficiently within the clinical workflow. The system offers guidance on appropriate lab and imaging tests; provides information on cancer staging; and highlights the most relevant treatment regimens available. The technology features real-time alerts of critical updates to the NCCN guidelines. The system will initially include NCCN guidelines for Hodgkin’s lymphoma as well as several solid tumors, including breast, colon, and non-small-cell lung cancer.  

Incyte excites with myelofibrosis drug

Incyte’s janus kinase inhibitor (INCB18424) showed marked and durable clinical benefits in patients with myelofibrosis in a phase I/II study. According to the results of a 153-person study, 70% to 82% of myelofibrosis patients who received the drug twice daily experienced reduction in palpable spleen size. More than half of the patients who received 15 mg twice daily achieved at least a 50% reduction in palpable spleen size, which was confirmed by MRI (

New Eng J Med

363:1117-127, 2010). After one month of therapy, patients achieved more than 50% improvement in symptom scores. Additional clinical benefits observed in the study included improved performance status; increased exercise capacity; and normalization of elevated platelet as well as white cell counts. These improvements were accompanied by reductions of circulating cytokines, according to Incyte.