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Chemotherapy

News, opinions and meeting coverage in oncology/hematology.

Keeping Chemo Patients Away From Hospitals

Is 'Come Home' ready for prime time?

Is Keytruda Better than Opdivo?

Trial results begin to suggest an advantage

Widely Used Breast Chemo Regimen Falls Short

Taxane-cyclophosphamide regimens fail against taxane-anthracycline combinations

Hybrid Academic-Community Cancer Centers Take Shape

Emerging model takes cutting-edge oncology into the community

Part 2: Oncologists Weigh In on PBS Cancer Documentary

Six specialists share their impressions of Ken Burns' cancer opus.

BCS: 'Jolie Effect' Drives Genetic Test Referrals

SAN FRANCISCO -- Referrals for genetic testing almost doubled in the first 6 months after actress Angelina Jolie said she would undergo bilateral mastectomy after testing positive for BRCA1 mutation.

ASCO: Myeloma Study Results Inconclusive

CHICAGO -- A trial comparing two immunomodulatory regimens for myeloma failed to demonstrate noninferiority for the newer drug.

ASCO: Targeted Agent Has Slim NSCLC Benefit

CHICAGO -- The novel kinase inhibitor nintedanib may slightly delay relapse of non-small cell lung cancer when added to chemotherapy, with perhaps greater benefit in adenocarcinomas, the LUME-Lung 1 trial showed.

Zytiga Prolongs Prostate Cancer Survival

ORLANDO -- Survival improved and disease progression slowed in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated in first line with abiraterone acetate (Zytiga).

Oral Azacitidine Safe, Effective in Low-Risk MDS

ATLANTA -- Oral azacitidine (Vidaza) given for up to 21 days per 4-week cycle for myelodysplastic syndrome appeared safe and effective in patients with lower-risk disease, a researcher said here.

Effexor May Not Mix with Tamoxifen

SAN ANTONIO -- The antidepressant venlafaxine (Effexor), often given to breast cancer patients to treat the hot flashes associated with tamoxifen therapy, might reduce the effectiveness of the drug, a researcher said here.

Polycythemia Vera Better with Low Hematocrit

ATLANTA -- Maintaining patients with polycythemia vera at hematocrit levels below 45% reduced thrombotic complications without increasing rates of other serious adverse events.

Melanoma Tx Ups Survival, but Very Pricey

LAS VEGAS -- The oral BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib (Zelboraf) increased survival in patients with metastatic melanoma, but the cost may not justify its use in a state Medicaid program, an analysis suggested.

High-Dose Zofran Pulled From Market

WASHINGTON -- The 32-mg dose of the anti-nausea drug ondansetron (Zofran) has been pulled from the market because of concerns about cardiac problems, the FDA announced Tuesday.

Drug Works in AI-Resistant Breast Cancer

SAN FRANCISCO -- A tamoxifen-like drug slowed progression of advanced breast cancer previously treated with a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor, results of a small Japanese trial suggested.

Afinitor Helps Breast Tx in Older Patients

SAN FRANCISCO -- Older patients with advanced breast cancer had significant improvement in progression-free survival when everolimus was added to exemestane, a new analysis of a randomized trial showed.

FDA Rejects Merck Sarcoma Drug

WASHINGTON -- The FDA has rejected the approval application for the sarcoma drug ridaforolimus, according to drug developer Merck.

Doctors Say 45 Common Tests 'Overused'

Nine specialty groups have listed tests and treatments that are frequently overused, such as antibiotics for sinus attacks and CT scans for low back pain, in the first phase of a long-term project.

Clinical Notes: Beware the Seat Heater

麻豆传媒 debuts a new regular feature, a roundup of clinical news you might otherwise have missed. This week we led with a report that heated car seats can leave passengers with "toasted skin syndrome."

Gastric Ca Survival Rates Down, Chemo Use Up

SAN FRANCISCO -- A decline in survival rates in stage IV gastric cancer coincides with the increased use of chemotherapy rather than radiation and surgery, researchers found.

ASCO: Abagovomab No Help in Ovarian Cancer

CHICAGO -- Results from a study using the experimental monoclonal antibody drug abagovomab to protect women with advanced ovarian cancer from recurrence have been disappointing, researchers reported here.

Low Testosterone May Affect Cancer Survivors

Male cancer survivors with low testosterone levels experience reduced energy and sexual function, and thus might benefit from hormone replacement therapy, a new study found.

ASCO: Ginger Eases Chemo-Related Nausea

TORONTO -- Half a teaspoon of ground ginger a day can significantly reduce the nausea associated with chemotherapy, researchers found.

ASCO: Vitamin B₁₂ Supplementation Can Be Given Closer to Pemetrexed for NSCLC

CHICAGO -- A shorter lead-in time between recommended vitamin B12 supplementation and pemetrexed (Alimta) therapy may reduce treatment delays without impairing its efficacy.

FDA Approves Erbitux for Squamous Cell Head-and-Neck Cancer

ROCKVILLE, Md. - The FDA has approved Erbitux (cetuximab) for treatment of squamous cell head-and-neck cancer, making the monoclonal antibody the first new agent for this indication in a half-century.