Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Hematology & Oncology for February 2018. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Patients’ Breast Radiotherapy Experiences Beat Expectations
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Most patients report having little to no knowledge about breast radiotherapy (RT), and patients’ experiences are generally better than their expectations, according to a study published online Feb. 26 in Cancer.
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Many Untreated CIN2 Lesions Regress Spontaneously
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Most untreated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) lesions regress, especially among women younger than 30 years, according to a review published online Feb. 27 in The BMJ.
Early Studies Often Show Exaggerated Treatment Effect
TUESDAY, Feb. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Trials to evaluate drugs or devices used to treat chronic medical conditions that are published early in the chain of evidence often show an exaggerated treatment effect compared with subsequent trials, according to research published online Feb. 21 in the Mayo Clinical Proceedings.
Race, Insurance Status Affects Job Status After Breast Cancer
TUESDAY, Feb. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Diminished employment two years after early-stage breast cancer diagnosis is associated with African-American race and uninsured or publicly insured status, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in Cancer.
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Recommendations for Optimizing Hidden Curriculum in Medicine
MONDAY, Feb. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In a position paper published online Feb. 27 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the American College of Physicians (ACP) presents recommendations for optimizing clinical learning environments by fostering a positive hidden curriculum in medicine.
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Understanding Rx Nonadherence Can Improve Adherence
MONDAY, Feb. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Understanding nonadherence in patients and encouraging a change in attitude toward patients and their medication can improve medication adherence, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
No Link Found for Metformin or Statins and Ovarian Cancer
MONDAY, Feb. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In women with type 2 diabetes, no evidence was found of an association between the use of metformin or statins and the incidence of ovarian cancer, according to a study published online Feb. 7 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
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MRI Risk Model May Cut Biopsy Use in Suspected Prostate Cancer
MONDAY, Feb. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A risk model including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived parameters may reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies among patients with suspected prostate cancer, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in JAMA Oncology.
Treatment-Free Remission Feasible After Nilotinib in CML
MONDAY, Feb. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), treatment-free remission (TFR) appears to be feasible after second-line nilotinib, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Artificial Intelligence May Help Prevent Physician Burnout
FRIDAY, Feb. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Artificial intelligence (AI), in which computers can be trained to recognize patterns in large quantities of data, may be able to reduce physicians’ burdens, saving them time and energy, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Growth Rates of Small Renal Masses Highly Variable Early On
FRIDAY, Feb. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among patients who opt for active surveillance of small renal masses, growth rates are highly variable early on and do not reliably predict adverse outcomes, according to a study published in the March issue of The Journal of Urology.
Dermoscopic Criteria Identified for Diagnosing Melanoma in Situ
FRIDAY, Feb. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The most frequent dermoscopic criteria for melanoma in situ (MIS) are regression, atypical network, and irregular dots and/or globules, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in JAMA Dermatology.
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Private Insurance Coverage of Infused Chemo Varies by Setting
FRIDAY, Feb. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2004 to 2014, there was an increase in the provision of infused chemotherapy in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), which is associated with increased spending, according to a research letter published online Feb. 22 in JAMA Oncology.
Kurtosis Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Helps ID Breast Lesions
THURSDAY, Feb. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A radiomics model based on kurtosis diffusion-weighted imaging reduces false positives in women with suspicious findings on mammography, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in Radiology.
Regardless of CV Risks, Cancer History Impacts Mortality
THURSDAY, Feb. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Cancer history has an important impact on mortality independent of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), according to a study published online Feb. 12 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
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CDC: No Change in Percentage of Uninsured in U.S. From ’16 to ’17
THURSDAY, Feb. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The percentage of uninsured U.S. persons of all ages did not change significantly from 2016 to the first nine months of 2017, according to a report published online Feb. 22 by the National Center for Health Statistics.
Online Tool Aids Decision Making About Breast Cancer Treatment
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The interactive iCanDecide breast cancer treatment decision tool can improve high-quality decision making about breast cancer surgical treatment, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Obesity Linked to Improved Survival in Metastatic Melanoma
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For men with metastatic melanoma treated with targeted or immune therapy, obesity is associated with improved survival, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in The Lancet Oncology.
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Prognostic Signatures Compared for ER-Positive Breast Cancer
TUESDAY, Feb. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For women with node-negative early endocrine receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, the PAM50-based Prosigna risk of recurrence (ROR), Breast Cancer Index (BCI), and EndoPredict (EPclin) provide the most prognostic information, according to a study published online Feb. 15 in JAMA Oncology.
