Motives of cancer patients for using the internet to seek social support - Finland

Motives of cancer patients for using the internet to seek social support

The purpose of the study was to describe why Finnish cancer patients choose the internet as a source of social support. The data were collected in May 2010, using an online questionnaire with open-ended questions, through four discussion forums on the websites of the non-profit Cancer Society of Finland. Seventy-four adult patients with cancer participated. The data were analysed using inductive content analysis. The mean age of the participants was 53 years and they were predominantly women. The most common cancer was breast cancer and more than three quarters of the participants had suffered from cancer for less than 5 years. The initial stimuli to use the internet as a source of social support were the ease of communication and access to information as well as the need for emotional and informational support. The actual motives that drove the use of the internet as a source of social support were the requirements for information and peer support, internet technology, a lack of support outside the internet and the negative experiences caused by the illness. The fact that there is an enormous need for information as well as for emotional support and that cancer treatment in Finland is concentrated in major hospitals, to which cancer patients may travel a considerable distance, suggests that nurses should learn to make more frequent virtual contact with their patients.

Strumal carcinoid tumour of the ovary presenting with severe constipation

NCI Cancer Bulletin for January 8, 2013 - National Cancer Institute

NCI Cancer Bulletin for January 8, 2013 - National Cancer Institute

The January 8, 2013, issue was the final issue of the NCI Cancer Bulletin. A searchable archive of more than 5,000 news and feature stories published since 2004 will remain on NCI’s website.

open access: PLOS ONE: The Impact of Bevacizumab (Avastin) on Survival in Metastatic Solid Tumors - A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Blogger's Note: discusses are wide variety of cancers eg. breast, colorectal, lung

PLOS ONE: The Impact of Bevacizumab (Avastin) on Survival in Metastatic Solid Tumors - A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review


"..We included all randomized controlled trials that compared the addition of bevacizumab to various chemotherapy protocols without Bevacizumab in adult patients with metastatic cancer in the first and second line setting seperately. We excluded brain tumors due to the different drug delivery through the blood brain barrier and due to its role in reducing edema around the tumor [56]. We also excluded ovarian cancer as the trials included metastatic and non metastatic disease. We excluded maintenance therapy trials and phase II non randomized and phase IV trials. Trials in which the primary outcome measure of OS was not reported were included if all other inclusion criteria were met. Trials assessing toxicity alone were excluded....

 Conclusion
In conclusion, our results suggest that adding Bevacizumab to chemotherapy results in a small but significant effect on OS and a significant PFS advantage in the advanced solid tumors included in this analysis.

press release: VG Life Sciences Expands Ovarian Cancer Trial; Approved to Study Treatment of Breast, Colon, Lung, Liver and Pancreas Cancer | Business Wire

VG Life Sciences Expands Ovarian Cancer Trial; Approved to Study Treatment of Breast, Colon, Lung, Liver and Pancreas Cancer | Business Wire

We're hiring! - Journal - Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Support Community - Inspire

We're hiring! - Journal - Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Support Community - Inspire

press release: Quest PharmaTech Enrolls 40th Patient in its Phase II Oregovomab Front-Line Chemo-Immunotherapy Clinical Trial for Ovarian Cancer in Italy and the U.S.

Quest PharmaTech Enrolls 40th Patient in its Phase II Oregovomab Front-Line Chemo-Immunotherapy Clinical Trial for Ovarian Cancer in Italy and the U.S.

EDMONTON, Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Quest PharmaTech Inc. (TSX-V: QPT) ("Quest" or the "Company"), a pharmaceutical company developing and commercializing products for the treatment of cancer, announces that it has achieved 50% accrual having enrolled the 40^th patient in its ongoing 80 patient Phase II Oregovomab front-line chemo-immunotherapy clinical trial in Italy and the U.S.

