abstract - EvidenceUpdates: Cochrane Review: Primary prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism in ambulatory cancer patients receiving chemotherapy (including professional commentaries)

Abstract

BACKGROUND:  Venous thromboembolism (VTE) often complicates the clinical course of cancer disease. The risk is further increased by chemotherapy but the safety and efficacy of primary thromboprophylaxis in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy is uncertain. OBJECTIVES:  To assess the efficacy and safety of primary thromboprophylaxis in ambulatory cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.  AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:   Primary thromboprophylaxis with LMWH significantly reduced the incidence of symptomatic VTE in ambulatory cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. However, the lack of power hampers definite conclusions on the effects on major safety outcomes, which mandates additional studies to determine the risk to benefit ratio of LMWH in this setting.

Comments from Clinical Raters
Oncology - Breast

UK media: Charity calls for ovarian cancer awareness campaign (one percent aware of ovarian cancer symptoms)

"ONLY one per cent of women in the East of England are very confident in noticing symptoms of ovarian cancer, and a leading charity says symptom awareness could prevent needless deaths.....".

"The Target Ovarian Cancer Pathfinder Study 2012 did find the number of women who recognised bloating as a major sympton has nearly doubled from nine per cent to 17 per cent, but in the East of England this was 13 per cent.

The charity said this still compares poorly to other cancers with 76 per cent of women knowing a breast lump is a sign of breast cancer.
Ms Jones said: “The evidence is piling up. Women are being let down by the failure to act in the UK. We need a national awareness campaign now to end needless deaths from this disease......"

Polymorphisms in MSH2 gene and risk of gastric cancer, and interactions with lifestyle factors in a Chinese population ( IVS10+12G>A and IVS12−6T>C )

Polymorphisms inMSH2gene and risk of gastric cancer, and interactions with lifestyle factors in a Chinese population

Background:
Although polymorphisms in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) gene MSH2 have been associated with risks of many cancers, little is known about their etiology role in gastric cancer (GC) and the potential interacting role with lifestyle factors known to damage DNA.

Conclusion:
The IVS10+12G>A and IVS12−6T>C polymorphisms in MSH2 gene appear to be associated with risk of GC in this Chinese population. Risk for GC, stratified by related genotypes, was further modified by drinking, high pickled food or fried food intake. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.