Search Results (3,627)

The COVID-19 pandemic paved the way for the widespread use of virtual care for childhood cancer survivors (CCSs). CCSs were virtual recipients of diverse care, including long-term follow-up (LTFU), primary care, mental health care, and several others. Virtual care comes with well-documented benefits and challenges. These are further magnified for CCSs living in rural or non-metropolitan areas. Here, we describe the virtual care of CCSs from two Upper Midwest cities with well-established childhood cancer survivor programs within large comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. CCSs from non-metropolitan areas, especially CCSs with two or more late effects, used virtual care more often during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to CCSs from metropolitan areas. A review of the related literature is also included and the identified challenges in providing virtual care, such as privacy concerns, technology-connectivity constraints, and medical license restrictions. Despite these limitations, the care of CCSs has evolved to leverage virtual care and its ability to increase access for patients and promote continuity of care for CCSs living in rural areas. Full article

A recent approach to radiotherapy for prostate cancer is the administration of high doses of radiation to the prostate while minimizing the risk of side effects. Thus, image-guided radiotherapy utilizes advanced imaging techniques and is a feasible strategy for increasing the radiation dose. New radioactive particles are another approach to achieving high doses and safe procedures. Prostate brachytherapy is currently considered as a combination therapy. Spacers are useful to protect adjacent organs, specifically the rectum, from excessive radiation exposure. Full article

Background: The successful implementation of an equitable lung cancer screening program requires consideration of factors that influence accessibility to screening services. Methods: Using lung cancer cases in British Columbia (BC), Canada, as a proxy for a screen-eligible population, spatial access to 36 screening sites was examined using geospatial mapping and vehicle travel time from residential postal code at diagnosis to the nearest site. The impact of urbanization and Statistics Canada’s Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation were examined. Results: Median travel time to the nearest screening site was 11.7 min (interquartile range 6.2–23.2 min). Urbanization was significantly associated with shorter drive time (p < 0.001). Ninety-nine percent of patients with ≥60 min drive times lived in rural areas. Drive times were associated with sex, ethnocultural composition, situational vulnerability, economic dependency, and residential instability. For example, the percentage of cases with drive times ≥60 min among the least deprived situational vulnerability group was 4.7% versus 44.4% in the most deprived group. Conclusions: Populations at risk in rural and remote regions may face more challenges accessing screening services due to increased travel times. Drive times increased with increasing sociodemographic and economic deprivations highlighting groups that may require support to ensure equitable access to lung cancer screening. Full article

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is characterized by arm swelling, pain, and discomfort, reducing the quality of life (QoL) of affected individuals. BRCL is caused via the blockage or disruption of the lymphatic vessels following cancer treatments, leading to an accumulation of fluid in the affected arm. While current BCRL rehabilitation treatments seek to reduce arm swelling, our study aimed to examine the impact of both the magnitude of lymphedema (ΔVolume) and arm disability on three dimensions of QoL: social, physical, and psychological. Using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH) and the Upper Limb Lymphedema 27 questionnaire (ULL) in a group of 30 patients, we found that the magnitude of lymphedema (ΔVolume) was associated with the social dimension of QoL (r = 0.37, p = 0.041), but not with other dimensions. On the other hand, arm disability was associated with all evaluated dimensions of QoL (social, physical, and psychological: p < 0.001, p = 0.019, and p = 0.050 (borderline), respectively). These findings suggest that BCRL rehabilitation strategies should not only aim to reduce the magnitude of lymphedema but should also seek to improve or preserve arm functionality to enhance the QoL of BCRL patients. Full article

