Treatment Patterns and Changes in Quality of Life during First-Line Palliative Chemotherapy in Korean Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate chemotherapy patterns and changes in quality of life (QOL) during first-line palliative chemotherapy for Korean patients with unresectable or metastatic/recurrent gastric cancer (GC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thiswas a non-interventional, multi-center, prospective, observational study of 527 patients in Korea. QOL assessments were conducted using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaires (QLQ)-C30 and QLQ-STO22 every 3 months over a 12-month period during first-line palliative chemotherapy. The specific chemotherapy regimens were selected by individual clinicians. RESULTS: Most patients (93.2%) received combination chemotherapy (mainly fluoropyrimidine plus platinum) as their first-line palliative chemotherapy. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 8.2 and 14.8 months, respectively. Overall, “a little” changes (differences of 5-10 points from baseline)were observed in some of the functioning or symptom scales; none of the QOL scales showed either “moderate” or “very much” change (i.e., ≥ 11 point difference from baseline). When examining the best change in each QOL domain from baseline, scales related to some aspects of functioning, global health status/QOL, and most symptoms revealed significant improvements (p < 0.05). Throughout the course of first-line palliative chemotherapy, most patients' QOL was maintained to a similar degree, regardless of their actual response to chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: This observational study provides important information on the chemotherapy patterns and QOL changes in Korean patientswith advanced GC. Overall, first-line palliative chemotherapy was found to maintain QOL, and most parameters showed an improvement compared with the baseline at some point during the course.

Factors Related to Emotional Instability in Spouses of Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Chemotherapy

Objective: To clarify factors related to emotional instability in spouses of cancer patients receiving palliative chemotherapy. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with spouses of cancer patients receiving palliative chemotherapy, and the obtained data were qualitatively and inductively analyzed. Results: Through analysis, 9 related factors were identified: “realizing the severity of the situation when receiving an explanation of the pathological condition”, “an unclear prognosis”, “fear of losing any treatments”, “being pressed for treatment-related decision-making”, “increased daily burdens by the care”, “collapse the visions of the family future”, “communication with medical professionals”,“candid dialogues with the patient”, and “relationships with others”. Conclusion: It may be important for nurses to help families of cancer patients realistically manage their situation without excessive confusion, even when they experience emotional instability, and spend meaningful time with patients as an outcome of treatment, with an understanding of these related factors on such emotional instability.

Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) in Gastric Cancer Patients with Peritoneal Metastasis (PM): Results of a Single-Center Experience and Register Study

PURPOSE: Gastric cancer (GC) patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM) have poor prognosis. Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) in combination with systemic chemotherapy is a novel treatment option for patients in stage IV of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 2015 and June 2018, prospective data collection was performed in 24 patients with GC and PM (median age, 57; range, 44–75 years). These patients underwent 46 PIPAC procedures with a median number of 2 interventions per patient (range, 1–6). A laparoscopic access was used and a combined therapy of cisplatin and doxorubicin aerosol was administered. RESULTS: The median peritoneal carcinomatosis index before the 1st PIPAC was 14 (range, 2–36), and the median ascites volume in patients before the 1st PIPAC was 100 mL (range, 0–6 mL, 300 mL). Eleven patients, who received 2 or more PIPAC procedures, had decreased and stable volumes of ascites, while only 3 patients displayed increasing volume of ascites. The median overall survival was 121 days (range, 66–625 days) after the 1st PIPAC procedure, while 8 patients who received more than 3 PIPAC procedures had a median survival of 450 days (range, 206–481 days) (P=0.0376). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that PIPAC is safe and well tolerated, and that the production of ascites can be controlled by PIPAC in GC patients. Patients, who received 2 or more PIPAC procedures, reported a stable overall quality of life. Further studies are required to document the significance of PIPAC as a palliative multimodal therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03100708

Development and validation of a questionnaire to measure preferences and expectations of patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy: EXPECT questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to design and validate the questionnaire for capturing palliative chemotherapy‑related preferences and expectations. DESIGN: Single arm, unicentric, prospective observational study. METHODS: EXPECT questionnaire was designed to capture preferences and expectations of patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy. This questionnaire underwent a linguistic validation and then was tested in patients. Ten patients are undergoing chemotherapy for solid tumors who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria self‑administered the EXPECT questionnaire in regional language. After filling this questionnaire, they self‑administered quick questionnaire‑10 (QQ‑10). SPSS version 16 (IBM New York) was used for analysis. Completion rate of EXPECT questionnaire was calculated. The feasibility, face validity, utility and time taken for completion of EXPECT questionnaire was also assessed. RESULTS: The completion rate of this questionnaire was 100%. All patients completed questionnaire within 5 min. The QQ‑10 tool confirmed the feasibility, face validity and utility of the questionnaire. CONCLUSION: EXPECT questionnaire was validated in the regional language, and it’s an effective tool for capturing patient’s preferences and expectation from chemotherapy.

