ASCO 2015 Highlights

My personal journey to understanding and experiencing up close and personal the complexities in cancer care started some 20 years ago, when, like many of us, someone extremely close to you gets the dreaded news, “you have cancer.” For me, this was my mom. Regretfully, as we grow older, we all continue to hear this dreadful tale more frequently. These events have transformed my career over time to turn it into a mission—improving cancer care and seeking the cure.

Cranbury, NJ—On June 19, 2015, the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators^® (AONN+) announced that it has been granted membership in the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC).

Multiple myeloma, also referred to as myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow that often leads to bone destruction and bone marrow failure. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 26,800 new cases of multiple myeloma will be diagnosed in 2015, and 11,240 deaths will be attributed to this disease.

Value-based oncology was one of the high-profile topics at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting. It is something that is discussed widely in print and on social media. It is certainly top of mind for payers, doctors, policymakers, business leaders, and, in particular, patients.

Chicago, IL—In children who are at risk for Wilms tumor, the presence of a rare genetic abnormality identifies children who can have a survival benefit from the augmentation or intensification of therapy. The abnormality—loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosomes 1p and 16q (LOH 1p/16q)—is associated with worse prognosis in children with Wilms tumor.

Chicago, IL—Precision medicine in oncology is now being studied in clinical trials in oncology. These trials will pair a patient’s tumor molecular profile with drugs that address those tumor variants.

Chicago, IL—Lenvatinib (Lenvima) added to everolimus (Afinitor) extended overall survival (OS) significantly compared with everolimus alone in patients with metastatic renal-cell carcinoma (RCC). This phase 2 study also demonstrated improved progression-free survival (PFS) with lenvatinib alone and in combination with everolimus compared with everolimus alone.

Chicago, IL—According to Leonard B. Saltz, MD, Chief of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY, the cost of new cancer drugs is no longer sustainable. Dr Saltz presented “Perspectives on Value” at the Plenary Session of the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting.

Chicago, IL—A transition from reimbursement based on volume to reimbursement based on value has begun to emerge, said speakers at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in a session on payment reform. The transition will be clumsy, with competing and potentially mutually exclusive incentives.

Chicago, IL—The rising costs of cancer drugs and medical services, along with increased copays and high deductibles for patients, are adding a serious financial hardship to patients diagnosed with cancer, according to Neal J. Meropol, MD, Associate Director, Clinical Programs, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.