The increasing diffusion of genetic analysis regarding the pathogenetic variants (PVs) of genes involved in DNA Damage Repair (DDR) mechanisms and the development of Poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPis) led to the first valid precision medicine option tailored toward metastatic prostate cancer (mPC). The concept of anticipation in the systemic treatment of mPC was initially adopted for androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSIs) to describe the expansion of their indications, from the setting of the late-stage second-line treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) to first-line therapy in selected cases. There is already mounting evidence in favor of the anticipation of PARPis in the first line of mCRPC therapy, and further evidence in favor of mHSPC is emerging. Many studies have demonstrated the synergism between ARSIs and PARP inhibitors. Recent discoveries regarding the crosstalk between the androgen receptor (AR) and DNA repair mechanisms are disconnecting the use of PARPis from genetic analysis. The new message emerging is that the combination of PARPis with ARSIs may work independently of DDR mutational status. As a matter of fact, most of the recent trials analyzing the combination of PARPis with abiraterone or enzalutamide as a first-line therapy enrolled mCRPC patients irrespective of their mutational status. The PROPEL trial concluded that the advantage of the combination was independent of PV status, despite a higher advantage being reported in the BRCA1/2 mutated subgroup. The MAGNITUDE trial, however, showed a significant advantage only in the DDR mutated subgroup, and the DDR non-mutated cohort was closed for further enrollment. The combination of PARPis with ARSIs represents a significant strategy with a view to the anticipation and intensification of care in mPC. However, it should not nullify the advantages of precision medicine linked to the genetic analysis of DDR genes. Full article

We assess the contributions of genetic variants for the enzymes involved in capecitabine metabolism to colorectal cancer (CRC) development risk. In this case-control study, DNA samples were collected from 66 patients (King Abdulaziz University Hospital) and 65 controls (King Fahad General Hospital) between April and November 2022 to be used in PCR-RFLP. The chi-square (χ²) test at a significance level of p ˂ 0.05 was used to estimate genotype and allele frequencies. The Lys27Gln variant of cytidine deaminase (CDA) showed a risk ratio (RR) of 1.47 for heterozygous (AC) carriers, with genotype distributions for patients (χ² = 1.97) and controls (χ² = 14.7). Homozygous (AA) Ala70Thr carriers demonstrated a three-fold higher risk, with genotype distributions for patients (χ² = 3.85) and controls (χ² = 4.23). Genotype distributions of the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T variant for patients were (χ² = 22.43) and for controls were (χ² = 0.07); for the MTHFR A1298C variant, they were (χ² = 54.44) for patients and (χ² = 4.58) for controls. Heterozygous (AC) carriers of the A1298C variant demonstrated highly significant protection against CRC development (RR = 0.2, p = 0.001), while a two-fold higher risk for CRC was estimated for homozygous genotype (CC) carriers. In conclusion, the heterozygous genotype of CDA Lys27Gln, the homozygous genotype of CDA Ala70Thr, and the homozygous genotype of MTHFR A1298C were associated with CRC development risk. The heterozygous genotype of MTHFR A1298C variant provided highly significant protection against CRC development. Further examinations using a larger population size are needed to reliably confirm our findings. Full article

Ongoing advances in precision cancer therapy have increased the number of molecularly targeted and immuno-oncology agents for a variety of cancers, many of which have been associated with a risk of pulmonary complications, among the most concerning being drug-induced interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis (DI-ILD). As the number of patients undergoing treatment with novel anticancer agents continues to grow, DI-ILD is expected to become an increasingly significant clinical challenge. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is an antibody–drug conjugate targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 that is gaining widespread use in the metastatic breast cancer setting and is undergoing exploration for other oncologic indications. ILD/pneumonitis is an adverse event of special interest associated with T-DXd, which has potentially fatal consequences if left untreated and allowed to progress. When identified in the asymptomatic stage (grade 1), T-DXd-related ILD can be monitored and treated effectively with the possibility of treatment continuation. Delayed diagnosis and/or treatment, however, results in progression to grade 2 or higher toxicity and necessitates immediate and permanent discontinuation of this active agent. Strategies are, therefore, needed to optimize careful monitoring during treatment to ensure patient safety and optimize outcomes. Several guidance documents have been developed regarding strategies for the early identification and management of T-DXd-related ILD, although none have been within the context of the Canadian health care environment. A Canadian multidisciplinary steering committee was, therefore, convened to evaluate existing recommendations and adapt them for application in Canada. A multidisciplinary approach involving collaboration among medical oncologists, radiologists, respirologists, and allied health care professionals is needed to ensure the proactive identification and management of T-DXd-related ILD and DI-ILD associated with other agents with a similar toxicity profile. Full article

