Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction: suggestions from a multidisciplinary expert Board.

Constipation, one of the adverse effects of opioid therapy with a major impact on quality of life, is still an unmet need for cancer patients, particularly those with an advanced and progressive disease, and for non-cancer patients chronically treated with opioids. The awareness of this condition is poor among healthcare providers, despite the recent publication of guidelines and consensus conferences. An early multidisciplinary approach of opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (OIBD), based on available therapies of proven effectiveness, could support clinicians in managing this condition, thus increasing patients' adherence to pain therapy.

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin as third-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of urothelial tract: results of a phase II study.

Until the recent approval of vinflunine, no standard second-line chemotherapy existed for advanced transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Few data exist about third-line chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Although administered in up-front regimens, anthracyclines were never evaluated beyond second-line treatment.

[Prevalence and intensity of pain in terminally-ill cancer patients at admission in palliative care center: a mono-institutional descriptive analysis].

Pain is a distressing symptom in terminally-ill cancer and, to date, many patients still experience uncontrolled pain. We evaluated prevalence and intensity of pain at admission in Palliative Care Center. We recruited 323 patients: more than 80% referred moderate/severe pain and only 50% was adsuming strong opioids.

Weekly regimen of epirubicin and paclitaxel as second-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of urothelial tract: results of a phase II study.

Until recently, there was no standard second-line treatment for advanced urothelial carcinoma. Although included in first-line regimens, role of anthracyclines was never investigated as second-line therapy. Single-agent paclitaxel showed modest results in this setting.