Effect of Yoga and Mediational Influence of Fatigue on Walking, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life Among Cancer Survivors.

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) negatively affects survivors' walking, engagement in physical activity (PA), and quality of life (QoL). Yoga is an effective therapy for treating CRF; however, evidence from large clinical trials regarding how reducing CRF through yoga influences CRF's interference with survivors' walking, engagement in PA, and QoL is not available. We examined the effects of yoga and the mediational influence of CRF on CRF's interference with walking, PA, and QoL among cancer survivors in a multicenter phase III randomized controlled trial.

Continuous versus intermittent BRAF and MEK inhibition in patients with BRAF-mutated melanoma: a randomized phase 2 trial.

Preclinical modeling suggests that intermittent BRAF inhibitor therapy may delay acquired resistance when blocking oncogenic BRAF in melanoma. We conducted S1320, a randomized, open-label, phase 2 clinical trial (NCT02196181) evaluating whether intermittent dosing of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib and the MEK inhibitor trametinib improves progression-free survival in patients with metastatic and unresectable BRAF melanoma. Patients were enrolled at 68 academic and community sites nationally.

Phase III Randomized Trial of Bisphosphonates as Adjuvant Therapy in Breast Cancer: S0307.

Background: Adjuvant bisphosphonates, when given in a low-estrogen environment, can decrease breast cancer recurrence and death. Treatment guidelines include recommendations for adjuvant bisphosphonates in postmenopausal patients. SWOG/Alliance/Canadian Cancer Trials Group/ECOG-ACRIN/NRG Oncology study S0307 compared the efficacy of three bisphosphonates in early-stage breast cancer.

Influence of Yoga on Cancer-Related Fatigue and on Mediational Relationships Between Changes in Sleep and Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Nationwide, Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga in Cancer Survivors.

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) often co-occurs with sleep disturbance and is one of the most pervasive toxicities resulting from cancer and its treatment. We and other investigators have previously reported that yoga therapy can improve sleep quality in cancer patients and survivors. No nationwide multicenter phase III randomized controlled trial (RCT) has investigated whether yoga therapy improves CRF or whether improvements in sleep mediate the effect of yoga on CRF.

National Institute on Aging /Alzheimer's Association criteria for Mild Cognitive Impairment applied to chemotherapy treated breast cancer survivors.

Background: In this analysis we use the National Institute on Aging/Alzheimer's Association (NIA/AA) criteria to identify Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in a sample of breast cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy.

Methods: Sixty women ages 39-79 on a prospective clinical trial of donepezil were assessed at baseline using a battery of standardized/validated neurocognitive measures. Cognitive status was adjudicated to identify MCI by a panel of dementia experts.

YOCAS©® Yoga Reduces Self-reported Memory Difficulty in Cancer Survivors in a Nationwide Randomized Clinical Trial: Investigating Relationships Between Memory and Sleep.

Unlabelled: Background Interventions are needed to alleviate memory difficulty in cancer survivors. We previously showed in a phase III randomized clinical trial that YOCAS©® yoga-a program that consists of breathing exercises, postures, and meditation-significantly improved sleep quality in cancer survivors. This study assessed the effects of YOCAS©® on memory and identified relationships between memory and sleep.

Feasibility of implementing a community-based randomized trial of yoga for women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Background: Treatment-related symptoms and decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL) frequently occur during chemotherapy for breast cancer. Although research findings suggest that yoga can reduce symptoms and Improve HRQoL after treatment, potential benefits of yoga during chemotherapy have received minimal attention.

Objective: To estimate accrual, adherence, study retention, and preliminary efficacy of a yoga intervention compared with an active control group for breast cancer patients during chemotherapy.

Feasibility of geriatric assessment in community oncology clinics.

Objective: Emerging results support the value of geriatric assessment (GA) in determining the risk and benefits of cancer treatment in older adults. A brief GA tool consisting of valid and reliable measures has been developed; however, little data exist on the ability to perform the GA in community oncology clinics. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of performing the GA in the community.

A phase II trial of gemcitabine and capecitabine in patients with unresectable or metastatic gallbladder cancer or cholangiocarcinoma: Southwest Oncology Group study S0202.

Purpose: Patients with gallbladder cancer or cholangiocarcinoma were treated with the combination of gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) IV over 100 min on days 1 and 8 and capecitabine 650 mg/m(2) BID PO on days 1-14, administered every 21 days.

Methods: The primary objective of this study was to assess the response rate (confirmed complete and partial responses) of gemcitabine and capecitabine used in advanced/metastatic biliary neoplasms. Secondary objectives included overall survival and toxicities.