July 2015, Vol 6, No 6

Multiple myeloma, also referred to as myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow that often leads to bone destruction and bone marrow failure. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 26,800 new cases of multiple myeloma will be diagnosed in 2015, and 11,240 deaths will be attributed to this disease.

Value-based oncology was one of the high-profile topics at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting. It is something that is discussed widely in print and on social media. It is certainly top of mind for payers, doctors, policymakers, business leaders, and, in particular, patients.

Chicago, IL—In children who are at risk for Wilms tumor, the presence of a rare genetic abnormality identifies children who can have a survival benefit from the augmentation or intensification of therapy. The abnormality—loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosomes 1p and 16q (LOH 1p/16q)—is associated with worse prognosis in children with Wilms tumor.

Chicago, IL—Precision medicine in oncology is now being studied in clinical trials in oncology. These trials will pair a patient’s tumor molecular profile with drugs that address those tumor variants.

Chicago, IL—Lenvatinib (Lenvima) added to everolimus (Afinitor) extended overall survival (OS) significantly compared with everolimus alone in patients with metastatic renal-cell carcinoma (RCC). This phase 2 study also demonstrated improved progression-free survival (PFS) with lenvatinib alone and in combination with everolimus compared with everolimus alone.

Chicago, IL—According to Leonard B. Saltz, MD, Chief of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY, the cost of new cancer drugs is no longer sustainable. Dr Saltz presented “Perspectives on Value” at the Plenary Session of the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting.

Chicago, IL—A transition from reimbursement based on volume to reimbursement based on value has begun to emerge, said speakers at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in a session on payment reform. The transition will be clumsy, with competing and potentially mutually exclusive incentives.

Chicago, IL—The rising costs of cancer drugs and medical services, along with increased copays and high deductibles for patients, are adding a serious financial hardship to patients diagnosed with cancer, according to Neal J. Meropol, MD, Associate Director, Clinical Programs, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.

Chicago, IL—At the special session on value during the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, Jennifer Malin, MD, PhD, Staff Vice President for Clinical Strategy, Anthem, Thousand Oaks, CA, presented the payer perspective on value in cancer care. The role of the payer, Dr Malin said, is to balance different stakeholders’ values and needs at various time points.

Chicago, IL—The presidential keynote address at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting was presented by Michael E. Porter, PhD, MBA, Bishop William Lawrence University Professor, Harvard Business School, Boston, who started the value discussions a decade ago. A strong proponent of changing the healthcare system to focus on value, Dr Porter suggests that the fundamental purpose of healthcare is to deliver great outcomes with increasing efficiency, but achieving this goal requires more holistic thinking about delivery care as science.