Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Hematology & Oncology for June 2017. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Poll Finds Seniors Struggling With Drug Costs Don’t Seek Help
FRIDAY, June 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many older Americans who have difficulty paying for their medications don’t seek help in finding more economical options, according to the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.
Nivolumab Rx Beyond Progression Beneficial in Melanoma
FRIDAY, June 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For select patients with advanced melanoma, nivolumab beyond Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1-defined progression is beneficial, according to a study published online June 29 in JAMA Oncology.
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Depression Contributes to Health Decline Seen in Cancer Caregivers
FRIDAY, June 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Depression is known to be linked to worsening physical health, and this may be especially true for cancer caregivers, according to a study published online June 29 in Cancer.
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Many Women Have Questions, Concerns About Tamoxifen
FRIDAY, June 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many women at high risk for breast cancer do not take tamoxifen to prevent the disease, often because they confuse naturally occurring symptoms with side effects from the medication, according to a study published online June 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Melanoma Diagnoses Can Vary Widely Among Pathologists
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Pathologists can vary widely when assessing skin biopsies for melanoma, particularly when the case is not clear-cut, according to a study published online June 28 in The BMJ.
Doctors Urged to Take Care With Electronic Communications
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Care should be taken when conveying electronic messages to patients, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Health of the Nation Presented in 40th Annual CDC Report
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The health of the United States is summarized in the 40th annual report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Fat Grafting May Improve Outcome in Breast Reconstruction
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing breast reconstruction, fat grafting may improve patient-reported outcomes, according to a study published online June 28 in JAMA Surgery.
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FDA Seeks to Increase Number of Generic Drugs on Market
WEDNESDAY, June 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — New measures to increase the number of generic prescription drugs available to Americans have been taken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Review Questions Antithrombotic Tx in Essential Thrombocythemia
WEDNESDAY, June 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET), the evidence relating to risks and benefits of antithrombotic therapy is lacking, according to a review published online June 27 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Reduced Cancer-Independent Life Expectancy in Head, Neck Cancer
TUESDAY, June 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Patients with head and neck cancer have reduced life expectancy, independent of cancer, according to a study published online June 22 in Head & Neck.
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More Breast Cancers Diagnosed at Late Stage With Medicaid Cuts
MONDAY, June 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Medicaid cuts could lead to an increase in the number of women diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer, according to a study published online June 26 in Cancer.
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Longer Survival for Midostaurin + Chemotherapy in AML With FLT3
MONDAY, June 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a FLT3 mutation, midostaurin plus chemotherapy is associated with prolonged overall and event-free survival, according to a study published online June 23 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Adding MRI to Mammography Ups Detection of Breast Cancer
MONDAY, June 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For women aged 50 years or younger who have undergone breast conservation therapy, the addition of annual magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to annual mammography screening improves detection of early-stage breast cancers, according to a study published online June 22 in JAMA Oncology.
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ACOG: Shared Decision-Making Key to Breast Cancer Screening
FRIDAY, June 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Shared decision-making is being emphasized in new American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) mammography screening guidelines for women at average risk of breast cancer.
Family History Questionnaire Ups Genetic Counseling for CRC
FRIDAY, June 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing outpatient colonoscopy, a family history questionnaire (FHQ) sent by mail is associated with an increase in available family history and referral for genetic counseling, according to a study published online May 29 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases.
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Drug, Herb Interactions Frequent for Cancer Patients
FRIDAY, June 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Patients with cancer frequently have herb-drug interactions (HDI) and drug-drug interactions (DDI), some of which have clinical consequences, according to research published online June 19 in the Journal of Oncology Practice.
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1991-2014 Saw Minimal Change in Health Spending Per State
THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — From 1991 to 2014 there was minimal change in health spending by state, according to a study published online June 14 in Health Affairs.
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Many With Advanced Cancer Want Secondary Germline Findings Info
THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — More than half of patients with advanced cancer who undergo tumor genomic profiling (TGP) are interested in learning their secondary germline findings, according to a study published online June 19 in the Journal of Oncology Practice.
