Publications by authors named "James Chiarotto"
Introduction: Differences between health outcomes, participation/adoption, and cost-effectiveness of home-based (HOME) interventions and supervised group-based training (GROUP) in men with prostate cancer (PC) on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) are currently unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical efficacy, adherence, and cost-effectiveness of HOME versus GROUP in men on ADT for PC.
Materials And Methods: This was a multicentre, 2-arm non-inferiority randomized controlled trial and companion cost-effectiveness analysis.
Article Synopsis
- Patients with prostate cancer may be less likely to participate in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of exercise due to their preferences, and this study explores if a preference-based trial can enhance recruitment and adherence.
- The research involved cancer survivors choosing between group-based or home-based exercise training while measuring changes in fatigue, functional endurance, and other health markers over six months.
- Results showed similar outcomes for both exercise modes in the preference trial, with lower dropout rates compared to the RCT, suggesting that allowing participants to choose their exercise method can improve retention.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of remote proactive management of toxicities during chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer.
Design: Pragmatic, cluster randomised trial.
Setting: 20 cancer centres in Ontario, Canada, allocated by covariate constrained randomisation to remote management of toxicities or routine care.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how community oncologists rely on absolute neutrophil count (ANC) when deciding to administer adjuvant mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy for colorectal cancer, focusing on its impact on treatment delays and G-CSF usage.
- A chart review over six years revealed that higher pretreatment ANC levels correlated with increased chemotherapy administration and that G-CSF was used in nearly 25% of cycles, rising to 44% by the 12th cycle.
- The findings indicate that low ANC leads to chemotherapy delays regardless of G-CSF support, negatively affecting dose intensity and highlighting the challenges in managing ANC levels during treatment.
Article Synopsis
- Exercise sessions for metastatic cancer patients on chemotherapy showed good feasibility, with 28% participation among invited patients and a high compliance rate of 73.1%.
- No significant overall improvements were observed in fatigue and quality of life scores after 30 weeks, but aerobic capacity did increase.
- The results suggest that while exercise is safe for these patients, its direct effect on survival rates is inconclusive, although β-catenin levels may indicate a potential link to mortality risk.
Purpose: How does giving adjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy to patients with early-stage colorectal cancer (ESCRC) regardless of the day-before absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) effect chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia (CIFN) rates, received dose intensity (RDI), and chemotherapy cycle delay? Does an ANC level predict future neutropenia?
Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on all patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for ESCRC at a mid-sized community hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between April 2005 and May 2014. All patients were under one medical oncologist. Day-before CBC data were collected along with other patient characteristics.
Purpose: Does giving full-dose adjuvant chemotherapy to patients with early stage breast cancer (ESBC) regardless of the day-before absolute neutrophil count (ANC) lead to an increased incidence of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia (CIFN)? What factors may predispose patients to CIFN?
Methods: This was a retrospective chart review conducted on all patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for ESBC at a mid-sized community hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between September 2005 and August 2011. Day-before CBC data were collected along with other patient characteristics. CIFN was confirmed by hospital records.