The management of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is limited and remains an unmet need. Decitabine/cedazuridine (DEC-C, ASTX727) is Canada’s first and only approved oral hypomethylating agent for MDS and CMML. We characterized the real-world use of DEC-C through a Canadian compassionate use program. Demographic and clinical data from 769 patients enrolled in Taiho Pharma Canada’s Patient Support Program were collected and analyzed. These patients represent a collection period from 10 November 2020 to 31 August 2022 with a median age of 76 years. Among 651 patients who started DEC-C, the median treatment duration was 4.2 cycles. The median overall and progression-free survival were 21.6 and 10.7 months, respectively. Among 427 patients who discontinued treatment, the majority (69.5%) stopped due to death (n = 164) or disease progression (n = 133). Multivariable cox regression showed that age, province of residence, blast counts, antibiotic prophylaxis, and number of dose reductions and delays were not significantly associated with overall and progression-free survival. DEC-C is a promising alternative to parenteral hypomethylating agent therapy, and it likely addresses an important unmet need for effective and convenient therapies in this setting. Full article

Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Its growing incidence and prevalence, as well as the advances in diagnostic and treatment tools, motivate an open debate about the economic burden it may place on health systems and have raised concerns about access to this technological innovation. There is a lack of information on the detailed costs of pharmacological treatment of cancer in our health setting. In this context, it is necessary to know the use of drugs in cancer treatment in conditions of real clinical practice. A real-word, evidence-based retrospective cohort study was conducted at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (VHUH), the largest hospital complex in Catalonia, Spain, in order to determine the use of drugs and the associated cost in real clinical practice for the treatment of solid tumors in adult patients attended at this institution over 10 years (2010–2019). Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of adult cancer patients attended in clinical practice at the Medical Oncology Department of VHUH between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. Data of prescription, preparation, and cost of antineoplastic treatments were analyzed by pharmacological class (cytotoxic drugs, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiopharmaceuticals, and others), by antineoplastic agent, and by type of tumor. The number of patients and the pharmaceutical expenditure corresponding to all these subgroups were recorded. The cost per patient in each tumor location was also calculated. Results: The study population included 13,209 patients with an overall pharmaceutical antineoplastic expenditure of EUR 120,396,097, increasing from 7.67% in relation to the total HUVH pharmaceutical expenditure in 2010 to 12.82% in 2019. By pharmacological class, the specific weight of the cost of targeted therapy is relevant (75.22% of pharmaceutical antineoplastic expenditure, 21.3% of patients) compared to the group of conventional cytotoxics (17.25% of pharmaceutical antineoplastic expenditure, 76.37% of patients), while immunotherapy has represented the largest relative increase, from 5% in 2014 to 12% in 2019. Eight targeted therapy drugs represented 50% of the costs of the targeted therapy drug class (palbociclib, trastuzumab, pertuzumab, bevacizumab, nivolumab, cetuximab, pembrolizumab, and trastuzumab emtansine). Eleven tumor sites accounted for 90% of the expenditure in 71% of all patients. Breast cancer had the highest expenditure during the study period (EUR 34,332,210) and at each individual year. Melanoma showed the highest increase, with 9.7% of total pharmaceutical antineoplastic expenditure in 2019 (2% of patients), representing a paradigm of the rising costs of cancer treatment due to the incorporation of new high-cost therapies. The average annual cost per patient was highly variable depending on the pathology. There was a growing increase in costs per patient in most tumor locations, particularly in patients with melanoma (from EUR 1922 in 2010 to EUR 37,020 in 2019), prostate cancer (from EUR 2992 in 2010 to EUR 14,118 in 2019), and non-small cell lung cancer (from EUR 3545 in 2010 to EUR 8371 in 2019). The relevance of the difference in monthly cost per patient that has been identified for the different intrinsic subtypes in breast cancer patients during 2019 (HER2+ EUR 2661/month, Luminal EUR 881/month, Triple negative EUR 386/month) makes us consider suggesting differentiated reimbursement rates for certain clinical conditions. Finally, support treatment with antiemetic drugs, erythropoietin stimulating agents, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), and bone resorption inhibitors has involved a cost of EUR 5,751,910, which represents 4.6% of the overall pharmacological cost of cancer treatment. Conclusion: This study provides detailed insights on the oncological pharmaceutical expenditure for the treatment for solid tumors in the VHUH, based on real cost information from our hospital practice and for all antineoplastic therapies and types of solid tumors. This type of information on all the different types of cancer can be useful to better understand the economic burden of the disease and can be decisive for allocating public resources and funds for research, especially in those areas where information is scarce and therefore where further studies are needed. The contribution to knowledge of the cost of oncology therapy is of great value due to its realism and scope. Full article

