The financial impact of SBRT for oligometastatic disease: A population-level analysis in Belgium.

Introduction: There is a steady rise in Stereotactic Body RadioTherapy (SBRT) utilization in oligometastatic disease (OMD). This may generate important financial consequences for radiotherapy budgets. The National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance of Belgium (NIHDI) initiated a coverage with evidence development (CED) project for innovative radiotherapy, including SBRT, in 2011.

Underrepresentation of vulnerable older patients with cancer in phase II and III oncology registration trials: A case-control study.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the proportion of "fit" versus "vulnerable" older patients with cancer included in phase II and III oncology registration trials, as compared to the proportions in a real life oncology setting.

Methods: Trial and patient characteristics of older (≥70years) patients treated at the OECI-designated clinical cancer centre in Kortrijk and included in a phase II or III oncology registration trial were collected retrospectively. These patients were matched individually with randomly-selected patients from the general oncology setting, based on gender, age, tumour type, tumour stage, and treatment intent.

An observational pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and quality of oncological home-hospitalization.

Purpose: The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of oncological home-hospitalization and to compare its quality with standard ambulatory hospital care in terms of patient-reported quality of life and related endpoints by means of a set of validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Methods: An observational cohort study (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03073499) was conducted, allocating patients to (partial) home-hospitalization or standard ambulatory hospital care.

Screening Methods for Age-Related Hearing Loss in Older Patients with Cancer: A Review of the Literature.

As people grow older, they may experience loss in hearing sensitivity. Age-related hearing loss may negatively affect the patient's quality of life as it may lead to social isolation. In older patients with cancer, hearing loss can seriously interfere with the patient's ability to deal properly with all aspects of their disease, and may have a cumulative effect on their already decreased quality of life.

Health related quality of life in older patients with solid tumors and prognostic factors for decline.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) at baseline and at follow-up in older patients with cancer and to determine prognostic factors for HRQOL decline.

Methods: A prospective Belgian multicentre (n = 22) study was performed. Patients ≥70 years with a malignant tumor and abnormal G8 (≤14/17) screening tool were included.

Shifting specialized oncological care from hospital- to home-setting: is there support among patients, specialists and general practitioners?

Objectives: Oncological home-hospitalization (OHH) might be a patient-centred approach to deal with the increasing burden of cancer on health-care facilities and finances. Before implementation into practice, its feasibility, costs and support among stakeholders should be evaluated. The purpose of this trial was to explore patients', specialists' and general practitioners' (GPs) perspectives towards the opportunities of implementing OHH within the Belgian health-care system.

CTCs as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for stage II/III Colon Cancer: a companion study to the PePiTA trial.

Background: Adjuvant therapy improves the prognosis of stage II & III colon cancer patients. Unfortunately, most patients do not benefit from this treatment. PePITA (NCT00994864) is a prospective, multicenter, non-randomized study whose primary objective is to predict the outcome of adjuvant therapy in colon cancer.

Detection of alcohol abuse in older patients with cancer: The integration of alcohol screening questionnaires in the comprehensive geriatric assessment.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing an alcohol screening questionnaire as part of the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) by reporting the prevalence of alcohol abuse in a group of older patients with cancer in a Belgian cancer centre.

Materials And Methods: Patients were recruited at the Geriatric Oncology Clinic of the Kortrijk Cancer Centre and were evaluated by use of a CGA. Two alcohol screening questionnaires were integrated into the CGA: the Cutdown-Annoyed-Guilty-Eye-opener (CAGE) questionnaire and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-screening version (AUDIT-C).

Subjective, but not objective, cognitive complaints impact long-term quality of life in cancer patients.

Objectives: Cognitive complaints, of objective or subjective nature, may negatively impact cancer patients' quality of life (QoL). Further, the early detection of cognitive alterations may lead to an improved QoL. However, the content of such screening is yet unclear.

The added value of an assessment of the patient's hand grip strength to the comprehensive geriatric assessment in G8-abnormal older patients with cancer in routine practice.

Objectives: A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is the key treatment approach to guide decisions in older patients with cancer. In this paper, the added value of an assessment of the patient's hand grip strength to predict survival in patients with an abnormal G8-questionnaire (G8) score is investigated.

Materials And Methods: Patients were screened by the G8, followed by a CGA in case of an abnormal screening (≤14.

Determining clinically important differences in health-related quality of life in older patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy or surgery.

Purpose: Using the EORTC Global Health Status (GHS) scale, we aimed to determine minimal clinically important differences (MCID) in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) changes for older cancer patients with a geriatric risk profile, as defined by the geriatric 8 (G8) health screening tool, undergoing treatment. Simultaneously, we assessed baseline patient characteristics prognostic for HRQOL changes.

Methods: Our analysis included 1424 (G8 ≤ 14) older patients with cancer scheduled to receive chemotherapy (n = 683) or surgery (n = 741).

Adherence to geriatric assessment-based recommendations in older patients with cancer: a multicenter prospective cohort study in Belgium.

Background: In the general older population, geriatric assessment (GA)-guided treatment plans can improve overall survival, quality of life and functional status (FS). In GA-related research in geriatric oncology, studies mainly focused on geriatric screening and GA but not on geriatric recommendations, interventions and follow-up. The aim of this study was to investigate the adherence to geriatric recommendations and subsequent actions undertaken in older patients with cancer.

