Oncology

As pharmacogenomics continues to progress, specialty pharmacists may dominate treatment for certain diseases.

A meta-analysis of studies that examined stimulant use in children diagnosed with brain tumors found that the medication may improve cognitive processes, just as it does for children with ADHD.

In a recent study, a majority of men reported they still wanted to receive prostate-specific antigen testing, despite recommendations by the US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) against the test.

These pharmacists have specialized knowledge about pharmaceuticals and their use in treating cancer and its comorbidities, and they work collaboratively with the health care team to optimize outcomes.

Women who regularly took low-dose aspirin had significantly reduced risk of colon cancer, but researchers are not yet ready to generally recommend the drug for primary prevention.

BioPlus was selected as a specialty pharmacy supplier for the new Tarceva network.

Specialty Pharmacy Times sat down to talk with Dr. Eric Sredzinski about the controversial topic of pricing for oncology medications, as well as common patient reimbursement hurdles and Avella's technologically savvy efforts to break down patient adherence barriers.

Welcome to our third annual special Oncology edition of Specialty Pharmacy Times! While new targeted oral medications are convenient and effective, they are also expensive and toxic, so the need for creating the greatest effectiveness from therapy is warranted. That's where specialty pharmacy comes in.

The approval of ipilimumab and vemurafenib in 2011 marked a significant advance in the treatment of melanoma, and a number of new investigational agents are in the pipeline.

The FDA approved the first companion diagnostic to detect epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations, which are present in approximately 10% of non-small cell lung cancers.

David Dubin had a family history of colon cancer, but failed to get screened for it when young. Now he's on a mission to make sure others don't make the same mistake.

Independent verification of drug doses can prevent mix-ups and misinterpretation.

The mutations, which may be the most common in melanoma cells, share genetic hallmarks with other ultraviolet light-induced mutations.

Regular, timely screenings for colorectal cancer are essential for catching the disease early, when it can be treated with high rates of success.

The Affordable Care Act will expand coverage and may open the door to elevated roles for pharmacists, former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala argued in a speech at the Miami Breast Cancer Conference.

The Affordable Care Act will expand coverage and may open the door to elevated roles for pharmacists, former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala argued in a speech at the Miami Breast Cancer Conference.

The FDA approved Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine), a new therapy for patients with HER2-positive, late-stage (metastatic) breast cancer.

Specialty Pharmacy Times announces the addition of a new department, Oncology Trends. This section will focus on the management of oncology medications under the pharmacy and medical benefits, clinical pathways, pharmacogenomic and companion testing, and clinical practice guidelines in oncology.

Specialty Pharmacy Times spoke with Dr. Neubauer to discuss the intricacies of clinical pathways, including how to reconcile a drug's cost and benefits, the importance of making evidence-based decisions, when to deviate from recommended treatment pathways, and why he thinks all health plans should pay for the routine costs of clinical trials.

A test of combinations of hundreds of agents, including statins, on metastatic melanoma cells found a number of combinations that showed promise.

Kurtis Reed, MD, discusses the results of his study on the incidence of melanoma among young adults.

The Arizona Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Avella Specialty Pharmacy announce they will present a day of discussion about the latest advancements, trends, and management of oral chemotherapy medications on February 9, 2013.

Eight-year follow-up data from the phase III HERA trial has confirmed that 1-year of adjuvant trastuzumab should remain the treatment standard in women with HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer.

Aetna and Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions announced today an evidence-based program designed to improve cancer care in Michigan.

The FDA today expanded the approved use of Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) to treat men with late-stage (metastatic) castration-resistant prostate cancer prior to receiving chemotherapy.

The deal with GlaxoSmithKline to develop an MD Anderson discovery draws on the expertise of the Institute for Applied Cancer Science.

The adoption of clinical pathways helps to standardize the cancer care process, and this practice is becoming increasingly popular.