Publications by authors named "Ellen Cusano"
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate how trustworthy and impactful preprint trial reports were during the COVID-19 pandemic by comparing their methods and results with later published versions.
- Researchers reviewed a total of 356 trials, finding that 101 were only preprints, while others were published later; the average time to publication for preprints was about six months.
- Results showed that there were minimal differences in key methods and results between preprints and published articles, with only a small percentage affecting the certainty of evidence in treatment effectiveness comparisons.
Objective: To compare the effects of interleukin 6 receptor blockers, tocilizumab and sarilumab, with or without corticosteroids, on mortality in patients with covid-19.
Design: Systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Data Sources: World Health Organization covid-19 database, a comprehensive multilingual source of global covid-19 literature, and two prospective meta-analyses (up to 9 June 2021).
Objectives: Adaptive platforms allow for the evaluation of multiple interventions at a lower cost and have been growing in popularity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this review is to summarize published platform trials, examine specific methodological design features among these studies, and hopefully aid readers in the evaluation and interpretation of platform trial results.
Methods: We performed a systematic review of EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and clinicaltrials.
Background: Randomized trial evidence suggests that some antiviral drugs are effective in patients with COVID-19. However, the comparative effectiveness of antiviral drugs in nonsevere COVID-19 is unclear.
Methods: We searched the Epistemonikos COVID-19 L·OVE (Living Overview of Evidence) database for randomized trials comparing antiviral treatments, standard care or placebo in adult patients with nonsevere COVID-19 up to Apr.
Background: The development of a core outcome set (COS), defined as an agreed minimum set of outcome domains that should be measured and reported in all trials of a specific disease, aims to increase the relevance of study findings to stakeholder groups and improve standardization.
Objectives: As the first step in developing a COS for venous thromboembolism (VTE) treatment studies, we aimed to generate an inclusive list of unique outcomes reported in previous VTE treatment studies and classify them into domains and core areas.
Methods: MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL were searched for prospective studies reporting on interventions for VTE in non-pregnant adults.
In the era of rapid development of new, expensive cancer therapies, value frameworks have been developed to quantify clinical benefit (CB). We assessed the evolution of CB since the 2015 introduction of The American Society of Clinical Oncology and The European Society of Medical Oncology value frameworks. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing systemic therapies for solid malignancies from 2010 to 2020 were evaluated and CB (Δ) in 2010-2014 (pre-value frameworks (PRE)) were compared to 2015-2020 (POST) for overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), response rate (RR), and quality of life (QoL).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of antiviral antibody therapies and blood products for the treatment of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19).
Design: Living systematic review and network meta-analysis, with pairwise meta-analysis for outcomes with insufficient data.
Data Sources: WHO covid-19 database, a comprehensive multilingual source of global covid-19 literature, and six Chinese databases (up to 21 July 2021).
Background: Globally, the rising cost of anticancer therapy has motivated efforts to quantify the overall value of new cancer treatments. Multicriteria decision analysis offers a novel approach to incorporate multiple criteria and perspectives into value assessment.
Methods: The authors recruited a diverse, multistakeholder group who identified and weighted key criteria to establish the drug assessment framework (DAF).
Background: Cognitive impairment is commonly reported in patients receiving chemotherapy, but the acuity of onset is not known. This study utilized the psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) and trail-making test B (TMT-B) to assess cognitive impairment immediately post-chemotherapy.
Methods: Patients aged 18-80 years receiving first-line intravenous chemotherapy for any stage of breast or colorectal cancer were eligible.
Purpose: High-precision radiotherapy relies on accurate anatomic localisation. Urethrography is often used to localise the prostatic apex. However, urethrography is an invasive localisation procedure and may introduce a systemic error.
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- Lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) is a key negative prognostic factor in early-stage endometrial cancer, linked to increased risks of metastases, and this study evaluated its significance in patients with node-negative cancer (T1N0).
- A retrospective study at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre reviewed data from 400 patients diagnosed between 1998 and 2007, finding that 13.5% had positive LVSI status, which correlated with lower 5-year overall survival (90.9% vs. 97.3%) and recurrence-free survival (85.9% vs. 95.2%).
- The study concluded that LVSI is associated with poorer outcomes in T1N0 endometrial
Phase III trials in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have collectively led to progressive advancements in patient outcomes over the past decades. This study characterizes the evolution of mCRC phase III trials through assessing the value of cancer therapy, as measured by the ASCO Value Framework. Phase III trial results of systemic therapy for mCRC published between 1980 and 2015 were identified, and their outcome, statistical significance, journal impact factor, and citation by the 2016 NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for CRC were recorded.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose Elastomeric pumps are used to administer 46-hour infusions of 5-fluorouracil (5FU). Baxter suggests patients visually monitor their pumps to ensure that infusions are proceeding correctly. This can be confusing and lead to concerns about under- or over-dosing.
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