(Markman) Misstatements Reportedly Made by Oncology Experts in Nonmedical Press: A Cause for Concern? Ovarian Cancer and Us OVARIAN CANCER and US Ovarian Cancer and Us

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Friday, September 18, 2015

(Markman) Misstatements Reportedly Made by Oncology Experts in Nonmedical Press: A Cause for Concern?



Clinical Oncology News

This commentary highlights a concern, the magnitude of which remains largely unknown: How often do oncology opinion leaders make statements in the nonmedical media that are factually incorrect? A corollary to this query is the issue of whether others might be reluctant to challenge or correct the errors simply because the statement is made by a recognized leader within academic oncology.
 
For example, consider the quote that appeared in a recent announcement of the publication of a paper from a high-profile scientific group examining the genomic profile of tumors from patients with “late-stage” prostate cancer.1 In a relatively large group of men with this condition (n=150), approximately 15% were found to have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.2
 
Commenting on this observation and the possible management of the condition with olaparib (Lynparza, AstraZeneca), recently approved by the FDA in the management of women with ovarian cancer and a BRCA mutation, or other similar agents in this drug class, a leader of the project was reported to state: “Prior to this no one would have entertained treating these patients with those drugs.1
 
This is a strong but stunningly incorrect statement.
- See more at: http://www.clinicaloncology.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ses=ogst&d=Provocative+Perspectives+in+Oncology&d_id=521&i=September+2015&i_id=860&a_id=33664#sthash.U0nZLpMh.dpuf
 This commentary highlights a concern, the magnitude of which remains largely unknown: How often do oncology opinion leaders make statements in the nonmedical media that are factually incorrect? A corollary to this query is the issue of whether others might be reluctant to challenge or correct the errors simply because the statement is made by a recognized leader within academic oncology.

For example, consider the quote that appeared in a recent announcement of the publication of a paper from a high-profile scientific group examining the genomic profile of tumors from patients with “late-stage” prostate cancer.1 In a relatively large group of men with this condition (n=150), approximately 15% were found to have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.2

Commenting on this observation and the possible management of the condition with olaparib (Lynparza, AstraZeneca), recently approved by the FDA in the management of women with ovarian cancer and a BRCA mutation, or other similar agents in this drug class, a leader of the project was reported to state: “Prior to this no one would have entertained treating these patients with those drugs.1”

This is a strong but stunningly incorrect statement......

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