Hem/Onc Roundup: Two Cancer Drugs Have Big Price Increases, Triplet Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer, and more

Here are the top stories covered by DocWire Newsthis week in the Hematology & Oncology section. This week, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) indicated that two cancer drugs had some of the biggest price increases last year, a study showed that triplet therapy for pancreatic cancer improves survival, and more.

Rituxan® (rituximab) and Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) were included on ICER’s list of drugs with the biggest price increases from 2017 to 2018. The first annual report on Unsupported Price Increases of prescription drugs in the United States noted that the price hikes were more than twice the rate of medical inflation and were not supported by any new clinical evidence.

The addition of cisplatin to Abraxane® (nab-paclitaxel) and Gemzar® (gemcitabine) improved survival in patients with pancreatic cancer, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology.

According to a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, people who eat more home-cooked meals have less exposure to harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a harmful substance commonly found in foods and food-contact materials, and have been linked to cancer.

A group of researchers have developed a blood test that may be able to more quickly diagnose patients with brain cancer, thereby allowing them to seek treatment earlier and possibly increasing their chance for survival.

Circulating tumor DNA detected through liquid biopsy is an independent predictor of patients with colorectal cancer who are likely to relapse after surgery, according to research presented at the ESMO Congress 2019.

In case you missed it, more hem/onc headlines are featured below:

• Lymphoma Stage at Diagnosis May Predict Site of Secondary Malignancy
• Exercise Reduces Heart Damage Related to Chemotherapy
• Cancer Patients Want to Give Consent Before Their Data is Used
• 3D Printing Breast Prosthetics for Cancer Survivors with Mastectomies
• Multi-Gene Testing is Cost-Effective for U.S. Breast Cancer Patients