DOSAGE study: protocol for a phase III non-inferiority randomised trial investigating dose-reduced chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer in older patients.

Introduction: Treating older adults with chemotherapy remains a challenge, given their under-representation in clinical trials and the lack of robust treatment guidelines for this population. Moreover, older patients, especially those with frailty, have an increased risk of developing chemotherapy-related toxicity, resulting in a decreased quality of life (QoL), increased hospitalisations and high healthcare costs. Phase II trials have suggested that upfront dose reduction of chemotherapy can reduce toxicity rates while maintaining efficacy, leading to fewer treatment discontinuations and an improved QoL.

Tolerability and effectiveness of palbociclib in older women with metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: Palbociclib has become the standard of care for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer, but real-world evidence in older women remains scarce. Therefore, we investigated tolerability of palbociclib in older women with metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: Consecutive women aged ≥ 70 with ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, treated with palbociclib in any treatment line in six hospitals, were included.

Association between Inappropriate End-of-Life Cancer Care and Specialist Palliative Care: A Retrospective Observational Study in Two Acute Care Hospitals.

A substantial number of patients with life-threatening illnesses like cancer receive inappropriate end-of-life care. Improving their quality of end-of-life care is a priority for patients and their families and for public health. To investigate the association between provision, timing, and initial setting of hospital-based specialist palliative care and potentially inappropriate end-of-life care for patients with cancer in two acute care hospitals in the Netherlands, we conducted a retrospective observational study using hospital administrative databases.

Time trends in treatment patterns and survival of older patients with synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer in the Netherlands: A population-based study.

New treatment strategies have improved survival of metastatic colorectal cancer in trials. However, it is not clear whether older patients benefit from these novel therapies, as they are often not included in pivotal trials. Therefore, we investigated treatment patterns and overall survival over time in older patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in a population-based study.

Impact of Curcumin (with or without Piperine) on the Pharmacokinetics of Tamoxifen.

Tamoxifen is a prodrug that is primarily metabolized into the pharmacologically active metabolite endoxifen and eventually into inactive metabolites. The herb curcumin may increase endoxifen exposure by affecting phase II metabolism. We compared endoxifen and tamoxifen exposure in breast cancer patients with or without curcumin, and with addition of the bio-enhancer piperine.

[Sepsis and a swollen hand].

We describe a 53-year-old man presenting at the emergency department with sepsis and a swollen right hand. Over the course of a day a large haemorrhagic bulla developed on the back of the hand. The blood cultures were positive for Streptococcus pyogenes.

Metformin Use During Treatment of Potentially Curable Esophageal Cancer Patients is not Associated with Better Outcomes.

Background: Metformin use has been associated with a dose-dependent increased response to neoadjuvant chemo(radio)therapy in esophageal cancer patients. However, no association between metformin use and overall survival has been reported yet. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of metformin use on pathological response as well as overall and disease-free survival in patients with resectable esophageal cancer.