Oncology Business Management | Specialty

The OncLive Oncology Business Management condition center page is a comprehensive resource for news and expert insights on business-focused updates and topics in oncology practices, including diversity efforts, telehealth, gaps in care, payment models, and more. This page features news articles, interviews in written and video format, and podcasts that focus on updates and best practices with oncology business management.


California Researchers Say Medicinal Marijuana Relieves Pain

May 18th 2010

A persistent concern about using marijuana for medical purposes has been the lack of clinical trials demonstrating marijuana's effectiveness in any of the conditions for which it is legally prescribed in many states. Now, a team of researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine's Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR) has presented a summary of studies to the California legislature that claims smoking marijuana relieves pain in several chronic illnesses.

FDA Approves Expanded Use of Tykerb

May 18th 2010

On January 29, the FDA expanded indications for lapatinib (Tykerb) to include its use in combination with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole (Femara) to treat hormone-positive and HER2-positive advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

Aspirin May Reduce Breast Cancer Metastasis and Mortality Rates

May 18th 2010

New data suggest that women who take aspirin regularly following a breast cancer diagnosis cut their risk of death and distant metastases by nearly 50%.

If Healthcare Reform Sinks, We May All Drown

May 18th 2010

Healthcare reform (HCR) is complicated, not only because of the diversity of options but also the range and passion of opinions on the subject. Physicians are in the unique position of being able to see the debate from multiple angles. Yet, it does not take a physician to recognize that the current healthcare system is unsustainable.

Tulane Cancer Center's Multifocal Mission: Teaching, Research, and Patient Care

May 18th 2010

In post-Katrina New Orleans, Louisiana, people refer to their return home and the revival of the city as �being back.� Today, the human spirit is thriving in the Big Easy�s resurrected communities and New Orleans is growing. The Tulane Cancer Center (TCC) at Tulane University Medical School has been the beneficiary of some of that growth.

Nab-Paclitaxel Outperforms Paclitaxel in NSCLC

May 18th 2010

In a phase III study of 1052 patients, nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab) paclitaxel (Abraxane)produced significant improvement in the overall response rate compared with standard paclitaxel in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Clarient Launches Pulmotype to Help Oncologists Choose the Right Therapy

May 18th 2010

In early February, Clarient Inc announced the commercial launch of its Insight Dx Pulmotype test that helps pathologists classify specific types of lung cancer so physicians can prescribe the most effective therapies.

The Shifting Landscape Toward Immunotherapies

May 17th 2010

Research and development in cancer has made a seismic shift toward immunotherapies, like anticancer vaccines, and the resulting tremor can be felt in the hallways and laboratories of drug and biotechnology companies large and small.

CMS Declines to Cover NaF-18 PET Outside of Trials

May 17th 2010

To help address delays in nuclear imaging procedures caused by an isotope shortage that resulted when two Canadian reactors went offline in 2009, the Academy of Molecular Imaging and other professional societies urged CMS to grant coverage for the use of NaF-18 PET in diagnosing bone metastases in patients with cancer.

Cystoscopy Alone Most Cost-Effective for Monitoring Bladder Cancer Recurrence

May 17th 2010

A study presented at the ASCO 2010 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium found that adding urine testing to cystoscopy to monitor patients for bladder cancer recurrence greatly increases costs without a corresponding clinical benefit.

FDA, Legislators, Professional Groups, and Manufacturers to Address Medical Radiation Risks

May 17th 2010

In February 2010, the FDA announced it would be developing and implementing stringent measures to regulate patient exposure to radiation associated with imaging studies, in particular from computed tomography (CT) scanning.

Combination Regimen Prolongs PFS in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer but Decreases Quality of Life

May 17th 2010

According to a study presented at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology 41st Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer, held in San Francisco, California, a combination of docetaxel(Taxotere) and carboplatin almost doubled progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with recurrent, platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.

Gardasil Protects Against Reoccurrence of HPV-related Disease After Surgery

May 17th 2010

New evidence presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists suggests that Gardasil, a vaccine that prevents cervical cancer, also reduces the likelihood of recurrence after surgery by 40%.

Test May Detect Pancreatic Cancer Early

May 17th 2010

A novel blood test identifies PAM4 (or clivatuzumab), an antigen that is present in almost 90% of pancreatic cancers and precancers.

Cetuximab Plus Chemotherapy Does Not Improve PFS in Advanced NSCLC

May 17th 2010

Results of a phase III multicenter, open-label study demonstrated that first-line treatment with a combination of cetuximab and a taxane/carboplatin (TC)significantly approved the overall response rate (ORR)and led to slight improvement in overall survival (OS). The study did not meet its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) as assessed by an independent radiologic review committee (IRCC).

Neratinib in Patients with Advanced HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

May 17th 2010

In a new report, published in the March issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, investigators led by Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, say monotherapy with neratinib, an investigational tyrosine kinase inhibitor, demonstrated substantial clinical activity in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer with manageable toxicity.

By The Numbers: 2020: The Oncology Shortage Doomsday

May 17th 2010

Although the latest supply and demand data for oncologists reflect a state of relative equilibrium, analysis of patient-visit data projects a shortage of thousands of oncologists by 2020.

Nothing Is Ever Simple with Windows

May 14th 2010

In last month's column, I talked about Microsoft's newest desktop operating system, Windows 7, and outlined several reasons why you might want to purchase it when it comes out this year. Windows 7 will include some really cool features-like multi-touch technology and usability improvements-that can benefit medical practitioners and their office staff. Because it is in Microsoft's best interest to make the process of upgrading to Windows 7 simple and straightforward, you would think the software giant would put great effort into streamlining the experience.

Vascular Designs' IsoFlowTM Infusion Catheter: Enabling Regional Chemotherapy Delivery

May 14th 2010

Interview about the IsoFlow infusion catheter

Healthcare Reform: How It Will Impact Your Bottom Line

May 14th 2010

The enactment of federal healthcare reform following a protracted, confrontational debate has left Americans bewildered and wondering, "What happens now?" Since you may soon be inundated with patient's questions, and might have a few of your own, OBTN cuts through the rhetoric, dissects the legislation, and tells you everything you need to know about the historic law and how it may affect your practice.

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