Unlabelled: Recent developments in molecular genetic testing methods (e.g. next-generation sequencing [NGS]-panels) largely accelerated the process of finding the most appropriate targeted therapeutic intervention for cancer patients based on molecularly targetable genetic alterations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSeveral factors can affect overall survival of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, including characteristics of the cancer disease and response to treatments. However, patients' nutritional status and the effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) can also impact overall survival. The primary goal of our research was to collect real-life data on the use of MNT in HNC patients and to specifically investigate the correlation between survival and the duration of uninterrupted (persistent) nutrition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAt the 45th Congress of ESPEN (The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism), we presented for the first time the initial results of our 2023 oncology research, in which we revealed positive correlations between the persistence of medical nutrition therapy and overall survival, in head and neck cancer patients. Patients who received longterm nutrition therapy (≥7 months) had a significantly longer survival (p<0.0001) than those who received only short-term nutrition therapy intervention, i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo improve outcomes, to decrease the rate of local recurrence and development of distant metastases neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies are employed in cancer patients in forms of radiation, chemo-, endocrine-, targeted-, and immunotherapy or their combination. Nutrition therapy plays important role in all phases of the cancer journey. From neoadjuvant therapy to prehabilitation, early postoperative nutrition, and long-term nutrition care during the adjuvant phase and survivorship determines the survival and quality of life of cancer patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: To ensure that all citizens have equal access to high-quality cancer diagnosis and care, the EU4Health Programme, Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, and Horizon Europe's Cancer Mission propose Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures in every European Union Member State. It is therefore important to establish the basic principles for high-performing cancer networks and a methodology for evaluating their quality and effectiveness. This article describes methods and standards/indicators for network evaluation found in literature, gives a comparative overview of the new OECI European Cancer Network Quality standards, and proposes principles for evaluating the performance of Comprehensive Cancer Networks as a basis for continuous improvement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSince the introduction of next-generation sequencing, the frequency of germline pathogenic variants and the number of cases with unusual clinical presentations have been increasing. This has led to the expansion of the classical Li-Fraumeni syndrome concept to a wider cancer predisposition syndrome designated as the Li-Fraumeni spectrum. Here, we present a case with a malignant, metastatic perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) of the thigh muscle and a sinonasal carcinoma harboring a novel germline splice mutation (NM_000546.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDuring oncological treatments, body mass index (BMI) and weight loss (WL) are important prognostic factors, but can be influenced by nutrition therapy. The aim of the study was to collect data on BMI and WL of patients with lung cancer and on the nutritional therapy influencing malnutrition. In our multicenter, retrospective study involving 1616 patients, data were collected using a questionnaire with 51 questions, and statistical analysis was performed with descriptive, and multivariate analysis methods with IBM SPSS 20 software.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDue to the profound difference in radiosensitivity of patients and various side effects caused by this phenomenon, a radiosensitivity marker is needed. Prediction by a marker may help personalise the treatment. In this study, we tested chromosomal aberrations (CA) of irradiated blood as predictor of pulmonary function decrease of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and also compared it with the CAs in the blood of irradiated patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Covid-19 vaccination has started in the majority of the countries at the global level. Cancer patients are at high risk for infection, serious illness, and death from COVID-19 and need vaccination guidance and support. Guidance availability in the English language only is a major limit for recommendations' delivery and their application in the world's population and generates information inequalities across the different populations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe therapy of pancreatic cancer is fundamentally based on surgical removal and chemotherapy. The available evidence and results of publications concerning the application of radiotherapy are controversial. Accordingly, the international guidelines formulated by radiation oncology organizations have paramount interest in this particular pathology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Chemoradiotherapy is the standard of care for unresected locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. We aimed to assess if addition of avelumab (anti-PD-L1) to chemoradiotherapy could improve treatment outcomes for this patient population.
Methods: In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study, patients were recruited from 196 hospitals and cancer treatment centres in 22 countries.