The 24th annual Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference (WCGCCC) was held in Richmond, British Columbia, on 28–29 October 2022. The WCGCCC is an interactive multidisciplinary conference attended by healthcare professionals from across Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) who are involved in the care of patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists; pathologists; radiologists; and allied health care professionals such as dieticians, nurses and a genetic counsellor participated in presentation and discussion sessions for the purpose of developing the recommendations presented here. This consensus statement addresses current issues in the management of colorectal cancer. Full article

Background: We evaluated the phenotype of sporadic gastric cancer based on HP status and binding of a tumor risk marker monoclonal, Adnab-9. Methods: We compared a familial GC kindred with an extremely aggressive phenotype to HP-positive (HP+) and -negative (HP−) sporadic gastric adenocarcinoma (GC) patients in the same community to determine if similar phenotypes exist. This might facilitate gene discovery to understand the pathogenesis of aggressive GC phenotypes, particularly with publications implicating immune-related gene-based signatures, and the development of techniques to gauge the stance of the innate immune system (InImS), such as the FERAD ratio (blood ferritin:fecal Adnab-9 binding OD-background binding). Resection specimens for the sporadic and familial group were stained for HP and examined for intestinal metaplasia (IM) and immunostaining for Adnab-9. Familial kindred specimens were also tested for the E-cadherin mutation and APC (adenomatous polyposis coli). Survival was evaluated. Results: Of 40 GC patients, 25% were HP+ with a greater proportion of intestinal metaplasia (IM) and gastric atrophy than the HP− group. The proband of the familial GC kindred, a 32-year-old mother with fatal GC, was survived by 13-year-old identical twins. Twin #1 was HP− with IM and Twin #2 was HP+. Both twins subsequently died of GC within two years. The twins did not have APC or E-cadherin mutations. The mean overall survival in the HP+ sporadic GC group was 2.47 ± 2.58 years and was 0.57 ± 0.60 years in the HP− group (p = 0.01). Survival in the kindred was 0.22 ± 0.24 years. Adnab-9 labeling was positive in fixed tissues of 50% of non-familial GC patients and in gastric tissue extract from Twin #2. The FERAD ratio was determined separately in six prospectively followed patient groups (n = 458) and was significantly lower in the gastric cancer patients (n = 10) and patients with stomach conditions predisposing them to GC (n = 214), compared to controls (n = 234 patients at increased risk for colorectal cancer but without cancer), suggesting a failure of the InImS. Conclusion: The HP+ sporadic GC group appears to proceed through a sequence of HP infection, IM and atrophy before cancer supervenes, and the HP− phenotype appear to omit this sequence. The familial cases may represent a subset with both features, but the natural history strongly resembles that of the HP− group. Two different paths of carcinogenesis may exist locally for sporadic GC. The InImS may also be implicated in prognosis. Identifying these patients will allow for treatment stratification and early diagnosis to improve GC survival. Full article

