TOP - September 2020 Vol 13, No 5

The September issue of The Oncology Pharmacist (TOP) contains important news and insights for today’s oncology pharmacist, including highlights of recent virtual oncology conferences covering a range of topics, from strategies aimed at reducing drug costs and improving patient care, to the latest data on novel agents and combinations that are showing promise in the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Read More ›

Updated results of the phase 3 CASPIAN clinical trial continue to show that durvalumab (Imfinzi) added to standard chemotherapy improves overall survival (OS) for patients with treatment-naïve extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), according to a presentation at the ASCO 2020 virtual annual meeting. Read More ›

An analysis of the Value Framework of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) shows that the Net Health Benefit score of cancer drugs continues to evolve over time after their FDA approval, based on data presented at the ASCO 2020 virtual annual meeting. This analysis showed a substantial change in more than 25% of cancer drugs in their Net Health Benefit 3 years after their initial approval. Read More ›

There has been an increased focus on the study of tumor alterations that may predict treatment benefit or serve as possible actionable targets in cancer. During the virtual American Urological Association 2020 Annual Meeting, Kyrollis Attalla, MD, Urology Oncology Fellow, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Ridgewood, NY, discussed findings of a recent study that looked at the landscape of actionable genomic alterations and the corresponding evidence to support these alterations as predictive of response to targeted therapy in patients with renal-cell carcinoma (RCC). Read More ›

A Medically Integrated Pharmacy Care (MIPC) model represents the true integration of pharmaceutical and medical oncology care. At the virtual 2020 Community Oncology Alliance (COA) Community Oncology Conference, Jim Schwartz, RPh, Executive Director, Pharmacy Operations, Texas Oncology, Dallas, discussed this model, which he said provides clarity of focus around complex disease states. Read More ›

A survey of oncology practices participating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Oncology Care Model (OCM) revealed that a “surprising” number of practices are willing to enter into a 2-sided risk arrangement, according to Bo Gamble, Director, Strategic Practice Initiatives, Community Oncology Alliance (COA). Mr Gamble, who discussed these survey results at the virtual 2020 COA Community Oncology Conference, said these results suggest that practices are becoming more comfortable with the OCM, and more confident in their own ability to operate within a value-based care model. Read More ›

This section provides a brief overview of new cancer drugs or new indications approved by the FDA between June 30, 2020, and July 24, 2020. Read More ›

Breast cancer doctors got it right a long time ago when they began characterizing malignancies with classifications such as hormone-receptor and HER2 status, according to Alexander Spira, MD, PhD, FACP, Medical Oncologist, Virginia Cancer Specialists, Fairfax. Read More ›

Capmatinib (Tabrecta), an oral kinase inhibitor, has shown clinical activity in patients with high-level MET-amplified advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to new data presented at the ASCO 2020 virtual annual meeting. Read More ›

As the complexity of cancer care continues to evolve, adhering to evidence-based treatment guidelines is a growing challenge for oncologists. The use of clinical decision support tools within the electronic health record (EHR) system can boost provider compliance and drive quality improvement, according to data presented at the ASCO 2020 virtual annual meeting. Read More ›