Articles
Up to half of all people with glioblastomas experience seizures, and it is highly recommended they receive treatment with one of several epilepsy drugs.
A recent study now shows that brain tumor patients who take the seizure drug valproic acid along with standard treatment may live longer than those who take other epilepsy medications to control seizures. The new research is published in the August 31, 2011, online issue of Neurology.
New accreditation standards for hospital cancer programs were announced by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) on August 31, 2011, and a patient-centered approach is the focus.
“The changing landscape of cancer patient care motivated us to develop new standards to directly address patient concerns,” said Stephen Edge, MD, FACS, Chair of the Commission on Cancer.
Clinical oncology pharmacists evaluate and treat pain through pain management consultations at Porter Cancer Care Center. As part of the comprehensive cancer treatment program at Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver, Colorado, Robin Mower, PharmD, and colleagues provide one-on-one pain evaluation consults to enhance the quality of life of patients with cancer. Fortunately, Colorado allows collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) between physicians and pharmacists, allowing the clinical pharmacists at Porter Adventist Hospital to provide pain management under the CDTM protocol.
CHICAGO—Decitabine extends overall survival and improves response rates compared with standard therapies in the treatment of older patients with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), said Xavier G. Thomas, MD, PhD.
CHICAGO—Flaxseed failed to have a significant effect on reducing hot flashes in women compared with placebo, according to results of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial supported by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group. The study included breast cancer survivors as well as women who had never had breast cancer who experienced frequent hot flashes throughout the day and night.
ORLANDO—Oncology pharmacists can stick with the approved dosing for sunitinib in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), according to a study by New York investigators.
ORLANDO—Interim results of a randomized, controlled, phase 3 trial showed that abiraterone acetate significantly prolonged overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic castrationresistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who progressed after docetaxel-based chemo - therapy. The survival benefit was consistent across all prespecified subgroups. Lead author Howard Scher, MD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, said abira - terone is poised to become a new standard of care during his presentation at the 2011 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.