All Oncology News

The OncLive® News page includes the latest in clinical oncology news, including breaking regulatory decisions, clinical trial findings, pivotal and practice-changing data published in academic peer-reviewed journals, and more across solid and hematologic malignancies. Regulatory news includes new drug approvals by the FDA and European Union, priority review and breakthrough therapy designations, and orphan drug and fast track statuses.

Are Oncology-Owned Retail Pharmacies the Answer to Keep Practices Viable?

November 20th 2013

Eroding reimbursement rates and a shift from intravenous (IV) to oral chemotherapy are combining to threaten the viability of many community oncology practices.

ThyroSeq Test Could Reduce Unnecessary Surgeries for Thyroid Cancer

November 20th 2013

A new test has been developed to identify the difference between malignant and benign nodules in the thyroid gland, which could potentially reduce the number of unnecessary surgeries, according to an announcement from The University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences.

Treating Renal Cell Carcinoma in 2013: An Interview With Sumanta Kumar Pal, MD

November 19th 2013

Over the past few years, seven new drugs have gained approval from the FDA for the treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Primarily these approaches target angiogenesis and mTOR. The advent of these molecularly targeted therapies has significantly improved the standard of care for patients with RCC.

In Treatment Discussions With Oncologists, Patients Ask 'How Much?'

November 19th 2013

Two studies presented at this year's ASCO meeting suggest that a significant proportion of patients with cancer want to include the cost of therapy in their discussion of treatment options with their physician, regardless of insurance coverage.

Receiving Chemotherapy in a Hospital Can Cost Up to 47% More Than in a Physician's Office

November 19th 2013

Where Medicare patients receive their chemotherapy treatment makes a difference in the number of chemotherapy sessions that they receive on average.

MK-3475 Efficacy Expanded With Longer Follow-Up in Melanoma

November 18th 2013

The investigational anti-PD-1 immunotherapy MK-3475 has demonstrated an overall survival rate of 81% at one year in patients with advanced melanoma, according to additional data from a phase Ib clinical trial presented at the 10th International Congress of the Society for Melanoma Research in Philadelphia.

IOM Issues Recommendations to Improve Cancer Care Delivery

November 15th 2013

Delivering high-quality cancer care continues to be a daunting problem for the US healthcare system because of a combination of factors, including an aging population, a shrinking work force, the rising cost of therapies, and a complex disease state and treatment regimen.

Urologist Ownership of Imaging Centers Affects Self-Referral Rates

November 14th 2013

Urologists who treat men with prostate cancer are 2.5 times more likely to refer patients to intensity-modulated radiation therapy centers, especially if they have a financial stake in the IMRT center.

Promising Immune Activation Found in mRCC for AGS-003

November 14th 2013

The investigational autologous dendritic cell vaccine AGS-003 successfully activated a cytotoxic T cell response that correlates with a prolongation in survival for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Drugs and Biologics Account for Largest Practice Expenses

November 13th 2013

The highest expense reported by community oncology practices continues to be attributable to drugs and biologics, according to "2013 Trends in Community Cancer Centers," a survey sponsored by the Association of Community Cancer Centers.

FDA Approves Ibrutinib for Mantle Cell Lymphoma

November 13th 2013

Acting ahead of schedule, the FDA has granted an accelerated approval to ibrutinib as a treatment for patients with mantle cell lymphoma who have received at least one prior therapy.

Everolimus Offers Benefit in Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma

November 13th 2013

Everolimus provides clinical benefit to patients with papillary metastatic renal cell carcinoma, offering promising overall survival results and a tolerable side-effect profile, investigators found in a study presented during the 2013 European Cancer Congress in Amsterdam.

How One Oncology Practice Took Advantage of Economies of Scale

November 12th 2013

One oncology practice in Florida seems to have been able to adapt its practice model, taking advantage of economies of scale, and identifying new revenue streams, while still providing quality care and keeping its oncologists satisfied professionally.

Do Supplements Help Prevent Cancer?

November 12th 2013

A systematic review finds limited evidence of benefit.

ASCO's Top 5 Oncology List

November 7th 2013

Goal is to identify tests and treatments of little to no benefit.

FDA Approves Frontline Obinutuzumab for CLL

November 1st 2013

The FDA has approved obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil as a first-line treatment for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, based on clinical trial data demonstrating that the combination more than doubled median PFS over the chemotherapy agent alone.

Ponatinib Manufacturer Suspends Distribution

October 31st 2013

Marketing and commercial distribution of ponatinib has been temporarily suspended, following an ongoing FDA investigation that revealed an increased frequency of arterial thrombosis and severe narrowing of the blood vessels.

Mount Sinai Oncologists Improve Quality of Care for Cancer Patients with Standardized Criteria for Palliative Care Consultation

October 30th 2013

Intervention doubled palliative care consultations; lowered in-hospital mortality and hospital readmission rates.

Large-Scale Analysis Confirms Superiority of Hyperfractionation in HNSCC

October 29th 2013

Hyperfractionated radiotherapy improved overall survival rates compared to standard and accelerated radiotherapy when administered without concomitant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The NYU Cancer Institute Joins OncLive's Strategic Alliance Partnership

October 29th 2013

Newest OncLive partner is a renowned translational cancer center that is at the forefront of comprehensive cancer treatment and research into advanced targeted therapies.