Prostate cancer (PCa) survivors often experience post-treatment challenges that impact their well-being and mental health. The Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) aims to address these issues through a comprehensive intervention, involving daily meditation/breathing exercises, physical activity, pelvic floor exercises, emotional connection strategies, and peer support. This study presents a secondary analysis of a Phase 2 feasibility study that evaluated the effects of a 28-day PC-PEP intervention on stress reduction. Thirty patients with PCa from the Maritimes, Canada, underwent pre- and post-intervention assessments to measure brainwave activity (delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma) using the Muse™ headband, and heart rate variability (HRV) using the HeartMath^® Inner Balance™ as indicators of stress reduction. A statistically significant Time × Sensor Scalp Assessment Time interaction emerged for all brain waves. Amplitudes were generally higher during the first half of the meditation assessment time but became comparable afterward. A statistically significant Time × Sensor Scalp Location × Sensor Scalp Assessment Time interaction also emerged for alpha waves, indicating higher prefrontal lobe amplitudes than temporal lobe amplitudes from pre- to post-assessment. There were no statistically significant differences in HRV metrics from pre- to post-intervention, except for a marginally significant achievement score, indicating increased HRV coherence post-intervention. The findings suggest that the stress reduction component of PC-PEP successfully improved outcomes related to decreased stress. These results have implications for the development of future iterations of PC-PEP interventions, aiming to optimize participant benefits. Full article

In this technical development report, we present the strategic placement of fiducial markers within the prostate under the guidance of computed tomography (CT) and electromagnetic navigation (EMN) for the delivery of ultra-hypofractionated cyberknife (CK) therapy in a patient with localized prostate cancer (PCa) who had previously undergone chemo-radiotherapy for rectal cancer and subsequent abdominoperineal resection due to local recurrence. The patient was positioned in a prone position with a pillow under the pelvis to facilitate access, and an electromagnetic fiducial marker was placed on the patient’s skin to establish a stable position. CT scans were performed to plan the procedure, mark virtual points, and simulate the needle trajectory using the navigation system. Local anesthesia was administered, and a 21G needle was used to place the fiducial markers according to the navigation system information. A confirmatory CT scan was obtained to ensure proper positioning. The implantation procedure was safe, without any acute side effects such as pain, hematuria, dysuria, or hematospermia. Our report highlights the ability to use EMN systems to virtually navigate within a pre-acquired imaging dataset in the interventional room, allowing for non-conventional approaches and potentially revolutionizing fiducial marker positioning, offering new perspectives for PCa treatment in selected cases. Full article

The purpose of palliative care is to ease the suffering of individuals with a serious and often life-limiting illness throughout the course of their disease by providing holistic care that considers the physical, spiritual, and psychosocial dimensions of health and well-being. Research shows that a palliative approach to care is cost-effective for the healthcare system and results in improved quality of life for patients and their loved ones. However, it is well-documented in the literature that structurally vulnerable populations have greater difficulty accessing equitable and culturally safe palliative care. Several domains are identified as contributing factors to the disparities seen in the literature, including systemic racism, cultural differences around death and suffering, and language barriers. Although Canada has had a national palliative care framework since 2018, ongoing issues of access and equity continue to disproportionately impact certain groups, including racially marginalized, immigrant, and low-income communities. In this commentary, successes and ongoing gaps in providing culturally safe and anti-racist palliative care are explored. In these proposed interventions, we advocate for a palliative approach to care that is grounded in equity, justice, and human rights. Full article

Endometrial cancer (EC) stands as the most prevalent gynecologic malignancy. In the past, it was classified based on its hormone sensitivity. However, The Cancer Genome Atlas has categorized EC into four groups, which offers a more objective and reproducible classification and has been shown to have prognostic and therapeutic implications. Hormonally driven EC arises from a precursor lesion known as endometrial hyperplasia, resulting from unopposed estrogen. EC is usually diagnosed through biopsy, followed by surgical staging unless advanced disease is expected. The typical staging consists of a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsies, with a preference placed on a minimally invasive approach. The stage of the disease is the most significant prognostic marker. However, factors such as age, histology, grade, myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space invasion, tumor size, peritoneal cytology, hormone receptor status, ploidy and markers, body mass index, and the therapy received all contribute to the prognosis. Treatment is tailored based on the stage and the risk of recurrence. Radiotherapy is primarily used in the early stages, and chemotherapy can be added if high-grade histology or advanced-stage disease is present. The risk of EC recurrence increases with advances in stage. Among the recurrences, vaginal cases exhibit the most favorable response to treatment, typically for radiotherapy. Conversely, the treatment of widespread recurrence is currently palliative and is best managed with chemotherapy or hormonal agents. Most recently, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment for advanced and recurrent EC. Full article