The COVID-19 Pandemic and In-Person Visit Rate Disruptions Among Patients With Hematologic Neoplasms in the US in 2020 to 2021.

Importance: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a reduction in routine in-person medical care; however, it is unknown whether there have been any changes in visit rates among patients with hematologic neoplasms.

Objective: To examine associations between the COVID-19 pandemic and in-person visits and telemedicine use among patients undergoing active treatment for hematologic neoplasms.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Data for this retrospective observational cohort study were obtained from a nationwide electronic health record-derived, deidentified database.

The DISCO App: A pilot test of a multi-level intervention to reduce the financial burden of cancer through improved cost communication.

Objective: Financial toxicity affects 30-50% of people with cancer in the US. Although experts recommend patients and physicians discuss treatment cost, cost discussions occur infrequently. We pilot-tested the feasibility, acceptability and influence on outcomes of the DIScussions of COst (DISCO) App, a multi-level communication intervention designed to improve cost discussions and related outcomes.

How to Effectively Decrease Patient Co-Payments of High-Cost Drugs Through Innovation: Lessons From the Karmanos Specialty Pharmacy.

Purpose: High-cost drugs impose a financial burden on patients with cancer. Karmanos Specialty Pharmacy (KSP) developed a process to automate financial assistance (FA) applications to decrease patient drug cost. We evaluate the outcomes of this program on cost to patients and payers.

Selinexor in Combination with R-CHOP for Frontline Treatment of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Results of a Phase I Study.

Purpose: The nuclear exporter protein exportin-1 (XPO1) is overexpressed in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and correlates with poor prognosis. We evaluated enhancing R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) activity in NHL by targeted inhibition of XPO1 using the selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE) compounds.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated the antitumor activity of SINE compounds in combination with CHO chemotherapy and .

The costs of treating and not treating patients with chronic myeloid leukemia with tyrosine kinase inhibitors among Medicare patients in the United States.

Background: Patients with high cost-sharing of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) experience delays in treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). To the authors' knowledge, the clinical outcomes among and costs for patients not receiving TKIs are not well defined.

Methods: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database, the authors evaluated differences in TKI initiation, health care use, cost, and survival among patients with CML with continuous Medicare Parts A and B and Part D coverage who were diagnosed between 2007 and 2015.

Incorporating Value-Based Care Into Oncology.

Value-based care within insurance design utilizes evidence-based medicine as a means of defining high-value versus low-value diagnostics and treatments. The goals of value-based care are to shift spending and coverage toward high-value care and reduce the use of low-value practices. Within oncology, several value-based methods have been proposed and implemented.

Increasing incidence of Epstein-Barr virus-related nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the United States.

Background: The incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has been historically low in the United States. Although etiological factors differ by histological subtype, Epstein-Barr virus is accepted as the primary risk factor for nonkeratinizing NPC. In light of the changing epidemiology of viral-associated cancers, it is important to evaluate the temporal incidence of NPC in the United States.

Real-world testing and treatment patterns in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A SEER patterns of care analysis.

Background: Laboratory testing and treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have changed dramatically within the last decade. The authors evaluated changes in patterns of real-world testing and treatment over time by comparing 2 population-based cohorts.

Methods: The National Cancer Institute-sponsored Patterns of Care study was conducted among patients with CLL who were sampled from 14 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program registries.

Challenges in the Clinical Application of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Value Framework: A Medicare Cost-Benefit Analysis in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Purpose: The ASCO Value Framework calculates the value of cancer therapies. Given costly novel therapeutics for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, we used the framework to compare net health benefit (NHB) and cost within Medicare of all regimens listed in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines.

Methods: The current NCCN guidelines for chronic lymphocytic leukemia were reviewed.