Hematology Times
ASCO 2012
Socioeconomic status affects treatment choices
 New research from the Fox Chase Cancer Center suggests that a patient’s socioeconomic status is a better predictor of treatment choice than any other classification, such as age or disease site. The study showed that socioeconomic status can predict whether a patient will favor high-efficacy, low-cost, or low-toxicity treatment. “We found that patients’ socioeconomic status can tell us a lot about what’s important to them when considering treatment options,” said investigator . . . [Read Article] Brentuximab shows activity in NHLs and other neoplasms
ASCO 2012 Annual Meeting
Credit: ASCO/Scott Morgan Two studies presented at the ASCO 2012 Annual Meeting suggest that CD30 expression is not exclusive to Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL). And this may have implications for treatment with brentuximab vedotin, a CD30-directed antibody-drug conjugate approved for HL and ALCL. Investigators reported encouraging activity with brentuximab in relapsed/refractory CD30-positive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and potential activity in CD30-positive mast cell leukemia. [Read Article] Highly resistant CML patients respond to ponatinib
Chronic myeloid leukemia
About one-third of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients treated with imatinib become resistant or intolerant to therapy. And 15% to 20% of them also fail treatment with a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor. But the novel agent ponatinib may offer an alternative for these patients. Interim results of a phase 2 study showed that ponatinib produced major cytogenetic responses in more than half of CML patients who were resistant to or intolerant of previous therapy. [Read Article] Early molecular response helps predict when to switch therapy
ASCO 2012 Annual Meeting
Credit: ASCO/Phil McCarten Molecular and cytogenetic responses of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia being treated with imatinib can help doctors determine if and when to switch therapy. Investigators analyzed data from more than 1000 newly diagnosed imatinib-treated CML patients and correlated their molecular and cytogenetic responses with survival. Lack of an early molecular response identified high-risk patients who could possibly benefit from an early change of therapy. [Read Article] Many patients not willing to pay for genetic testing
DNA
A study presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting has found that many people with hereditary cancer risk are only willing to have genetic testing performed if their insurance covers the cost. Women and less educated patients faced greater barriers from high copay amounts, according to the investigators. They analyzed patient data from the Gastrointestinal Tumor Risk Assessment Registry to determine predictors of willingness-to-pay for genetic testing. [Read Article] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
