Comparing the contents of patient-reported outcome measures for fatigue: EORTC CAT Core, EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-FA12, FACIT, PRO-CTCAE, PROMIS, Brief Fatigue Inventory, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, and Piper Fatigue Scale.

Background: To assess fatigue in cancer patients, several patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are available that differ in content. To support the selection of suitable measures for specific applications and to evaluate possibilities of quantitative linking, the present study provides a content comparison of common fatigue measures, scales, and item banks. We included the EORTC CAT Core, EORTC QLQ-FA12, EORTC QLQ-C30, FACIT-F, PROMIS Fatigue (Cancer item bank v1.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Danish Cancer Survivors Referred to a Late Effects Clinic: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: The Region of Southern Denmark has recently established four late effects clinics to help cancer survivors suffering from complex and severe late effects. This study aimed to capture and analyze the full range of physical, mental, and psychosocial issues using patient-reported outcomes. Moreover, we aimed to describe demographic data and the type and severity of the late effects.

Real-world health-related quality of life outcomes for patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma treated with adjuvant anti-PD1 therapy.

Background: While adjuvant therapy with anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (anti-PD1) for patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma has been shown to improve recurrence-free survival, the overall survival benefit remains uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the impact of adjuvant anti-PD1 therapy on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma METHODS: Data was used from two melanoma registries in Australia and the Netherlands. Patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma treated with adjuvant anti-PD1 who completed a baseline and at least one post-baseline HRQOL assessment were included.

Equipercentile equating of scores from common patient-reported outcome measures of physical function in patients with cancer.

Objective: To provide equipercentile equating of physical function (PF) scores from frequently used patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in cancer patients to facilitate data pooling and comparisons.

Study Design And Setting: Adult cancer patients from five European countries completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) computer adaptive test (CAT) Core, EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Version 3.0 (QLQ-C30), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G), 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function 20a short form.

Effects of Iron Species on Low Temperature CO Electrolyzers.

Electrochemical energy conversion devices are considered key in reducing CO emissions and significant efforts are being applied to accelerate device development. Unlike other technologies, low temperature electrolyzers have the ability to directly convert CO into a range of value-added chemicals. To make them commercially viable, however, device efficiency and durability must be increased.

Retrospective analysis of enhancer activity and transcriptome history.

Cell state changes in development and disease are controlled by gene regulatory networks, the dynamics of which are difficult to track in real time. In this study, we used an inducible DCM-RNA polymerase subunit b fusion protein which labels active genes and enhancers with a bacterial methylation mark that does not affect gene transcription and is propagated in S-phase. This DCM-RNA polymerase fusion protein enables transcribed genes and active enhancers to be tagged and then examined at later stages of development or differentiation.

Patient-reported outcome measures for emotional functioning in cancer patients: Content comparison of the EORTC CAT Core, FACT-G, HADS, SF-36, PRO-CTCAE, and PROMIS instruments.

Background: Cancer and its treatment can have substantial impact on patients' emotional functioning. Several patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) assessing emotional functioning are available, but differences in content limit the comparability of results. To better understand conceptual (dis)similarities, we conducted a content comparison of commonly used PROMs.

Phase III study of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life cancer survivorship core questionnaire.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Group (EORTC QLG) questionnaire that captures the full range of physical, mental, and social health-related quality of life (HRQOL) issues relevant to disease-free cancer survivors. In this phase III study, we pretested the provisional core questionnaire (QLQ-SURV111) and aimed to identify essential and optional scales.

Methods: We pretested the QLQ-SURV111 in 492 cancer survivors from 17 countries with one of 11 cancer diagnoses.

Evaluating the Thresholds for Clinical Importance of the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL in Patients Receiving Palliative Treatment.

The EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL is a shortened version of the widely used EORTC QLQ-C30. This questionnaire was developed to measure the symptoms and functional health of patients receiving palliative care. To enhance clinical interpretability of the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL, our aim was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of thresholds for clinical importance developed previously for the QLQ-C30 when applied to the QLQ-C15-PAL scales.

International validation of the EORTC CAT Core: a new adaptive instrument for measuring core quality of life domains in cancer.

Background: The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Group (QLG) has developed computerised adaptive tests (CATs) for the 14 functional and symptom domains of the EORTC QLQ-C30 quality of life questionnaire. This is expected to optimise measurement precision, relevance to patients and flexibility. Here, we present the first international validation of the EORTC CAT Core.

Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy aimed at alleviating treatment-induced menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors: Moderators and mediators of treatment effects.

Objectives: Results from our recently conducted randomized controlled trial (RCT) indicated that Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT), with or without therapist support, is effective in reducing the perceived impact of hot flushes and night sweats (HF/NS) and overall levels of menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors with treatment-induced menopausal symptoms.

Study Design: We used data of 235 women and compared the iCBT groups combined (n = 156) with the control group (n = 79). Bootstrapped multiple regression analyses with interaction terms (group x potential moderator) or indirect effects (mediation pathway) were conducted.

Thresholds for clinical importance were established to improve interpretation of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in clinical practice and research.

Objective: The objective of this study was to establish thresholds for clinical importance (TCIs) for the five functioning and nine symptom scales of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30).

Study Design And Setting: In this diagnostic study, cancer patients with mixed diagnoses and treatments completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and anchored the questions in each domain in terms of their clinical importance. The anchor questions, concerned limitations in daily life, need for help/care, and the worries of the patient and his/her partner/family.

