Anti‑epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody therapy in locally advanced head and neck cancer: A systematic review of phase III clinical trials.

The present systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of anti-EGFR therapy in combination with radiotherapy (RT) or with chemoradiation compared with the existing standard of care for the treatment of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC). The PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE and COCHRANE databases were searched and 12 phase III randomized controlled trials were included. The effectiveness of the anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody cetuximab was evaluated in nine trials.

Induction chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma- A systematic review of phase III clinical trials.

Background: Induction Chemotherapy (IC) has the potential advantage of resulting in early eradication of micro metastasis thereby reducing distant failure in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC). This study is to evaluate the effectiveness of induction chemotherapy in NPC based on published phase III Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) METHODS: : We searched PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE and COCHRANE databases for phase III trials evaluating the role of IC in NPC using the following key words: nasopharyngeal carcinoma, locally advanced, locoregionally advanced, induction chemotherapy, and concurrent chemoradiation. We included phase 3 RCTs of NPC in which intervention patients received induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) and the control patients received CCRT alone.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review of phase-3 clinical trials.

Background: The outcomes of patients diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who are not candidates for local salvage therapy and of those diagnosed with recurrent or metastatic disease are dismal. A relatively new systemic therapy option that emerged in recent years in the treatment of advanced HNSCC is immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The safety profile and anti-tumor activity of these agents demonstrated in early phase clinical trials paved the way to the initiation of several promising phase-3 trials in the field.

Association between referral-to-death interval and location of death of patients referred to a hospital-based specialist palliative care service.

Context: The time interval between palliative care referral and death may play a role in determining the last place of care and location of death of patients referred to palliative care teams.

Objectives: To examine the association between the referral-to-death interval and location of death of patients referred to a hospital-based palliative care service in Singapore.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from a palliative care service's administrative database was performed.

Place of death and its determinants for patients with cancer in Singapore: an analysis of data from the Singapore Cancer Registry, 2000-2009.

Aims: To describe the place of death for patients with cancer in Singapore from 2000 to 2009, and determinants of death at home and in in-patient hospice compared to death in hospital.

Method: Cross-sectional analysis of all patients registered with the Singapore Cancer Registry who had died in the study period (N=52120). Places of death were grouped as homes, in-patient hospices, hospitals and others.

Artificial Hydration at the end of Life in an Oncology Ward in Singapore.

Aim: The objective of this study has been to examine the frequency of use of artificial hydration in terminally ill cancer patients during the last 48 h of life and the occurrence of symptoms specific to hydration status. Other objectives were to find out if artificial hydration has any impact on survival or had any influence on the patterns of use of opioids and sedatives while under palliative care.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective review of case notes of palliative care patients who died in a 95 bedded oncology ward was done.

Opioid use amongst cancer patients at the end of life.

Introduction: Concerns about the life shortening effect of opioids is a well known fact in the medical world when considering administration of these drugs for symptom alleviation at end of life. This study described the patterns of opioid use among cancer patients referred to a hospital-based specialist palliative care service for symptom management. This study also examined whether opioid use among terminally ill cancer patients during the last 2 days of life had any influence on survival.