Tubulin: an example of targeted chemotherapy.

Anticancer drugs directed against the microtubule, including taxanes and vinca alkaloids, have been the backbone of many chemotherapy regimes for decades. These drugs have, however, significant limitations, which have prompted the development of novel microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). This article will discuss MTAs for anticancer therapies and recent debates regarding their mechanisms of action.

Patient-reported outcomes in breast oncology: a review of validated outcome instruments.

Aims And Background: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) include areas of health-related quality of life but also broader concepts such as patient satisfaction with care. The aim of this review is to give an account of all instruments with potential use in patients with a history of treatment for breast cancer (including surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) with evidence of validation in the breast cancer population.

Methods: All instruments included in this review were identified as PRO measures measuring breast-related quality of life and/or satisfaction that had undergone development and validation with breast oncology patients.

Phase I study of TP300 in patients with advanced solid tumors with pharmacokinetic, pharmacogenetic and pharmacodynamic analyses.

Background: A Phase I dose escalation first in man study assessed maximum tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and recommended Phase II dose of TP300, a water soluble prodrug of the Topo-1 inhibitor TP3076, and active metabolite, TP3011.

Methods: Eligible patients with refractory advanced solid tumors, adequate performance status, haematologic, renal, and hepatic function. TP300 was given as a 1-hour i.

Issues patients would like to discuss at their review consultation: variation by early and late stage oral, oropharyngeal and laryngeal subsites.

The patient concerns inventory (PCI) was developed to help patients raise issues/concerns during routine follow-up and to indicate team members they want to see. This paper reports the use of the PCI across various H&N Cancer sub-sites (oral, oropharyngeal and laryngeal) and stages of disease (early and late) and describes the main concerns that patients want to discuss using a cross-sectional survey comprising the PCI with the University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire. Patients treated for primary H&N squamous cell carcinoma, 1998-2009, were identified from the University Hospital Aintree H&N Cancer database.

Expected net present value of sample information: from burden to investment.

The Expected Value of Information Framework has been proposed as a method for identifying when health care technologies should be immediately reimbursed and when any reimbursement should be withheld while awaiting more evidence. This framework assesses the value of obtaining additional evidence to inform a current reimbursement decision. This represents the burden of not having the additional evidence at the time of the decision.

The identification of mood and anxiety concerns using the patients concerns inventory following head and neck cancer.

The aim of this study was to investigate the concurrent use of the Patient Concerns Inventory (PCI) and the University of Washington Quality of life instruments (UW-QOL), as a means of identifying mood and anxiety concerns in patients following head and neck cancer treatment. From August 2007 to July 2009, 204 patients (454 clinic appointments) attending one consultant's oncology review clinic completed the UW-QOLv4 and PCI prior to their consultation. Before entering consultations, 17% (79/454) of patients reported problems with mood and 20% (89/454) reported problems with anxiety on the UW-QOL.

Oncology professionals' views on the use of antidepressants in cancer patients: a qualitative interview study.

Objectives: Emotional distress, including depression, is an important issue for cancer patients and their families. Guidelines recommend the use of antidepressant drugs (ADs) for the management of depression in cancer. This study explores the views of oncology professionals about the inclusion of ADs in treatment plans.

A mixed methods approach to adapting health-related quality of life measures for use in routine oncology clinical practice.

Purpose: The current study reviewed and adapted existing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments for use in routine clinical practice delivering outpatient chemotherapy for colorectal, breast and gynaecological cancers.

Methods: 564 (288 gynaecological, 208 breast and 68 colorectal) outpatient consultations of 141 patients were audio-recorded and analysed to identify discussed issues. Issues were ranked from most to least commonly discussed within each disease group.

Should we routinely offer a second admission for radioiodine to patients with high-risk differentiated thyroid cancer?

Aims: To assess whether an elective second admission for radioiodine is useful for patients with high-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out on 47 high-risk DTC patients treated with a second admission for radioiodine at our centre during the 2007-2008 period.

Results: In 21 patients (45%), the surgeon described an incomplete resection.

Factors predicting outcome for advanced gastroesophageal cancer in elderly patients receiving palliative chemotherapy.

Aims: Most patients with advanced gastroesophageal cancer are elderly, but current standard regimens have emerged from trials predominantly involving patients with a median age <65 years. The aim of this study was to assess the factors influencing survival outcome for an elderly gastroesophageal cancer non-trial population.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the case notes of all patients in our centre over the age of 65 years who received palliative chemotherapy for gastroesophageal cancer over a period of 3.