ASCO 2015 Highlights

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) convened a State-of-the-Science Conference to assess the evidence regarding observational strategies as an alternative to immediate treatment for localized prostate cancer (Ganz PA, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2012;156:591- 595).

Controversy abounds regarding the question of whether routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing reduces mortality from prostate cancer.

Cancer is the most dreaded of all diseases, the authors of a new study suggest, which may explain why policymakers have sometimes given cancer therapies preferential status over therapies for other conditions (Neumann PJ, et al. Health Aff [Millwood]. 2012;31:700-708).

The United States spends more on cancer care than European countries. Some people have argued that this extra expense is unwarranted, because US patients with cancer have similar or worse outcomes despite this increased spending. However, data from a new study suggest that the higher spending for cancer in the United States than in 10 European countries may be worth the additional expense (Philipson T, et al. Health Aff [Millwood]. 2012;31:667-675).

The FDA accelerated the approval of the oral mTOR kinase inhibitor everolimus (Afinitor; Novartis) for the treatment of kidney tumors (ie, renal angiomyolipomas) not requiring immediate surgery in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the oral agent pazopanib (Votrient; GlaxoSmith-Kline) for the treatment of patients with advanced soft-tissue sarcoma who have previously received chemotherapy.

Houston, TX—The need to optimize the treatment of patients with cancer while using healthcare resources wisely—in other words, providing “value-based cancer care”—is not a topic of debate, but how to achieve this pressing goal is far from clear. In a panel discussion during the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care’s Second Annual Conference, strategists from the payer side of the issue discussed the current trends and the challenges they are facing.

Baltimore, MD—It has been said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. It is with this sensibility that Donald P. Howard of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began his presentation at the 2012 Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) meeting, detailing the current state of the hospital value-based purchasing (VBP) program.

Hollywood, FL—Cancer care today is influenced by an ever-broadening array of players, and what was once an intimate relationship between patient and physician now involves multiple decision makers. At the 2012 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) meeting, a panel of various stakeholder groups addressed the questions of what and who defines “optimal care” for today’s patient.

Houston, TX—On March 29-31, 2012, approximately 200 oncologists, payers, employers, managed care executives, pharmacy benefit managers, and other stakeholders convened for the Second Annual Stakeholder Integration Conference of the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care (AVBCC). The mission of the conference was to align the various perspectives around the central needs of defining value in cancer care and developing strategies for enhancing patient outcomes.