Caregiver survey in glioblastoma focused on cognitive dysfunction: development and results from a multicenter study.

To develop a cognitive dysfunction (CD) focused questionnaire to evaluate caregiver burden in glioblastoma. The survey was developed from stakeholder consultations and a pilot study, and disseminated at eight US academic cancer centers. Caregivers self-reported caring for an adult with glioblastoma and CD.

Real-world survival analysis by tumor mutational burden in non-small cell lung cancer: a multisite U.S. study.

Background: Tumor mutational burden (TMB) is a potential biomarker to predict tumor response to immuno-oncology agents in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: A multi-site cohort study evaluated patients diagnosed with stage IV NSCLC between 2012 and 2019 who had received comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) and any NSCLC-related treatment at 9 U.S.

Caregiver burden by treatment and clinical characteristics of patients with glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma is an incurable disease with a poor prognosis. For caregivers of people with glioblastoma, the burden of care can be high. Patients often present with different clinical characteristics, which may impact caregiver burden in different ways.

Can Cost-effectiveness Analysis Inform Genotype-Guided Aspirin Use for Primary Colorectal Cancer Prevention?

Background: Inherited genetic variants can modify the cancer-chemopreventive effect of aspirin. We evaluated the clinical and economic value of genotype-guided aspirin use for colorectal cancer chemoprevention in average-risk individuals.

Methods: A decision analytical model compared genotype-guided aspirin use versus no genetic testing, no aspirin.

Immunotargeted therapy in melanoma: patient, provider preferences, and willingness to pay at an academic cancer center.

New melanoma therapies have shifted the expectations of patients and providers. Evaluating the impact of treatment characteristics may enhance shared decision making. A survey, including a discrete choice experiment, was utilized to evaluate perceived trade-offs of different melanoma treatments and to estimate out-of-pocket (OOP) willingness-to-pay (WTP) thresholds (January 2016 to March 2016).

Personalized and precision medicine: integrating genomics into treatment decisions in gastrointestinal malignancies.

The advent of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has advanced our understanding of the intrinsic biology of different gastrointestinal (GI) tumor types. The use of novel, more efficient sequencing platforms has improved turnaround times of sequencing results. This is providing real time opportunities to put precision medicine to the test.

Ceritinib: A primer for pharmacists.

Clinical pharmacists are important contributors to the care of patients with cancer; it is therefore critical for oncology clinical pharmacists to stay current with new anticancer therapies. This review summarizes the epidemiology and pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer, including the most common genetic alterations, as well as the mechanism of action, clinical development, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitor ceritinib for the treatment of patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Targeted therapies based on the presence of specific mutations are an important development in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Hepatitis C therapy: Looking toward interferon-sparing regimens.

Objective: To describe chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including its epidemiology and pathophysiology; review current treatment options for HCV infection; recognize investigational agents being studied as part of interferon-free therapy; and summarize clinical trials for the new agents.

Data Sources: PubMed for 2004 through August 2014 using search terms hepatitis C, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, sofosbuvir, simeprevir, and as needed specific names of other agents in development during this time; news articles and news releases about company actions with regard to clinical trials and filings for marketing approval in the United States.

Study Selection: At the discretion of the author based on clinical relevance of study and relevance to national guidelines for HCV therapy.

The prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy.

Objective: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a complication which may develop after exposure to iodinated contrast media. The resulting acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with an increase in both short- and long-term morbidity and mortality, increased hospital length of stay, and greater health care costs. The pathophysiological mechanism associated with the development of CIN remains unknown.

Smaller frontal lobe white matter volumes in depressed adolescents.

Background: Prior studies have demonstrated reduced frontal lobe volumes in depressed adolescents. In this study, frontal lobe gray and white matter volumes in adolescents with major depressive disorder were evaluated.

Methods: Nineteen depressed and thirty-eight healthy comparison adolescents were recruited for a magnetic resonance imaging study.