A genome-wide association study of European advanced cancer patients treated with opioids identifies regulatory variants on chromosome 20 associated with pain intensity.

Background: Opioids in step III of the WHO analgesic ladder are the standard of care for treating cancer pain. However, a significant minority of patients do not benefit from therapy. Genetics might play a role in predisposing patients to a good or poor response to opioids.

Cancer Core Europe: Leveraging Institutional Synergies to Advance Oncology Research and Care Globally.

Cancer Core Europe brings together the expertise, resources, and interests of seven leading cancer institutes committed to leveraging collective innovation and collaboration in precision oncology. Through targeted efforts addressing key medical challenges in cancer and partnerships with multiple stakeholders, the consortium seeks to advance cancer research and enhance equitable patient care.

Collaborating with cancer patients and informal caregivers in a European study on quality of life: protocol to embed patient and public involvement within the EUonQoL project.

Background: Patient and public involvement (PPI) has become an essential part of health research. There is a need for genuine involvement in order to ensure that research is relevant to patients. This can then improve the quality, relevance, and impact of health research, while at the same time reducing wasted research and in doing so bringing science and society closer together.

Standardizing Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care Across Service Levels: Challenges in Demonstrating Effects in a Prospective Controlled Intervention Trial.

Introduction: Patients with cancer often want to spend their final days at home. In Norway, most patients with cancer die in institutions. We hypothesized that full integration of oncology and palliative care services would result in more time spent at home during end-of-life.

Application and accuracy of the EAPC/IASP diagnostic algorithm for neuropathic cancer pain and quantitative sensory testing profile in patients with pain due to cancer.

Introduction: Better diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic cancer pain (NcP) remains an unmet clinical need. The EAPC/IASP algorithm was specifically designed for NcP diagnosis; yet, to date, there is no information on its application and accuracy.

Objectives: Our aim was to determine the accuracy of the EAPC/IASP algorithm compared with the Neuropathic Special Interest Group grading system (gold standard) and to describe patients' sensory profile with quantitative sensory testing (QST).

Finding predictors for successful opioid response in cancer patients: An analysis of data from four randomized controlled trials.

Context: There is no consensus on which "strong" (or step 3 WHO analgesic ladder) opioid to prescribe to a particular patient with cancer-related pain. A better understanding of opioid and patient characteristics on treatment response will contribute to a more personalized opioid treatment.

Objectives: Assessment of potential predictors for successful opioid treatment response in patients with cancer pain.

A real-world study on the prevalence and risk factors of medication related osteonecrosis of the jaw in cancer patients with bone metastases treated with Denosumab.

Aim: Assessing the incidence of Medication Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ) in cancer patients with bone metastases receiving Denosumab (Dmab) and identifying potential risk factors.

Methods: A retrospective observational study on consecutive cancer patients with bone metastases, who received at least one dose of Dmab and one follow-up visit. MRONJ crude cumulative incidence (CCI) was estimated considering death without MRONJ as competing event.

Characterizing Different Multidisciplinary Team Models Implemented Within One Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Background: The multidisciplinary approach is considered "best practice" in oncology. Multidisciplinary Teamwork (MDTW) can be broadly classified into Multidisciplinary Team Meetings (MDTM) and Multidisciplinary Cancer Clinics (MDCC; involving also patients), yet both models are heterogeneously implemented.

Purpose: This study aims at describing the different MDTW implemented models in a Comprehensive Cancer Center.

'Why should I fill out this questionnaire?' A qualitative study of cancer patients' perspectives on the integration of e-PROMs in routine clinical care.

Purpose: There is increasing interest in integrating electronic patient-reported outcomes (e-PROs) into clinical routines in cancer settings. However, little is known about patients' experiences with and perceptions of e-PRO measures (e-PROMs). This study examines patients' experiences with e-PROMS, particularly their perspectives about its usefulness and its implications for the clinical encounter with their doctors.

Quality of Life in Oncology: Measuring What Matters for Cancer Patients and Survivors in Europe: The EUonQol Project.

Cancer, in Europe, is the second cause of death. In addition, there is an unacceptable variability in terms of access to innovation, quality of care, and outcomes, within and between countries. The European Union has activated an unprecedented initiative to fight cancer by launching Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and the Cancer Mission.

Development of the palliative care referral system: proposal of a tool for the referral of cancer patients to specialized palliative care.

