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Conference Correspondent

American Society of Hematology
Conference Correspondent
TOP - February 2013 VOL 6, NO 1
A wealth of abstracts were presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), held in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 8-11, 2012. More than 18,000 hematologists and other healthcare professionals from around the world gathered to discuss the latest clinical developments in research, therapies, and practice strategies. Below are some of the highlights from that meeting. Read More ›
Highlights From the European Society for Medical Oncology 2012 Congress
By Alice Goodman
Conference Correspondent
December 2012, Vol 5, No 8
Oncology experts from all over the globe arrived in Vienna, Austria, to attend the Euro­pean Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2012 Congress. Attendance broke all records, with 16,394 delegates, many of them from outside of Europe: 1116 from the United States, 539 from Japan, 479 from China, 292 from Argentina, and 258 from Brazil. Following are some highlights from the Presidential Symposia and papers proffered at the meeting. Read More ›
Alice Goodman
New Data Presented at ESMO
Conference Correspondent
December 2012, Vol 5, No 8

Neuroendocrine tumors are highly vascular, expressing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and demonstrating angiogenesis. Since the mTOR inhibitor everolimus has antiangiogenic activity, RADIANT-3 investigators evaluated several VEGF pathway tumor markers for their prognostic and predictive potential. The results were presented by James C. Yao, MD, in an abstract presentation at ESMO.1

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Doxepin Rinse Improves Oral Mucositis in Patients Treated With Radiation for Head and Neck Cancer
Conference Correspondent
December 2012, Vol 5, No 8
Doxepin, a tricyclic antidepressant approved for the treatment of depression and anxiety, as well as moderate pruritus, significantly improved oral mucositis pain in patients treated with radiation therapy for head and neck cancer in a phase 3 trial.1 In the study, doxepin was combined with water and used as an oral rinse. Read More ›
Prophylactic Sildenafil Improves Sexual Function in Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation
Conference Correspondent
December 2012, Vol 5, No 8
Sildenafil is often used by men treated with radiation or radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer to achieve an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse, and it is effective to varying degrees when used on an as-needed basis. A randomized controlled trial has found that prophylactic daily use of sildenafil improved overall sexual function, as well as domains of sexual function, in prostate cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.1 This is the first time a phase 3 study has demonstrated the effectiveness of prophylactic sildenafil in the setting of radiation. Read More ›
Highlights From ASTRO
By Alice Goodman
Conference Correspondent
December 2012, Vol 5, No 8
The 2012 American Society for Rad­iation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting, held in Boston, Massachusetts, coincided with Super­storm Sandy. Despite the havoc wreaked by the storm, Boston was largely spared, although ASTRO canceled Monday afternoon’s Plenary Session when public transportation was shut down. Below are some highlights from the meeting, including some news stories from the Plenary Session, which was available online. Read More ›
Alice Goodman
Highlights From ASCO 2012 Breast Cancer Symposium
By Caroline Helwick
Conference Correspondent
October 2012, Vol 5, No 7
The American Society of Clini­cal Oncology 2012 Breast Can­cer Symposium, held September 13-15 in San Francisco, California, offered all members of the cancer team an upfront view of new data and an opportunity for one-on-one interaction with experts. The following are a few research items of interest to oncology pharmacists. Read More ›
Caroline Helwick
Olanzapine Effective Antiemetic for Breakthrough CINV
By Alice Goodman
Conference Correspondent
August 2012, Vol 5, No 5

Patients with breakthrough chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) can gain superior relief from olanzapine (Zyprexa), a drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as an antipsychotic, compared with standard antiemetic therapy with metoclopramide. The results from this phase 3 study address an important unmet need for patients who experience these side effects despite being given standard antiemetic therapy.

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Alice Goodman
Duloxetine in Peripheral Neuropathy
Conference Correspondent
August 2012, Vol 5, No 5

 

The antidepressant duloxetine (Cymbalta) appears to reduce painful peripheral neuropathy associated with taxane- or platinumbased chemotherapy in some, but not all, patients, according to a randomized phase 3 study presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). About one-third of patients treated with duloxetine reported at least a 30% or greater reduction in pain scores versus 17% of placebo patients.

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Ginseng Improves Cancer-Related Fatigue
Conference Correspondent
August 2012, Vol 5, No 5

Ginseng has significant activity against fatigue in adults with cancer, according to a randomized trial.1 Eight weeks of treatment with ginseng significantly improved fatigue scores by 20% versus 10% for patients treated with placebo (P = .003). Moreover, ginseng was as safe as placebo in this preliminary trial.

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