Articles
Delirium is an exceedingly prevalent syndrome among patients with cancer, but is underrecognized and undertreated, according to Alan Valentine, MD, Chair, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, and Darryl Etter, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, at a webinar hosted by the American Psychosocial Oncology Society in July 2016.
Adelaide, Australia—Nausea is part of a symptom cluster associated with chemotherapy, but the experience of nausea may be a symptom cluster in and of itself, according to a study presented by Ian Olver, MD, President of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), Director of the Sansom Institute for Health Research, and Professor of Translational Cancer Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, at the 2016 MASCC/International Society of Oral Oncology Annual Meeting on Supportive Care in Cancer.
- Inotuzumab Ozogamicin Shows Benefit in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- Adding Daratumumab to Combination Therapy Improves Progression-Free Survival in Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Chicago, IL—The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mutation is a target for tyrosine kinase therapies in several cancers, including non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Since 2011, several ALK inhibitors have been approved, and more are in the pipeline, but many questions remain for managing patients with ALK-positive NSCLC.
Chicago, IL—Maintaining a clean room compliant with US Pharmacopeial Convention Chapter 800 (USP 800) can come with a significant price tag, but noncompliance can drive up costs to oncology practices and institutions. However, certain measures can contribute to the successful construction, renovation, and maintenance of hazardous drug sterile compounding spaces in an oncology setting, according to Ryan A. Forrey, PharmD, MS, FASHP, Director of Pharmacy, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Atlanta, GA.
Chicago, IL—A clear set of standard operating procedures is at the heart of US Pharmacopeial Convention Chapter 800 (USP 800) compliance, according to Carol Yarrington, PharmD, BCOP, Oncology and Infusion Pharmacy Coordinator and Clinical Oncology Pharmacist, St. Joseph Mercy Health System, Ann Arbor, MI.
New data from an interim analysis of the head-to-head, open-label, phase 3, Japanese study J-ALEX, show that alectinib (Alecensa) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with crizotinib (Xalkori) in the frontline setting, according to Hiroshi Nokihara, MD, PhD, of the National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Hollywood, FL—Results from a survey of oncology pharmacists from across the country indicate that the verification process for chemotherapy orders is not uniformly electronic. In fact, >25% of responders are still using paper orders, said Carly Duncan, PharmD candidate, of the Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston. She presented findings from her and her colleagues’ survey at the 2016 annual conference of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
In the October issue of The Oncology Pharmacist, we feature highlights from the recent Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA)’s Oncology Pharmacy Practice Management Program, including an article on the challenges of managing patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) associated with ALK mutations. At HOPA, Jim M. Koeller, MS, Professor, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, discussed the current treatment guidelines for this patient population, emphasizing the need for pharmacist inclusion during testing for ALK mutations.
- Tecentriq First PD-L1 Approved by the FDA for Metastatic NSCLC
- Keytruda Receives New Indication for First-Line Treatment of Metastatic NSCLC
- Lartruvo Approved for Soft-Tissue Sarcoma