Background: Early palliative care (PC) has shown beneficial effects for advanced cancer patients. However, it is still debated what criteria to use to identify patients for PC referral.

Aim: To document the initial steps of the development of the Palliative Care Referral System (PCRS), a tool to be used by oncologists in clinical practice.

Outpatient palliative care referral system (PCRS) for patients with advanced cancer: an impact evaluation protocol.

Introduction: Early palliative care (PC) in the clinical pathway of advanced cancer patients improves symptom control, quality of life and has a positive impact on overall quality of care. At present, standardised criteria for appropriate referral for early PC in oncology care are lacking. The aim of this project is to develop a set of standardised referral criteria and procedures to implement appropriate early PC for advanced cancer patients (the palliative care referral system, PCRS) and test its impact on user perception of quality of care received, on patient quality of life and on the use of healthcare resources.

Cancer pain: Results of a prospective study on prognostic indicators of pain intensity including pain syndromes assessment.

Background: Pain is a prevalent symptom in patients with advanced cancer. Recognition of prognostic factors associated with pain intensity, could help provide better assessment, leading to better pain management.

Aim: identifying prognostic factors which could guide improvements on cancer pain classification.

Inflammatory Markers and Radiotherapy Response in Patients With Painful Bone Metastases.

Context: Inflammation is proposed to influence tumor response in radiotherapy (RT). Clinical studies to investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers and RT response is warranted to understand the variable RT efficacy in patients with painful bone metastases.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between inflammatory markers and analgesic response to RT in patients with painful bone metastases.

Telemedicine for outpatient palliative care during COVID-19 pandemics: a longitudinal study.

Objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine (TM) emerged as an important mean to reduce risks of transmission, yet delivering the necessary care to patients. Our aim was to evaluate feasibility, characteristics and satisfaction for a TM service based on phone/video consultations for patients with cancer attending an outpatient palliative care clinic during COVID-19 pandemics.

Methods: A longitudinal observational study was conducted from April to December 2020.

Knowledge, use and attitudes of healthcare professionals towards patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) at a comprehensive cancer center.

Background: Despite evidence of the positive impact of routine assessment of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), their systematic collection is not widely implemented in cancer care.

Aim: To assess the knowledge, use and attitudes of healthcare professionals (HCPs) towards PROMs and electronically collected PROMs (ePROMs) in clinical practice and research and to explore respondent-related factors associated with the above dimensions.

Method: An ad hoc developed online survey was administered to all HCPs employed in clinical activity in an Italian comprehensive cancer center.

Development and field testing of a neuro psychomotor multidimensional grid for the assessment of children with cns tumor.

Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors are the most common pediatric solid tumor and development neuro psychomotor (DNPM) therapy can contribute to the rehabilitation of these children. This paper describes the development of a DNPM multidimensional assessment grid for children with CNS tumor (DNPM-CNS grid).The development process included 4 phases: (P1) literature review and grid development (Version 1.

Clinical Predictors for Analgesic Response to Radiotherapy in Patients with Painful Bone Metastases.

Background: Radiotherapy (RT) reduces pain in about 60% of patients with painful bone metastases, leaving many patients without clinical benefit. This study assesses predictors for RT effectiveness in patients with painful bone metastases.

Materials And Methods: We included adult patients receiving RT for painful bone metastases in a multicenter, multinational longitudinal observational study.

Spiritual quality of life in family carers of patients with advanced cancer-a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Caring affects carers' psychological and physical health, mortality, and quality of life (QoL) negatively. Lower spiritual QoL is associated with anxiety and depression, but the spiritual dimension is rarely investigated in carers. The present study aimed to explore which patient- and carer-related characteristics were associated with spiritual QoL in carers of patients with advanced cancer.

Power Comparisons and Clinical Meaning of Outcome Measures in Assessing Treatment Effect in Cancer Cachexia: Secondary Analysis From a Randomized Pilot Multimodal Intervention Trial.

New clinical trials in cancer cachexia are essential, and outcome measures with high responsiveness to detect meaningful changes are crucial. This secondary analysis from a multimodal intervention trial estimates sensitivity to change and between treatment effect sizes (ESs) of outcome measures associated with body composition, physical function, metabolism, and trial intervention. The study was a multicenter, open-label, randomized pilot study investigating the feasibility of a 6-week multimodal intervention [exercise, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and oral nutritional supplements containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (-3 PUFAs)] vs.