U.S. Cancer Centers Continue to See Chemotherapy Shortages, According to Update from NCCN

72% of the centers surveyed by NCCN continue to experience a shortage of carboplatin and 59% are still seeing a shortage of cisplatin. Overall, 86% of centers surveyed reported experiencing a shortage of at least one type of anti-cancer drug.

Study Finds Holding Methotrexate for One Week after Flu Vaccine May Be as Effective as a Two-Week Hold

New research presented this week at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, showed that discontinuing methotrexate for 1 week after seasonal influenza vaccination provided the same seroprotection as a 2 week discontinuation period in patients with RA.

Tuberculosis Screening Needed for Methotrexate Users in At-Risk Locales

New research presented at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, shows that tuberculosis (TB) screening and ongoing clinical care is needed for people on methotrexate who live in areas where the highly infectious illness is common. Methotrexate users who also take corticosteroids or other immunosuppressant therapies are at particular risk and need adequate TB screening.

Oral Methotrexate Significantly Improves Function in People with Primary Knee OA with Inflammation After Only Three Months

A new study presented at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, shows that after three months of treatment with oral methotrexate, adults with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) had significant improvements in physical function and inflammation, a sign that this inexpensive, generic pill may be an important intervention for knee OA.