Top stories in hematology/oncology: USPSTF: Consider side effects when prescribing medications to reduce breast cancer risk, financial incentives may affect oncologists’ practice patterns

Among the top hematology/oncology stories last week were a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force draft recommendation statement that indicated medications to reduce risk for breast cancer should only be offered to women at a low risk for associated adverse events and a study that found personal revenue considerations may lead some oncologists to alter treatment recommendations for patients.

Other highlights include findings that pembrolizumab reduced mortality risk for patients with PD-L1 positive advanced or metastatic esophageal or esophagogastric junction carcinoma, survey results that demonstrated oncologists had limited knowledge about the needs of LGBTQ patients, and trial results that suggested higher platelet transfusion threshold increased risk for death and major bleeding in preterm infants with severe thrombocytopenia.

Task force: Medications to reduce breast cancer risk ‘are not for everyone’

Medications intended to reduce risk for breast cancer should be offered to women with an elevated risk for the disease but a low risk for adverse events associated with these agents, according to a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force draft recommendation statement. Read more.

Financial incentives may influence oncologists’ practice patterns

Some oncologists may alter treatment recommendations for patients in some cases based on personal revenue considerations, according to results of a systemic review of studies on physicians’ responses to reimbursement incentives. Read more.

Pembrolizumab reduces mortality risk in advanced PD-L1-positive esophageal cancer

Pembrolizumab significantly improved overall survival compared with chemotherapy as second-line treatment for patients with advanced or metastatic esophageal or esophagogastric junction carcinoma whose tumors expressed PD-L1, according to results of the randomized phase 3 KEYNOTE-181 trial scheduled for presentation at this year’s Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Read more.

Oncologists demonstrate limited knowledge about needs of LGBTQ patients but want more education

Oncologists at NCI-designated cancer centers demonstrated limited knowledge about the unique health needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning patients, according to survey results published in Journal of Clinical Oncology. Read more.

Higher platelet transfusion threshold increased risk for death among neonates with severe thrombocytopenia

Higher platelet transfusion threshold appeared to increase risk for death and major bleeding among preterm infants with severe thrombocytopenia, according to results of a randomized trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Read more.