Chemotherapy at the end of life: up until when?

Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the use of CT in terminal stage cancer and the percentage of patients who received UCPD in 2009 and 2010 on the Medical Oncology and Palliative Home Care integrated service (UCPD) ward of the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital.

Method: Retrospective analysis of death rate registered on the Medical Oncology ward for 2009 and 2010 and the recorded date of the last CT given. The data are analyzed using the SPSS version 15.

Pain in clinical oncology: patient satisfaction with management of cancer pain.

Background: Despite effective analgesic therapy, inadequate pain control is frequently perceived by patients and caregivers.

Aims: To assess satisfaction with management of pain in cancer patients.

Methods: Between January and May 2007, a cross-sectional multicentre study was conducted in 64 Medical Oncology Departments throughout Spain.

Spanish Society of Medical Oncology consensus on the use of erythropoietic stimulating agents in anaemic cancer patients.

Treatment of anaemia is a very important aspect in the management of cancer patients. In order to carry out a consensus process about the use of erythropoietic stimulating agents (ESAs) in cancer patients, the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) elaborated a working group which coordinated a panel of medical oncology specialists. This working group has reviewed the main issues about the use of ESAs.

Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) in cancer patients.

Introduction: Cancer patients show protein energy malnutrition (PEM) throughout the evolution of the disease. The main objective of this work is to find out the prevalence of PEM in the studied sample, as well as how to assess the nutritional state of patients.

Material And Methods: Non-interventionist, longitudinal and prospective study.

Predictors of response to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) in cancer patients: the role of baseline serum epoetin level.

Anemia is the most frequent hematologic abnormality among cancer patients. Its pathophysiology comprises reduction in erythrocyte half-life, poor iron reutilization by the bone marrow, and inadequate response to erythropoietin (EPO), with reduced endogenous EPO (eEPO) levels. Current treatment implies the use of erythropoiesis- stimulating agents (ESA), to which 35-48% of patients show primary resistance.

Retrospective analysis of surgical resection after induction chemotherapy for patients with T4b squamous cell head and neck cancer.

Background: Standard treatment of patients with T4b squamous cell head and neck cancer (T4b-SCHNC) is concomitant chemo-radiotherapy (CT-RT). Recent Phase III trials with Taxane containing induction chemotherapy (IC) suggest that IC could also play a role in this setting. The value of resecting the residual mass after IC and before RT is not yet clear in this context.

Randomized phase II study of cisplatin and 5-FU continuous infusion (PF) versus cisplatin, UFT and vinorelbine (UFTVP) as induction chemotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell head and neck cancer (LA-SCHNC).

Objectives: We conducted a multicentric randomized phase II trial comparing 5-FU continuous infusion (PF) and cisplatin, UFT and vinorelbine (UFTVP) as induction chemotherapy (IC) in locally advanced squamous cell head and neck cancer (LA-SCHNC). Primary objective was complete response (CR) to IC and overall survival (OS) was a secondary objective.

Materials And Methods: PF: cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) i.

Long term results of a phase II trial of induction chemotherapy with uracil-ftegafur (UFT), vinorelbine and cisplatin (UFTVP) followed by radiotherapy concomitant with UFT and carboplatin (RT/UFTJ) in non-resectable locally advanced (stage IV-B) squamous cell head and neck carcinoma and peripheral blood stem cell support (PBSCS) with febrile neutropenia.

Purpose: To evaluate the response of advanced squamous cell head and neck carcinoma to a combination of induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Methods: We present long-term results of a phase II trial of Induction Chemotherapy with UFT 200 mg/m(2) p.o.

Oncologists' perceptions of cancer pain management in Spain: the real and the ideal.

Aim: Studies in some countries suggest that cancer pain is often not adequately controlled, but little is known about the situation in Spain. The objective of this study was to identify medical oncologists' perceptions about pain management in their patients.

Methods: Two-round Delphi survey of 24 medical oncologists from 22 large, geographically diverse hospitals in Spain.

Informed consent and sedation.

The concept of autonomy was not included in the Hippocratic Oath. Nowadays the principle of respect for autonomy is an important right. The basic paradigm of autonomy in health-care, politics and other contexts is expressed as informed consent.

Breast cancer cells can evade apoptosis-mediated selective killing by a novel small molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2.

Proteins of the Bcl-2 family are key regulators of caspase activation and apoptosis. Some members of this family, notably Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L), are overexpressed in cancer cells, which have been associated with chemoresistance. We have designed and synthesized a small molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2, named YC137, and studied its role in cancer cells.

A new international framework for palliative care.

In spite of recent advances in anti-cancer treatments, most adult cancer patients still ultimately die from their disease. There should therefore be free access to palliative care around the clock and seven days a week, for all cancer patients, as a fundamental human right. At present, the implementation of palliative care and patients' access to it are inconsistent across Europe and many other parts of the world.

Long-term results of a phase II trial of induction chemotherapy with uracil-ftegafur (UFT), vinorelbine, and cisplatin (UFTVP) followed by radiotherapy concomitant with UFT and carboplatin (RT/UFTJ) in a primary site preservation setting for resectable locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of larynx and hypopharynx.

Objective: We present long-term results of a phase II trial of induction chemotherapy (IC) with uracilftegafur (UFT) 200 mg/m orally days 1 to 21, vinorelbine 25 mg/m intravenously (IV) days 1 and 8, and cisplatin 100 mg/m IV day 1 (UFTVP) each for 21 days for 4 courses, followed by radiotherapy concomitant with UFT 100 mg/m orally daily and carboplatin (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.5 IV weekly) (RT/ UFTJ), without surgery to the primary site if response, in patients (pts) with resectable locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx. The primary endpoint was clinical complete response (CR) to induction UFTVP, and secondary endpoints were long-term overall survival (OS) and survival with primary site preservation (SPP).

Cardiac epithelioid angiosarcoma presenting as cutaneous metastases.

Background: Cardiac angiosarcoma is a rare tumor that has a predilection for middle-aged males and a marked predominance in the right atrium. The tumor may present abruptly with a fulminant clinical course. Initial presentation with metastatic disease is rare.