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Oncology and Hematology
Journal Watch condenses summaries of key research across specialties from more than 250 medical journals into concise yet comprehensive articles, incorporating clinical commentary from prominent physician-editors in the field.
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Featured Article

SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Avoiding Chemotherapy in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
- May 21, 2013
- William J. Gradishar, MD
Dual targeting of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 produced in-breast pathologic complete remission in 27% of patients.
- Reviewing:
- Rimawi M et al. J Clin Oncol 2013 May 10; 31:1726
Recent Oncology and Hematology Articles
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Chemotherapy: How Much Is Enough?
- May 21, 2013
- William J. Gradishar, MD
Maintenance therapy for metastatic breast cancer prolonged survival but increased hematologic toxicity.
- Reviewing:
- Park YH et al. J Clin Oncol 2013 May 10; 31:1732
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Platinum-Based Chemotherapy for Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Prostate
- May 21, 2013
- Robert Dreicer, MD, MS, FACP
Most patients experienced clinical benefit; bulky tumor mass was associated with poor outcome.
- Reviewing:
- Aparicio AM et al. Clin Cancer Res 2013 May 6
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
R-CHOP-21 Remains the Standard for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
- May 21, 2013
- Michael E. Williams, MD
No benefit was observed for R-CHOP administered every 14 days versus every 21 days for newly diagnosed DLBCL.
- Reviewing:
- Cunningham D et al. Lancet 2013 Apr 22
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Capecitabine vs. Gemcitabine for Pancreatic Cancer
- May 14, 2013
- David H. Ilson, MD, PhD
Capecitabine was less toxic for patients with advanced, inoperable disease.
- Reviewing:
- Mukherjee S et al. Lancet Oncol 2013 Apr; 14:317
CORRECTION
Correction: Prophylactic Platelet Transfusion in Hematologic CancerFree
- May 14, 2013
- — The Editors
A correction to a summary published May 8, 2013
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Lupus Anticoagulant and Recurrent Pregnancy Losses
- May 14, 2013
- David Green, MD, PhD
Only 0.2% of LAC-positive patients had a history of early recurrent pregnancy loss.
- Reviewing:
- Clark CA et al. Blood 2013 May 6
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
An Innocent von Willebrand Sequence Variation
- May 14, 2013
- David Green, MD, PhD
Not all VWF mutations are pathogenic; presence of D1472H was not associated with an increase in bleeding.
- Reviewing:
- Flood VH et al. Blood 2013 May 2; 121:3742
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
The Depth and Breadth of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Genetics
- May 14, 2013
- Michael E. Williams, MD
A comprehensive genomic and epigenomic analysis of de novo AML provides new insights into pathogenesis, prognosis, and targeted therapeutics.
- Reviewing:
- The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Project. N Engl J Med 2013 May 1
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Prophylactic Platelet Transfusion in Hematologic Cancer
- May 8, 2013
- Michael E. Williams, MD
Transfusion decreased the frequency of serious bleeding events in patients receiving chemotherapy or stem-cell transplantation.
- Reviewing:
- Stanworth SJ et al. N Engl J Med 2013 May 9; 368:1771
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Novel Tyrosine Kinase Mutation Discovered in CNL and CML
- May 8, 2013
- Michael E. Williams, MD
Colony stimulating factor 3 receptor mutations were present in more than half of patients with chronic neutrophilic leukemia and atypical chronic myeloid leukemia.
- Reviewing:
- Maxson JE et al. N Engl J Med 2013 May 9; 368:1781
Editor's Picks from across Journal Watch
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Focused PSA Screening Strategy, Based on Empirical Data
- May 2, 2013
- By Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP
- General Medicine
Three lifetime prostate-specific antigen tests (age: mid 40s, early 50s, and 60) are sufficient for at least half of men. CME
- Reviewing:
- BMJ 2013 Apr 15; 346:f2023
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
BRAF Inhibitors and Bell Palsy
- April 12, 2013
- By Hensin Tsao, MD, PhD
- Dermatology
Neurologic defects associated with vemurafenib use appear to be reversible with treatment.
- Reviewing:
- J Clin Oncol 2013 Mar 18
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Aspirin May Prevent Melanoma in Postmenopausal Caucasian WomenFree
- March 15, 2013
- By Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
- Dermatology
In contrast to some earlier reports, in this large study, low-dose aspirin seemed to usefully reduce melanoma risk.
- Reviewing:
- Cancer 2013 Mar 11
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Darbepoetin Alfa for Anemia in HF: No Clinical Benefit, Possible HarmFree
- March 10, 2013
- By Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA
- Cardiology
Erythropoiesis stimulation corrects the hemoglobin deficiency but fails to improve mortality or hospitalization rates and may increase thromboembolic risk. CME
- Reviewing:
- N Engl J Med 2013 Mar 10
Journal Watch Oncology and Hematology summarizes important medical journal articles about a wide variety of oncology and hematology topics, including leukemia, anemia, lymphoma, thrombosis, and hemochromatosis.



