Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Hematology & Oncology for March 2016. 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.
Breast Cancer Recurrence Up With Nightly Fasting <13 Hours
THURSDAY, March 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For women with breast cancer, fasting less than 13 hours per night is associated with increased risk of recurrence, according to a study published online March 31 in JAMA Oncology.
FDA Allows Use of Investigational Zika Test for Blood Donations
THURSDAY, March 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — An experimental test to check blood donations for the Zika virus has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Pioglitazone Linked to Increased Risk of Bladder Cancer
THURSDAY, March 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes newly treated with antidiabetic drugs, use of pioglitazone is associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, with duration-response and dose-response correlations, according to a study published online March 30 in The BMJ.
Non-Surgical Management of Rectal Cancer Increasing
THURSDAY, March 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Use of nonoperative management (NOM) of rectal cancer is increasing, but primarily in disadvantaged patients, according to a study published online March 28 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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FDA Approves First Tx for Disease Linked to Stem Cell Transplant
WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Defitelio (defibrotide sodium) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat a rare, but usually fatal, liver disease that affects some patients who have had hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Burden of Hep C Virus Substantial Despite Oral Antiviral Therapy
WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and associated disease is projected to remain considerable even in the era of oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), according to a study published online March 25 in Hepatology.
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AMA Addresses Elements of Team-Based Care Model
TUESDAY, March 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The elements of a team-based care model are described in a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Acupuncture Helps Manage Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Patients
TUESDAY, March 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Acupuncture may improve management of hot flashes in women with breast cancer, according to a study published online March 28 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Low Lung Cancer Incidence With Negative CT Prevalence Screen
TUESDAY, March 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Participants with a negative low-dose computed tomography (CT) prevalence screen (T0) have lower incidence of lung cancer and lung cancer-specific mortality than all participants with a T0 screen, according to a study published online March 18 in The Lancet Oncology.
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CDC: Tips Anti-Smoking Ad Campaign Still Having Impact
MONDAY, March 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Three years into the campaign, ads targeting smoking are still having a significant impact, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Similar, Longer Survival for Cancer Patients Who Die at Home
MONDAY, March 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For cancer patients, survival is similar or longer for those who die at home versus those who die in the hospital, according to a study published online March 28 in Cancer.
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How Can We Fix the Wage Gap Among Female Physicians?
MONDAY, March 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Women doctors can address the gender wage disparity by understanding the reasons why they earn less, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Only Conservative Strategy Makes PSA Cost-Effective
MONDAY, March 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Highly conservative use of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and biopsy referral is necessary for PSA screening to be cost-effective, according to a study published online March 24 in JAMA Oncology.
Esophageal Rupture Described After Drinking PEG Solution
THURSDAY, March 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Esophageal rupture can occur in association with colonoscopy preparation, according to a letter to the editor published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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ASCO Endorses European Guideline on Bladder Cancer
THURSDAY, March 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has endorsed the European Association of Urology (EAU) guideline on muscle-invasive (MIBC) and metastatic bladder cancer, according to a special article published online March 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Image-Guided Surveillance Beneficial for Head, Neck Cancer
WEDNESDAY, March 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Image-guided surveillance seems beneficial for patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck who have advanced nodal disease, according to a study published online March 23 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Report of Bone Marrow/Liver Pathology Caused by Syphilis
WEDNESDAY, March 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A case of acquired syphilis leading to involvement of the bone marrow and liver is described in a report published online March 22 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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ASCO Endorses Cancer Care Ontario Breast Cancer Guidelines
WEDNESDAY, March 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has endorsed the Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) recommendations on the role of patient and disease factors in selecting adjuvant therapy for early-stage breast cancer, according to a special article published online March 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Drug Combo Reduces Polyps in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
TUESDAY, March 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), treatment with a combination of sulindac and erlotinib is associated with significant reductions in the number and diameter of polyps, according to a study published in the March 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Low Likelihood for Atypia, DCIS Verification With Single Slide
TUESDAY, March 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Interpretation of a single breast biopsy slide per case predicts low likelihood of verification for diagnosis of atypia or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), according to a study published online March 22 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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FDA: Most Powdered Medical Gloves Should Be Banned in U.S.