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Clonal Hematopoiesis Linked to Coronary Heart Disease
THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The presence of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is associated with coronary heart disease, according to research published online June 21 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Nivolumab Doesn’t Up PFS in Stage IV or Recurrent NSCLC
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with previously untreated stage IV or recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), nivolumab is not associated with longer progression-free survival than chemotherapy, according to a study published in the June 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Strategies Compared for Cancer Medication Submission Lags
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For development of oncology drugs in Japan, the global trial (GT) strategy and early-initiation bridging (BG) strategy are associated with shorter submission lag (SL) than late-initiation BG strategy, according to a study published online June 19 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
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HCC Drops Beyond Five Years of Entecavir/Tenofovir Tx for Hep B
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) decreases beyond year five of entecavir/tenofovir therapy, particularly in those with compensated cirrhosis, according to a study published online June 16 in Hepatology.
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Family Hx, Mutation Position Key Variables in BRCA1/2 Cancer Risk
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Breast cancer risk peaks around the 40s for BRCA1 mutation carriers and around the 50s for BRCA2 carriers, with family history and mutation location significant factors in determining individual risk, according to a report published in the June 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Weight-Loss Program Aids Black Breast Cancer Survivors
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A community-based interventionist-guided weight-loss program is efficacious for early-stage African-American breast cancer survivors (AABCS), according to a study published online June 15 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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PSA Testing Frequency High in Control Arm of Screening Trial
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many men in the control arm of a screening trial undergo prostate-specific antigen testing during 15 years of follow-up, according to a study published in the July issue of The Journal of Urology.
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NSAID Use, Survival Link Varies With KRAS Status in CRC Patients
TUESDAY, June 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with improved survival among colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors with KRAS wild-type tumors, according to a study published online June 15 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Imaging of Pelvis Has Limited Value in Hepatocellular Cancer
TUESDAY, June 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with a primary diagnosis of hepatocellular cancer (HCC), imaging of the pelvis rarely provides additional pathologic information, according to a study published online June 14 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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Novel Biomarkers Identified for Prostate Cancer in Non-Blacks
MONDAY, June 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Novel biomarkers have been identified that may have utility for predicting prostate cancer in non-African-American men, according to a study published in the July issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Health Insurers Recruiting Former Pharma Reps to Cut Costs
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Health insurers are recruiting former pharmaceutical company representatives to educate doctors and help save money on prescription medications, according to a report published June 8 in Kaiser Health News.
20 Percent of Hospital Patients Have Side Effects From Abx Rx
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — About 20 percent of U.S. hospital patients who receive antibiotics experience side effects from the drugs, according to research published online June 12 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Modified Colorectal CA Screening Score Improves Risk Prediction
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A modified colorectal cancer screening score improves risk prediction of advanced neoplasia, according to a study published online May 31 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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AMA Endeavors to Increase Transparency of Rx Pricing
THURSDAY, June 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) is calling for more transparency in drug pricing amid rising costs that are putting some lifesaving medications out of reach for patients and communities.
Sedentary Lifestyle May Up Risk of Renal, Bladder Cancers
THURSDAY, June 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — New research adds to growing evidence that inactivity may be a significant risk factor for cancer, according to a report published online May 19 in Cancer Epidemiology.
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Cutaneous Malignancies Can Mimic Seborrheic Keratosis
THURSDAY, June 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Of a sample of lesions deemed seborrheic keratoses clinically, 3.1 percent were histologically diagnosed as malignancies, according to research published online June 7 in the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology.
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Risk of HPV-Linked Second Cancers Up After Anal Cancer
THURSDAY, June 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Survivors of squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) have an elevated risk of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related second primary malignancies (SPMs), according to a study published online June 13 in Cancer.
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OpenArray PCR Platform Detects Pathogens in Plasma, Blood
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The high-throughput OpenArray polymerase chain reaction (PCR) platform can detect and discriminate agents in plasma and blood samples, according to a study published online June 14 in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.
