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In spite of significant advances in the understanding and treatment of hematologic malignancies over the past 5 years or so, these cancers remain challenges for clinicians. We always await the results of studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), hoping that they will be practice–changing for us and life–altering for our patients. This year, at the 45th ASCO in Orlando, we instead heard results that further refined or validated the treatment approaches we often take.

Studies presented at this year’s ASCO annual meeting gave us a glimpse of the future, which looks promising with regard to improved treatments for the major hematologic malignancies. Several new compounds are in preliminary trials and others are on the fast track to approval, offering some very new options for attacking a variety of these cancers.

Newly appointed FDA commissioner, Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, has created a task force to study how to make the agency's processes more transparent. When it comes to cancer drugs, she's got a tough road ahead.

President Obama wants to push forward his health-care reform initiative this year. Republicans have expressed strong reservations about the plan and its express-train timetable, but they do not enough clout on the Hill to stop it.

A psychoanalyst describes her intimate psychosocial care with a dying patient. But her musings on caring for the terminally ill leave out one crucial thing--pain relief.

The recent decision by CMS to deny coverage for CT colonography in colorectal cancer screening has been seen by some as a favorable trend toward using evidence-based medicine to make more cost-effective coverage decisions. With the Medicare hospital insurance trust fund projected to become insolvent by 2017, perhaps the agency is responding to the impending fiscal realities.

A novel drug that targets an important protein receptor that supports B-cell lymphoma cells produced significant responses in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients who had failed prior therapies. Results from the phase II trial of fostamatinib disodium in 68 heavily pretreated relapsed and refractory B-cell NHL patients revealed that the treatment has significant promise and should undergo further clinical testing, according to lead investigator Jonathan W. Friedberg, MD, of the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester in New York.

Recipients of the 2009 ASCO Special Awards have been announced. Clara D. Bloomfield, MD, (left) will be given the David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award; the Science of Oncology Award will go to Bert Vogelstein, MD; Olufunmilayo Olopade, MBBS, will receive the ASCO-American Cancer Society Award; the B.J. Kennedy Award for Scientific Excellence in Geriatric Oncology will be given to Martine Extermann, MD, PhD; the Pediatric Oncology Award will be presented to William E. Evans, PharmD, and Mary V. Relling, PharmD; John H. Glick, MD, will take home the Distinguished Achievement Award; Diane S. Blum, MSW, is the recipient of Partners in Progress Award; Richard Pazdur, MD, will be given the Special Recognition Award.

As comparative effectiveness research matures from a political buzz phrase to a decision-making process, leaders in the oncology community are concerned about the effect this latest government initiative might have on community practices that already feel overregulated.

One of the most discussed elements of President Obama's health-care reform is the the initiative to launch comparative effectiveness research. The administration contends that CER is about enhancing the quality of care by choosing more effective clinical options. Pharma is worried that comparative effectiveness code for cost-effectiveness, and oncologists are concerned that CER could effect the autonomy of their clinical decision making.

New biologics are improving the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer, but their optimal integration into practice remains unclear, and the question of how aggressive treatment should be is still open ended.

ASCO has issued policy recommendations designed to eliminate existing disparities between minorities and whites, and between those with and without health insurance. “Disparities in Cancer Care” comes as the incidence of cancer is projected to increase significantly in the next 20 years, a situation that could be catastrophic if not dealt with sooner rather than later.

A call center in India takes a customer service inquiry from Idaho; an Australian doctor reads an emergency x-ray for a U.S. patient; a professor in Moscow delivers a lecture via satellite to UK-based students-these examples of “going global” no longer seem so novel. Cancer clinical trials are also crossing international datelines. Between 2005 and 2006, international clinical trials initiated in the Asia-Pacific region increased by 50%, while major research initiatives-once the stronghold of U.S. institutions-are now run by EU-based investigators.

Imaging with MR and/or PET/CT can help physicians figure out appropriate treatment for cervical cancer patients as well as prevent unnecessary therapy, according to a new study.

V. Craig Jordan, OBE, PhD, DSc, will become the scientific director for the cancer center and vice chairman of the department of oncology at Georgetown University Medical Center and the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Elekta has promised $1 million to the Radiation Oncology Institute, a campaign spearheaded by the American Society for Radiation Oncology to raise awareness of radiation therapy.

Varian gains more worldwide sites for RapidArc system

ORLANDO, Fla.-ASCO has awarded $10,000 grants to five state projects. The recipients will be recognized at the State Affiliates’ Reception at ASCO 2009.

Acupressure wristbands help cancer patients who are nauseous from radiation treatment, according to a study in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.

Homeopathy can help cancer patients with skin irritation and mouth sores, according to a review involving 664 participants published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (online issue 2, 2009).

A cancer diagnosis carries with it a unique set of challenges for patients, their family, and healthcar e professionals. Patients newly diagnosed with cancer and their support people are frequently in shock, fearful, and emotionally regressed.

Recently released, the 2009 Medicare Trustees report projected that Medicare, the primary insurance carrier for much of the nation's cancer population, is in deep fiscal trouble. Amidst the clamor on Capitol Hill for revamping our health-care system, the daunting challenge of Medicare's dilemma is largely left off the table. Silence on this issue threatens our ability to deliver high-quality cancer care to our aging population.

Common logic among the public dictates that it is grossly unfair to deny a person dying of cancer access to an experimental therapy that might be the person's last hope. The blame usually falls on FDA and Pharma; politics and greed are the common back-stories behind this very real , and largely misunderstood issue.

Despite the widespread perception that herbal products are safe because they are “natural,” few of these products have been subjected to rigorous research. The potential risks associated with many herbal dietary supplements remain unknown.

Preface

About This Treatment Guide

A mobile MRI unit recently pulled up to the steps of Capitol Hill, launching the Brain Tumor Foundation's national campaign for early detection. Led by the Foundation's president and founder, Patrick J. Kelly, MD, free brain scans were offered to members of Congress and their staff, along with government officials. Good intentions aside, the effort was derided as doing more harm than good by many leading cancer experts.

In a decision that many in the oncology community view as penny-wise, dollar-foolish, CMS reversed its decision to cover CT colonograhpy as a screening tool in colorectal cancer. Proponents of CT colonography contend that the less invasive nature promotes adherence to regular screening; critics say CT colonography's inability to remove polyps creates unnecessary redundancy; if polys are detcted the gold standard optical method is then needed. Why not just do it the first time?