Thursday, June 03, 2010
It's a choice to move forward: women's perceptions about treatment decision making in recurrent ovarian cancer
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This research explores the treatment decision-making (TDM) experiences of women with recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC) with regard to treatment options; their understanding of risks and benefits of various treatment options; the decision-making role they want for themselves and for their oncologist; and the social context of the consultation as it pertains to the decision.
METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 26 women at the time of first recurrence. Through inductive data analysis key themes were identified.
RESULTS: Many women describe self-identifying the cancer recurrence fairly quickly due to new symptoms. Many feel that the goal for treating their recurrence is to control versus cure the cancer. They describe the subsequent process of diagnosis and TDM for ROC as quick and straightforward with all women accepting the oncologists' treatment recommendation. They feel that the type and number of treatment options are limited. They have a strong desire for physician continuity in their care. Participants feel that their doctor's recommendations as well as their previous experience with ovarian cancer are strong factors influencing their current TDM process.
CONCLUSIONS: Shared decision making is based on a simultaneous participation of both the physician and patient in TDM. When faced with ROC, women feel that their doctor's recommendation and their past experience with treatment and TDM are prominent factors influencing the current TDM process.
Trabectedin Plus Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer. (multinational study)
Note: Trabectedin is also known as Yondelis PURPOSE The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of trabectedin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) with that of PLD alone in women with recurrent ovarian cancer after failure of first-line, platinum-based chemotherapy CONCLUSION When combined with PLD, trabectedin improves PFS and ORR over PLD alone with acceptable tolerance in the second-line treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer.
Comprehensive Analysis of Missense Variations in the BRCT Domain of BRCA 1 by Structural and Functional Assays
Comprehensive Analysis of Missense Variations in the BRCT Domain of BRCA1 by Structural and Functional Assays.
Lee MS, Green R, Marsillac SM, Coquelle N, Williams RS, Yeung T, Foo D, Hau DD, Hui B, Monteiro AN, Glover JN.
Authors' Affiliations: Department of Biochemistry, School of Systems Molecular Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, North Carolina; Risk Assessment, Detection, and Intervention Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida; and Molecular Biology Program, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Fo., Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Abstract
Genetic screening of the breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 has uncovered a large number of variants of uncertain clinical significance. Here, we use biochemical and cell-based transcriptional assays to assess the structural and functional defects associated with a large set of 117 distinct BRCA1 missense variants within the essential BRCT domain of the BRCA1 protein that have been documented in individuals with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer....... Through a correlation of the assay results with available family history and clinical data, we define limits to predict the disease risk associated with each variant. Forty-two of the variants show little effect on function and are likely to represent variants with little or no clinical significance; 50 display a clear functional effect and are likely to represent pathogenic variants; and the remaining 25 variants display intermediate activities. The excellent agreement between the structure/function effects of these mutations and available clinical data supports the notion that functional and structure information can be useful in the development of models to assess cancer risk.
2nd media article: HE4: Abbott gets FDA approval for ovarian cancer test - Chicago Breaking Business
"Abbott partnered with Fujirebio Diagnostics Inc. to develop the test. It also is approved for use in Europe, and other countries in the Asia Pacific and Latin American regions."
support group meetings - feel free to share - OCATS June 7th
OCATS Ovarian Cancer Awareness & Treatment in Saskatchewan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GYNECOLOGIC CANCER SURVIVORS & SUPPORT PEOPLE WELCOME MONDAY, June 7th 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Knox Met United Church 2340 Victoria Avenue (Pls Use Vic Ave Entrance, Ring Buzzer for Room 105) Light Supper, $4 Donation This month our peer support gathering will have our regular check in, and then a facilitated discussion about the challenges and coping strategies for socializing and traveling after diagnosis, while having treatment, during recovery. We don’t have the answers exactly but we’ll share some of the experiences we’ve had for air travel, car travel, hotels, family holidays, special events and share how people have coped and what things they found were useful and helpful or things to avoid. Please come share in the discussion, meet other cancer survivors. It’s good to get out once in awhile and share with others, learn from others. It’s even okay to be grumpy about it! If that’s where you’re at. Please call Darlene at 775-1848 or email and let us know if you plan to attend. This helps Joan prepare those lovely meals she making for us! Thank you, Darlene Gray OCATS Ovarian Cancer Awareness & Treatment in Saskatchewan A SUPPORT & ACTION GROUP FOR ANYONE AFFECTED BY GYNECOLOGIC CANCERS RPO Box 35067, Regina, SK S4X 4C6 Ph 306-775-1848, Fx 306-775-1853 Find us on Facebook too! http://www.ocats.ca
Study Testing Methylphenidate for Cancer-Related Fatigue Indicate That It Is Certainly Not a Panacea but May Be Effective for Some Groups of Patients
VIDEO ALERT: Additional audio and video resources, including excerpts from an interview with Dr. Deb Barton is available on the http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2010/06/02/mayo-clinic-study-shows-drug-may-be-effective-in-treating-cancer-related-fatigue-in-some-patients/ Mayo Clinic News Blog.
The BRCA1 c.5434C→G (p.Pro1812Ala) variant induces a deleterious exon 23 skipping by affecting exonic splicing regulatory elements -- Gaildrat et al. 47 (6): 398 -- Journal of Medical Genetics
Blogger's Note: in plain english - many patients who have undergone genetic testing show test results of 'unknown variants' or variants of unknown clinical significance but negative for known mutations ie; BRCA 1/2; MSH2/6; MLH1; PMS2.
Some of these unclassified variants may or may not be related to cancer. With recent research, databases are now showing UV (unclassified variants) as true mutations.
This article is one of many which shows the work being done to explain and find the significance of these variants. Many patients undergoing genetic testing will test negative for the commonly known mutations, but this is not the'end of the story', so to speak.
Conclusion These data, together with segregation data, argue for the classification of BRCA1 c.5434C→G as a pathogenic splicing mutation. These results also suggest that UVs (unclassified variants)in highly conserved nucleotide sequences of short exons may be good candidates for detecting functionally relevant splicing regulatory elements.
New blood thinners can cause dangerous drug interactions, study finds
""A high proportion of adults in the United States consume at least one of the drugs known to have some level of interaction with one of the new oral anticoagulants," the Loyola researchers write."
Stem cell researchers uncover previously unknown patterns in DNA methylation
"The findings could have implications in fighting cancer because DNA methylation patterns go awry in cancer, often causing tumor suppressor genes to switch off. The more scientists know about the cellular mechanisms that lay down the correct DNA methylation patterns, the more that process can be manipulated. In the future, this type of research may lead to techniques that result in the ability to control the patterns that go awry and lead to cancer, thus preventing a malignancy"
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