Web Exclusives

ORLANDO—High-dose melphalan followed by an autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplant is standard initial therapy for multiple myeloma; however, the toxicity and efficacy of this treatment is variable. “The sources of this variability are not well understood,” said Dan T. Vogl, MD, of the Multiple Myeloma Program at the Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia. “We hypothesized that variation in melphalan pharmacokinetics would explain differences in outcomes after transplant.”

ORLANDO—A novel prostate brachytherapy technique that avoids the central zone may sharply reduce periurethral prostate radiation (XBT) and significantly reduce posttreatment urinary obstruction/irritation. In addition, this approach may significantly reduce long-term urinary incontinence, according to a prospective study presented at the Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.

SAN FRANCISCO—A novel small-caliber metal stent can provide a low-risk means of palliation for severe malignant dysphagia, according to investigators who have created these stents and are now testing them in trials. The results were presented at the 2011 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium by Stephen Kucera, MD, of H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, where he is an interventional endoscopy fellow.

BOSTON—Nurses have been involved in radiation oncology since the early 1940s, but as nursing roles in general have evolved over time, so has the role of these nurses. A group of advanced practice nurses (APNs) shared how they came to be part of their facility’s radiation oncology department and how the increased strain on healthcare is opening opportunities in this field for APNs.

BOSTON—As more targeted therapies for non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) become available, experts are assessing which patients’ tumors should be genotyped and when. Although genotyping—not to be confused with genetic testing—is becoming increasingly important in developing a treatment plan, professional guidelines do not yet recommend incorporating it as a routine part of care for patients with NSCLC.

BOSTON—Recognizing steroid-induced hyperglycemia early and addressing it promptly can prevent significant adverse effects associated with this complication. Educating patients on the importance of and methods for maintaining good blood glucose control helps mitigate damage to the vascular system and kidneys from hyperglycemia. It also lessens susceptibility to infection, a complication of hyperglycemia that is of serious concern in immunocompromised patients.

Imatinib (Gleevec) revolutionized the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome– positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and established targeting and inhibiting BCR-ABL as the standard of care.¹ In 2009, 8-year follow- up data from the landmark phase 3 IRIS (International Randomized Study of Interferon Versus STI571) trial were presented for the 553 patients with newly diagnosed chronic-phase (CP) CML randomized to imatinib. Read More ›

Maintenance therapy has begun to emerge as a treatment standard for patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease has not progressed after 4 to 6 cycles of frontline chemo therapy. But some caveats still apply. Although it may be suitable for fit, motivated patients who are highly symptomatic at the time of presentation, it is not yet clear if maintenance therapy should be routine.

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