Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Hematology & Oncology for April 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.
Meeting Organizers Overlooking Qualified Female Scientists
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Invited speakers at medical conferences tend to be disproportionately male, a disparity that can be addressed by actively preparing lists of potential speakers, according to a study published online April 18 in Nature Immunology.
FDA Approves Kinase Inhibitor for Treatment of AML
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Rydapt (midostaurin) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in combination with chemotherapy, to treat adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who have the FLT3 mutation, the agency said in a news release.
Regorafenib Approved for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the kinase inhibitor regorafenib (Stivarga) has been expanded to include hepatocellular carcinoma, the agency said Thursday in a news release.
Single-Payer Health System Bill Moves Forward in California
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A proposal to replace private insurance with government-funded health care for all moved forward in California on Wednesday as Democrats on the Senate Health Committee voted to advance the measure.
Risk Factors in Six Areas Tied to Physician Burnout
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Physician burnout factors include control, whether there is time to deliver excellent care, and whether the workplace is fair, according to a presentation at the Medical Group Management Association/American Medical Association 2017 Collaborate in Practice Conference, held April 9 to 11 in Chicago.
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Gene Expression Profile Improves ID of High-Risk Melanoma
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A validated 31-gene expression profile (GEP) signature improves identification of patients with melanoma at high risk of metastasis when used in combination with the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) outcome prediction tool, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
FDA Warns Companies Selling Fraudulent Cancer Treatments
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday posted warning letters to 14 companies that are illegally selling more than 65 unproven cancer treatments.
Illicit Marijuana Use Up in States With Legal Medical Use
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Illicit cannabis use increased significantly more in states that passed medical marijuana laws than in other states, according to a study published online April 26 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Chromosome Instability Test Prognostic in NSCLC
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Chromosome instability within lung cancer tumors increases the risk of recurrence or death and may help forecast recurrence long before standard tests, according to a study published online April 26 in the New England Journal of Medicine and Nature.
Blood-Based Genome Testing Feasible for Rapid Mutation Assay
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A blood-based genome testing service provides accurate results within 72 hours, according to a study published online April 19 in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.
Waiting 10 Months for Colonoscopy May Raise CRC Risk
TUESDAY, April 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Follow-up colonoscopy after 10 months is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer and advanced-stage disease among patients with a positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT) result, according to a study published online April 25 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
PSA Screening Rates Have Leveled Off in U.S.
TUESDAY, April 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Rates of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening have leveled off after declining for a number of years in the United States, according to a research letter published online April 24 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Black Men Have Higher Rate of Preclinical Prostate Cancer
MONDAY, April 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Black men appear to have a higher incidence of preclinical prostate cancer and a higher risk of metastatic progression than the general population, which may warrant a change in screening approach, according to a study published online April 24 in Cancer.
Only Select Incidental Thyroid Nodules Need Further Evaluation
MONDAY, April 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Only a few select incidental thyroid nodules require further evaluation, according to a review published online April 20 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Cycling To and From Work Linked Lower CVD, Mortality Risk
MONDAY, April 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Biking to work may help lengthen lifespan, according to a study published online April 19 in The BMJ.
NYC to Raise Cigarette Prices to Highest in the United States
FRIDAY, April 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A proposal to boost the base price of a pack of cigarettes from $10.50 to $13.00 would make cigarettes in New York City the most expensive in the country.
Next Seven Great Achievements in Pediatric Research Predicted
FRIDAY, April 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The next seven great achievements in pediatric research are presented in an article published online April 21 in Pediatrics.
Surveillance Biopsy Timing Not Tied to Reclassification
FRIDAY, April 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Timing of the first active surveillance biopsy is not associated with increased adverse reclassification of prostate cancer, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
First-Void Morning Urine Not Necessary for CIN2+ Detection
THURSDAY, April 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There is no advantage in testing morning first-void urine over later samples for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2+ (CIN2+) detection using human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, according to a study published online April 9 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Electronic Drug Administration Record App Cuts Errors
THURSDAY, April 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Use of an electronic medication administration record (eMAR) application can reduce the rate of medication errors in medication administration recording (ME-MAR), according to a study published online April 18 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
Hypertension May Positively Affect Ovarian Cancer Prognosis
WEDNESDAY, April 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A woman’s prognosis after an ovarian cancer diagnosis may be affected by a number of unexpected factors, according to a review published recently in Cancer Causes & Control.