MONDAY, March 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants to ban most powdered medical gloves, saying they pose serious health risks to patients and health care providers alike.
Poor Prognosis for Women With Pregnancy-Associated Melanoma
MONDAY, March 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For women aged younger than 50 years, melanoma prognosis is worse for those aged 40 to 49 years and for those diagnosed with a pregnancy-associated melanoma, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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Physicians Respond to New CDC Opioid Guidelines
MONDAY, March 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Physicians have responded to the new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s clinical guidelines for prescribing opioids, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Intra-Arterial Chemo Promising for Intraocular Retinoblastoma
MONDAY, March 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Intra-arterial chemotherapy appears to be promising for intraocular retinoblastoma, according to a review published online March 17 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
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Millions in Health Costs Will Be Saved by Generic Gleevec
FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Using the generic version of the cancer drug Gleevec could save patients and insurers millions of dollars, according to a study published online March 4 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Case Before Supreme Court May Expose Doctors to Large Fines
FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A case before a state supreme court could potentially expose physicians to large fines based on a legal technicality relating to what they should have known, rather than what they knew, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Case Report: Immobility-Induced Hypercalcemia in Infant
FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A rare case of immobility-induced hypercalcemia in an infant has been documented in a case report published online March 18 in Pediatrics.
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Non-HIV-Related Kaposi Sarcoma in BRAFi-Treated Patient
THURSDAY, March 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In a case report published online Feb. 28 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, researchers document non-HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma in a male patient with myasthenia gravis and metastatic melanoma treated with the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib.
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Spending on Prescription Meds Up About 5 Percent in 2015
THURSDAY, March 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Spending on prescription medications for insured Americans increased about 5 percent in 2015, with the increase half of that seen in 2014, the Associated Press reported.
Disruptive Patients Distract Docs, May Receive Compromised Care
WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Disruptive patients may get worse care from physicians, according to a study published online March 7 in BMJ Quality & Safety. The findings aren’t definitive because the researchers tested how physicians responded in fictional vignettes, instead of real-life encounters. Still, the results suggest that such patients distract physicians from doing their jobs.
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Melanoma Therapy Tied to Cutaneous Adverse Events
WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Anti-programmed cell death (PD)-1 therapy for metastatic melanoma is associated with the development of immune-related cutaneous events, according to research published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
CDC Issues New Prescription Guidelines for Opioids
TUESDAY, March 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A new advisory, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stresses that doctors — especially primary care physicians — should try to avoid prescription of opioids whenever possible. Two research letters published online March 15 in the Journal of the American Medical Association highlight the scope of the opioid issue.
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HIV-Seropositive CIN3+ Patients Have Lower HPV16 Prevalence
TUESDAY, March 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — HIV-seropositive women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade ≥3 (CIN3+) are less likely to have human papillomavirus (HPV) 16, according to a study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Mayo Clinic Has Established Model to Help Battle Burnout
TUESDAY, March 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In an effort to reduce burnout among physicians, the Mayo Clinic is initiating a model to raise camaraderie and increase collaboration, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Recommendations Issued for Myeloma-Tied Renal Impairment
TUESDAY, March 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Recommendations have been developed for the diagnosis and management of multiple myeloma-related renal impairment; the guidelines were published online March 14 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Guidance Offered for Negotiating Higher Rates From Payers
MONDAY, March 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Negotiations to increase payment from insurance companies can be extremely difficult, although it is possible to get a payment increase, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Preventive Mastectomies Triple for U.S. Women Over Past Decade
MONDAY, March 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The number of U.S. breast cancer patients choosing to have a healthy breast removed has tripled in the past decade, even though this aggressive measure offers no significant survival benefits for women with cancer in one breast, according to a study published online March 8 in the Annals of Surgery.
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FDA Approves Xalkori for Rare Genetic Form of Lung Cancer
FRIDAY, March 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Xalkori (crizotinib) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with tumors that have a rare ROS1 gene mutation.
CYP3A7*1C Allele Linked to Cancer Mortality, Progression
FRIDAY, March 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The CYP3A7*1C allele appears to be associated with mortality and disease progression in specific cancers, according to a study published online March 10 in Cancer Research.
