Efficacy of conventional immunosuppressants in relapsing or refractory eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: evidence from a Canadian single-centre cohort.

Objectives: To describe the efficacy of conventional immunosuppressants in disease control of relapsing or refractory eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) compared to recently published mepolizumab and rituximab studies.

Methods: A retrospective analysis from the Toronto Vasculitis Clinic was conducted. Patients with relapsing or refractory EGPA with similar entry criteria as the main mepolizumab (MIRRA) or rituximab (case-series) studies, who were started on conventional immunosuppressants, were assessed for remission at 24- and 52-weeks.

A pilot study with palonosetron in the prophylaxis of radiation-induced nausea and vomiting.

Background: Palonosetron is an effective antiemetic in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), but has yet to be studied in the radiation setting. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of palonosetron in the prophylaxis of radiation-induced nausea and vomiting (RINV).

Methods: Patients without existing nausea and vomiting undergoing palliative radiotherapy to sites with emetic risk were prescribed palonosetron 0.

Estimating prognosis at the time of repeat whole brain radiation therapy for multiple brain metastases: The reirradiation score.

Purpose: Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) remains the standard of care for patients with multiple brain metastases, but more than half of treated patients will develop intracranial progression. Because there is no clear consensus on the optimal therapeutic approach, a prognostic index would be helpful to guide treatment options at progression. We explored whether the recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) score prior to repeat WBRT is predictive of survival.

Quality of life (QOL) and symptom burden (SB) in patients with breast cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the quality of life (QOL) and symptom burden (SB) among breast cancer patients.

Methods: Patients with DCIS, early stage, locally advanced, or metastatic breast cancer completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Breast Cancer (FACT-B). Patients were divided into subsequent cohorts based on their last day of treatment, age at enrollment, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.

Quality of life with Brain Symptom and Impact Questionnaire in patients with brain metastases.

Background: To examine the baseline characteristics of patients who underwent different treatments for brain metastases.

Methods: Allocated into group A [whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) alone], or group B [stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or neurosurgery with or without WBRT], brain metastases patients with assigned treatment completed the Brain Symptom and Impact Questionnaire (BASIQ). Items of BASIQ were arranged as a symptom score or function score.

Olanzapine for the prophylaxis and rescue of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV): a retrospective study.

Background: While the efficacy of olanzapine in the prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) has been documented, the literature on the use of olanzapine as a rescue medication for breakthrough CINV has been scarce. The following study retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of olanzapine for the treatment of breakthrough CINV. The efficacy and safety of olanzapine in the prophylactic setting was also examined in a smaller cohort.

Quality of life and symptom burden in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to examine the symptom burden (SB) and quality of life (QOL) in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: Breast cancer patients with metastases were asked to complete the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and FACT-B questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed to identify (1) any differences in SB and QOL between patients with bone metastases only and patients with visceral +/- bone metastases and (2) any associations between SB and/or QOL and various clinical factors, including treatment with bisphosphonates, participation in a clinical trial and presence of brain metastases.

The impact of psychosocial intervention on survival in cancer: a meta-analysis.

Background: The impact of psychosocial interventions on survival remains controversial in patients with cancer. A meta-analysis of the recent literature was conducted to evaluate the potential survival benefit associated with psychosocial interventions for cancer patients.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central were searched from January 2004 to May 2015 for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared survival outcomes between cancer patients receiving a psychosocial intervention and those receiving other, or no interventions.

Inter-rater reliability in performance status assessment among health care professionals: a systematic review.

Background: Studies have reported that performance status (PS) is a good prognostic indicator in patients with advanced cancer. However, different health care professionals (HCPs) could grade PS differently. The purpose of this review is to investigate the PS scores evaluated by different HCPs as reported in the literature.

Latest advances in the management of radiation-induced pain flare, nausea and vomiting.

Palliative radiotherapy (RT) is an effective treatment for symptomatic bone metastases. However, pain flare, nausea and vomiting are common adverse effects associated with this treatment. The management of pain flare and radiation-induced nausea and vomiting (RINV) are important endpoints in palliative care.

The accuracy of clinicians' predictions of survival in advanced cancer: a review.

The process of formulating an accurate survival prediction is often difficult but important, as it influences the decisions of clinicians, patients, and their families. The current article aims to review the accuracy of clinicians' predictions of survival (CPS) in advanced cancer patients. A literature search of Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE was conducted to identify studies that reported clinicians' prediction of survival in advanced cancer patients.

Comparison of the EORTC STO-22 and the FACT-Ga quality of life questionnaires for patients with gastric cancer.

This review compares the development, characteristics, validity, and reliability of two well-known quality of life (QOL) assessment tools used in patients with gastric cancer: the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Stomach (EORTC QLQ-STO22) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Gastric (FACT-Ga). A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL (inception to April 2015) to identify studies that discussed the development, characteristics, validity and reliability of the EORTC QLQ-STO22 or the FACT-Ga. The QLQ-STO22 was developed with collaboration with patients, healthcare professionals and literature review and was mainly field tested in European countries.

