Veronica B. Decker, DNP, MBA, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, and colleagues discuss how to care for patients with cancer and serious mental illness.
ABSTRACT Pain is a primary concern among patients with cancer and cancer survivors. Integrative interventions such as acupuncture, massage, and music therapy are effective nonpharmacologic approaches for cancer pain with low cost and minimal adverse events. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) that have been validated in many clinical and research settings can be used to evaluate pain intensity, associated symptom burden, and quality of life. Clearly defined, reliable PROs can improve patient satisfaction and symptom control. As integrative oncology continues to evolve and expand, cancer-related pain PROs must be standardized to accurately guide clinicians and researchers. Well-validated pain PROs, such as the Brief Pain Inventory, are among the most commonly used for pain intensity assessment. Multiple symptom assessment tools such as the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, and the Patient-Reported Outcomes–Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events measurement system can also capture pain-associated symptom burden. Electronic PROs provide flexibility in collecting and analyzing PRO data. Clinical trials using carefully selected PROs and rigorous statistical analysis plans are fundamental to conducting high-quality integrative oncology research and promoting utilization of effective integrative interventions to improve patient outcomes. In this review, we aim to summarize current, validated PROs specific to cancer-related pain to aid integrative oncology clinicians and researchers in patient care and in study design and implementation.
Alberto Calvo-García, PharmG, and colleagues analyzed routinely-collected data to assess regorafenib in metastatic colorectal cancer.
This review article written by Danielle Gentile, PhD, et al, reviews the management of cancer-related fatigue in integrative oncology.
A proteogenomic analysis found savolitinib plus osimertinib elicited a response in patients with EGFR-mutated, MET-amplified advanced NSCLC.
The phase 3 POSEIDON trial showed superior overall survival in patients with PD-L1–negative metastatic non–small cell lung cancer who were given durvalumab and chemotherapy plus tremelimumab.
CancerNetwork® sat down with Andrew Cook, MD, at the 2021 American Society for Radiation Oncology to talk about exciting trials in the head and neck space, including the phase 2 ORATER2 and phase 3 MC1675 trials.
Original research published in the journal ONCOLOGY® explored the impacts of treatment refusal in patients with small cell lung cancer.
Although female representation for National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines has increased to at least 50%, participation in guideline panels across all organizations is still less than 30%.
Danazol was reviewed as an effective treatment option for patients with myelodyspplastic syndromes, according to a recently published article by Sangam Shah, MBBS, et al.
Lindsey Roeker, MD, spoke about identifying the correct population of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who will benefit from umbralisib and ublituximab plus ibrutinib.
CancerNetwork® sat down with Alicia Morgans MD, MPH, at the 2021 European Society for Medical Oncology to talk survival and progression outcomes from the CARD trial in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
This study investigated the biomarker potential of glutamine among known prognostic variables in localized prostate cancer.
The aim of this meta-analysis is to analyze the efficacy of these drugs in the treatment of mCRPC in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), using the results of completed trials.
Adjuvant pembrolizumab resulted in a reduction in the risk of death in patients with ccRCC.
James J. Driscoll, MD, PhD, and James Ignatz-Hoover, MD, PhD, share a perspective on a study published recently in ONCOLOGY.
A Q&A session with the expert panel.
Investigators report a case of a man, aged 55 years, with an extensive and prolonged course of an unexplained multi-systemic disease, and also review common clinical manifestations, mutations, diagnoses, and targeted therapies for Erdheim-Chester disease.
Rahiya Rehman, MD, and co-investigators, research the importance of poor follow-up and care for survivors of childhood cancer.
Key points: Patients with disorders of sex development (DSDs) are at an increased risk of malignant germ cell tumors (GCTs). In adulthood, the partial form of androgen insensitivity syndrome confers the greatest risk of developing malignant GCTs. Gonadoblastoma is the most common gonadal GCT arising in patients with DSDs. Despite being a benign neoplasm, it can undergo malignant transformation in up to 60% of patients with a DSD. Oncologic treatment in patients with disorders of sex development and malignant GCTs does not differ from the standard treatment for testicular GCTs. Treatment of patients with DSDs requires a multidisciplinary team, including a psychiatric, genetic, and reproductive assessment as well as the involvement of an ethics committee. An early diagnosis of DSDs is crucial to avoid the development of potentially serious complications in adulthood.
Closing out their review of the HER2+ metastatic breast cancer treatment landscape, expert oncologists look forward to future evolutions in the paradigm.
Cara Mathews, MD, spoke with CancerNetwork® about research examining dostarlimab vs doxorubicin for patients with mismatch repair–deficient endometrial cancers.
Investigators discussed the potential link between secondary pure red cell aplasia and subcutaneous daratumumab/hyaluronidase formulation for multiple myeloma.