Evidence Links Agent Orange to Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism
FRIDAY, March 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — There is stronger evidence of a link between the herbicide Agent Orange and bladder cancer and hypothyroidism among U.S. military personnel exposed to the chemical during the Vietnam War, a new Institute of Medicine report shows.
Triple-Handed Approach Eases Palpation of Ticklish Patients
FRIDAY, March 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A novel triple-handed approach allows for examination of lymph-node basins without eliciting a ticklish response, according to a letter to the editor published in the March 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Elderly With Advanced CRC Often Get Costly, Unnecessary Tx
FRIDAY, March 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Expensive medications are being given far more often to elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, but they offer almost no benefit, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in Medical Care.
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CDC: U.S. Cancer Mortality Rate Continues to Fall
WEDNESDAY, March 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Overall rates of cancer and cancer mortality in the United States continue to decline, according to the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, a yearly report issued by the American Cancer Society, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries. The report was published online March 9 in Cancer.
Physicians’ Contracts Can Affect Patients, Professionalism
WEDNESDAY, March 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Problematic clauses in physicians’ contracts can impact patient care and professionalism, according to an Ideas and Opinions piece published online March 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Neoadjuvant Chemo Response Predicts Sinonasal SCC Outcomes
TUESDAY, March 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with disease progression, according to a study published online March 2 in Head & Neck.
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High Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio Prognostic in Breast Cancer
TUESDAY, March 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Presurgery high neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a prognostic variable of worse outcome in Caucasian patients with early breast cancer, according to a study published online March 7 in ESMO Open: Cancer Horizons.
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Dietary Glycemic Index Linked to Lung Cancer Risk
MONDAY, March 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Dietary glycemic index (GI) is associated with lung cancer risk, according to a study published in the March issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Risk of Chronic Conditions Up for Retinoblastoma Survivors
MONDAY, March 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Retinoblastoma (Rb) survivors have increased risk of chronic conditions, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of Cancer.
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Daily Low-Dose Aspirin May Reduce Risk of Some Cancers
FRIDAY, March 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Taking low-dose aspirin every day may lower the overall risk of cancer by 3 percent, mostly due to larger reductions seen in risk for colon and gastrointestinal tumors, according to research published online March 3 in JAMA Oncology.
Most Lung Cancer-Specific Tweets Relate to Support, Prevention
FRIDAY, March 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Most lung cancer-specific tweets relate to support or prevention, with fewer tweets about clinical trials, according to a research letter published online March 3 in JAMA Oncology.
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Ovarian CA Encompasses More Than One Kind of Malignancy
THURSDAY, March 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Ovarian cancer isn’t a single disease, but rather a number of different malignancies involving the ovaries, an expert U.S. panel says.
High Mole Count Doesn’t Always Indicate Higher Melanoma Risk
THURSDAY, March 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients with melanoma often have few typical nevi (TN), and no atypical nevi (AN), according to a study published online March 2 in JAMA Dermatology.
FDA: Guidance to Help Prevent Donor-Related Zika Infection
WEDNESDAY, March 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued new guidance for reducing the potential transmission risk of Zika virus from human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps).
SCOTUS: States Can’t Force Health Care Data Release
WEDNESDAY, March 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The Supreme Court has ruled against state efforts to collect health care data from insurance plans.
PRAME Predicts Metastasis in Class 1 Uveal Melanoma
WEDNESDAY, March 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME) mRNA expression predicts metastasis in Class 1 uveal melanoma (UM), according to a study published in the March 1 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
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Spouse Education Level May Impact Choice for Rural Practice
WEDNESDAY, March 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Physicians who are married to a highly-educated spouse are less likely to work in rural underserved areas, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Type 1 Diabetes Linked to Increased Risk of Certain Cancers
WEDNESDAY, March 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Individuals with type 1 diabetes appear to have a higher risk for cancers of the stomach, liver, pancreas, endometrium, ovary, and kidneys, but a reduced risk for prostate and breast cancers, according to research published online Feb. 29 in Diabetologia.
Prostate Cancer Tied to Higher Colorectal Cancer Risk
TUESDAY, March 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The risk of colorectal cancer is increased after a diagnosis of prostate cancer, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Cancer.
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