Genetic Screening Tool Identifies Women With BRCA Mutations Who May Have Been Otherwise Missed

Researchers sought to assess the value of breast imaging centers (BICs) as potential clinics to identify women who are at high risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) and increase the number of appropriate referrals for genetic assessment. The researchers’ hospital-based BIC serves mostly low- to middle-income patients in a major metropolitan area. They developed a practical screening tool based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network HBOC screening and testing guidelines and prospectively screened patients. The researchers presented their findings at the ASCO Annual Meeting.

FDA Commissioner Aims to Address Drug Pricing Issues; House Republicans Propose 12-Bill Appropriations Omnibus; Adults Don’t Recognize Harm of Vaping Around Kids

Medication Pricing

Since the campaign trail prior to the presidential election, Donald Trump has been drawing focus to the issue of high drug prices in the United States. In an effort combat the pricing issues, Trump appointed U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, who recently announced the creation of the “drug competition action plan.” The plan would reduce the high cost of drugs in U.S. healthcare market by increasing the efficiency of approving generic medications of name-brand drugs.

American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting

June 2-6, 2017 · Chicago, IL

Patient-Reported Tool to Evaluate Distress Predicts Survival

The Living With Cancer (LWC) patient-reported outcome (PRO) tool evaluates distress in patients with advanced cancer using a seven-item Likert survey to measure performance status, pain, burden (financial and family), and depression, with scores ranging from 0–112.

Up-Front Palliative Care Consultation Associated With Better Outcomes in Advanced Cancer

Optimal timing for the initiation of specialist palliative care has not been determined. In a study, researchers created a supportive oncology inpatient service that integrates up-front palliative care consultation for certain patients with advanced cancer and compared it to those receiving usual oncologic care with on-demand palliative care consultation. The study’s findings were presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting.

Occupational and Physical Therapy May Improve Mental Health for Older Adults With Cancer

Older adults with cancer can have limited functional and health status; however, occupational (OT) and physical therapy (PT) are underused resources of care in this patient population. Researchers evaluated an outpatient CAncer REhabilitation (CARE) intervention program for this older adults in comparison to usual care. The study’s findings were presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting.

Study Assesses Response to Pembrolizumab Based on Biomarkers in Patients With Soft Tissue or Bone Sarcomas

The multicenter, phase II SAR028 clinical trial was the first to study pembrolizumab monotherapy in patients with soft tissue sarcoma or bone sarcoma to assess the clinical efficacy signals in multiple histologies. The researchers presented extended follow-up data at the ASCO Annual Meeting.

Integrated Palliative Care Following HCT Improves Some Psychologic Outcomes

Hospitalization following hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can lead to significant psychologic distress for patients. Researchers assessed the impact of an inpatient palliative care intervention on patient reported quality-of-life (QOL), mood, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) six months post-HCT. The researchers presented the study at the ASCO Annual Meeting.

Olaparib Does Not Decrease Quality-of-Life in Patients With Ovarian Cancer

Patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed (PSR) serous ovarian cancer (SOC) have poor survival outcomes, with the median progression-free survival (PFS) after chemotherapy less than six months in many patients. Based on results from the SOLO2 study that found that maintenance olaparib after response to chemotherapy resulted in a significant improvement in PFS compared to placebo (median PFS = 19.1 versus 5.5 months) in patients with germline BRCA mutation PSR SOC (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.22–0.41; p < 0.0001), researchers assessed the impact of health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL). The researchers presented the study at the ASCO Annual Meeting.

Adherence to Nutritional and Physical Activity Guidelines Improves Survival in Patients With Colon Cancer

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has guidelines on nutrition and physical activity for cancer survivors that focus on healthy body weight, physical activity, and a diet high in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. To assess how adherence to those guidelines impacts disease-free survival (DFS), relapse-free survival (RFS), or overall survival (OS), researchers conducted a prospective study of 992 patients with stage III colon cancer who enrolled in an adjuvant chemotherapy clinical trial between 1991 and 2001. The researchers presented the study at the ASCO Annual Meeting.

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