The Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) Presents the ICO Toolkit-2: An Updated, Spanish National Assessment Kit for Patients with Malignant Neoplasm in Palliative Care.

The needs of patients living with malignant neoplasm, and those of their families and care partners, require a multidimensional and interdisciplinary approach. By systematically assessing these needs with validated tools, healthcare professionals can identify and monitor therapeutic objectives, interventions, and results. At the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), we set out to update the ICO Toolkit-a set of instruments for assessing the physical, emotional, and social needs of palliative care patients.

Adhesive capsaicin 8% patch for improved control of pain caused by chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with multiple myeloma: A single-centre, seven-case series.

Background: Capsaicin is a highly selective agonist of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1. The adhesive capsaicin patch provides a high capsaicin concentration (8%) directly in the painful area - its efficacy in benign peripheral neuropathic pain (diabetic neuropathy or postherpetic neuralgia) has recently been described in the literature. However, there is scant evidence of its efficacy in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

Antitumoral Agent-Induced Constipation: A Systematic Review.

Background: Constipation is a common symptom in patients receiving antitumoral treatment. The mechanisms underlying antitumoral agent-induced constipation (ATAIC) are poorly defined. This systematic review aimed to analyze and synthesize the available information related to the prevalence, etiology, and treatment of ATAIC.

Switching Ratio from Parenteral to Oral Methadone 1:1.2 Is Safer Compared with Ratio 1:2 in Patients with Controlled Cancer Pain: A Multicenter Randomized-Controlled Trial (RATIOMTD-010810).

The most commonly used switching ratio from parenteral to oral methadone is 1:2. Methadone is highly bioavailable and a lower ratio might result in similar analgesia with less toxicity. To compare success and side effects with two ratios from parenteral to oral methadone: 1:2 versus 1:1.

Efficacy and Safety of Methadone as a Second-Line Opioid for Cancer Pain in an Outpatient Clinic: A Prospective Open-Label Study.

Introduction: Most clinical reports on methadone rotation describe outcomes in hospitalized patients. The few studies that have included outpatients are retrospective. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of methadone as a second-line opioid in adult patients with advanced cancer after rotation in routine clinical practice at a palliative care outpatient clinic.

Evidence on the analgesic role of bisphosphonates and denosumab in the treatment of pain due to bone metastases: A systematic review within the European Association for Palliative Care guidelines project.

Background: Bisphosphonates and denosumab are well-established therapies to reduce the frequency and severity of skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastasis. However, the analgesic effect of these medications on bone pain is uncertain.

Aim: To identify, critically appraise and synthesize existing evidence to answer the following questions: 'In adult patients with metastatic bone pain, what is the evidence that bisphosphonates and denosumab are effective and safe in controlling pain?' and 'What is the most appropriate schedule of bisphosphonate/denosumab administration to control bone pain?'.