Hematologic Cancers

At 5 years of follow-up of the VISTA trial, the combination of bortezomib plus melphalan and prednisone (VMP) demonstrated a survival advantage over MP alone as up-front treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who were not transplant candidates. At a median followup of 60.1 months, the absolute difference in overall survival (OS) between the treatment arms was 13 months, according to final results presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology. Read More ›

Retreatment With Rituximab as Effective as Maintenance Rituximab but Less Costly in Indolent Follicular Lymphoma

Hematologic Cancers

TON - Special Issue May 2012, Vol 5, No 4

The best strategy for management of low-tumor-burden follicular lymphoma (FL) following response to induction therapy is controversial. The phase 3 RESORT study compared maintenance rituximab therapy versus rituximab retreatment at disease progression, and results suggest that retreatment is the preferred approach. The study was presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

By Barbara Barnes Rogers, CRNP, MN, AOCN, ANP-BC; Colleen Erb, MSN, CRNP, ACNP-BC, AOCNP

Hematologic Cancers

TON - Special Issue May 2012, Vol 5, No 4

Case Study

Morbidity of Hematopoietic Transplant

By Alice Goodman

Hematologic Cancers

TON - MARCH 2012 VOL 5, NO 2

Although hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) is curative for some patients with hematologic malignancies, a recent study found substantial long-term physical and psychological morbidity, as well as increased risk of dying among HCT survivors. The study suggests that patients slated to undergo HCT should be aware of the potential long-term health risks associated with transplant and should be monitored accordingly. The study was presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

By Dario Campana, MD, PhD; Elaine Coustan-Smith, MS; Sally Blair, MD

Hematologic Cancers

TON - MARCH 2012 VOL 5, NO 2

Treatment response in patients with acute leukemia is traditionally measured by searching for leukemic cells that persist during chemotherapy. This is done by screening smears of bone marrow aspirates and peripheral blood samples using light microscopy, striving to identify leukemic cells by their morphologic features. Read More ›

The Health Burden of Multiple Myeloma: Subcutaneous Bortezomib a New, Convenient Route of Administration Option

By Rhonda Williams

Hematologic Cancers

TON - February 2012 VOL 5, No 1

In 2011, the American Cancer Society projected there would be 20,520 cases of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) and 10,610 deaths from the disease that year.¹ MM is an incurable hematologic cancer marked by great heterogeneity, in terms of its biology and clinical course. Morbidity and survival rates vary widely, even in the age of novel, molecularly based targeted therapies. Many factors account for differences in prognoses among patients with MM, including genomic aberrations in the plasma cells of the myeloma neoplasm. Read More ›

Ruxolitinib Tablets: A New Oral Option for the Treatment of Patients With Intermediate- or High-Risk Myelofibrosis Disorders

Hematologic Cancers

Web Exclusives

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a group of closely related hematologic malignancies that arise from abnormal development and function of the body’s bone marrow cells. Primary myelofibrosis (PMF), polycythemia vera (PV), and essential thrombocythemia (ET) comprise the Philadel phia chromosome (Ph)-negative MPNs.¹ Myelofibrosis (MF) can arise on its own, which is called PMF, or it can result from the progression of other MPNs, such as postpolycythemia vera MF (PPVMF) and postessential throm bocythemia MF (PET-MF).¹

Read More ›

Multiple Myeloma Treatments Are Moving Rapidly from Bench to Bedside

By Wayne Kuznar

Hematologic Cancers

TON - October 2011 Vol 4 No 7

CHICAGO—Treatments for multiple myeloma have advanced rapidly over the past 15 years as research has fostered an improved understanding of the mechanisms of the disease. These discoveries have been translated into effective drugs, most notably bortezomib, thalidomide, and lenalidomide.

By Wayne Kuznar

Conference Correspondent, Conference Correspondent, Hematologic Cancers

TON - August 2011 VOL 4, NO 5

CHICAGO—Decitabine extends overall survival and improves response rates compared with standard therapies in the treatment of older patients with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), said Xavier G. Thomas, MD, PhD.

The treatment options for older patients with AML are limited. Intensive chemotherapy is generally poorly tolerated in this group, the initial mortality rate is high (exceeding 30% at 8 weeks), the response rate to chemotherapy is poor, and relapse rates are high.

Hematologic Cancers

TON - August 2011 VOL 4, NO 5

Case Presentation

Chief complaint: Generalized arthralgia for 5 months.