Maurie Markman, MD

Articles

Debate Over Randomized Trials: Necessary Versus Optional

July 14th 2017

In the ongoing debate regarding the role of randomized trials in defining the standard of care in cancer management, adherents of this so-called gold standard acknowledge the problems associated with conclusions drawn from prospective nonrandomized studies or retrospective analyses of patients managed with different approaches.

Early Access Programs: Look at the Facts, Not the Rhetoric

July 3rd 2017

The impact of the Trump administration's agenda is being felt in the healthcare arena, prominently in the oversight for drug approvals.

Hidden Baseline Clinical Factors Often Influence Study Results

June 8th 2017

There is an intense and seemingly growing debate within the clinical, research, and regulatory arenas regarding what should be appropriately required to declare that a new or novel strategy be considered an acceptable standard-of-care approach to cancer management within a particular setting.

Fresh Examples of Long Delays Highlight Need for Clinical Trial Reform

May 25th 2017

Randomization designed to isolate the impact of a specific factor has enabled practitioners to understand the value, or lack of value of particular drugs, procedures, or processes in a given clinical setting.

Resistance to Coverage for Molecular Testing Panels Illustrates Need for New Policies

May 12th 2017

It is common for third-party payers to deny payment for N-of-1 molecular testing at the same time they continue to pay for multiple lines of chemotherapy, even though there is often little evidence that the particular patient's cancer will respond or that the quality of life will be improved.

Patient's Role in Oncology Surgical Decisions Is Evolving

May 1st 2017

In general, where surgery is a medically appropriate option, it is the surgeon who takes the leading clinical role in discussions with the patient and her or his family regarding the development of an optimal strategy for that individual.

Clinicians Must Evaluate Evidence Needed in Real-World Practice

April 17th 2017

Research on a scalp-cooling device to help patients with breast cancer avoid hair loss during chemotherapy illustrates this question: what level of evidence might individual clinicians require before they would suggest, recommend, or support the use of a particular approach in treating patients outside the realm of the mandates of governmental agencies or payers?

Simplified Summaries of Trial Data Needed for Patients and Their Oncologists

April 7th 2017

Despite the importance of clinical trial data, there are problems with the way these data are presented. There is a need to simplify what is being discussed so that it can be more easily understood or summarized by patients and their advisers in their decision-making process.

It's Time for Action on Shortage of Elderly in Clinical Trials

March 17th 2017

It has long been recognized that the elderly are acutely underrepresented in the clinical trials that help to define the standards of care in oncologic management in the United States.

Dr. Markman on 2017 Goals for the Field of Ovarian Cancer

March 2nd 2017

Maurie Markman, MD, president, Medicine and Science, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, editor-in-chief, OncologyLive, discusses what he would like to see accomplished in the field of ovarian cancer over the next year.

Focus on Cancer Prevention Would Moderate Spiraling Costs of Care

February 24th 2017

Certain components of the cancer care continuum have the potential to favorably impact the rapidly encroaching crisis in cancer care costs at the societal level.

Clinical Trial Reform Is Urgently Needed

February 23rd 2017

The current status of clinical cancer research in the United States falls far short of what is necessary to effectively and efficiently change this amazing opportunity to improve both the quantity and quality of the lives of patients with cancer into an objective reality.

Practicing Oncology in the Gray Zone

February 1st 2017

"Uncertainty" is a routine dilemma when discussing a prognosis with a patient with cancer and his or her family. The prognosis is, at best, a statistical probability—assuming the available objective data are somewhat representative of the individual patient.

Dr. Markman on Combination Treatments in Ovarian Cancer

January 19th 2017

Maurie Markman, MD, president, Medicine and Science, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, editor-in-chief, OncologyLive, discusses combination treatments in ovarian cancer.

Dr. Markman on Immune Targeting in Ovarian Cancer

January 14th 2017

Maurie Markman, MD, president of Medicine and Science, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, editor-in-chief, OncologyLive, discusses the development of immune targeting in ovarian cancer.

When Values Collide: The Individual Versus the Common Good

January 9th 2017

It is perhaps a little unusual that an oncology commentary would begin with a highly provocative discussion about the future of driverless cars, but there are similarities in the sharp corners of the debate over this new technology and emerging trends in cancer care.

Dr. Markman on the Search for Actionable Biomarkers in Ovarian Cancer

January 5th 2017

Maurie Markman, MD, president, Medicine and Science, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, editor-in-chief, OncologyLive, discusses the search for actionable biomarkers in the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer.

Give Precision Medicine a Chance

December 28th 2016

Negative reports evaluating molecularly selected agents should not derail the process of developing future therapies by employing a precision medicine approach.

Patient-Friendly Policies Extend to Decision Making

December 12th 2016

It was not that long ago that decisions regarding cancer management were essentially made exclusively by the treating physician, with patients simply being informed of “the plan” for their treatment.

Challenging "What We Think We Know"

November 29th 2016

One of the basic tenets of science is the concept that all accepted “truths” are subject to objective testing and, through this process, can be shown to be false.