Quality of Life Is Associated With Survival in Patients With Gastric Cancer: Results From the Randomized CRITICS Trial.

Background: The evaluation of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in clinical trials has become increasingly important because it addresses the impact of treatment from the patient's perspective. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of postoperative chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery with extended (D2) lymphadenectomy on HRQoL in the CRITICS trial. Second, we investigated the potential prognostic value of pretreatment HRQoL on event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS).

Health-Related Quality of Life in Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Background: Current treatment strategies have been designed to improve survival in locally advanced gastric cancer patients. Besides its impact on survival, treatment also affects health-related quality of life (HRQOL), but an overview of reported studies is currently lacking. The aim of this systematic review was therefore to determine the short- and long-term impact of chemotherapy, surgery, and (chemo)radiotherapy on HRQOL in locally advanced, non-metastatic gastric cancer patients.

Risk Factors for Metachronous Isolated Peritoneal Metastasis after Preoperative Chemotherapy and Potentially Curative Gastric Cancer Resection: Results from the CRITICS Trial.

Gastric cancer (GC) patients at high risk of developing peritoneal metastasis (PM) as a single site of metastasis after curative treatment may be candidates for adjuvant prophylactic strategies. Here we investigated risk factors for metachronous isolated PM in patients who were treated in the CRITICS trial (NCT00407186). Univariable and multivariable analyses on both metachronous isolated PM and 'other events', i.

Older versus younger adults with gastric cancer receiving perioperative treatment: Results from the CRITICS trial.

Aim: To evaluate treatment-related toxicity, treatment compliance, surgical complications and event-free survival (EFS) in older (≥70 years) versus younger (<70 years) adults who underwent perioperative treatment for gastric cancer.

Methods: In the CRITICS trial, 788 patients with resectable gastric cancer were randomised before start of any treatment and received preoperative chemotherapy (3 cycles of epirubicin, cisplatin or oxaliplatin and capecitabine), followed by surgery, followed by either postoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy (45Gy + cisplatin + capecitabine).

Results: 172 (22%) patients were older adults.

Effect of Hospital Volume With Respect to Performing Gastric Cancer Resection on Recurrence and Survival: Results From the CRITICS Trial.

Objective: We examined the association between surgical hospital volume and both overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) using data obtained from the international CRITICS (ChemoRadiotherapy after Induction chemotherapy In Cancer of the Stomach) trial.

Summary Background Data: In the CRITICS trial, patients with resectable gastric cancer were randomized to receive preoperative chemotherapy followed by adequate gastrectomy and either chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Methods: Patients in the CRITICS trial who underwent a gastrectomy with curative intent in a Dutch hospital were included in the analysis.

Altered exhaled biomarker profiles in children during and after rhinovirus-induced wheeze.

Preschool rhinovirus-induced wheeze is associated with an increased risk of asthma. In adult asthma, exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOC) are associated with inflammatory activity. We therefore hypothesised that acute preschool wheeze is accompanied by a differential profile of exhaled VOC, which is maintained after resolution of symptoms in those children with rhinovirus-induced wheeze.