Thursday, June 10, 2010
Compassion Fatigue: What Is It? Why Does It Matter? Recognizing the Symptoms, Acknowledging the Impact (healthcare professionals)
Compassion Fatigue: What Is It? Why Does It Matter? Recognizing the Symptoms, Acknowledging the Impact, Developing the Tools to Prevent Compassion Fatigue, and Strengthen the Professional Already Suffering From the Effects
Cancer Symptom Clusters: Old Concept But New Data -- American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Note: there are other blog postings regarding symptom clusters (ie; certain symptoms go together eg depression, fatigue etc...) "Symptom clusters may help in cancer diagnosis, symptom management, and prognostication. However, the cluster method, reliability, and validity need to be established before assessment or treatment guidelines are established. Symptom clusters require further research before becoming part of routine medical symptom assessment and management."
abstract: (Avastin) Bevacizumab Increases Risk for Severe Proteinuria in Cancer Patients
Note: one very good caution when undergoing investigational drugs
"Treatment with the chemotherapeutic agent bevacizumab, a humanized mAb that neutralizes vascular endothelial growth factor, can lead to proteinuria and renal damage. The risk factors and clinical outcomes of renal adverse events are not well understood.
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized, controlled trials to assess the overall risk for severe proteinuria with bevacizumab.
We analyzed data from 16 studies comprising 12,268 patients with a variety of tumors. The incidence of high-grade (grade 3 or 4) proteinuria with bevacizumab was 2.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2 to 4.3%). Compared with chemotherapy alone, bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy significantly increased the risk for high-grade proteinuria (relative risk 4.79; 95% CI 2.71 to 8.46) and nephrotic syndrome (relative risk 7.78; 95% CI 1.80 to 33.62); higher dosages of bevacizumab associated with increased risk for proteinuria.
Regarding tumor type, renal cell carcinoma associated with the highest risk (cumulative incidence 10.2%).
We did not detect a significant difference between platinum- and non–platinum-based concurrent chemotherapy with regard to risk for high-grade proteinuria (P = 0.39).
In conclusion, the addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy significantly increases the risk for high-grade proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome."
IU-OSU center gets $9 million more for cancer epigenetics: IU News Room: Indiana University (includes ovarian cancer)
"Over the next five years, Nephew said the OSU/IU-led team will study epigenetic changes in prostate, breast, and ovarian cancer cells that cause resistance to hormonal therapy or traditional chemotherapy. Nephew said a major objective is to identify a panel of epigenetic biomarkers for predicting responsiveness to anti-hormone treatments and chemotherapies in cancer patients."
ASCO Conference Summary: Why it’s Important to You | Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Note: recap of pertinent ovarian cancer topics from ASCO
Search by topic:
ASCO: (Farletuzumab) Antibody Shows Promise in Ovarian Cancer
"The phase II clinical trial evaluated responses in 44 ovarian cancer patients in their first relapse period, who received either farletuzumab as a single agent or in combination with carboplatin and a taxane..."cont'd
ASCO: Drug May Reactivate Chemo Effect in Ovarian CA - Olaparib (PARP)
"Chemotherapy resulted in an overall response rate of 42% in this heavily pretreated patient population, including a 55% response rate for carboplatin and/or a taxane," said Ang. "If these results are confirmed in a larger patient population, they could remain an option for these patients, even if they have demonstrated prior resistance."
The Gastrointestinal Phenotype of Germline Biallelic Mismatch Repair Gene Mutations (Lynch Syndrome)
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:A novel cancer syndrome associated with biallelic mismatch repair (MMR) mutations has been described recently. Patients presenting with childhood-onset gastrointestinal (GI) cancers may carry biallelic MMR mutations and have a distinct phenotype from classic Lynch syndrome. The aim of this study was to characterize patients with GI small bowel and/or colorectal cancers (CRCs) who have germline biallelic MMR mutations.
METHODS:A search of a Canadian GI cancer registry and literature review to identify patients with biallelic MMR was conducted.
RESULTS:The database identified 237 patients with intestinal cancer diagnosed before the age of 35 years. Five (2.1%) patients had biallelic MMR mutations. Overall, 32 individuals, from 29 families, with biallelic MMR gene mutations and GI cancers were identified by the registry and literature review. Among the 29 patients with CRCs, the mean age of first cancer diagnosis was 16.4 years (range: 5-28).
Risk of endometrial cancer for women diagnosed with HNPCC-related colorectal carcinoma
Note: this issue is important as early-age diagnoses in Lynch Syndrome is common
"Approximately one quarter of women diagnosed with Lynch syndrome-associated CRC (colorectal cancer) developed EC within 10 years. This supports the sentinel cancer concept and suggests that active and early management is important for these women."
Preliminary study of neuroendocrine differentiation and its mechanism in ovarian epithelial tumors
Note: abstract is in English/full free pdf file is in chinese
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate neuroendocrine differentiation and its mechanism in ovarian epithelial tumors.
Ovarian metastasis following gallbladder carcinoma
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mucinous ovarian cancer raises problems of differential diagnoses because it is often difficult to distinguish the primary from the metastatic form. Most metastatic ovarian tumors originate from the gastrointestinal tract, mainly colorectal, gastric, pancreatic; the gallbladder is a very rare source of ovarian metastases.
CASE: We report a case of ovarian metastases from a gallbladder cancer, incidentally diagnosed more than 2.5 years earlier during a laparoscopic intervention for biliary lithiasis.
CONCLUSION: The interest of this case lies in the long progression-free survival, the venous thromboembolism syndrome that preceded by a few months the diagnosis of the ovarian mass and the discrepancy between the radiologic and the laparoscopic stage assessment.
The pathology of and controversial aspects of ovarian borderline tumours
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Ovarian borderline tumours are relatively uncommon, but not rare, neoplasms. Pathologists and oncologists often struggle with various aspects of borderline tumours which are sometimes controversial and poorly understood.
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