Content about Oncology

WASHINGTON — Cuts to Medicare payments due to the budget sequester have hit reimbursements for cancer drugs, according to a nonprofit group.

WASHINGTON — More than 200 drugs for blood cancers are under development, according to a new report by a drug industry trade group.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said 241 medicines were in clinical development or under review by the Food and Drug Administration, including 98 for lymphoma, 97 for leukemia, 52 for multiple myeloma and 24 for malignancies of the bone marrow, blood and lymph nodes.

IRVINGTON, N.Y. — Less than one-quarter of American adults have ever had a skin check by a dermatologist despite rising rates of skin cancer, according to a new survey.

LANDOVER, Md. — Ahold banner Giant Food of Landover, Md., donated $37,305 to the Capital Breast Care Center.

The donation, presented by Giant-Landover public and community relations manager Jamie Miller (center) to Capital Breast Care Center executive director Wanda Lucas (front row, second from right) comes from money collected by the chain during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

MEMPHIS  — A national drug shortage has been linked to a higher rate of relapse among children, teenagers and young adults with Hodgkin lymphoma enrolled in a national clinical trial, according to research led by St. Jude Children's Hospital.

The study found the estimated two-year cancer-free survival for patients enrolled in the study fell from 88% to 75% after the drug cyclophosphamide was substituted for mechlorethamine for treatment of patients with intermeidiate- or high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma. The study was launched before the drug shortages began.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Stop & Shop donated more than $250,000 to the American Cancer Society to support breast cancer research, education and awareness in October, the supermarket chain announced Tuesday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved what it called the second new drug in two months for a form of leukemia, the agency said Friday.

The FDA announced the approval of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' Synribo (omacetaxine mepesuccinate) for chronic myelogenous leukemia, or CML, a disease that the National Institutes of Health expects will be diagnosed in more than 5,400 people this year. The drug is intended for patients whose disease has progressed after treatment with at least two drugs of a class used to treat the disease.

MIAMI and PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. — Regional pharmacy chain Navarro Discount Pharmacy, which operates 31 locations in south Florida, is supplying pink prescription bottle caps on all prescriptions filled during the month of October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the company has announced.

“As a community pharmacy, we are focused on supporting activities that educate women, families and children about a variety of health issues,” stated Albert Garcia, EVP pharmacy operations at Navarro Discount Pharmacy.

SUMMIT, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved an injected drug for lung cancer made by Celgene, the company said Friday.

Celgene announced the approval of Abraxane (paclitaxel) protein-bound particles for injectable suspension, for the first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer that has advanced locally or spread to other parts of the body, in combination with carboplatin, for patients who are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation therapy.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble Company and the National Breast Cancer Foundation have kicked off the fifth annual Give Hope program and its “Do It For the Girls!” campaign designed to rally women to take control of their breast health, take action and create an early detection plan in the fight against breast cancer.

 SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Sagent Pharmaceuticals has launched a drug used to treat complications related to chemotherapy, the drug maker said.

The Schaumburg, Ill.-based company announced the launch of ondansetron injection, used to prevent nausea and vomiting associated with emetogenic cancer chemotherapy and also to prevent nausea and vomiting that follows surgery.

Various versions of the drug had sales of $49 million during the 12-month period that ended in June, according to IMS Health.

DALLAS — Men who have been treated for prostate cancer, either with surgery or radiation, could benefit from taking aspirin regularly, according to a multicenter study published in Tuesday's issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.