The objective of this study is to confirm that optimally dosed oregovomab in combination with standard front-line chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer will generate an improved immune and clinical response, as seen in preliminary phase II studies, and permit the best design of a definitive phase III program to follow. Currently, there are 8 clinical trial centers in Italy enrolling patients, with Professor Roberto Angioli at Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma acting as the study chair. The Company is adding three additional centers in the U.S., to the two active U.S. sites, through the COGI (Cooperative Ovarian Cancer Group for Immunotherapy) clinical trials group, under the leadership of Professor Jonathan Berek at the Stanford Women's Cancer Center, Stanford Cancer Institute.

"We are excited to reach the mid-point in patient enrollment for this pivotal 80 patient clinical trial", said Madi R. Madiyalakan, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer for Quest. "With 13 centers currently participating in the trial, we are hopeful that we will achieve full patient enrollment within this year.  This program not only is evaluating the latest concepts of combination chemo-immunotherapy for ovarian cancer, but is also providing critical data to facilitate the pending clinical development of additional cancer antibody immunotherapeutics within our technology pipeline."

Late ovarian cancer diagnoses 'are costing lives' : Cancer Research UK

Late ovarian cancer diagnoses 'are costing lives' : Cancer Research UK

AACR: New Test Predicted Presence of Harmful BRCA Mutations

Post-Hospital Syndrome — An Acquired, Transient Condition of Generalized Risk — NEJM

Post-Hospital Syndrome — An Acquired, Transient Condition of Generalized Risk — NEJM

"ovarian" - (recent) Search Results : The Lancet Oncology

ovarian - Search Results : The Lancet Oncology

Facing Cancer, a Stark Choice - NYTimes.com/blogger's response to article

Facing Cancer, a Stark Choice - NYTimes.com

• Sandi Pniauskas

“You’re not going to find other organs that people cut out of their bodies because they’re worried about disease,” said the medical historian Dr. Barron H. Lerner"

My response:

This quote by Dr Lerner, while possibly true of earlier research, is not true today. In fact, cancer patients do have prophylactic surgeries to reduce their risk of cancer/s aside from the most common BRCA carriers. This includes patients which carry mutations in the FAP and Lynch Syndromes.

Dr. James Orr - Local oncologist elected to Florida Board of Medicine - media

Local oncologist elected to Florida Board of Medicine - Fortmyersbeachtalk.com | Fort Myers Beach Bulletin, Fort Myers Beach Observer.

open access: Recent alcohol consumption and risk of incident ovarian carcinoma: a pooled analysis of 5,342 cases and 10,358 controls from the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium

 Recent alcohol consumption and risk of incident ovarian carcinoma: a pooled analysis of 5,342 cases and 10,358 controls from the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium

"...Several key non-genetic risk factors for ovarian cancer were reported in the early 1990s, when studies established decreased risks associated with oral contraceptive use [10,11], parity [12,13] and breast-feeding [12]. Using our consortium data, we recently reported that endometriosis was associated with increased risk of endometrioid and clear cell ovarian
carcinomas [23]. However, few modifiable risk factors for ovarian cancers have been found.
Perhaps the only lifestyle factor that is most consistently associated with modified risk of ovarian cancers is smoking, which is associated with an increased risk of both mucinous ovarian carcinoma and mucinous borderline tumors [24,25]. This emphasizes the importance
of, and the need for more, pooled analyses of individual-level data that are harmonized carefully across different studies through collaborations within consortia, such as OCAC.
Clearly, the research community struggles to understand the causes of the majority of these elusive and deadly cancers...."