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Prevalence of Antiphospholipid Syndrome Up for Roma SLE
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence and risk of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is higher for Roma versus Caucasian systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, according to a study published online June 7 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
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FeSO4 May Be Best Iron Choice in Pediatric Iron-Deficiency Anemia
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For children with nutritional iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), ferrous sulfate is associated with a greater increase in hemoglobin concentration at 12 weeks compared with iron polysaccharide complex, according to a study published in the June 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Case Report: Hyperammonemia to Be Considered in Cirrhosis Setting
TUESDAY, June 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Severe hyperammonemia, resulting from ammonia that accumulates in stored blood products, should be considered in the setting of cirrhosis, according to a case report published online June 13 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Medical Students Lacking Proficiency in BP Measurements
MONDAY, June 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Medical students frequently do not achieve mastery of the skills necessary for accurate measurement of blood pressure (BP), according to a study published online April 28 in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension.
Review: Depression Screening As Inpatient Important, Feasible
MONDAY, June 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Depression affects about one-third of hospital patients and could slow their recovery, according to research published recently in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
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New Bill With Tort Reforms Will Protect Iowa Physicians
FRIDAY, June 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A new bill with tort reforms to protect Iowa physicians will take effect July 1, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Young CA Survivors More Often Have Cost-Related Nonadherence
FRIDAY, June 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer are more likely to report cost-related medication nonadherence, according to a study published online May 23 in Cancer.
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FISH Beneficial for Diagnosing Cholangiocarcinoma
THURSDAY, June 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is associated with increased sensitivity compared with brush cytology for diagnosing cholangiocarcinoma in indeterminate biliary strictures, according to a study published online May 19 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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U.S. Leads in Income-Based Health Care Inequalities
THURSDAY, June 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The United States has larger income-related differences in perceptions of health and health care than other middle- and high-income countries, according to a report published in the June issue of Health Affairs.
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Full Lymph Node Dissection Does Not Up Melanoma Survival
THURSDAY, June 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Complete lymph node dissection may not increase a melanoma patient’s overall chances for survival, according to a study published in the June 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Liver Cancer the Fastest-Growing Cause of Cancer Deaths in U.S.
THURSDAY, June 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Liver cancer is the fastest-growing cause of cancer deaths in the United States, with substantial disparity in mortality rates for race/ethnicity and state of residence, according to a study published online June 6 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
Certain Cancer Diagnoses Up in High-Income Counties in U.S.
THURSDAY, June 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Americans living in high-income areas are more likely to be diagnosed with some types of cancer than people living in low-income areas, according to a perspective piece published in the June 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Health System Sees Success With E-Visits Via Patient Portal
WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Patient portals can successfully offer access to physicians without office visits, according to a report published online May 30 by the American Medical Association.
Nurse-Led Psych Intervention Beneficial in Breast Cancer
WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A nurse-led psychological intervention program is beneficial for patients with breast cancer at high risk of depression, according to a study published online May 30 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
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CDC: High-Deductible Health Plan Use Rising Among Employers
WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — High-deductible health plans are becoming more common among U.S. adults with employer-sponsored health insurance coverage, according to a report issued June 6 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
PERFI Feasible for In Vivo Imaging of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Polarization-enhanced reflectance and fluorescence imaging (PERFI) is feasible for in vivo intraoperative imaging of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), according to a study published online May 25 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
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Cool Water Works As Well As Hot for Ridding Hands of Germs
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For effective hand hygiene, water temperature matters less than time, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Food Protection.
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Substantial Increase in Costs With Metastases in Prostate CA
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Diagnosis of subsequent metastases is associated with substantially increased costs and medical resource use (MRU) among patients initially diagnosed with localized prostate cancer (PC), according to a study published online May 23 in Cancer.
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Certain Breast CA Patients Benefit From Adjuvant Capecitabine
THURSDAY, June 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Capecitabine (Xeloda) can extend the lives of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer who have residual invasive disease after receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, according to a study published in the June 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Concerns Limit Hospice Use for Hematologic Oncologists
THURSDAY, June 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Most hematologic oncologists agree that hospice care is helpful for patients with hematologic cancers, but many feel that home hospice is inadequate for their patients’ needs, according to research published online May 22 in Cancer.
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