A new machine-learning individualized prediction model identified 90 driver genes and 12 genomic subtypes for multiple myeloma and was also superior to current prognostic models, researchers reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The study represents a major step forward in the treatment of multiple myeloma, which has highly variable presentation and outcomes.
On March 19, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to ponatinib (Iclusig®) with chemotherapy for adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Writing about your experiences as an oncology nurse for ONS Voice is easier than you may think! In this video, longtime ONS Voice contributor Suzanne M. Mahon, DNS, RN, AOCN®, AGN-BC, FAAN, outlines the process and provides ideas and tips to get started.
In 2019, 20% of colorectal cancer diagnoses occurred in patients younger than 55—approximately double the diagnosis rate in 1995. Since 2010, rates of advanced disease have increased about 3% annually in people younger than 50. Researchers are actively investigating the reasons behind that trend.
More than 30% of patients with cancer who used tobacco stopped or reduced their use after participating in an oncology nurse–led tobacco cessation program, Rochelle J. Lonn, RN, DNP, NE-BC, OCN®, reported in an article for the February 2024 issue of the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. The author projected that the quit and reduction rates would have a per lifetime savings of $102,600 and a per premature death cost avoidance of $511,200.
In March 2024, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) announced a new program to achieve the Cancer Moonshot goal: the Advanced Analysis for Precision Cancer Therapy, a “visionary collaboration between scientists, clinicians, and patients that will usher in a new era of cancer care by harnessing advanced technologies to provide a deeper understanding of and treatment response to tumor biology.”
Since the first bispecific antibody (BsAb), blinatumomab, received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in 2014, the drug class has developed exponentially, with the majority of currently approved agents entering clinical practice in the past two years. BsAbs are very effective for treating certain malignancies, including multiple myeloma and leukemia, and most are approved for oncology indications. Here’s what makes BsAbs different than other cancer treatments and the key considerations for oncology nursing clinical practice.
Patients with cancer who participate in virtual mind-body classes are less likely to be hospitalized and are hospitalized for shorter durations, researchers reported at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Quality Care Symposium. Their findings highlight the benefits of mind-body practices in reducing symptoms and improving mental health in patients with cancer.
Stigma is a deep-seated social construct that “profoundly discredits an individual or a group from being whole, causing them to be viewed as less desirable, harmful, or weak.” It infiltrates all corners of society, but when experienced in health care, it can contribute to health inequities and poor health-related outcomes.
The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability in late February 2024 called pharmaceutical companies to provide more information and a briefing to explain the ongoing shortages of several cancer drugs, including carboplatin, cisplatin, and methotrexate; amoxicillin; and stimulant medications.