Comparing attitudes of younger and older patients towards cancer clinical trials.

Objectives: To determine the attitudes of patients towards cancer clinical trials (CCTs) and assess the differences between older and younger patients.

Materials And Methods: Patients with cancer, receiving treatment or in follow-up in University Hospital Waterford, Ireland were eligible. Patients completed a self-administered questionnaire.

Sorafenib Increases Tumor Hypoxia in Cervical Cancer Patients Treated With Radiation Therapy: Results of a Phase 1 Clinical Study.

Purpose: Preclinical studies have shown that angiogenesis inhibition can improve response to radiation therapy (RT). The purpose of this phase 1 study was to examine the angiogenesis inhibitor sorafenib in patients with cervical cancer receiving radical RT and concurrent cisplatin (RTCT).

Methods And Materials: Thirteen patients with stage IB to IIIB cervical cancer participated.

Nomograms to predict serious adverse events in phase II clinical trials of molecularly targeted agents.

Purpose: A tool that quantifies the risk of treatment-related toxicity based on individual patient characteristics can augment the informed consent process and safety monitoring in the setting of phase II cancer treatment trials of molecularly targeted agents (MTAs).

Methods: A regression model was constructed to predict the risk of a serious adverse event (SAE) with an MTA and presented as a nomogram. Estimation of risk can be performed by integrating risk estimates from the nomogram and from a reference or average patient.

The influence of mentorship on research productivity in oncology.

Background: This study evaluates the impact of mentors in research productivity in oncology.

Methods: Two electronic surveys were sent out to 1009 oncologists who attended educational workshops between 1996 and 2004.

Results: Response rate was 41.

Expanded phase II trial of gemcitabine and capecitabine for advanced biliary cancer.

Background: A phase 2 trial of gemcitabine and capecitabine (GemCap) in patients with advanced biliary cancer led to an objective response in approximately 30% of patients and a median survival of 14 months. In the current study, the authors report further efficacy data of a larger cohort of such patients treated with the GemCap regimen.

Methods: Patients aged >18 years and who had a diagnosis of locally advanced biliary cancer received first-line treatment with capecitabine at a dose of 650 mg/m(2) twice daily for 14 days and gemcitabine at a dose of 1,000 mg/m(2) on Day 1 and Day 8, every 3 weeks until disease progression.

Evaluation of adverse events experienced by older patients participating in studies of molecularly targeted agents alone or in combination.

Background: The tolerability of molecularly targeted agents in older patients has not been specifically examined. Adverse event data from clinical trials in the Princess Margaret Hospital Phase II Consortium database were analyzed to address this question.

Methods: The Consortium database collects trial information on all patients treated with either a molecularly targeted agent alone or in combination since 2001.

Understanding the attitudes of the elderly towards enrolment into cancer clinical trials.

Background: The optimal cancer treatment for an older population is largely unknown because of the low numbers of elderly patients accrued into clinical trials. This project focuses on the attitudes of the elderly about participation in clinical trials to determine if this is one of the barriers to the involvement of this population in clinical trials.

Methods: The first phase of this study was a self-administered questionnaire mailed to 425 elderly persons with cancer, selected from Princess Margaret Hospital oncology clinics.

Systematic review of barriers to the recruitment of older patients with cancer onto clinical trials.

Purpose: Older patients are significantly underrepresented in cancer clinical trials. A literature review was undertaken to identify the barriers that impede the accrual of this vulnerable population onto clinical trials and to determine what specific strategies are needed to improve the representation of older patients in research studies.

Methods: A systematic literature search was undertaken using several different strategies to identify relevant articles.

Are older cancer patients being referred to oncologists? A mail questionnaire of Ontario primary care practitioners to evaluate their referral patterns.

Purpose: Understanding why older patients are frequently underrepresented in cancer services use and clinical research may help to increase their participation in clinical trials and eventually result in better cancer care for this vulnerable population.

Methods: To identify potential barriers that may prevent older cancer patients from being referred from a primary care physician (PCP) to an oncology specialist, a self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 9,312 PCPs throughout Ontario.

Results: With a one-time mailing, 2,240 questionnaires were returned (response rate, 24%) of which 2,089 (93%) were assessable.