Articles

The 2016 American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting provided insight into new treatment options and mechanism of action choices for hematologic cancers. Health plans need to continue to expand their knowledge and expertise in all cancer types to maintain the ability to manage and apply coverage criteria appropriately as FDA approvals continue to increase in oncology.

San Diego, CA—Although considered a standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, the benefit of autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) has been recently questioned as a result of the rapid expansion of novel treatments.

San Diego, CA—In transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed, advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma, a decision-analytic model showed that chemotherapy with bleomycin, plus etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (BEACOPP) maximized life-expectancy and quality-adjusted life expectancy compared with doxorubicin plus bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) therapy in the first-line setting, reported Abi Vijenthira, MD, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Canada, at the 2016 American Society of Hematology meeting.

San Diego, CA—Filgrastim (Neupogen), a short-acting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), has helped to manage chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies, but it comes with a hefty price tag. According to a recent study, biosimilars of filgrastim may provide a more affordable option for US payers, suggested Susan Gabriel, Director of Global Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Frazer, PA, at the 2016 American Society of Hematology meeting.

San Diego, CA—The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) developed frameworks to determine the relative value of novel therapeutic agents. These value frameworks, however, may need to be modified to assess treatments for hematologic malignancies, suggested Matthew C. Cheung, MD, SM, FRCPC, Clinical Hematologist, Odette Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at the 2016 American Society of Hematology meeting.

San Diego, CA—New research from Canada supports the use of frontline therapy with bendamustine plus rituximab for patients with indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), reported Andrew Aw, MD, MEng, FRCPC, Division of Hematology, Ottawa Hospital, Ontario, Canada, at the 2016 American Society of Hematology meeting.

San Diego, CA—A study examining the feasibility and applicability of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Value Framework in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) suggests that the tool, although useful in assessing a small percentage of drug regimens, may need to be amended to be useful in CLL, reported Erlene K. Seymour, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, at the 2016 American Society of Hematology meeting.