A gerência do cuidado de enfermagem a paciente com câncer de mama avançado em quimioterapia paliativa

Dentre os diversos tipos de câncer, o câncer da mama é o que mais acomete as mulheres em todo o mundo. Apesar de existirem diversas modalidades de tratamento para o câncer de mama, muitos casos apresentam-se como fora de possibilidades terapêuticas atuais para a cura. Sendo assim, quando a cura já não puder ser alcançada, a quimioterapia paliativa pode ser utilizada como opção terapêutica. No entanto, o uso desnecessário da quimioterapia pode piorar a qualidade de vida da mulher, devido às toxicidades relacionadas ao tratamento.Desta forma, diante da decisão em realizar a quimioterapia paliativa, deve-se atentar para as necessidades de cuidado que a paciente pode apresentar no decorrer do tratamento. A adequada gerência do cuidado de enfermagem facilita o atendimento destas necessidades, e a consulta de enfermagem é uma estratégia eficaz nesse processo, pois possibilita a aproximação e estabelece uma relação interpessoal de ajuda. Em assim sendo, o estudo tem como objeto: a gerência do cuidado de enfermagem a paciente com câncer de mama avançado em quimioterapia paliativa no contexto ambulatorial. Foram objetivos do estudo: compreender a visão dos enfermeiros acerca da gerência do cuidado de enfermagem a paciente com câncer de mama avançado em quimioterapia paliativa; analisar a gerência do cuidado de enfermagem a paciente com câncer de mama avançado em quimioterapia paliativa no contexto ambulatorial; e construir uma matriz teórica explicativa da gerência do cuidado de enfermagem que retrate esta realidade. Estudo exploratório com abordagem qualitativa que teve como participantes oito enfermeiras e dez pacientes do ambulatório de quimioterapia do Hospital do Câncer III, uma das unidades do Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizada a técnica da entrevista semi estruturada. O estudo foi viabilizado por meio da utilização do referencial metodológico da Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados (TFD)...

Among the various types of cancer, breast cancer is the one that most commonlyaffects women in the whole world. Although there are different types of treatment forbreast cancer, many cases are presented as out of current therapeutic possibilitiesfor healing. Palliative chemotherapy can be used as an additional resource for controlof advanced disease, with the possibility of favorable responses regarding thepromotion of comfort and the patient's quality of life; however, its unnecessary usecan worsen her condition due to unwanted toxicities and adverse reactions related tothe treatment. Following the decision to use the palliative chemotherapy, attentionshould be paid to the care needs that the patient may present during treatment, andthe nurse has an important role to manage care. The management of nursing care,when performed properly, considering the individual, integral and humanizedapproach, facilitates meeting the needs of patients. That being so, the study has theobject: the management of the patient nursing care with advanced breast cancer inpalliative chemotherapy in the outpatient setting. The objectives of the study were:understanding the view of nurses about the nursing care management to the patientwith advanced breast cancer in palliative chemotherapy; analyze the management ofthe nursing care to the patient with advanced breast cancer in palliativechemotherapy in the outpatient setting; and build an explanatory theoreticalframework of nursing care management that portrays this reality. Exploratoryqualitative study that was attended by eight nurses and ten patients in thechemotherapy clinic of the Cancer Hospital III, one of the units of the National CancerInstitute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For data collection was used the technique of semistructuredinterview. The study was made possible through the use of themethodological framework of Grounded Theory (GT)...

Efficacy of second‑line erlotinib in patients postprogression of first‑line chemotherapy in head and neck cancers.

