Information and communication priorities of patients and healthcare professionals in shared decision making regarding adjuvant systemic breast cancer treatment: A survey study.

Purpose: To assess information and communication priorities of patients and healthcare professionals in Shared Decision Making about adjuvant systemic treatment of primary breast cancer and identify key decision-relevant information accordingly.

Methods: Patients (N = 122) and professionals working with breast cancer patients (N = 118), of whom 38 were nurse practitioners and 32 nurses, were recruited using convenience sampling, and surveyed about information/communication aspects key to decision-making, using ranking assignments. We further posed a simple open question, questions about receiving population-based statistics versus personalized statistics concerning treatment outcomes, and their attitude and experience concerning Shared Decision Making.

Machine learning-based somatic variant calling in cell-free DNA of metastatic breast cancer patients using large NGS panels.

Next generation sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a promising method for treatment monitoring and therapy selection in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). However, distinguishing tumor-specific variants from sequencing artefacts and germline variation with low false discovery rate is challenging when using large targeted sequencing panels covering many tumor suppressor genes. To address this, we built a machine learning model to remove false positive variant calls and augmented it with additional filters to ensure selection of tumor-derived variants.

Systemic Therapy for Patients with HER2-Positive Breast Cancer and Brain Metastases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Aim: Patients with HER2-positive (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer (mBC) develop brain metastases (BM) in up to 30% of cases. Treatment of patients with BM can consist of local treatment (surgery and/or radiotherapy) and/or systemic treatment. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effect of different systemic therapies in patients with HER2+ mBC and BM.

Frequency and outcomes of benign breast biopsies in trans women: A nationwide cohort study.

No literature is available on the benign versus malignant breast lesion ratio in trans women (male sex assigned at birth, female gender identity). As hormone treatment in trans women results in breast tissue histologically comparable with cis (non-trans) women, breast pathology may be expected. Previously, an increased breast cancer risk compared with cis men have been observed.

Muscle contractile properties of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: Assessment of feasibility and exercise effects.

Background: This pilot trial explores the feasibility of measuring muscle contractile properties in patients with cancer, effects of exercise during chemotherapy on muscle contractile properties and the association between changes in contractile muscle properties and perceived fatigue.

Method: Patients who received (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy for breast or colon cancer were randomized to a 9-12 week exercise intervention or a waitlist-control group. At baseline and follow-up, we measured knee extensor strength using maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), contractile muscle properties of the quadriceps muscle using electrical stimulation, and perceived fatigue using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory.

Economic evaluation of a combined screening and stepped-care treatment program targeting psychological distress in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: A cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: Psychological distress is highly prevalent among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Aims: To perform an economic evaluation of a combined screening and treatment program targeting psychological distress in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in comparison with usual care.

Design: Societal costs were collected alongside a cluster randomized controlled trial for 48 weeks.

High-Dose Chemotherapy With Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant in Patients With High-Risk Breast Cancer and 4 or More Involved Axillary Lymph Nodes: 20-Year Follow-up of a Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Trials of adjuvant high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) have failed to show a survival benefit in unselected patients with breast cancer, but long-term follow-up is lacking.

Objective: To determine 20-year efficacy and safety outcomes of a large trial of adjuvant HDCT vs conventional-dose chemotherapy (CDCT) for patients with stage III breast cancer.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This secondary analysis used data from a randomized phase 3 multicenter clinical trial of 885 women younger than 56 years with breast cancer and 4 or more involved axillary lymph nodes conducted from August 1, 1993, to July 31, 1999.

From accelerometer output to physical activity intensities in breast cancer patients.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate accelerometer output corresponding to physical activity intensity cut-points based on percentage of peak oxygen consumption (%VOpeak) and Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) value in women treated for breast cancer.

Design: Laboratory study.

Methods: Fifty female patients shortly after completion of treatment for breast cancer were included.

The predictive value of cumulative toxicity for quality of life in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer during first-line palliative chemotherapy.

Background: Studies evaluating new systemic agents tend to report severe toxicities only, while the cumulative effect of multiple lower grade adverse events (AEs) may have an additional negative impact on patient quality of life (QOL). In the current observational cohort study, we evaluated whether, in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving first-line chemotherapy, cumulative toxicity comprising all grades of AEs is more predictive for QOL than cumulative toxicity due to only high-grade AEs.

Methods: One hundred and five patients starting treatment completed the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30) questionnaire at baseline and 10 weeks.

'Oncokompas', a web-based self-management application to support patient activation and optimal supportive care: a feasibility study among breast cancer survivors.

Background: Cancer survivors have to deal with symptoms related to cancer and its treatment. In Oncokompas, cancer survivors monitor their quality of life by completing patient reported outcome measures (PROMs), followed by personalized feedback, self-care advice, and supportive care options to stimulate patient activation. The aim of this study was to investigate feasibility and pretest-posttest differences of Oncokompas including a newly developed breast cancer (BC) module among BC survivors.

