A new study from the University of Michigan found significant language-based disparities in patients' access to cancer care. English-speaking callers were able to get information on next steps 94% of the time, while Spanish-speakers and Mandarin-speakers were only connected at 38% and 28% respectively.
A new study published in JNCCN found that the adoption of clinical research results led to a significant increase in the use of shorter adjuvant chemotherapy periods, with CAPOX becoming more widely used. The study also revealed disparities in treatment patterns, with Black patients being more likely to receive shorter chemotherapy reg...
A new study published in JNCCN found that taking alectinib, a medication for advanced lung cancer, with a full breakfast or lunch resulted in higher drug concentrations than with a low-fat breakfast. This could impact treatment efficacy and survival rates for patients.
A large-scale study of patient experiences with telemedicine and in-person visits found that telemedicine consistently outperformed in-person visits in terms of access to care and provider engagement. The study analyzed survey responses from over 39,000 patients across more than 50,000 visits.
The NCCN 2023 Annual Conference emphasized the importance of fostering welcoming environments for patients and staff, ensuring care meets latest standards, and rejecting a one-size-fits-all approach. Key findings included the need to address systemic bias, social determinants of health, and staffing issues in cancer care.
A new study published in JNCCN identifies a targeted approach to improve end-of-life conversations for people with cancer. Researchers found that specially trained oncology infusion room nurses can increase the rate of advance care planning, leading to more supported decision-making.
A recent study published in JNCCN found that the lack of genomic research for people with African ancestry is hindering efforts to reduce disparities in prostate cancer outcomes. The researchers evaluated molecular genetic results for 113 Black South African men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, identifying 17 pathogenic and pot...
The NCCN Annual Conference will debut a new hybrid format featuring in-person events at a new venue, allowing for hallway conversations and networking opportunities. The conference will also showcase more than 100 abstract poster presentations on various oncology-related categories.
A new algorithm uses patient-reported outcomes to identify patients with cancer who are at increased odds of having unplanned emergency department visits. The algorithm, which calculates a symptom complexity score, has shown that patients with high complexity scores are three times more likely to use the ED.
Researchers discovered that pre-surgery immunotherapy significantly improved patient outcomes for locally advanced colorectal cancer. The treatment showed substantial longer survival benefits, including low recurrence rates, in patients with mismatch repair-deficient or microsatellite instability-high (dMMR/MSI-H) CRC.
A recent study by City of Hope found that only 30% of patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors prioritize living longer as their top goal. Instead, 70% focus on addressing pain, fatigue, and losing function. The research highlights the need for better communication between care providers and patients to develop personalized treatme...
A new study published in JNCCN found significant disparities in ovarian cancer treatment based on patient race, ability to pay, and healthcare access. Non-Hispanic Black patients were less likely to receive guideline-appropriate treatment compared to White patients.
Researchers analyzed 408 patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and found no increased risk of side effects from receiving both immunotherapy and the vaccine. The study supports NCCN's recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in people with cancer, citing strong protection against severe COVID-19 for all variants.
The NCCN Annual Congress on Hematologic Malignancies will address key findings on chronic lymphocytic leukemia management and CAR T-cells in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The event also features updates on immunotherapies in multiple myeloma treatment.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center found that metabolic imaging, combined with traditional treatment response assessment methods, can provide critical information to guide therapy for pancreatic cancer patients. The use of positron emission tomography (PET) with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) tracer adds significant pr...
A new scale called the Geriatric Oncology-Potentially Inappropriate Medications (GO-PIMs) Scale was found to be more effective at predicting frailty than conventional methods. The scale identifies high-risk medications linked to falls and fatigue, allowing oncology teams to deprescribe them and improve patients' overall health.
A study found that a majority of online pharmacies selling imatinib, a chronic myeloid leukemia therapy, are uncertified and operate unsafely. Patients may face risks of nonadherence, treatment failures, and adverse events if they use these pharmacies.
