Oncology

By prescribing clinically similar luteinizing hormone–releasing hormone agonists for the treatment of prostate cancer, Medicare could have saved 13% of its total budget for monthly injections, according to a study from the Office of the Inspector General.

Two drugs under review by the FDA-dabrafenib and trametinib-seem to slow development of treatment resistance in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma.

At a meeting hosted by the American Journal of Managed Care, key figures in the managed care industry discussed innovative payment models being utilized by payers and providers.

At a meeting hosted by the American Journal of Managed Care, key figures in the managed care industry discussed innovative payment models being utilized by payers and providers.

Sanofi slashed the price of colorectal cancer drug Zaltrap (ziv-aflibercept) in half after 2 oncologists from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center publicly balked at the drug's $11,000 price tag in an op-ed in The New York Times.

A study of male physicians 50 years of age and older found modest but significant reduction in cancer rates associated with daily multivitamin use.

In a session at the 2012 Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Educational Conference, Aimee Tharaldson, PharmD, identified the top specialty drugs in the pipeline and highlighted the most recent therapeutic trends within each medication class.

Celgene Corporation today announced the FDA has approved Abraxane (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) as a first-line treatment for locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, in combination with carboplatin, in patients who are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation therapy.

The app for iPhone and iPad allows users to use whole body photography to track moles that may develop into melanoma.

A T-cell usually associated with allergies and asthma may be effective in fighting melanoma, according to the results of a recent study.

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a genetic test to help predict survival odds for patients with ocular melanoma.

Combination therapy with the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib and immunotherapy appears to produce improved results in a mouse model.

Compounds extracted from strawberries demonstrated an ability to protect cell culture against DNA damage from ultraviolet radiation, raising the possibility that they could help produce creams to protect against melanoma and other skin cancers.

Several melanoma experts discuss new treatments for the condition, including vemurafenib (Zelboraf) and ipilimumab (Yervoy).

Isaac Brownell, MD, PhD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, discusses means of preventing and detecting skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

When compared with traditional treatments, biologic therapies for RA were found to not be associated with an increased risk of cancer.

Breakthrough cancer pain-episodes of intense pain experienced by many cancer patients despite around-the-clock treatment with opioids-can be effectively managed with a fentanyl-based oral spray.

Pharmacists can close the information gap for patients with cancer at every stage and provide valuable counseling and support.

Checking for omissions, duplications, dosing errors, compliance, and drug interactions by an inpatient or outpatient pharmacy team can prevent errors and ensure that a patient's medications are accurate and safe.

Pharmacists can and should play a vital role in educating patients about prostate specific antigen testing and current knowledge about prostate cancer.

New antineoplastic agents approved by the FDA for a variety of cancers advance drug therapy as more research spurs the fast pace of change in oncology.

The FDA approved Genetech's Erivedge (vismodegib) capsules for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic basal cell carcinoma(BCC) or with locally advanced BCC that has recurred following surgery, and for patients who are not candidates for radiation.

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