June 2011, Vol 2, No 3

A survey of 61 patients with cancer suggests that many patients are willing to undergo extra tests to participate in clinical trials that will give them access to experimental cancer treatments that may offer improved outcomes and potentially increased survival options.
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A new, ready-to-use (RTU) injectable formulation of the folate analog levoleucovorin (Fusilev; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals) received FDA approval.
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Sunitinib (Sutent; Pfizer) is the second new option for the treatment of metastasized or unresectable locally advanced progressive pancreatic neuroendocrine cancerous tumors.
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the orphan drug vandetanib (trade name pending; AstraZeneca), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for the treatment of symptomatic or progressive medullary thyroid cancer in patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic disease.
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Chicago, IL—Oncologists do not engage in hyperbole. It is not in their nature. If the word “unprecedented” is used to describe a clinical outcome, it’s because something truly remarkable has occurred; such is the case in the reporting of 2 investigations of advanced melanoma at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for the drugs vemurafenib (PLX4032) and ipilimumab (Yervoy).
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The focus on value in patient care has taken a prominent place in any discussion related to improving care delivery, but no agreement exists on what that “value” is.
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The journey for healthcare costsavings is a never-ending process. One of the newest healthcare delivery models, which is mandated for Medicare beneficiaries in the healthcare reform law, is the accountable care organization (ACO).
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