Potential Benefits, Risks of OpenNotes Discussed
WEDNESDAY, April 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The benefits of sharing notes with patients include improved patient engagement and empowerment, while potential risks may include more phone calls, questions, and increased documentation time, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Evaluation Strategies Compared in Microscopic Hematuria
WEDNESDAY, April 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The combination of renal ultrasound and cystoscopy is the most cost-effective of four diagnostic approaches for the initial evaluation of asymptomatic microscopic hematuria (AMH), according to a study published online April 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Costs Up With Specialist As Predominant Provider of Care
TUESDAY, April 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For older adults with multimorbidity, having a specialist as the predominant provider of care (PPC) is associated with higher spending and lower continuity of care, according to a study published online April 8 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Increase in Prostate Needle Biopsy-Linked Infection in N.Y.
TUESDAY, April 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Infectious complications after prostate needle biopsy increased from 2011 to 2014 across New York State, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
Doctors Need to Be Mindful of What They Post on Social Media
MONDAY, April 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Young doctors often have unprofessional or offensive content on their Facebook profiles, according to a study published online April 9 in BJU International.
Cervical Cancer Screen Rates Low for Women With Mental Illness
MONDAY, April 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Cervical cancer screening rates are much lower among women with severe mental illness than among other women, according to a study published online April 17 in Psychiatric Services.
ASCO Updates Recs on Potentially Curable Pancreatic Cancer
MONDAY, April 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Guidelines relating to the appropriate adjuvant regimen for patients with pancreatic cancer have been updated in light of new evidence, according to a special article published online April 11 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Major Bleeding Risk From Drugs Similar in Elderly
MONDAY, April 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The risk of major bleeding is similar for older patients with atrial fibrillation taking either antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs, according to a review published online April 10 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
Vaccine-Chemotherapy Combo Promising in Glioblastoma
FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An experimental vaccine therapy shows promise in treating glioblastoma, according to a study published online April 14 in Clinical Cancer Research.
Breast Cancer Rates Increasing Among Asian-American Women
FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Breast cancer rates among Asian-Americans are steadily rising in contrast to other racial/ethnic groups, according to a study published online April 1 in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
Yoga Helps Ease Side Effects of Prostate Cancer Treatment
FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Among prostate cancer patients, novice yoga practitioners experience renewed energy and fewer of the sexual and urinary symptoms tied to radiation treatment, compared with men who don’t practice yoga, according to research published recently in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics.
Cancer Occurrence Differs Among African-Born, U.S.-Born Blacks
THURSDAY, April 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Cancer rates differ between African- and U.S.-born black Americans, with cancer rates varying by region of birth in Africa, according to a study published online April 13 in Cancer.
Misunderstanding of BRCA Test Results Affects Mastectomy Rates
THURSDAY, April 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Close to half of breast cancer patients who choose to have a double mastectomy after genetic testing may not have the gene mutations known to raise the risk of additional cancers, according to a study published online April 12 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Mortality Up With Depression Just Before Breast Cancer Diagnosis
THURSDAY, April 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Women with newly-developed depression before a breast cancer diagnosis have a modestly, but significantly, increased risk for death, according to a study published online April 7 in Cancer.
PSA Test Often Occurs Without Discussion of Benefits, Harms
WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Fewer than one in three men screened with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer talked about the risks and benefits of the test with their doctor, according to a study published online recently in Urology.
Barrett’s With Irregular Z Line Unlikely to Progress Quickly
WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There is a low risk of development of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) among patients with Barrett’s esophagus (BE) of <1 cm (irregular Z line) within five years of index endoscopy, according to a study published in the April issue of Gastroenterology.
Patient Choice Stressed in Latest USPSTF PSA Screening Recs
TUESDAY, April 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is recommending that men aged 55 to 69 have a discussion with their doctor about the pros and cons of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for detecting prostate cancer.
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Doctor Communication Style Key During Bad-News Encounters
TUESDAY, April 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Enhanced patient-centered communication (E-PCC) positively impacts patients’ psychological state during bad-news encounters, according to a study published online April 5 in Cancer.
Metformin Use Does Not Increase Prostate Cancer Survival
TUESDAY, April 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Metformin use in combination with docetaxel chemotherapy does not significantly improve survival in patients with diabetes and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
Integrated E-Prescribing Can Cut Prescribing, Dispensing Errors
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An integrated electronic medication prescribing (e-prescribing) and dispensing system can reduce prescribing and dispensing errors, according to a study published online March 30 in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.
Mindfulness Practice Reduces Cortisol Blunting During Chemo
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Mindfulness practice during chemotherapy can reduce the blunting of neuroendocrine profiles typically observed in cancer patients, according to a study published online April 7 in Cancer.
Survival Similar With Debulking by Laparotomy, Laparoscopy
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For women with epithelial ovarian cancer, three-year survival rates are similar for women undergoing debulking by laparotomy or laparoscopy, according to a study published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
MACRA Changes Government Approach to Doctor Payment
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) has made fundamental changes to the government’s approach to physician payment, according to a March 27 policy brief published in Health Affairs.