Conclusions
We found no evidence that recent moderate alcohol drinking is associated with increased risk for overall OC, or that variation in risk is associated strongly with specific histologic types.
Understanding modifiable causes of these elusive and deadly cancers remains a priority for the research community

open access: Clinical Benefit and Toxicity of Continuing Bevacizumab Containing Chemotherapies in Patients with Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

Blogger's Note: small study

Clinical Benefit and Toxicity of ContinuingBevacizumab Containing Chemotherapies inPatients with Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

"...In conclusion, community practice has adopted
a strategy of bevacizumab administration in combination
with various cytotoxic chemotherapy agents under
various schedules, and continuation of bevacizumab use
after initial disease progression or toxicity to
bevacizumab's partner chemotherapy. Our study showed
that such an approach is relatively safe and potentially
beneficial. We did not notice any cases of major
toxicities such as GI perforation or arterial thrombosis;
however, new development of hypertension was
common and at times severe, particularly in elderly
patients. The theme of continuing VEGF inhibitor
treatment in refractory ovarian cancer at the time of
disease progression warrants large scale prospective
study."

open access: Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of para-aortic lymphadenectomy up to the renal vessels on the accurate staging in ovarian cancer patients presumed preoperatively to be confined to the ovary.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of para-aortic lymphadenectomy up to the renal vessels on the accurate staging in ovarian cancer patients presumed preoperatively to be confined to the ovary.
 

Conclusion A substantial number of patients with apparently early ovarian cancer had upstaged disease. Of patients who underwent lymphadenectomy, some patients had lymph node metastasis above the level of the inferior mesenteric artery. Para-aortic lymphadenectomy up to the renal vessels may detect occult metastasis and be of help in tailoring appropriate adjuvant treatment as well as giving useful information about the prognosis.

open access: Advanced ovarian cancer: what should be the standard of care?

Advanced ovarian cancer: what should be the standard of care?

"....Substantial progress is being made in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian, tubal, and peritoneal cancers. We are beginning to understand the molecular heterogeneity of these tumors and how we can use this information to produce less toxic and more targeted therapies. Historical treatment paradigms in ovarian cancer are being challenged and are evolving. In 2013, surgery does remain the cornerstone of diagnosis and treatment, but ongoing studies will better define when to use neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We also expect clinical trials to guide optimal use of intraperitoneal, dose dense, antiangiogenic therapies and targeted maintenance therapies in both the up front and recurrent disease setting. Finally, there are a large number of clinical trials being conducted by cooperative groups and single institutions that are targeting the underlying molecular biology of ovarian cancer. It is likely in the near future that histology will be less important than knowing the molecular alterations in various pathways, which in turn will predict response to certain types of drugs. The promise of personalized medicine is rapidly becoming a reality for the treatment of ovarian cancer and will need to be a factor in future clinical trials."

see also:
Table 1
Response rates of chemotherapy in platinum resistant ovarian cancer

open access: Diagnostic Value of Human Epididymis Protein 4 Compared with Mesothelin for Ovarian Cancer: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

SMRP = soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP); note limitations of analysis as indicated in the paper

Diagnostic Value of Human Epididymis Protein 4 Comparedwith Mesothelin for Ovarian Cancer: a Systematic Review andMeta-analysis


"The current meta-analysis results showed that the
diagnostic accuracy of HE4 to differentiate ovarian
cancer from benign gynecologic diseases was better than
that of SMRP. The combination of two or more tumor
markers seems to be more sensitive and specific. Based
on the gathered data, the serum tumor marker CA-125,
in combination with HE4 or SMRP, can be used to help
predict the presence of malignancies in patients with a
pelvic mass."

open access: Clear cell histology as a poor prognostic factor for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: a single institutional case series through central pathologic review

Clear cell histology as a poor prognostic factor for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: a single institutional case series through central pathologic review

"....  Clear cell carcinoma (CCC) of the ovary is a distinctive histological subtype characterized by clear cells growing in solid/tubular or glandular patterns as well as hobnail cells [8]. The proportion of clear cell carcinoma is relatively low in non-Japanese population, ranging from 3.7% to 12.1% [9-12]. However, in Japan, CCC accounted for 24.2% of all epithelial ovarian cancers, and the proportion has been increasing [13]. A report demonstrated the age-standardized rate (ASR) of CCC was significantly increased in not only older ages (>50), but also in younger ages (<50) [14]...."

