[Trajectories of health-related quality of life and symptom burden in patients with advanced cancer towards the end of life: longitudinal results from the eQuiPe study].

Unlabelled: The number of individuals with advanced cancer is increasing, making palliative care more important. However, there is limited knowledge in the Netherlands about the quality of care received by patients in the palliative phase. This is why the Netherlands comprehensive cancer organization (IKNL) started the 'eQuiPe study' to understand the experienced quality of care and quality of life of patients with advanced cancer and their relatives to further improve palliative care.

Muscle atrophy and organ enlargement associated with quality of life during systemic therapy for melanoma: findings from an AI-based body composition analysis.

Introduction: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is emerging as an endpoint, adjunct to survival, in cancer treatment. For this reason, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has developed standardized quality-of-life questionnaires to collect patient-reported outcome measurement (PROM), which so far have been widely used in clinical trials to evaluate the impact of new drugs on cancer patients. However, while these questionnaires comprehensively describe patient functions, little is known about their association with patient characteristics.

General Practitioners' Experiences With Implementing Colon or Prostate Cancer Survivorship Care in Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Survey Nested Within Two Randomized-Controlled Trials.

Purpose: To evaluate general practitioners' (GPs) experiences with providing cancer survivorship care and explore readiness for implementation.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey study was nested within two randomized-controlled trials conducted in the Netherlands between 2015 and 2023, comparing GP- with specialist-led survivorship care for patients with colon or prostate cancer. An adapted version of the normalisation measure development (NoMAD) survey was distributed among participating GPs.

Identifying the informational needs and sources of support of Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer survivors to inform the development of a digital platform.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the (age-specific) informational needs and support sources used by Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer survivors throughout their cancer trajectory and socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with most common AYA-related informational needs.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among AYA cancer survivors (mean, 10.3 years after diagnosis, SD = 5.

Moving beyond barriers: a mixed-method study to develop evidence-based strategies to improve implementation of PROMs in clinical oncology care.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify feasible, evidence-based strategies to improve the use of Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) implemented in clinical oncology practice.

Methods: A mixed-method study involving observations of consultations and semi-structured interviews with patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) was conducted to identify facilitators and barriers for using PROMs; barriers and facilitators were structured following the Theoretical Domains Framework. For each barrier, evidence-based improvement strategies were selected using the Behaviour Change Techniques Taxonomy v1.

Health care utilization up to 11 years after diagnosis among patients with a hematologic malignancy and its association with socioeconomic position.

Purpose: To investigate health care utilization among patients with hematologic malignancies and its association with socioeconomic position (SEP) and compare health care utilization with a cancer-free population.

Methods: Patients with aggressive lymphoma, indolent lymphoma, or multiple myeloma (MM), diagnosed between 1999-2010 and 2015-2019, participated in longitudinal patient-reported outcome research, up to 11 years post-diagnosis. Questionnaires assessed health care utilization at the general practitioner (GP), medical specialist, and additional health care.

Impact of comorbidity on health-related quality of life in newly diagnosed patients with lymphoma or multiple myeloma: results from the PROFILES-registry.

With the increasing prevalence of comorbidity in an ageing population, it is crucial to better understand the impact of comorbidity on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after lymphoma or multiple myeloma (MM) diagnosis. We included 261 newly diagnosed patients (67% response rate) diagnosed with lymphoma or MM between October 2020 and March 2023 in a longitudinal survey. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaires were used to measure generic and disease-specific HRQoL.

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients With Gastroesophageal Cancer.

Background: Chemotherapy for various stages of gastroesophageal cancer (GEC) is often neurotoxic. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) impairs health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study investigates the incidence and severity of CIPN and its association with HRQoL in patients with GEC.

Effect of reduced follow-up care on patient satisfaction with care among patients with endometrial cancer: The ENSURE randomized controlled trial.

Background: Evidence on the optimal follow-up schedule after endometrial cancer is lacking. The study aim was to compare satisfaction with care between women who received reduced follow-up care and women who received usual guideline-directed follow-up care for three years after surgery.

Methods: The ENSURE (ENdometrial cancer SURvivors' follow-up carE) trial was a non-inferiority randomized controlled multicenter trial in 42 hospitals in the Netherlands.

[How long are medical oncology patients in The Netherlands willing to travel for their cancer care?].

Background: The number of people with cancer will increase in the Netherlands. Further concentration and network care is pursued. The aim of this study was to explore how long medical oncology patients are willing to travel for their cancer care.

Course of objectively measured physical activity and sleep in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic: A 1-year follow-up.

Background: As physical inactivity and poor sleep quality may impose additional risk for cancer recurrence and overall mortality in postmenopausal breast cancer (PMBC) survivors, it is important to gain insight into the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on their physical activity (PA) and sleep level.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the course of their physical activity (PA) and sleep throughout governmental measures against COVID-19 during 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: PMBC survivors (n = 96) wore an ActiGraph wGT3X-BT for seven consecutive days at 12 and 18 months after diagnosis and additional measurements were taken after onset of the second (partial) COVID-19 lockdown.

Potentially inappropriate end-of-life care and its association with relatives' well-being: a systematic review.

Purpose: Potentially inappropriate end-of-life cancer care (e.g., frequent hospital admission and emergency room visits in the last month of life) is known to be associated with a poorer quality of life of patients, but research on its association with the well-being of relatives is scarce.