Burnout Found Prevalent Among Doctors in Single Health System
TUESDAY, Feb. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Burnout is prevalent among physicians, affecting over one-third of physicians in a single health system, and is associated with health care delivery, according to a research letter published online Feb. 19 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Mortality Risks of Exclusive Cigar, Cigarette, Pipe Use ID’d
TUESDAY, Feb. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Exclusive current cigarette and cigar use is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Patients Want Physicians to Have Greater Connectivity
THURSDAY, Feb. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Most patients want greater connectivity, online tools and text messaging, as well as more time with their physicians, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Vaccine Promising for Cancer
THURSDAY, Feb. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) vaccines prevent tumor growth in syngeneic murine cancer models in a prophylactic setting, according to a study published online Feb. 15 in Cell Stem Cell.
Many in Oregon View Alcohol As More Harmful Than Marijuana
THURSDAY, Feb. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Just more than half of surveyed adults consider alcohol to be more harmful than marijuana, according to a study published in the April issue of Preventive Medicine.
Patients Often Mispredict Well-Being After Mastectomy
THURSDAY, Feb. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Adult women undergoing mastectomy underestimate future well-being after mastectomy alone and overestimate well-being after reconstruction, according to a study published online Feb. 7 in JAMA Surgery.
Ultra-Processed Food Linked to Increased Overall Cancer Risk
THURSDAY, Feb. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Consumption of ultra-processed food is associated with increased risk of overall and breast cancer, according to a study published online Feb. 14 in The BMJ.
Laryngovideostroboscopy Useful for Vocal Fold Lesion Screening
THURSDAY, Feb. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Laryngovideostroboscopy (LVS) is effective for screening each patient with persistent dysphonia for vocal fold lesions, according to a study published online Jan. 10 in Head & Neck.
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FDA Approves Erleada to Treat Non-Metastatic Prostate Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Erleada (apalutamide) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat non-metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer.
New Model Stratifies Patients With Long Bone Metastases
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A model with four categories has been developed to stratify patients with symptomatic long bone metastases (LBM) based on their expected survival, according to an article published online Feb. 7 in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Higher Biopsy Rates for Women Undergoing Screening Breast MRI
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Women undergoing screening breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have higher biopsy rates and significantly lower cancer yield findings compared with screening mammography alone, regardless of personal history of breast cancer (PHBC), according to a study published online Feb. 12 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Four Best Practices Outlined to Prevent Health Care Cyberattacks
TUESDAY, Feb. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Four best practices outlined that can help prevent health care cyberattacks, which increased from 2016 to 2017, according to a report published in Managed Healthcare Executive.
Disparities Seen in Gastric Cancer Patients’ Receipt of Pre-Op Chemo
TUESDAY, Feb. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Racial and ethnic disparities in the use of preoperative chemotherapy exist among patients with gastric cancer in the United States, according to a study published online Feb. 2 in Cancer.
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Education About Imaging Most Often Given by Ordering Provider
TUESDAY, Feb. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing imaging examinations, 78 percent reported receiving some form of pre-examination information, while 52 percent sought information themselves, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in Radiology.
USPSTF Recommends Against Ovarian Cancer Screening
TUESDAY, Feb. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against screening for ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women. These findings form the basis of a final recommendation statement published in the Feb. 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Evidence Report
Final Recommendation Statement
EHRs Not Sufficient to Ensure Success in Value-Based Care
MONDAY, Feb. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Electronic health records (EHRs) are not sufficient to ensure success in value-based care, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Open-Label Placebo May Reduce Fatigue in Cancer Survivors
MONDAY, Feb. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Open-label placebo (OLP) may reduce fatigue in cancer survivors, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in Scientific Reports.
Criteria for Prostate Cancer Trials Disproportionately Exclude Blacks
MONDAY, Feb. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Almost half of clinical trials for prostate cancer use criteria that disproportionately exclude black men, according to a research letter published online Feb. 8 in JAMA Oncology.
Ultrasound for Rectal Cancer Staging Tied to More Chemoradiation
MONDAY, Feb. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for rectal cancer (RC) staging is associated with higher use of neoadjuvant chemoradiation but no significant improvement in overall survival, according to a study published online Jan. 26 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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Top Consumer Concerns Reported About Physicians
FRIDAY, Feb. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Health care consumers have four major concerns regarding their physicians, according to a report published by Managed Healthcare Executive.
Approach Offers Regional Control of HPV-Related Head, Neck CA
FRIDAY, Feb. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Good regional control can be achieved with up-front surgery and adjuvant therapy for patients with invasive nodal disease from oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) related to human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a study published online Jan. 29 in Head & Neck.
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Poll: Personal Beliefs Shouldn’t Allow Doctors to Refuse to Treat
THURSDAY, Feb. 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Most people do not believe that professionals including health care providers should be allowed to refuse to provide services based on their conscience or beliefs, according to a recent HealthDay/The Harris Poll.
FDA Says U.S. Will Now Produce Critical MRI Component
THURSDAY, Feb. 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A long-feared shortage of a substance used in millions of medical imaging procedures each year in the United States appears to have been avoided, federal officials report.