Thresholds for clinical importance were defined for the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Computer Adaptive Testing Core-an adaptive measure of core quality of life domains in oncology clinical practice and research.

Objectives: The aim of this article was to establish thresholds for clinical importance (TCIs) for the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) Core measure, the new adaptive version of the EORTC QLQ-C30.

Study Design And Setting: For our diagnostic study, we recruited cancer patients with mixed diagnoses and treatments from six European countries. Patients completed the EORTC CAT Core and a questionnaire with anchor items assessing criteria for clinical importance (limitations in everyday life, need for help/care, and worries by the patient/family/partner) for each EORTC CAT Core domain.

Cost-utility, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact of Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for breast cancer survivors with treatment-induced menopausal symptoms.

Purpose: Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT), with and without therapist support, is effective in reducing treatment-induced menopausal symptoms and perceived impact of hot flushes and night sweats (HF/NS) in breast cancer survivors. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the cost-utility, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact of both iCBT formats compared to a waiting list control group from the Dutch healthcare perspective.

Methods: A Markov model was constructed with a 5-year time horizon.

Efficacy of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Treatment-Induced Menopausal Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: We evaluated the effect of Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT), with or without therapist support, on the perceived impact of hot flushes and night sweats (HF/NS) and overall levels of menopausal symptoms (primary outcomes), sleep quality, HF/NS frequency, sexual functioning, psychological distress, and health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors with treatment-induced menopausal symptoms.

Patients And Methods: We randomly assigned 254 breast cancer survivors to a therapist-guided or a self-managed iCBT group or to a waiting list control group. The 6-week iCBT program included psycho-education, behavior monitoring, and cognitive restructuring.

International phase IV validation study of an EORTC quality of life questionnaire for testicular cancer patients: the EORTC QLQ-TC26.

Background: Given the high cure-rate for testicular cancer (TC) and the patients' young age, comprehensive evaluation of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important consideration in this patient population. The EORTC QLQ-TC26 questionnaire module has been developed to supplement the EORTC QLQ-C30 in assessing TC-specific HRQOL in clinical trials and routine clinical practice. This international, multicentre phase IV validation study evaluated the psychometric properties of the new module.

Understanding the quality of life (QOL) issues in survivors of cancer: towards the development of an EORTC QOL cancer survivorship questionnaire.

Backround: The number of cancer survivors is growing steadily and increasingly, clinical trials are being designed to include long-term follow-up to assess not only survival, but also late effects and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Therefore it is is essential to develop patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) that capture the full range of issues relevant to disease-free cancer survivors. The objectives of this project are: 1) to develop a European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaire that captures the full range of physical, mental and social HRQOL issues relevant to disease-free cancer survivors; and 2) to determine at which minimal time since completion of treatment the questionnaire should be used.

Development and Function of Immune Cells in an Adolescent Patient With a Deficiency in the Interleukin-10 Receptor.

Objective: Monogenic defects in the interleukin-10 (IL-10) pathway are extremely rare and cause infantile-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-like pathology. Understanding how immune responses are dysregulated in monogenic IBD-like diseases can provide valuable insight in "classical" IBD pathogenesis. Here, we studied long-term immune cell development and function in an adolescent IL-10 receptor (IL10RA)-deficient patient who presented in infancy with severe colitis and fistulizing perianal disease and is currently treated with immune suppressants.

International evaluation of the psychometrics of health-related quality of life questionnaires for use among long-term survivors of testicular and prostate cancer.

Background: Understanding of the physical, functional and psychosocial health problems and needs of cancer survivors requires cross-national and cross-cultural standardization of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaires that capture the full range of issues relevant to cancer survivors. To our knowledge, only one study has investigated in a comprehensive way whether a questionnaire used to evaluate HRQoL in cancer patients under active treatment is also reliable and valid when used among (long-term) cancer survivors. In this study we evaluated, in an international context, the psychometrics of HRQoL questionnaires for use among long-term, disease-free, survivors of testicular and prostate cancer.

An Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for treatment-induced menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors: results of a pilot study.

Objective: Previous studies demonstrated that a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program delivered in group sessions is effective in alleviating treatment-induced menopausal symptoms in women with breast cancer, but also that in-person CBT is inconvenient for some women and can result in low levels of program compliance. A promising, alternative approach is to use the Internet to make this form of CBT more accessible and feasible for patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and to generate preliminary data on the efficacy of a guided, Internet-based CBT program.

Design of a randomized controlled trial of Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for treatment-induced menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors.

Background: Menopausal symptoms are common and may be particularly severe in younger women who undergo treatment-induced menopause. Medications to reduce menopausal symptoms are either contra-indicated or have bothersome side effects. Previous studies have demonstrated that face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in alleviating menopausal symptoms in women with breast cancer.

Recruiting long-term survivors of European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer phase III clinical trials into quality of life studies: challenges and opportunities.

Objectives: In this pilot study we evaluated the feasibility of and methods for assessing the quality of life of long term survivors of European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) phase III clinical trials. Here we report the results pertaining to the feasibility of conducting such research.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited long-term, disease-free survivors from two mature EORTC clinical trials in testicular and prostate cancer from centres in Northern and Southern Europe, and the United Kingdom (UK).