Health-related quality of life after stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with brain metastases.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and to identify factors associated with this.

Methods: HRQoL was measured pre-SRS, at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Physical functioning, cognitive functioning, role functioning, and fatigue were analyzed with the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire.

Association between pretreatment emotional distress and neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade response in melanoma.

Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) outperforms adjuvant ICB for treatment of stage IIIB-D melanoma, but potential biomarkers of response, such as interferon-gamma (IFNγ) signature and tumor mutational burden (TMB), are insufficient. Preclinical studies suggest that emotional distress (ED) can negatively affect antitumor immune responses via β-adrenergic or glucocorticoid signaling. We performed a post hoc analysis evaluating the association between pretreatment ED and clinical responses after neoadjuvant ICB treatment in patients with stage IIIB-D melanoma in the phase 2 PRADO trial ( NCT02977052 ).

Trajectories of emotional functioning and experienced care of relatives in the last year of life of patients with advanced cancer: A longitudinal analysis of the eQuiPe study.

Objective: Advanced cancer has a major impact on both patients and their relatives. To allow for personalized support, it is important to recognize which relatives will experience a decline in emotional functioning during the patient's last year of life, when this decline will occur, and what factors are associated with it. This study aimed to examine the trajectory of emotional functioning of relatives during that time and the characteristics associated with changes in this trajectory.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures to Improve the Care Continuum for Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer: Opportunities and Implications for Nursing Practice.

Objectives: Albeit treatable, metastatic breast cancer (MBC) remains incurable. To achieve remaining life years lived well, extended survival should be balanced with optimal health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and timely initiated supportive, palliative, and end-of-life care. The Advanced Breast Cancer (ABC) Global Alliance identified 10 urgent and actionable goals for the decade between 2015 and 2025 to achieve substantial improvement in the lives of patients living with ABC, including MBC.

Trajectories of health-related quality of life and symptom burden in patients with advanced cancer towards the end of life: Longitudinal results from the eQuiPe study.

Background: Support for health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an essential part of cancer care in the final stages of life, yet empirical guidance regarding HRQOL and symptom trajectories is lacking.

Aim: To assess the change in HRQOL and symptom burden in the last year of life in patients with advanced cancer and its association with health care-related factors, cancer-specific treatment, and comorbidity.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter, observational study in patients with advanced cancer (eQuiPe).

An eHealth App (CAPABLE) Providing Symptom Monitoring, Well-Being Interventions, and Educational Material for Patients With Melanoma Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Protocol for an Exploratory Intervention Trial.

Background: Since treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is becoming standard therapy for patients with high-risk and advanced melanoma, an increasing number of patients experience treatment-related adverse events such as fatigue. Until now, studies have demonstrated the benefits of using eHealth tools to provide either symptom monitoring or interventions to reduce treatment-related symptoms such as fatigue. However, an eHealth tool that facilitates the combination of both symptom monitoring and symptom management in patients with melanoma treated with ICIs is still needed.

The course of self-perceived cognitive functioning among patients with lymphoma and the co-occurrence with fatigue and psychological distress.

Purpose: To investigate the proportion of patients with lymphoma with persistent clinically relevant cognitive impairment, and its relation to  treatment, fatigue, and psychological distress.

Methods: Patients with diffuse-large-B-cell-lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular-lymphoma (FL), and chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia (CLL)/small-lymphocytic-lymphoma (SLL), diagnosed between 2004-2010 or 2015-2019, were followed up to 8 years post-diagnosis. Sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and the Population-based HAematological Registry for Observational Studies.

Health-related quality of life of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: longitudinal improvements on social functioning and fatigue.

The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among long-term Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors (AYACS) and an age- and sex-matched normative population was examined. Although the HRQoL of AYACS was worse compared to the normative population before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the scores of AYACS improved over time in contrast to the normative population. Presumably, AYACS are used to adjusting their lives to stressful life events.

Using the Behavior Change Wheel to Identify and Understand Key Facilitators and Barriers for Lifestyle Care for Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Survivors: A Delphi-Study.

Background: Optimal approaches to promote sustained adherence to lifestyle and bodyweight recommendations in postmenopausal breast cancer (PMBC) survivors are lacking.

Purpose: This Delphi-study aims to identify and understand expert-opinion on potential barriers and facilitators for promoting adherence to these lifestyle and bodyweight recommendations in (clinical) care for PMBC survivors, and to determine potential effective intervention strategies.

Methods: The expert panel consisted of oncology Health Care Professionals (HCPs) (N = 57), patient advocates (N = 5), and PMBC survivors (N = 38).

Adherence to Patient-Reported Symptom Monitoring and Subsequent Clinical Interventions for Patients With Multiple Myeloma in Outpatient Care: Longitudinal Observational Study.

Background: The use of software to monitor patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) can improve outcomes for patients with cancer receiving anticancer therapy; however, evidence from applications used in routine clinical practice is lacking.

Objective: We aimed to investigate adherence to and patient perceptions of a weekly, web-based PROM symptom monitoring program in routine clinical practice for patients with Multiple Myeloma. Moreover, we aimed to capture how clinical alerts prompted by the system influenced clinical care.