Quality indicators for integrating oncology and home palliative care in Japan: modified Delphi study.

Context: Home palliative care service increases the chance of dying at home, particularly for patients with advanced cancer, but late referrals to home palliative care services still exist. Indicators for evaluating programs that can facilitate the integration of oncology and home palliative care have not been defined.

Objectives: This study developed quality indicators for the integration of oncology and home palliative care in Japan.

[Current Status and Improvement Strategies for Integrating Home Palliative Care in Oncology-A Qualitative Study].

This study aimed to investigate healthcare providers' experiences and examine potential strategies for integrating oncologic home palliative care(HPC). This qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews via a web-conferencing system. The data underwent thematic analysis.

Integrating home palliative care in oncology: a qualitative study to identify barriers and facilitators.

Purpose: Access to and close links with home palliative care services are essential to ensure seamless transitions between care settings in anticancer treatment. However, the timing of referrals to home palliative care services is often delayed. We explored barriers to and facilitators of improving the integration of home palliative care and medical oncology experienced by healthcare professionals in Japan.

A Multicenter Cohort Study to Explore Differentiating Factors between Tumor Fever and Infection among Advanced Cancer Patients.

Tumor fever and infection are common febrile etiologies among advanced cancer patients. To date, only few studies have been conducted to differentiate between tumor fever and infections. This study aimed to identify discriminating factors that provide rapid results and are feasible and minimally invasive for discriminating between tumor fever and infection in advanced cancer patients.

Low Transthyretin Levels Predict Poor Prognosis in Cancer Patients in Palliative Care Settings.

Objectives: Although transthyretin (TTR) is a nutritional indicator and is influenced by systemic inflammation, it may be a good prognostic indicator for cancer patients in palliative care settings. This study investigates the correlation between low TTR levels and survival among cancer patients in palliative care settings.

Methods: This was a sub-analysis of a prospective, multicenter cohort study.

Predictors of Delirium in Corticosteroid-Treated Patients with Advanced Cancer: An Exploratory, Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Study.

Background: Corticosteroids are often used to treat fatigue and anorexia, but occasionally produce delirium. Information on the predictors of delirium in corticosteroid-treated cancer patients remains limited.

Objective: To identify potential factors predicting the development of delirium in corticosteroid-treated cancer patients.

C-reactive protein, symptoms and activity of daily living in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care.

Background: The association between C-reactive protein (CRP) level, symptoms, and activities of daily living (ADL) in advanced cancer patients is unclear.

Methods: Secondary data analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study consisted of 2426 advanced cancer patients referred to palliative care settings was conducted to examine the cross-sectional relationships between CRP level, symptoms, and ADL disabilities. Laboratory data, symptoms, ADL, and manual muscle testing (MMT) results were obtained at baseline.

Predictors of responses to corticosteroids for anorexia in advanced cancer patients: a multicenter prospective observational study.

Purpose: Although corticosteroids are widely used to relieve anorexia, information regarding the factors predicting responses to corticosteroids remains limited. The purpose of the study is to identify potential factors predicting responses to corticosteroids for anorexia in advanced cancer patients.

Methods: Inclusion criteria for this multicenter prospective observational study were patients who had metastatic or locally advanced cancer and had an anorexia intensity score of 4 or more on a 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS).

Predictors of Responses to Corticosteroids for Cancer-Related Fatigue in Advanced Cancer Patients: A Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Study.

Context: Although corticosteroids are widely used to relieve cancer-related fatigue (CRF), information regarding the factors predicting responses to corticosteroids remains limited.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify potential factors predicting responses to corticosteroids for CRF in advanced cancer patients.

Methods: Inclusion criteria for this multicenter, prospective, observational study were patients who had metastatic or locally advanced cancer and had a fatigue intensity score of 4 or more on a 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS).

A resected case of symptomatic acinar cell cystadenoma of the pancreas displacing the main pancreatic duct.

Acinar cell cystadenoma (ACA) of the pancreas has been newly recognized as an entity by the World Health Organization (WHO) definition (2010), and its pathogenesis has not been known adequately because of the rarity. Here, we report a case of a 22-year-old female who had been followed up for a cystic lesion at the tail of the pancreas pointed out by a screening computed tomography (CT) scan 7 years ago. The tumor grew in size from 3.

Multicenter cohort study on the survival time of cancer patients dying at home or in a hospital: Does place matter?

Background: Although the place of death has a great influence on the quality of death and dying for cancer patients, whether the survival time differs according to the place of death is unclear. The primary aim of this study was to explore potential differences in the survival time of cancer patients dying at home or in a hospital.

Methods: This multicenter, prospective cohort study was conducted in Japan from September 2012 through April 2014 and involved 58 specialist palliative care services.

The Accuracy of Physicians' Clinical Predictions of Survival in Patients With Advanced Cancer.

Context: Accurate prognoses are needed for patients with advanced cancer.

Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of physicians' clinical predictions of survival (CPS) and assess the relationship between CPS and actual survival (AS) in patients with advanced cancer in palliative care units, hospital palliative care teams, and home palliative care services, as well as those receiving chemotherapy.

Methods: This was a multicenter prospective cohort study conducted in 58 palliative care service centers in Japan.

Independent validation of the modified prognosis palliative care study predictor models in three palliative care settings.

Context: Accurate prognostic information in palliative care settings is needed for patients to make decisions and set goals and priorities. The Prognosis Palliative Care Study (PiPS) predictor models were presented in 2011, but have not yet been fully validated by other research teams.

Objectives: The primary aim of this study is to examine the accuracy and to validate the modified PiPS (using physician-proxy ratings of mental status instead of patient interviews) in three palliative care settings, namely palliative care units, hospital-based palliative care teams, and home-based palliative care services.

[Oncolytic viral therapy for cancer therapy].

Recently, tumor-selective replicating viruses offer appealing advantages over conventional cancer therapy and are a promising new approach for the human cancer therapy. The development of oncolytic viral therapeutics is based on various strategies that each provides a different foundation for tumor-selective targeting and replication. Results from clinical trials of oncolytic viral therapy demonstrate the safety and feasibility of a new approach for cancer.

[A phase I study of TS-1 and weekly cisplatin in patients with advanced gastric cancer].

This is a phase I study to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and toxicity of a combination of TS-1 and weekly cisplatin (CDDP) in advanced gastric cancer patients. TS-1 was administered orally twice daily after meals, at a standard dose of 80 mg/m2. One course consisted of 21 days' consecutive administration followed by 14 days' rest.

[A case of recurrent advanced gastric cancer with lung metastasis effectively treated by combined chemotherapy of TS-1 and weekly CDDP].

We report a case of a patient with recurrent gastric cancer and lung metastasis, who responded remarkably to combination chemotherapy using TS-1 and weekly CDDP. The patient was administered 2 courses of TS-1 (80 mg/m2/day, on day 1-21) and CDDP (25 mg/m2/day, on day 8, 15, 22) every 5 weeks. The regimen was done on an outpatient basis.