Air Pollution, Ozone Exposure Linked to Breast Density
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Air pollution and ozone exposure may in part explain geographical variation in mammographic density, according to a study published online April 6 in Breast Cancer Research.
pH-Balanced Vaginal Gel Doesn’t Improve Dyspareunia
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For breast cancer survivors who are premenopausal at diagnosis, a pH-balanced vaginal gel is no better than placebo for improving dyspareunia and overall sexual function, according to a study published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Thyroidectomy for Thyroid CA Up Post 2006 Mass. Health Reform
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of the 2006 Massachusetts health reform, which is a model for the Affordable Care Act, correlated with an increased rate of thyroidectomy for treating thyroid cancer, according to a study published online April 5 in JAMA Surgery.
Combo Rx Plus Stem-Cell Tx Ups PFS in Multiple Myeloma
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Combination therapy with lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (RVD) plus stem-cell transplantation is associated with longer progression-free survival than RVD alone for adults with multiple myeloma, according to a study published in the April 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
FDA OKs Marketing of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Risk Tests
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first home genetic tests for 10 diseases or conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and late-onset Alzheimer’s.
991 Used Oregon’s Physician-Aided Dying Law 1998 to 2015
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Fewer than 1,000 residents have followed through since Oregon became the first state to permit physician-aided dying in 1997, according to a report published online April 6 in JAMA Oncology.
CDC: Almost Half of U.S. Men, Women <60 Infected With HPV
THURSDAY, April 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Nearly half of American men and women under 60 have a genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, according to an April data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Risk Adjustment, Reinsurance Transfer Offer Financial Benefit
THURSDAY, April 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Risk adjustment and reinsurance transfer programs seem to have been effective for increasing revenues at the expense of claims costs, according to research published in the March issue of Health Affairs.
Autoantibodies to GPIHBP1 Identified in Chylomicronemia
THURSDAY, April 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Some patients with chylomicronemia have autoantibodies to glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored high-density lipoprotein binding protein 1 (GPIHBP1), causing severe hypertriglyceridemia, according to a study published online April 5 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Rates of Colorectal CA Screening Lower for Adults With Disabilities
THURSDAY, April 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — American adults with disabilities have lower colorectal cancer screening rates than other adults, according to a study published recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Survival Up With Surgery for Abdominal Melanoma Metastases
THURSDAY, April 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Patients with melanoma that has spread to the abdomen who get drug therapy and surgery to remove their cancer live twice as long — 18 months on average — as those who only get medication, according to a study published online April 5 in JAMA Surgery.
Long-Term Antibiotic Use May Up Risk of Colorectal Adenomas
WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Taking antibiotics for an extended period in early to middle adulthood might increase risk for colorectal adenomas, according to a report published online April 4 in Gut.
Second Opinion Yields Different Diagnosis for 1 in 5 Patients
WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — One-fifth of patients who sought a second opinion recently at a single academic medical center had received a different diagnosis from their primary care providers, according to a study published online April 4 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
Increased Cancer Risk for Childhood Kidney Recipients
WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Childhood kidney recipients have increased cancer risk, according to a study published online March 29 in the American Journal of Transplantation.
Doctors Must Be Wary of HIPAA Violations With Online Reviews
TUESDAY, April 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Physicians should be aware that responding to a negative health care review could potentially expose personal medical information, resulting in a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) violation, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Maximum BMI Over 16 Years Ups Risk of All-Cause Death
TUESDAY, April 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Maximum body mass index (BMI) over 16 years of weight history is associated with increased risk of all-cause death, according to a study published online April 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Protein Expression Predicts Rectal Cancer Outcomes
TUESDAY, April 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Loss of E-cadherin protein expression in the pretherapeutic biopsy of rectal cancer is associated with fewer metastases and improved survival, according to a study published online March 25 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases.
Variation in Occupational Influenza Vaccination Coverage
TUESDAY, April 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There is variation in influenza vaccination coverage by industry and occupation, including among health care personnel and other occupational groups who may have first priority to receive influenza vaccination during a pandemic (tier 1), according to a study published in the April 1 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
Use of Health Literacy Tools Can Promote Shared Decision Making
MONDAY, April 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Use of health literacy tools is encouraged for facilitating shared decision making (SDM), according to an article published in the March issue of the AMA Journal of Ethics.
Firefighters Exhibit Increased Cardiovascular Impairment
MONDAY, April 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Exposure to fire is associated with activation of platelets, increased thrombus formation, and impaired vascular function, promoting myocardial ischemia and injury, according to a study published in the April 4 issue of Circulation.
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