Do patients with brain metastases selected for whole brain radiotherapy have worse baseline quality of life as compared to those for radiosurgery or neurosurgery (with or without whole brain radiotherapy)?

Background: The purpose was to examine the baseline characteristics, symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in patients who receive different treatments for brain metastases.

Methods: Eligible patients were divided and analysed based on their treatment: whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) alone versus stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or neurosurgery with or without WBRT. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain (FACT-Br) items were grouped according to different domains for summary scores.

The Brain Symptom and Impact Questionnaire in brain metastases patients: a prospective long-term follow-up study.

Aims: To assess the ability of the Brain Metastases Symptom and Impact Questionnaire (BASIQ) in evaluating symptoms and impact on daily life.

Patients & Methods: Patients with brain metastases completed BASIQ, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General, FACT-Brain at baseline and at 1, 2 and 3 months follow-ups.

Results: Thirty-six patients completed all follow-ups.

Use of urinary markers in cancer setting: A literature review.

Introduction: In bone metastases, the disruption of normal bone processes results in increased resorption and formation rates, which can often be quantitatively measured by biomarkers in the urine and blood. The purpose of this review is to summarize relevant studies of urinary markers used as a diagnostic and/or prognostic tool, as well as its potential and advances in directing therapy.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using Ovid MEDLINE (1950 to July 2014), EMBASE (1950 to 2014 week 30) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (3rd Quarter 2014) to identify studies that detailed the use of urinary markers in the cancer setting, specifically involving markers for bone metastases.

Quality of life after palliative radiotherapy in bone metastases: A literature review.

Objective: To investigate the quality of life (QOL) following palliative radiotherapy for painful bone metastases.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in OvidSP Medline (1946-Jan Week 4 2014), Embase (1947-Week 5 2014), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Dec 2013) databases. The search was limited to English.

Re-irradiation for painful bone metastases: evidence-based approach.

The prognosis of patients with bone metastases has improved with the advent of increasingly effective systemic treatment and better supportive care. A growing number of bone metastases patients now outlive the duration of benefits from their initial treatment of radiotherapy (RT) while some patients fail to initially respond to RT. As such, re-irradiation (re-RT) may be required.

Cut points for mild, moderate, and severe pain among cancer and non-cancer patients: a literature review.

Defining cut points (CPs) for varying levels of pain intensity is important for assessing changes in patient's functional status, and guiding the development and evaluation of treatment options. We aimed to summarize CPs identified in the literature for mild, moderate, and severe pain on the numeric rating scale (NRS), and recommend optimal CPs for cancer and non-cancer patients. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE (inception to May 2015) for studies that used CPs to classify pain intensity on the NRS among patients with cancer or non-cancer conditions leading to acute or chronic pain.

A novel prospective descriptive analysis of nausea and vomiting among patients receiving gastrointestinal radiation therapy.

Purpose: Nausea and vomiting are common side effects from radiotherapy that can interfere with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients' quality of life (QOL). This study described the subjective experience of patients with radiation-induced nausea and vomiting (RINV) and its relation to QOL.

Methods: Forty-eight patients treated with abdominal radiotherapy alone or with concomitant chemoradiotherapy were followed in a prospective study.

Incorporation of life expectancy estimates in the treatment of palliative care patients receiving radiotherapy: treatment approaches in light of incomplete prognostic models.

Physician estimates of patients' survival times have historically been inaccurate. In particular, physicians have often been overly optimistic in their predictions. Our review begins by documenting some of the literature addressing these concerns and proceeds to a discussion of prognostic models that have been created to aid physicians in providing more accurate estimates.

Inadequate pain management in cancer patients attending an outpatient palliative radiotherapy clinic.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of undertreated cancer pain in an outpatient palliative radiotherapy clinic using the Pain Management Index (PMI).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospective database to assess pain management was done on patients with cancer pain enrolled from January 2009 to March 2015 using recorded pain intensity (0-10) and baseline pain medications. The pain intensities were categorized into no pain (0), mild pain (1), moderate pain (2), and severe pain (3), and an analgesic score was assigned to the most potent pain medication the patient was taking during the time of data collection.

Survival of patients with multiple brain metastases treated with whole-brain radiotherapy.

Aim: To report the survival outcomes of patients with multiple brain metastases treated with whole-brain radiotherapy.

Patients & Methods: From 2004 to 2012, patients with brain metastases treated with whole-brain radiotherapy were included. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the start of radiation treatment.

Update on the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting - focus on palonosetron.

Purpose: Nausea and vomiting are major adverse effects of chemotherapy and can greatly impact patients' quality of life. Although chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) prevalence is high, treatment remains difficult. Palonosetron is a 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonist (5-HT3RA) approved for treatment of CINV.