In The Know-February 2021

February 2021
Pdf Summary
Ed's list for February 2021 includes several research articles related to gynecologic oncology. Here is a summary of the key findings from each study:<br /><br />1. Use of SNP chips to detect rare pathogenic variants: The study found that while genotyping using SNP chips performed well for common variants, it was unreliable for detecting very rare pathogenic variants. SNP chips should not be used without validation.<br /><br />2. Assessment of coverage of cancer drugs in England: The study examined cancer drugs granted accelerated approval by the FDA and their coverage in the NHS in England. It found that many drugs were not covered by the NHS, either due to insufficient safety, efficacy, or cost-effectiveness.<br /><br />3. Evaluation of clinical benefit of cancer drugs in Canada: The study assessed the clinical evidence and benefit of cancer drugs recommended for reimbursement in Canada. It found that only half of the recommended drugs showed improved survival, suggesting that drugs without meaningful patient benefit continue to be reimbursed.<br /><br />4. Association of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy with breast cancer risk: The study found that risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer, particularly for women carrying pathogenic variants in the BRCA1 gene.<br /><br />5. Trends in hysterectomy-corrected uterine cancer mortality rates: The study analyzed mortality rates of uterine cancer and found a decline in overall mortality rates but an increase in mortality rates for nonendometrioid cancer, highlighting the need for further research.<br /><br />6. Impact of Medicaid expansion on women with gynecologic cancer: The study assessed the impact of Medicaid expansion on access to and timeliness of care for women with gynecologic cancer. It found that Medicaid expansion was associated with improvements in insurance coverage and timely treatment.<br /><br />7. Time-dependent effects of oral contraceptive use on breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancers: The study investigated the association between long-term oral contraceptive use and cancer risk. It concluded that oral contraceptives can significantly reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, while their effect on breast cancer risk is limited.<br /><br />8. Impact of continuing bevacizumab beyond progression in ovarian cancer: The study compared the outcomes of ovarian cancer patients receiving carboplatin-based doublet chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab (a targeted therapy). It found that continuing bevacizumab beyond progression improved progression-free survival compared to standard chemotherapy.<br /><br />These findings provide valuable insights into various aspects of gynecologic oncology, including genetic testing, drug coverage, risk-reducing surgeries, and the effects of medication use. Further research and evaluation are needed to fully understand these topics and improve patient care.
Keywords
SNP chips
pathogenic variants
cancer drugs
NHS coverage
clinical benefit
risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy
uterine cancer mortality rates
Medicaid expansion
oral contraceptive use
bevacizumab