June 2015

In the United States, where 1 in 680 people between 20 and 50 years old are survivors of childhood cancer, the impact of long-term health consequences is a cause for concern, and even more so because this population is increasing.

Data represented May 18, 2015, at the American Urological Association annual meeting in New Orleans, certainly grabbed headlines.

The report found a 6.5% increase in the compound annual growth rate during the 5-year period leading up to 2014.

BMS has submitted phase 3 results from the CheckMate-066 trial, comparing nivolumab with dacarbazine in treatment-naïve advanced melanoma patients.

Evidence-Based Oncology's editor in chief introduces the special issue on cardio-oncology.

A US appeals court has blocked Novartis from selling the first biosimilar to be approved in the United States.

A session at the 64th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology evaluated the cardiotoxic outcomes of treatment in cancer survivors.

On the first day of the NCCN 20th Annual Conference in Hollywood, Florida, March 12-14, 2015, panelists took a look back at the last 20 years of the NCCN and why it succeeded when others had failed before.

Participants on the second day of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 20th Annual Conference in Hollywood, Florida, March 12-14, 2015, spent a long time defining value in cancer care and how it can be incorporated into healthcare decision making.

During the session "Principles of Immunotherapy" at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 20th Annual Conference in Hollywood, Florida, Anthony J. Olszanski, RPh, MD, from the Fox Chase Cancer Center, described the complex interplay between the immune system and cancer.

Anju Nohria, MD, assistant professor, Harvard Medical School, spoke to Evidence-Based Oncology about some of the challenges clinicians face with monitoring cardiovascular risks in cancer patients.

A Cardio-Oncology Working Group formed by the ACC conducted a nationwide survey focused on cardio-oncology services, gathering opinions from cardiovascular division chiefs and fellowship training directors. This helped identify important challenges, including the need for broader educational opportunities and training.

The American Journal of Managed Care convened experts in health policy, from health plans, and from community oncology, to discuss OCM and other issues in oncology care during the Oncology Stakeholders Summit, Spring 2015 Peer Exchange.

To discuss patient-reported outcomes and their importance in patient-centered care, The American Journal of Managed Care convened a panel of healthcare experts to participate in the Oncology Stakeholders Summit, Spring 2015 Peer Exchange.

Medical monitoring and counseling can help us track and contain many harmful effects of cancer drug-induced cardiotoxicity. Patient engagement from the very beginning, along with medically advanced testing methods, can help us surmount cardiotoxicity and better ensure that patients receive only the benefits of essential cancer treatment.

Improved survivorship rates among cancer patients has brought a growing awareness of a serious latent impact of chemotherapy and radiation: cardiotoxicity. Despite extensive research on the subject, our understanding of the tools for identifying and preventing these complications is limited.

To promote collaboration and efficiency, the MD Anderson Cancer Center developed an interdisciplinary team—based Heart Success Program to coordinate the management of concurrent cardiomyopathy and HF while the patient is receiving cancer treatment.

A patient advocate underscores the need for awareness and self-advocacy among cancer patients by highlighting her own experience as a survivor, who experienced delayed cardiotoxic effects of chemotherapy.

With the prognosis for many cancers improving, we are seeing an appropriate sharpening of focus on the cardiovascular risks of patients who have survived cancer or are being treated for cancer, as well as a growing recognition of the impact this competing morbidity has on both short- and long-term health outcomes.

With the explosion of new therapies in cancer care, the risk of each new therapy must be clearly understood prior to making treatment decisions with patients. Data from clinical trials alone are insufficient to educate these treatment choices, and real-world evidence from higher-risk populations should be generated to inform these treatment decisions.