Higher Muscle Strength Is Associated with Prolonged Survival in Older Patients with Advanced Cancer.

Background: Identifying predictors of treatment toxicity and overall survival (OS) is important for selecting patients who will benefit from chemotherapy. In younger patients with cancer, muscle mass and radiodensity are associated with treatment toxicity and OS. In this study, we investigated whether muscle mass, radiodensity, and strength were associated with treatment toxicity and OS in patients with advanced cancer aged 60 years or older.

Tailoring exercise interventions to comorbidities and treatment-induced adverse effects in patients with early stage breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a framework to support clinical decisions.

Purpose: Delivery of exercise interventions to patients with early-stage breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy requires complex clinical decisions. The purpose of this study was to develop a framework to support clinical decisions for tailoring exercise interventions to common comorbidities and cancer treatment-induced adverse effects.

Method: Tailored exercise prescriptions were developed in four steps, following the i3-S strategy.

Prophylactic treatment for delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting after non-AC based moderately emetogenic chemotherapy: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: Delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) remains an important adverse effect of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy not containing anthracyclines and cyclophosphamide (non-AC MEC). In this review, we summarize current literature to update recommendations for delayed CINV prophylaxis after non-AC MEC.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search in PubMed and conference proceedings from ASCO, ESMO, and MASCC.

Screening and treatment of psychological distress in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: study protocol of the TES trial.

Background/introduction: Psychological distress occurs frequently in patients with cancer. Psychological distress includes mild and severe forms of both anxious and depressive mood states. Literature indicates that effective management of psychological distress seems to require targeted selection of patients (T), followed by enhanced care (E), and the application of evidence based interventions.

Effect of omeprazole on the pharmacokinetics and toxicities of irinotecan in cancer patients: a prospective cross-over drug-drug interaction study.

Background: Omeprazole is one of the most prescribed medications worldwide and within the class of proton pump inhibitors, it is most frequently associated with drug interactions. In vitro studies have shown that omeprazole can alter the function of metabolic enzymes and transporters that are involved in the metabolism of irinotecan, such as uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase subfamily 1A1 (UGT1A1), cytochrome P-450 enzymes subfamily 3A (CYP3A) and ATP-binding cassette drug-transporter G2 (ABCG2). In this open-label cross-over study we investigated the effects of omeprazole on the pharmacokinetics and toxicities of irinotecan.

The addition of pravastatin to chemotherapy in advanced gastric carcinoma: a randomised phase II trial.

Purpose: Statins have for long been considered to play a potential role in anticancer treatment based upon their ability to inhibit the mevalonate synthesis pathway. This randomised phase II trial compared the efficacy and safety of pravastatin added to epirubicin, cisplatin and capecitabine (ECC versus ECC+P) in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma.

Methods: Patients were randomised to receive up to six cycles of 3-weekly ECC with or without pravastatin (40 mg, once daily from day 1 of the first cycle until day 21 of the last cycle).

Increasing tumoral 5-fluorouracil concentrations during a 5-day continuous infusion: a microdialysis study.

Purpose: Response to anticancer therapy is believed to be directly related to the concentration of the anticancer drug in the tumor itself. Assessment of intra-tumor drug pharmacokinetics can be helpful to gain more insight into mechanisms involved in the (in)sensitivity of tumors to anticancer therapy. We explored the pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil in both plasma and tumor tissue during a 5-day continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil in patients with cancer.

Application of prolonged microdialysis sampling in carboplatin-treated cancer patients.

Purpose: To better understand the mechanisms underlying (in)sensitivity of tumors to anticancer drugs, assessing intra-tumor drug pharmacokinetics (PKs) could be important. We explored the feasibility of microdialysis in tumor tissue for multiple days in a clinical setting, using carboplatin as model drug.

Methods: Plasma and microdialysate samples from tumor and adipose normal tissues were collected up to 47 h after dosing in eight carboplatin-treated patients with an accessible (sub)cutaneous tumor.

213Bi-[DOTA0, Tyr3]octreotide peptide receptor radionuclide therapy of pancreatic tumors in a preclinical animal model.

Purpose: The somatostatin analogue [DOTA0, Tyr3]octreotide (DOTATOC) has previously been labeled with low linear energy transfer (LET) beta-emitters, such as 177Lu or 90Y, for tumor therapy. In this study, DOTATOC labeled with the high-LET alpha-emitter, 213Bi, was evaluated.

Experimental Design: The radiolabeling, stability, biodistribution, toxicity, safety, and therapeutic efficacy of 213Bi-DOTATOC (specific activity 7.