A population-based study found that patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer who experienced hot flashes while on adjuvant hormone therapy had worse outcomes and a higher risk of early treatment discontinuation. The study suggests that managing side effects may not be enough to prevent treatment discontinuation, highlight...
A new study published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (JNCCN) found that incorporating the Electronic Health Record-Enabled Evidence-Based Smoking Cessation Treatment (ELEVATE) program into electronic health records can significantly improve smoking cessation rates among cancer patients. The research demonst...
Researchers found a steady decline in annual mammography use by breast cancer survivors between 2009 and 2016, with the largest decrease seen among younger patients. The study highlights the importance of reinforcing the significance of annual mammograms for breast cancer survivors.
The NCCN Annual Conference focuses on the cancer patient journey, featuring state-of-the-art practice algorithms, updates to clinical guidelines, and new therapies. Leading experts present treatment recommendations for various cancer types, including breast, colorectal, and lung cancer.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has published new consensus recommendations to improve the safety and efficiency of research studies involving investigational drugs. The recommendations focus on seven areas, including pharmacy workflows and collaboration with sponsors.
Research found a significant drop in new cancer diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for screening cancers like breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer. The study estimates around 12,600 cancers went undetected between March 2020 and September 2020.
A recent study published in JNCCN found that 33 out of 81 studies lacked transparency on censoring, which can introduce bias and affect trial results. The researchers emphasize the need for improved transparency and reporting in clinical trials to ensure patients and clinicians make informed decisions.
A recent study published in JNCCN found that only 31% of hospitals have immediate availability of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a crucial blood cancer medication. This medication is essential for treating acute promyelocytic leukemia, which has a better prognosis when treated appropriately. The lack of ATRA availability poses a signi...
A study published in JNCCN found that 45% of people with cancer prefer telemedicine over in-person visits, while general patient satisfaction scores are equally high. The research also revealed that patients preferred video conferencing over audio-only appointments and that telemedicine can reduce treatment-related costs.
A recent study published in JNCCN found that four out of five cancer therapies tested in Phase III trials did not achieve clinically-meaningful benefits in prolonging survival. The researchers analyzed 362 industry-sponsored trials and found that 87% were either false-positive or true-negative for meeting overall survival goals.
A population-based cohort study in Canada identified mortality patterns for different types of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), revealing varying risks of cancer-related and non-cancer death. The study found that small NETs can be safely monitored, while larger tumors may require more aggressive treatment.
The NCCN Foundation has awarded $150,000 in funding to six young investigators advancing research on cancer prevention, racial disparities in screening, and CAR T-cell therapy. The recipients will present their research at the NCCN 2023 Annual Conference.
The conference explored updates to NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines, new research, and strategies for preventing HPV-associated cancers. Experts discussed ways to improve racial equity in cancer care, including reducing disparities and promoting guideline-adherent care.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has published a new patient and caregiver resource focused on childhood cancer type, pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The guidelines provide easy-to-understand information on treatment options, including charts and images, to help patients and caregivers make informed decisions.
Researchers found that 27% of immune checkpoint inhibitor recipients experienced irAEs, with 5% developing multi-organ irAEs sequentially. Multi-organ irAEs were generally amenable to satisfactory management and associated with better overall survival rates.
Researchers found that 40.2% of advanced cancer patients experienced functional impairment upon hospitalization, leading to longer stays and worse outcomes. Interventions addressing this issue could enhance care delivery and outcomes for highly symptomatic patients.
The NCCN Guidelines for Patients are among the most trustworthy resources for patients and caregivers seeking information on prostate cancer. The guidelines, written in an easy-to-learn format, provide essential information on diagnosis and treatment.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has published a list of high-impact measures for assessing quality improvements in cancer care. The recommendations reflect a landscape analysis from leading oncology experts and include endorsement of 15 existing measures and seven new concepts proposed for development.