BACKGROUND: Oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (gefitinib and erlotinib) have been used in the palliative treatment of head and neck cancers with limited success. In this report, we aim to quantify the symptomatic benefit, progression‑free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) when erlotinib is given as second‑line treatment in Head and neck cancers. METHODS: This was a post‑hoc retrospective analysis of a randomized study comparing metronomic chemotherapy with cisplatin. A patient who progressed on chemotherapy and had a PS0‑2 were offered second‑line chemotherapy. Patients who had received erlotinib (150 mg PO OD) as second line treatment were selected for this analysis. Erlotinib was discontinued in case of either progression of disease or if the patient had intolerable side effects. Patient were monitored 1‑week after the start of erlotinib and subsequently at monthly intervals. The toxicity was recorded in accordance with CTCAE version 4.02 (NCI,USA) and the response were graded in accordance with RECIST version 1.1. All of these patients were followed‑up till death. RESULTS: Twenty‑three patients were identified. The median age of these patients at the start of the second line was 47 years (interquartile range 40.5–51.75 years). The primary site of distribution was oral cavity primary in 17 patients (77.3%) and nonoral cavity primary in 05 (22.7%) patients. The immediate last chemotherapy regimen received was cisplatin in 9 patients (40.9%) and metronomic chemotherapy in 13 patients (59.1%). Symptomatic benefits post second‑line erlotinib was seen in 18 patients (81.8%). The most common adverse events (any grade) seen were anemia in 20 patients (90.9%), rash in 10 patients (45.5%) and diarrhea in 7 patients (31.8%).The best radiological response documented were a partial response in 04 patients (19.2%). The median estimated PFS and OS were 110 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 61–175 days) and 156 days (95% CI: 126–185 days) respectively. CONCLUSION: Erlotinib single agent has promising activity in the second line and needs to be explored in future studies.

Serum alkaline phosphatase predicts survival outcomes in patients with skeletal metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: Bone metastasis is frequently associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The diagnosis and follow-up of bone metastatic patients usually relies on skeletal X-ray and bone scintigraphy, which are time-consuming and costly. This study aimed to evaluate whether serum alkaline phosphatase offers clinical value in predicting the clinical response and survival outcome for skeletal metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: Serum alkaline phosphatase was measured at baseline and then before each cycle of treatment in 416 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with bone metastasis. The correlations between the pre-treatment and post-treatment alkaline phosphatase levels and the treatment efficacy were analyzed using the chi-square test. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and then compared using the log-rank test. RESULTS: Patients with elevated pre-treatment alkaline phosphatase (>110 IU/L) had significantly worse progression-free survival (P<0.001) and overall survival (P<0.001) than those with a normal level of this marker (≤110 IU/L). Patients with elevated post-treatment alkaline phosphatase had worse progression-free survival (P<0.001) and overall survival (P<0.001) compared with those with a normal level. Patients with normal pre-treatment and post-treatment alkaline phosphatase showed the most favorable prognosis. The Cox multivariate analysis revealed that only the pre-treatment and post-treatment alkaline phosphatase levels were independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival (HR ϝ 1.656, P<0.001; HR ϝ 2.226, P<0.001) and for overall survival (HR ϝ 1.794, P<0.001; HR ϝ 2.657, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Serum alkaline phosphatase appears to be a significant independent prognostic index in patients with skeletal metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which could reflect the short-term treatment response ...

Progress on chemotherapy for triple negative breast cancer / 中国癌症杂志

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), as a special molecular subtype of breast cancer, is non-responsive to endocrine therapy or commercially available targeted therapy. It is characterized by early recurrence, rapid progression and poor prognosis. This systemic and comprehensive overview was focused on recent progress on molecular subtyping of triple negative breast cancer and its possible clinical value, chemotherapeutic agents and chemotherapy regimens, and combination of chemotherapy with potential molecular targeting agents.

Chemotherapy and comparison of agents for advanced duodenal carcinoma / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:This study aims to determine the efficacy of chemotherapy and to identify potential chemotherapy agents for advanced primary duodenal carcinoma (PDC). Methods:Fifty-six patients with advanced PDC, who did and did not receive chemo-therapy, were involved in this study. Response rates (RR), disease control rates (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall sur-vival (OS) were analyzed. Results:The overall RR and DCR of 43 patients were 19.04%and 71.42%, respectively. The patients who re-ceived chemotherapy agents fluorourzcil and oxaliplatin exhibited higher RR compared with patients who received other chemotherapy combinations (35.29%vs. 7.69%, P=0.010 9). Palliative chemotherapy improved the OS of patients with advanced PDC compared with patients who did not receive chemotherapy (13.35 months vs. 5.65 months, HR=0.203, 95%CI:0.083 to 0.497, P=0.000 5). Compared with the use of other chemotherapy regimens, treatment with a fluorourzcil-based chemotherapy agent resulted in a longer PFS (5.08 months vs. 1.08 months, HR=0.004, 95%CI:0.000 to 0.315, P=0.013 2). Multivariate analysis indicated mucinous histology and lymph mode metastasis as factors predictive of poor prognosis in patients with advanced PDC. Conclusion:Palliative chemotherapy may im-prove the OS of patients with advanced PDC.

