FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

Medicare's Seasons John V. Cox JOP Mar 2009: 49. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

                                      ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Physician-Related Factors Involved in Patient Decisions to Enroll Onto Cancer Clinical Trials • The development of new cancer therapies requires additional, and more complex, clinical trials. But only approximately 3% to 5% of adult cancer patients participate in cancer clinical trials. This study seeks to identify and understand the attitudes of the public and cancer survivors toward health-related decisions and cancer clinical trials to identify the key factors that must be addressed to increase that percentage. Robert L. Comis, Jon D. Miller, Diane D. Colaizzi, and Linda G. Kimmel JOP Mar 2009: 50–56. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Examining Telephone Calls in Ambulatory Oncology • A large component of ambulatory oncology practice is management of telephone calls placed to and from the practice between outpatient appointments, but they are not a reimbursable service, they require staff resources, and they place an unpredictable demand on workload. In this study, telephone calls were examined at a private medical oncology practice to define telephone call volume and distribution in an active ambulatory oncology practice, describe the callers and reasons for calls, and examine any differences in call volume by practice characteristics. Marie Flannery, Shannon M. Phillips, and Catherine A. Lyons JOP Mar 2009: 57–60. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Oncology Workforce: Results of the ASCO 2007 Program Directors Survey • The supply of oncologists is projected to increase by 14%, but the demand for oncology visits is projected to increase by 48% because of a growing aging population and an increase in the number of cancer survivors. Multiple strategies must be implemented to ensure continued access to quality cancer care, such as increasing the number of oncology training positions. Clese Erikson, Stacey Schulman, Michael Kosty, and Amy Hanley JOP Mar 2009: 62–65. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Quality of Life Predicts Progression-Free Survival in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated With Sunitinib Versus Interferon Alfa • In a randomized phase III trial, sunitinib was associated with significantly superior progression-free survival when compared with interferon alfa as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. This article investigates whether baseline quality of life and demographic and clinical variables were predictive for progression-free survival. David Cella, Joseph C. Cappelleri, Andrew Bushmakin, Claudie Charbonneau, Jim Z. Li, Sindy T. Kim, Isan Chen, M. Dror Michaelson, and Robert J. Motzer JOP Mar 2009: 66–70. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Commentary

Telephone Triage in Today's Oncology Practice Elaine Towle JOP Mar 2009: 61. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

                                      CURRENT CLINICAL ISSUES

ASCO Provisional Clinical Opinion: KRAS, Cetuximab, and Panitumumab—Clinical Implications in Colorectal Cancer • ASCO's Provisional Clinical Opinion alerts oncologists to emerging information from recent clinical trials that can assist them in treatment selection. Evidence suggests that cetuximab and panitumumab are ineffective in patients with KRAS mutations at codon 12 or 13. Thus, patients with colorectal cancer with these mutations should be spared the toxicity and cost of an ineffective therapy. Roscoe F. Morton and Elizabeth H. Hammond JOP Mar 2009: 71–72. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Data Supplement]

Commentary

Provisional Clinical Opinion Daniel G. Haller and John V. Cox JOP Mar 2009: 73. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Data Supplement]

When Is Standard Treatment Sufficiently Active to Make Use of a Placebo-Controlled Trial Unethical? • Research has demonstrated that double blinding can lessen the potential for bias in study outcomes, such as perceiving a drug as more effective in the experimental arm of a study. Effective double-blinding techniques minimize the influence of investigator and patient expectations. Hans W. Grünwald, Courtney D. Storm, and Geraldine M. Jacobson JOP Mar 2009: 74–75. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

                                      CLINICAL RESEARCH

Cost-Neutral Clinical Research Enterprise • The fifth in the Exemplary Attributes series looks at cost-neutral clinical research enterprise in light of two attributes of an exemplary clinical trial site: diversification of trial mix and high accrual activity. JOP Mar 2009: 76–79. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

                                      FOCUS ON QUALITY

Comparative Effectiveness: Its Origin, Evolution, and Influence on Health Care • Comparative effectiveness, the evaluation of multiple treatments for one condition to find the best option, is essential to evidence-based medicine and coverage with evidence development. This article outlines comparative effectiveness and the changes it has undergone in recent decades. JOP Mar 2009: 80–82. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

                                      BUSINESS OF THE BUSINESS

Adapting Practice in the Face of New Data • Oncologists are often faced with new information on tests, therapies, and treatment regimens. Determining how to incorporate that data into practice patterns is not easy. Regardless of what motivates you to make a change in practice, the explosion of new oncology data demands that you continually reevaluate how you practice. Christopher Stokoe JOP Mar 2009: 83–85. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Overview of Medicare Parts A-D • With policymakers calling for reforms to ensure Medicare beneficiaries continue to have access to care without bankrupting the Medicare Trust Fund, it is hard to know how changes to the system will affect cancer care delivery. This primer provides oncologists with context for the Medicare reform debates anticipated in the coming months. JOP Mar 2009: 86–90. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Commentary

Legislative Outlook: Opportunities and Challenges Joseph S. Bailes JOP Mar 2009: 91. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

                                      STRATEGIES FOR CAREER SUCCESS

Personal Finance Management for New Oncologists: Part 2 • Part two in this two-part series on financial planning for new oncologists looks at the basic principles of sound investing in any economic climate. JOP Mar 2009: 92–95. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

                                      THE VOICE OF ASCO
ASCO's Clinical Practice Committee

Random Ruminations of a Sports Fan... W. Charles Penley JOP Mar 2009: 96. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

                                      FOR YOUR PATIENTS
Cancer.Net Resources

Health Insurance and Financial Information for Patients JOP Mar 2009: 97. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Patient Advocate Corner

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: Advance Research, Support Patients, and Create Hope • Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of death as a result of cancer in the United States, and 75% of patients will die within 12 months of diagnosis. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network wants people to know there is hope, and there are resources available to help them face this disease. Julie Fleshman JOP Mar 2009: 98. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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