Alectinib for advanced -positive non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability, dosage and administration, and place in therapy of alectinib for treatment of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are reviewed.

Summary: In patients with NSCLC driven by mutations of , the gene coding for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), treatment with the ALK inhibitor crizotinib has been found to provide median progression-free survival (PFS) of 10.9 months; however, therapeutic failures and tumor progression to brain metastases are common with crizotinib use, prompting research to find more potent and tolerable ALK inhibitors that target major oncogenic drivers of NSCLC.

Venetoclax: A novel B-cell lymphoma-2 inhibitor for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other hematologic malignancies.

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia with the 17p deletion have a poor prognosis and treatment options are limited. Venetoclax, a novel B-cell lymphoma-2 inhibitor, has been approved for treatment-experienced chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with the 17p deletion. A phase 1 dose-escalation study to 400 mg daily showed overall response rates across all doses of 79% with a complete response achieved in 20%.

New Pharmacotherapies in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

The authors present the clinical outcomes and therapeutic application of newly approved pharmacotherapies for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and highlight emerging investigational therapeutic options.

Initiation and preliminary evaluation of an oncology pharmacy training course for staff pharmacists.

Introduction: There is currently a disparity between oncology pharmacy job openings and PGY2 trained pharmacists completing residency training each year. As a result, pharmacists without specialized training in oncology are filling much needed oncology positions and may need on-the-job oncology training. To improve oncology knowledge among non-PGY2 trained pharmacists working in oncology positions, Novant Health coordinated an Oncology Pharmacy Training Course (OPTC).

Implementation of the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative within comprehensive cancer centers.

Purpose: The progress made by cancer centers across the United States adopting the goals and measures of the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative (PPMI) was studied.

Methods: In collaboration with ASHP, the official PPMI hospital self-assessment (HSA) questionnaire and a 10-item supplemental survey specific to oncology pharmacy services were disseminated via e-mail to all 41 National Cancer Institute designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States.

Results: The HSA results of 26 (63%) of the 41 institutions surveyed were included in the analysis.

High pseudotumor cerebri incidence in tretinoin and arsenic treated acute promyelocytic leukemia and the role of topiramate after acetazolamide failure.

Dual differentiation therapy with arsenic trioxide and tretinoin (all-trans-retinoic acid; ATRA) for the management of low and intermediate risk acute promyelocytic leukemia has recently been recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Some less common toxicities of the combination may have yet to be fully realized. Of ten patients we have treated thus far, five (50%) have developed pseudotumor cerebri.