PATCH-DP: a single-arm phase II trial of intra-operative application of HEMOPATCH™ to the pancreatic stump to prevent post-operative pancreatic fistula following distal pancreatectomy.

Background: Post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is the most significant cause of morbidity following distal pancreatectomy. Hemopatch™ is a thin, bovine collagen-based hemostatic sealant. We hypothesized that application of Hemopatch™ to the pancreatic stump following distal pancreatectomy would decrease the incidence of clinically-significant POPF.

Association Between Preoperative Patient-Reported Symptoms and Postoperative Outcomes in Rectal Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Rectal cancer patients undergoing preoperative radiotherapy experience a significant symptom burden. However, it is unknown whether symptoms during radiotherapy may portend adverse postoperative outcomes and healthcare utilization.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed of rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy and proctectomy in Ontario from 2007 to 2014.

Symptom Burden of Nonresected Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: An Analysis of 10,753 Patient-Reported Outcome Assessments.

Objectives: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) is a debilitating disease. We sought to analyze symptom burden and trajectories after diagnosis of PAC and identify predictors of severe symptoms for nonresected patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of linked administrative health care databases examining patients with PAC not undergoing resection.

Patient-reported symptoms in metastatic gastric cancer patients in the last 6 months of life.

Background: Patients with metastatic gastric cancer have poor survival outcomes and may experience high symptom burden. We evaluated symptom trajectory and risk factors for increased symptom severity among metastatic gastric cancer patients during the last 6 months of life.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among patients ≥ 18 years diagnosed with metastatic gastric cancer from January 2007 to December 2014 in the province of Ontario, Canada.

Symptom burden among head and neck cancer patients in the first year after diagnosis: Association with primary treatment modality.

Purpose: Head and neck cancer (HNC) and its treatment affects quality of life, with significant symptom burden. The main objectives of this study were to examine symptom trajectories of HNC patients by treatment and to identify factors associated with high ESAS scores.

Methods And Materials: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in patients diagnosed with HNC in Ontario, Canada from 2007 to 2015 using linked health administrative databases.

Comparison of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Laparoscopic and Open Right Hemicolectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Open and laparoscopic resections for colon cancer have equivalent perioperative morbidity and mortality. However, there are little data concerning patient-reported outcomes in the early postdischarge period.

Objective: We examined patient-reported outcomes in the early postdischarge period for open and laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer.

Economic Analysis of Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Compared with Chemotherapy in Resected Pancreas Cancer.

Background: Population-based survival and costs of pancreas adenocarcinoma patients receiving adjuvant chemoradiation and chemotherapy following pancreaticoduodenectomy are poorly understood.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used linked administrative and pathological datasets to identify all patients diagnosed with pancreas adenocarcinoma and undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy in Ontario between April 2004 and March 2014, who received postoperative chemoradiation or chemotherapy. Stage and margin status were defined by using pathology reports.

Population-Level Symptom Assessment Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Adenocarcinoma.

Importance: Postoperative morbidity associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) remains as high as 70%. However, to our knowledge, few studies have examined quality of life in this patient population.

Objective: To identify symptom burden and trajectories and factors associated with high symptom burden following PD for PA.

Patient-Reported Symptom Severity Among 22,650 Cancer Outpatients in the Last Six Months of Life.

Context: Understanding the magnitude and risk factors for symptom burden of patients with cancer at the end of life is critical to guiding effective patient- and system-level interventions.

Objectives: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of severe patient-reported symptoms among cancer outpatients during the six months before death and to identify patient groups at a higher risk for reporting severe symptoms.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of cancer decedents at regional cancer centers from 2010 to 2016.

Symptom trajectories and predictors of severe symptoms in pancreatic adenocarcinoma at the end-of-life: a population based analysis of 2,538 patients.

Background: We evaluated symptom trajectories and predictors of reporting severe symptoms in the last 6 months of life among non-resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) decedents.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of non-resected PAC decedents receiving care at regional cancer centres between January 2007 and December 2015. Symptoms were measured using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS).

Patterns of Symptoms Burden in Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Population-Based Analysis of Prospective Patient-Reported Outcomes.

Background: How to best support patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) remains unclear. Improving quality of care requires an understanding of symptom trajectories. Objective validated assessments of symptoms burden over the course of disease are lacking.

Symptom Burden at the End of Life for Neuroendocrine Tumors: An Analysis of 2579 Prospectively Collected Patient-Reported Outcomes.

Background: Given a slow course of disease, end-of-life issues are understudied in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). To date, there are no data regarding symptoms at the end of life. This study examined symptom trajectories and factors associated with high symptom burden in NETs at the end of life.

Patient-reported symptoms following mastectomy alone or lumpectomy plus radiation for early stage breast cancer: a cohort study.

Purpose: Studies examining symptom differences between surgeries for breast cancer patients rarely incorporate the effects of adjuvant treatment choice. We sought to understand differences in patient-reported symptoms between lumpectomy plus radiation and mastectomy in the year following surgery.

Methods: This cohort study used linked administrative datasets.

Patient-reported symptoms after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment: A retrospective cohort study.

Aim: Breast cancer and its treatment are associated with varying symptoms. The province of Ontario (13.6 million) has implemented a provincial programme to screen for symptoms among cancer patients using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS).

Symptom Burden in the First Year After Cancer Diagnosis: An Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcomes.

Purpose Improvement in the quality of life of patients with cancer requires attention to symptom burden across the continuum of care, with the use of patient-reported outcomes key to achieving optimal care. Yet there have been few studies that have examined symptoms in the early postdiagnosis period during which suboptimal symptom control may be common. A comprehensive analysis of temporal trends and risk factors for symptom burden in newly diagnosed patients with cancer is essential to guide supportive care strategies.