Conference Correspondent

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—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.

Boston, MA—It is well-recognized that radiation-induced symptoms can be extremely severe for patients with head and neck cancer. Although “magic mouthwash” (ie, diphenhydramine plus lidocaine plus antacid [DLA]) is frequently used for the treatment of oral mucositis associated with radiotherapy to the head and neck, until now there has been no solid evidence for this approach.

Boston, MA—Patients with cervical and endometrial cancers experience fewer gastrointestinal and genitourinary adverse events and have improved quality of life when they receive intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) compared with conventional radiation therapy, according to the results of a recent study presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

Adelaide, Australia—The 2016 Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) Annual Meeting on Supportive Care in Cancer marked the 25th anniversary of MASCC, and the 30th anniversary of ISOO. This year, 1075 delegates from >50 countries attended this international symposium.