ABCG2 Polymorphism rs2231142 and hypothyroidism in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients treated with sunitinib.

Background And Aim: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFR-TKIs) cause significant adverse events including thyroid dysfunction, mainly hypothyroidism, in a considerable proportion of patients. In a series of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients treated with sunitinib, we aimed to study the correlation between hypothyroidism and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in sunitinib pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Patients And Methods: We included 79 mRCC patients who started sunitinib between November 2005 and March 2016.

Organization, quality and cost of oncological home-hospitalization: A systematic review.

Background: Home-hospitalization might be a patient-centred approach facing the increasing burden of cancer on societies. This systematic review assessed how oncological home-hospitalization has been organized and to what extent its quality and costs were evaluated.

Results: Twenty-four papers describing parenteral cancer drug administration to adult patients in their homes were included.

The use of uHear™ to screen for hearing loss in older patients with cancer as part of a comprehensive geriatric assessment.

Objective: We previously validated uHear™ to screen for hearing loss in older patients with cancer without a known hearing loss, as part of a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). In view of low specificity, we tested a new modified uHear™ scoring system as described by Handzel.

Methods: Patients, aged ≥70 years, were evaluated by uHear™ and conventional audiometry, which is considered the gold standard, as part of a CGA.

The distress thermometer predicts subjective, but not objective, cognitive complaints six months after treatment initiation in cancer patients.

Objectives: Research has indicated that cancer-related cognitive impairments (CRCI) may be influenced by psychosocial factors such as distress, worry and fatigue. Therefore, we aimed to validate the distress thermometer (DT) as a screening tool to detect CRCI six months post-treatment-initiation in a group of general cancer patients.

Methods: Patients (≥18 years, n = 125) with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of a solid cancer or hematological malignancy, scheduled for a curative treatment, were evaluated at baseline (T0) and six months post-treatment-initiation (T1) for CRCI by a neuropsychological assessment, including patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

PARTNER: An open-label, randomized, phase 2 study of docetaxel/cisplatin chemotherapy with or without panitumumab as first-line treatment for recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Objective: This phase 2 estimation study evaluated docetaxel/cisplatin with/without panitumumab, an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody, as first-line therapy for recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Patients And Methods: Randomized patients received docetaxel/cisplatin (75mg/m(2) each) with/without panitumumab (9mg/kg) in 21-day cycles. Patients randomized to panitumumab+chemotherapy could continue panitumumab monotherapy after completing six chemotherapy cycles without progression; patients randomized to chemotherapy alone could receive second-line panitumumab after progression.

Predictors of baseline cancer-related cognitive impairment in cancer patients scheduled for a curative treatment.

Introduction: Recent research in the field of cancer-related cognitive impairments (CRCI) has shown CRCI presentation prior to treatment initiation. Some have attributed these problems to worry and fatigue, whereas others have suggested an influence of age, IQ, and other psychosocial and medical factors.

Methods: Patients (≥18 years) with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of a solid cancer or hematological malignancy, scheduled for a curative treatment, were evaluated with a baseline neuropsychological assessment including Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs).

Implementation of uHear™--an iOS-based application to screen for hearing loss--in older patients with cancer undergoing a comprehensive geriatric assessment.

Objective: Validation of uHear™ as a screening tool to detect hearing loss in older patients with cancer without a known diagnosis of presbycusis, as part of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA).

Materials And Methods: Patients (≥70 years) with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of cancer, were enrolled at the time of CGA screening. Patients were evaluated by uHear™, which was compared to conventional audiometry as gold standard.

G-8 indicates overall and quality-adjusted survival in older head and neck cancer patients treated with curative radiochemotherapy.

Background: Evidence-based guidelines concerning the older head and neck cancer (HNCA) patient are lacking. Accurate patient selection for optimal care management is therefore challenging. We examined if geriatric assessment is indicative of long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and overall survival in this unique population.

Optimisation of pharmacy content in clinical cancer research protocols: Experience of the United Kingdom Chemotherapy and Pharmacy Advisory Service.

Background: Clarity and accuracy of the pharmacy aspects of cancer clinical trial protocols is essential. Inconsistencies and ambiguities in such protocols have the potential to delay research and jeopardise both patient safety and collection of credible data. The Chemotherapy and Pharmacy Advisory Service was established by the UK National Cancer Research Network, currently known as National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network, to improve the quality of pharmacy-related content in cancer clinical research protocols.

Echium oil is not protective against weight loss in head and neck cancer patients undergoing curative radio(chemo)therapy: a randomised-controlled trial.

Background: Therapy-induced mucositis and dysphagia puts head and neck (H&N) cancer patients at increased risk for developing cachexia. Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) have been suggested to protect against cachexia. We aimed to examine if echium oil, a plant source of n-3 FA, could reduce weight loss in H&N cancer patients undergoing radio(chemo)therapy with curative intent.

Prediction of non-sentinel lymph node involvement in breast cancer patients with a positive sentinel lymph node.

Completion axillary lymph node dissection (cALND) is the golden standard if breast cancer involves the sentinel lymph node (SLN). However, most non-sentinel lymph nodes (NSLN) are not involved, cALND has a considerable complication rate and does not improve outcome. We here present and validate our predictive model for positive NSLNs in the cALND if the SLN is positive.