September 2013, Vol 4, No 7

Chicago, IL—The rate of therapy for localized prostate cancer does not increase in markets with higher penetration of robotic surgical technology and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), according to an examination of trends using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare–linked data­base, according to a poster presentation at the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting by lead investigator Florian Rudolf Schroeck, MD, MS, Clinical Lecturer, Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Chicago, IL—Olaparib maintenance therapy prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and the time to disease progression after a second subsequent therapy in patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed serous ovarian cancer. This effect was particularly robust in patients with a BRCA mutation, based on an updated analysis of Study 19.

Chicago, IL—A new analysis of mutations at baseline and at the end of treatment provides information about the response to ponatinib (Iclusig) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) enrolled in the phase 2 PACE study. The results were presented at the 2013 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Berlin, Germany—Although little is known about the prevalence of lymphedema in patients with head and neck cancer, a series of studies showed that 75% of patients with head and neck cancer have problematic lymphedema internally and externally.

Hollywood, FL—As part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicaid expansion necessitates that states soon come to grips with massive change in healthcare coverage. Matthew E. Brow, Vice President, Public Policy and Reimbursement Strategy, McKesson Specialty Health and the US Oncology Network, updated attendees at the Third Annual Conference of the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care on progress in this area.

Hollywood, FL—Regardless of one’s personal opinion of the role of government in healthcare, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be implemented, which means government will be playing a more significant role, as 2 speakers pointed out at the Third Annual Conference of the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care.

>Hollywood, FL—A collaboration between the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the National Business Group on Health can help employers navigate the confusing landscape of employee benefits.

The US Food and Drug Administra­tion (FDA) approved a new indication for paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension, albumin-bound (Abraxane; Celgene) for the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has resulted in few cases of durable remissions. Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), an essential component of B-cell receptor signaling, mediates interactions with the tumor microenvironment and promotes the survival and proliferation of CLL cells.

>The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) revised its policy on financial conflicts of interest (FCOIs) in 2005, establishing for the first time certain types of financial relationships for clinical trial principal investigators.