May 2014

The frontline treatment of patients with Philadelphia chromosome–positive (Ph+) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) continues to be debated as imatinib (Gleevec) rapidly approaches the end of its patent protection and next-generation agents continue to show efficacy in clinical trials.

At the recent National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 19th Annual Conference, experts discussed this year's updates to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. The meeting also included reviews of NCCN Task Force reports on issues in supportive care. We asked eleven NCCN panel members to select the most significant updates and insights presented at the conference.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines have been a very valuable resource for practicing oncologists for 15 years.

Two recently published clinical studies demonstrated a strong association between higher levels of vitamin D and improved outcomes among patients with various cancers.

Despite evidence supporting its efficacy, chemotherapy is not routinely administered to patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Doxepin rinse may prove to be a viable option for the relief of pain associated with oral mucositis (OM) in patients with head and neck cancers, according to findings of a phase III trial.