Active Surveillance OK for Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
THURSDAY, Feb. 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, active surveillance seems reasonable and cost-effective, according to a study published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Mogamulizumab Cuts Infected Cells in HTLV-1 Myelopathy
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy-tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM-TSP), treatment with the humanized anti-CCR4 monoclonal antibody that targets infected cells, mogamulizumab, decreases the number of HTLV-1-infected cells, according to a study published in the Feb. 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
HPV Prevalence 4.9 Percent in Tonsil Tissue of Healthy Adults
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and of high-risk HPV type 16 or 18 is 4.9 and 3.9 percent, respectively, in the tonsil tissue of healthy adults, according to a study published online Jan. 25 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Expenditures Rising for Treating Obesity-Related Illness in U.S.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The amount of U.S. health care resources devoted to treating obesity-related illness in U.S. adults rose 29 percent from 2001 to 2015, according to a review published in the January issue of Clinical Chemistry.
High Detection Rates of High-Grade DCIS Persist
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — High detection rates of high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) persist in consecutive subsequent screening rounds versus the prevalence round, while there are decreases in detection rates of low- and intermediate-grade DCIS, according to a study published in the February issue of Radiology.
Mutations Common in Pancreatic CA, History of Other Cancers
TUESDAY, Feb. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A substantial proportion of individuals with pancreatic cancer and a history of other hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC)- or Lynch syndrome (LS)-related cancers have mutations in a prostate cancer susceptibility gene, according to a study published online Jan. 23 in Cancer.
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2005 to 2014 Saw Increase in Melanoma Incidence
TUESDAY, Feb. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In recent years there has been an increase in melanoma incidence, with more than 70 percent of melanomas diagnosed among those aged 55 years and older, according to a research letter published online Jan. 31 in JAMA Dermatology.
Low Rates of Abx Prophylaxis for Pediatric Sickle Cell
MONDAY, Feb. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) have low rates of receiving ≥300 days of antibiotic prophylaxis, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in Pediatrics.
Hot Tea + Alcohol or Smoking May Up Esophageal Cancer Risk
MONDAY, Feb. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Consumption of tea at high temperatures in combination with alcohol and tobacco exposure is associated with increased risk of esophageal cancer, according to a study published online Feb. 6 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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IV Bevacizumab Effective for Severe HHT-Related Bleeding
MONDAY, Feb. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with severe hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT)-related bleeding, intravenous bevacizumab is effective, according to a study published in the February issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
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Direct-to-Implant Reconstruction Feasible in Older Women
MONDAY, Feb. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For women aged older than 65 years, direct-to-implant breast reconstruction is associated with a reduced number of drain days and fewer readmissions, hospital stays, and postoperative visits, with no impact on complication and failure rates compared with tissue expander/implant reconstruction, according to a study published in the February issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Humanities Exposure Positively Impacts Medical Students
MONDAY, Feb. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Exposure to the humanities correlates with less burnout and higher levels of positive personal qualities among medical students, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Pre-Op Exercise in Lung Cancer Patients Halves Complications
FRIDAY, Feb. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Preoperative exercise halves the rate of postoperative complications in patients with lung cancer, according to a review published Feb. 1 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Factors Identified That Impact Physicians IT Adoption
FRIDAY, Feb. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physicians have considerable concerns about the efficacy and evidence base of health information technology (IT), according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Estimated Biopsy Rate Varies After Breast Cancer Treatment
FRIDAY, Feb. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The estimated biopsy rate after breast cancer treatment varies, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in JAMA Surgery.
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Mortality Risk Similar for Career Versus Limited NFL Participation
FRIDAY, Feb. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Career participation in professional American football seems not to be associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality compared with limited participation, according to a study published online Feb. 1 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Chronic Disease Major Risk Factor for Cancer, Cancer Mortality
FRIDAY, Feb. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Chronic disease is associated with a substantial proportion of the risk of incident cancer and cancer mortality, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in The BMJ.
TTFields Tied to Improved Survival in Glioblastoma Patients
FRIDAY, Feb. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with glioblastoma, the addition of tumor-treating fields (TTFields) to standard treatment with temozolomide is associated with improved survival without negative effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) other than itchy skin, according to a study published online Feb. 1 in JAMA Oncology.
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Medicaid Expansion Cuts Out-of-Pocket Spending
THURSDAY, Feb. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — States that expanded Medicaid cut the probability of non-elderly near-poor adults being uninsured and lowered average out-of-pocket spending, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in Health Affairs.
AHA: Breast Cancer Patients at Increased Risk for CV Disease
THURSDAY, Feb. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Due to shared risk factors and impact on heart health from cancer treatment, comprehensive care is necessary for breast cancer patients to optimize both cancer treatment and cardiovascular health, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association published online Feb. 1 in Circulation.
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