Top in hem/onc: Hydroxychloroquine and cancer, racial disparities in care

New data showed that hydroxychloroquine combined with other COVID-19 treatments may increase the risk for mortality among patients with cancer. It was the top story in hematology/oncology last week.

Another top story was about an analysis published in JAMA Oncology that revealed Black children were less likely than white children to receive proton radiotherapy for solid cancers.

Read these and more top stories in hematology/oncology below:

Hydroxychloroquine regimens for COVID-19 linked to mortality risk for patients with cancer

Hydroxychloroquine in combination with other treatments for COVID-19 appeared to be associated with increased mortality among patients with cancer, study results showed. Read more.

Black children less likely to receive proton therapy than white children

Black children with solid cancers appeared less likely to receive proton radiotherapy than their white counterparts, according to an analysis of Children’s Oncology Group trial data published in a research letter in JAMA Oncology. Read more.

Rivaroxaban reduces recurrent VTE among patients with obesity

Rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Janssen) reduced the risk for recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared with warfarin among patients with VTE and obesity, according to study results presented during International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2020 Virtual Congress. Read more.

Cancer-related patient encounters, screenings drop sharply amid COVID-19 pandemic

Cancer-related patient encounters have decreased significantly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to trends observed in the COVID and Cancer Research Network and reported in JCO: Clinical Cancer Informatics. Read more.

Huntsman Cancer Institute’s oncology hospital-at-home program reduces ED visits, costs

Home-based oncology care for patients with cancer has become a necessity amid the COVID-19 pandemic and has been rapidly adopted since the novel coronavirus outbreak began. Read more.