There is a persistent variation in cancer outcomes among and within European countries suggesting (among other causes) inequalities in access to or delivery of high-quality cancer care. European policy (EU Cancer Mission and Europe's Beating Cancer Plan) is currently moving towards a mission-oriented approach addressing these inequalities. In this study, we used the quantitative and qualitative data of the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes' Accreditation and Designation Programme, relating to 40 large European cancer centres, to describe their current compliance with quality standards, to identify the hallmarks common to all centres and to show the distinctive features of Comprehensive Cancer Centres.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEuropean Cancer Organisation Essential Requirements for Quality Cancer Care (ERQCC) are written by experts representing all disciplines involved in cancer care in Europe. They give patients, health professionals, managers and policymakers a guide to essential care throughout the patient journey. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality and has a wide variation in treatment and outcomes in Europe.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Backround: Radiation-induced oral mucositis consists of a series of relatively frequent side effects after head and neck cancer radiotherapy and has an adverse impact on both regular treatment process and the quality of life of patients.
Objective: The purpose of the present review is to optimize the current management of radiation-induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients.
Methods: PubMed database research was performed on articles published since 2015 that demonstrated efficacy in the management of radiation-induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients.
Crit Rev Oncol Hematol
April 2020
Background: ECCO Essential Requirements for Quality Cancer Care (ERQCC) are written by experts representing all disciplines involved in cancer care in Europe. They give oncology teams, patients, policymakers and managers an overview of essential care throughout the patient journey.
Prostate Cancer: Prostate cancer is the second most common male cancer and has a wide variation in outcomes in Europe.
It is known since the beginning of the 20th century that ionizing radiation has an effect on the immune system. The abscopal effect was well known but extremely rare. However, many study groups performed intensive preclinical research in the field.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite the success for the treatment of melanoma such as targeted molecular therapy, the use of such treatments are expensive For this reason, this study was carried out to explore the anti-cancer properties of available drugs that are able to modify the melanoma prognosis. The study was conducted in two phases: Evaluation of pharmacological effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) administered above (60 mg/kg) which is the therapeutic dose that is aimed at reducing the side-effect of radiotherapy, and of α- galactosylceramide (GalCer) administered at 100 μg/kg, as well as their combination using a murine model (BDF1 mice) of melanoma cell line (B16-F1, ATCC). For the radiotherapy phase, 9 Gy was applied in the tumor area, before (3 days), during (30 min) and after (3 days) the PTX + GalCer treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The aim of this study was to determine whether tumor-associated immune cells may predict response to therapy and disease outcome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients receiving induction chemotherapy and cetuximab.
Methods: Paraffin-embedded pretreatment biopsy samples from 45 patients with stage III-IV resectable HNSCC were investigated retrospectively by immunohistochemistry for density of different immune cell types based on expression of CD8, FOXP3, CD134, CD137, PD-1, CD20, NKp46, dendritic cell lysosomal-associated membrane protein (DC-LAMP), CD16, CD68, and myeloperoxidase. Results were analyzed for possible correlations with clinicopathologic parameters, response to therapy, and survival.
Recently the prevalence of oligometastatic patients is increasing. A common site of distant spread is the liver. The standard of care is curative surgical resection, however, the resecability rate is only 10-20%.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCrit Rev Oncol Hematol
February 2018
Background: ECCO essential requirements for quality cancer care (ERQCC) are checklists and explanations of organisation and actions that are necessary to give high-quality care to patients who have a specific type of cancer. They are written by European experts representing all disciplines involved in cancer care. ERQCC papers give oncology teams, patients, policymakers and managers an overview of the elements needed in any healthcare system to provide high quality of care throughout the patient journey.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: ECCO essential requirements for quality cancer care (ERQCC) are explanations and descriptions of challenges, organisation and actions that are necessary to give high-quality care to patients who have a specific type of cancer. They are written by European experts representing all disciplines involved in cancer care. ERQCC papers give oncology teams, patients, policymakers and managers an overview of the elements needed in any healthcare system to provide high quality of care throughout the patient journey.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPancreatic cancer has one of the worst outcomes among malignant tumors. At the time of diagnosis only 20% of the cases are resectable and 30-50% are locally advanced, when curative intervention cannot be performed. After resection local relapse occurs in 20-60%, and in 30% it is the reason of death.
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