- Home>
- Specialties>
- Oncology and Hematology
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.
Sign up now for free weekly e-mail alerts featuring the full text of one article and links to new articles on the most clinically relevant news, new guidelines, and research from the oncology and hematology journal literature.
Featured Article
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Maintenance Lenalidomide for Multiple Myeloma
- May 15, 2012
- Michael E. Williams, MD
Lenalidomide improved progression-free survival after first-line induction therapy but increased risk for second cancers.
- Reviewing:
- Palumbo A et al. N Engl J Med 2012 May 10; 366:1759
Recent Oncology and Hematology Articles
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Bevacizumab of No Benefit to Older Patients with Lung Cancer
- May 15, 2012
- Ramaswamy Govindan, MD
Adding bevacizumab to paclitaxel and carboplatin did not improve overall survival in patients aged 
65 with advanced, nonsquamous non–small-cell lung cancer.
- Reviewing:
- Zhu J et al. JAMA 2012 Apr 18; 307:1593
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Which Patients Benefit from Neoadjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer?
- May 15, 2012
- William J. Gradishar, MD
Patients with endocrine-sensitive tumors that had low cellular proliferation rates were least likely to benefit from preoperative chemotherapy.
- Reviewing:
- von Minckwitz G et al. J Clin Oncol 2012 Apr 16
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Comparing Radiation Treatments for Localized Prostate Cancer
- May 8, 2012
- Robert Dreicer, MD, MS, FACP
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy provided some benefits versus conformal radiation therapy or proton therapy.
- Reviewing:
- Sheets NC et al. JAMA 2012 Apr 18; 307:1611
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Partial or Radical Nephrectomy for Early-Stage Kidney Cancer?
- May 8, 2012
- Robert Dreicer, MD, MS, FACP
Overall survival was superior with partial nephrectomy.
- Reviewing:
- Tan H-J et al. JAMA 2012 Apr 18; 307:1629
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
What's the Best Strategy for Radioiodine Ablation in Patients with Low-Risk Thyroid Cancer?
- May 8, 2012
- Barbara A. Murphy, MD
Thyrotropin stimulation and low-dose radioiodine, according to two recent clinical trials
- Reviewing:
- Schlumberger M et al. N Engl J Med 2012 May 3; 366:1663
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Suppressing Factor VIII Autoantibodies in Hemophilia
- May 8, 2012
- David Green, MD, PhD
Stable remission after first-line therapy was more likely with steroids plus cyclophosphamide than with steroids alone or rituximab-based regimens.
- Reviewing:
- Collins P et al. Blood 2012 Apr 18
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
The Effect of Aspirin in Essential Thrombocythemia
- May 1, 2012
- David Green, MD, PhD
Aspirin has shorter-lasting effects in patients with ET than in those with normal platelet turnover.
- Reviewing:
- Pascale S et al. Blood 2012 Apr 12; 119:3595
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
The Factor V Leiden Paradox
- May 1, 2012
- David Green, MD, PhD
Data from a systemic review suggest that pulmonary embolism and deep-vein thrombosis do not necessarily have the same etiology.
- Reviewing:
- van Langevelde K et al. Blood 2012 Apr 10
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Longer Imatinib Therapy Effective for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
- April 24, 2012
- David H. Ilson, MD, PhD
Extending postoperative adjuvant treatment from 1 to 3 years improved recurrence-free and overall survival.
- Reviewing:
- Joensuu H et al. JAMA 2012 Mar 28; 307:1265
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Cetuximab Fails to Improve Survival in Colon Cancer
- April 24, 2012
- David H. Ilson, MD, PhD
Adding cetuximab to chemotherapy did not improve disease-free survival in patients with resected, KRAS wild-type, stage III disease.
- Reviewing:
- Alberts SR et al. JAMA 2012 Apr 4; 307:1383
Editor's Picks from across Journal Watch
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
New Guidance on Colorectal Cancer Screening
- March 30, 2012
- By Douglas K. Rex, MD
- Gastroenterology
Among recommendations from the American College of Physicians is the most aggressive stance to date on screening in blacks: Begin at age 40.
- Reviewing:
- Ann Intern Med 2012 Mar 6; 156:378
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Preventing Osteoporotic Fractures in Women Who Receive Aromatase Inhibitors
- March 29, 2012
- By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
- Women's Health
A cost-effectiveness model suggested bisphosphonates should be used only when BMD assessment shows elevated fracture risk.
- Reviewing:
- J Clin Oncol 2012 Feb 27
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Vorapaxar: Are Small Secondary-Prevention Gains Worth the Bleeding Risk?Free
- March 25, 2012
- By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
- Cardiology
Probably not, according to findings from the TRA 2P–TIMI 50 trial.
- Reviewing:
- N Engl J Med 2012 Mar 24
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
How Well Do Physicians Interpret Cancer Screening Statistics?
- March 22, 2012
- By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
- General Medicine
Physicians incorrectly believed that earlier detection and better 5-year survival proved that screening saves lives.
- Reviewing:
- Ann Intern Med 2012 Mar 6; 156:340
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.