Trends in the Aggressiveness of End-of-Life Care for Advanced Stomach Cancer Patients / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: It is important to balance the appropriateness of active cancer treatments and end-of-life care to improve the quality of life for terminally ill cancer patients. This study describes the treatment patterns and end-of-life care in terminal gastric cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 137 patients with advanced gastric cancer receiving chemotherapy and dying between June 1, 2006 and May 31, 2011. We recorded interval between last chemotherapy dose and death; frequency of emergency room visits or admission to the intensive care unit in the last month before death; rate of hospice referral and agreement with written do-not-resuscitate orders; and change in laboratory values in the last three months before death. RESULTS: During the last six months of life, 130 patients (94.9%) received palliative chemotherapy; 86 (62.7%) during the final two months; 41 (29.9%) during the final month. During the final month, 53 patients (38.7%) visited an emergency room more than once; 21 (15.3%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. Hospice referral occurred in 54% (74 patients) of the patients; 93.4% (128 patients) gave written do-not-resuscitate orders. Platelets, aspartate aminotransferase and creatinine changed significantly two weeks before death; total bilirubin, one month before; and C-reactive protein, between four and two weeks before death. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that a significant proportion of gastric cancer patients received palliative chemotherapy to the end of life and the patients who stopped the chemotherapy at least one month before death had a lower rate of intensive care unit admission and longer overall survival than those who sustained aggressive chemotherapy until the last months of their lives.

‘Emergency Chemotherapy’ for Bleeding Cervical Cancer: Case Series

Fulminant haemorrhage in cervical cancer leads to severe anaemia and haemodynamic instability. Palliative management includes vaginal packing as temporary measure, radiotherapy and other invasive surgical procedures. High dose emergency chemotherapy is not commonly implemented particularly when complicated with anaemia and renal impairment. We discuss three case series on the usefulness of high dose chemotherapy to combat bleeding from cervical cancer as an emergency treatment. The first case was clinically staged as operable 2A disease with severe anaemia due to bleeding from the tumour mass. The haemoglobin was corrected by blood transfusion while the bleeding was being arrested by high dose chemotherapy. The second case was inoperable with invasion to the bladder mucosa. She had frank haematuria and bleeding from the tumour with severe anaemia. A course of chemotherapy and blood transfusion controlled the bleeding and anaemia was corrected. The third case presented late with obstructive uropathy and anaemia. She required dialysis, blood transfusion and high dose emergency chemotherapy to stop the bleeding before undergoing urinary diversion after an unsuccessful ureteric stenting. High dose chemotherapy consisting cisplatin, vincristine, bleomycin and mitomycin-C has a clinical value in arresting fulminant haemorrhage in cervical cancer.

Advances in palliative chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer / 中国癌症杂志

With a high invasive ability and poor prognosis, the morbidity of pancreatic cancer is about 98%.Combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the primary management for locoregionally advanced pancreatic cancer, but its efficacy is limited. Results from a number of meta-analysis have confirmed that gemcitabine is associated with significantly better clinical response and one-year overall survival rates;therefore, currently gemcitabine is the standard chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer. Gemcitabine-based multi-drug regimens may have potentially favorable effects on patients' survival. However, evidence from phase Ⅲ clinical trials is lacking. Newer chemotherapy and targeted therapy agents are clearly needed for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Influence of telling patients chemotherapeutic endpoints on quality of terminal care

<b>Purpose</b>: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of informing patients of the endpoints of palliative chemotherapy on the quality of care for terminally ill cancer patients. <b>Methods</b>: Of 85 advanced cancer patients who died at our hospital during the last 2 years, 53 patients who received palliative chemotherapy were recruited for this study. The patients were divided into three groups based on whether disease status and treatment endpoints were explained to the patient before the chemotherapy: group A; both the disease status and treatment endpoint were explained, group B; only the disease status was explained, and group C; neither were explained.Japanese version of Support Team Assessment Schedule (STAS-J) was used to evaluate the quality of care for the patients. <b>Results</b>: Of the 53 patients, 17, 22, and 14 cases were assigned to group A, group B, and group C, respectively. Changing gear, that is, stopping palliative chemotherapy followed by palliative care, was well accepted by 88%, 41%, and 0% of group A, B, and C patients, respectively (p<0.01). By using the STAS-J, it was revealed that there were no significant differences in either symptom control or in anxiety among the groups, but there were significant differences in insight of advanced disease and communication to others (p<0.001). <b>Conclusion</b>: When performing palliative chemotherapy in advanced cancer patients, they should be informed of its endpoint before beginning the chemotherapy. This will lead to successful ′changing gear, ′ and improvement of the quality of care for terminally ill cancer patients.