The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of vismodegib (Erivedge), for the treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer, for patients who... More »
Metastatic melanomas that harbor the V600E mutation in the BRAF gene respond rapidly to vemurafenib (Zelboraf), the BRAF V600E inhibitor. But While vemurafenib results in a response in about 80% of... More »
The past year in oncology was highlighted by the continuation of breakthroughs in targeted therapies—with new treatments receiving US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for non–small-cell... More »
The management of in-transit metastases is challenging, since the treatments and extent of disease vary greatly based on the number, depth, location, and distribution of lesions, and on their... More »
Advances in perioperative planning, surgical technique, and postoperative care over the past two decades have allowed the indications for hepatic resection to be potentially broadened to include... More »
Lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States for years, and since 1988, it has become the number-one cause of cancer death among women. More »
A 58-year-old man developed acute myeloid leukema. After responding to remission-induction high-dose chemotherapy, he received an allogeneic stem cell transplant that was complicated by a... More »
Skin toxicity due to voriconazole is well recognized. Recently, several series have reported skincancer, particularly cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (C-SCC), following photosensitivity reactions among patients receiving long-term voriconazole (>12months). Almost all patients were immunosuppressed, including stem cell and solid organ transplant recipients. A case-control study of lung transplant recipients identified long-term voriconazole (median cumulative dose: 76grams) and residence in areas of strong sun exposure as independent risk factors for C-SCC. The mechanism(s) by which voriconazole may predispose to skincancer is not clear. Moreover, the relative contribution of voriconazole and other factors such as immunosuppression, ultraviolet exposure, advanced age and skin type is unknown. Until further data are available, voriconazole should be used carefully for durations >6-9months, particularly among patients with risk factors for skincancer. In patients requiring
Considerable interobserver variability exists among providers and between providers and patients when measuring subjective symptoms. In the recently published Phase III N06C4 trial of mometasone cream vs. placebo to prevent radiation dermatitis, the primary provider-assessed (PA) endpoint, using the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), was negative. However, prospectively planned secondary analyses of patient-reported outcomes (PROs), using the Skindex-16 and Skin Toxicity Assessment Tool (STAT), were positive. This study assesses the relationship between PA outcomes and PROs.|Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to compare the three tools. Statistical correlations were defined as follows: <0.5, mild; 0.5-0.7, moderate; and >0.7, strong.|CTCAE dermatitis moderately correlated with STAT erythema, and CTCAE pruritus strongly correlated with STAT itching. CTCAE pruritus had a moderate correlation with Skindex-16 itching. Comparing the 2 PRO tools, Skindex-16
Tax Schemes Every Physician Should Avoid Ike Devji, JD, January 31, 2012 The next 60 days marks the final push to sell physicians across the United States tax plans of both good and questionable value.
Prevent Physician Distraction When Using mHealth Technology Aubrey Westgate, January 25, 2012 As more and more physicians use handheld mobile technology in their day-to-day work, some critics are raising concerns about “distracted doctoring.”
Can That Applicant Do the Job at Your Medical Practice? Karen Zupko, January 25, 2012 If like many communities, yours has significant numbers of non-English speaking people with whom neither you nor your staff are able to converse, your practice is at a serious disadvantage.