"....According to recent reports comparing survival of CCC patients with that of SAC cases, there have been no significant difference of OS between those two histologic subtypes among stage I carcinomas of ovary demonstrated [9,11,15]. On the other hand, a study based on Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database suggested that the patients with stage I CCC had poorer OS than patients with SAC [4]. However, other clinicopathologic factors such as peritoneal cytology, chemotherapy, and extent of surgical staging were not available in the data from SEER, although the independent poor prognostic factors of pT1M0 CCC were positive peritoneal cytology [23]. A subset analysis of a prospective phase III trial enrolling early-stage ovarian cancers revealed that there were no significant difference of PFS and OS between CCC and SAC [21]. Of note, Sugiyama et al. [15] suggested that OS of stage IC CCC was worse than that of stage IC SAC, although p-value did not reach a statistical significance. On the other hand, a consensus report from the first ovarian clear cell symposium suggested that early-stage CCC had a better outcome than that of high grade SAC of same stage; however, the results were not based on multivariate analyses [22]. The present study demonstrated that CCC histology was not a prognostic factor in stage I disease, and that peritoneal cytology was the only significant factor for PFS and OS. The results suggested by Sugiyama et al. [15] were in agreement of the present study, in that the status of peritoneal cytology was important for early-stage CCC ovarian cancers [23,24]. For the analysis of early-stage ovarian tumors, clinicopathologic factors including peritoneal cytology seem to be inevitable, as CCC showed chemo-resistant phenotype....."

Why Are Only 3% of US Cancer Patients in Clinical Trials?

Why Are Only 3% of US Cancer Patients in Clinical Trials?

What GINA Misses | The Daily Scan | GenomeWeb

What GINA Misses | The Daily Scan | GenomeWeb

Simulation-Based Trial of Surgical-Crisis Checklists — NEJM

Simulation-Based Trial of Surgical-Crisis Checklists — NEJM

Checklists can help in surgical crises, too: study | Modern Healthcare

Checklists can help in surgical crises, too: study | Modern Healthcare

Utility of prognostic genomic tests in breast cancer practice: The IMPAKT 2012 Working Group Consensus Statement

Utility of prognostic genomic tests in breast cancer practice: The IMPAKT 2012 Working Group Consensus Statement

Abstract

Background We critically evaluated the available evidence on genomic tests in breast cancer to define their prognostic ability and likelihood to determine treatment benefit.

Design Independent evaluation of six genomic tests [Oncotype Dx™, MammaPrint^®, Genomic Grade Index, PAM50 (ROR-S), Breast Cancer Index, and EndoPredict] was carried out by a panel of experts in three parameters: analytical validity, clinical validity, and clinical utility based on the principles of the EGAPP criteria.

Panel statements The majority of the working group members found the available evidence on the analytical and clinical validity of Oncotype Dx™ and MammaPrint^® to be convincing. None of the genomic tests demonstrated robust evidence of clinical utility: it was not clear from the current evidence that modifying treatment decisions based on the results of a given genomic test could result in improving clinical outcome.

Conclusions The IMPAKT 2012 Working Group proposed the following recommendations: (i) a need to develop models that integrate clinicopathologic factors along with genomic tests; (ii) demonstration of clinical utility should be made in the context of a prospective randomized trial; and (iii) the creation of registries for patients who are subjected to genomic testing in the daily practice.

 

PAX8 is a novel marker for differentiating between various types of tumor, particularly ovarian epithelial carcinomas (Review)

Blogger's Note: click on 'download pdf' for full paper; also see GeneCards for further information on PAX8

PAX8 is a novel marker for differentiating between various types of tumor, particularly ovarian epithelial carcinomas (Review)

Abstract:

Paired‑box gene 8 (PAX8) encodes a transcription factor associated with important roles in embryogenesis and disease, and is a member of the PAX gene family. PAX8 has been demonstrated to be crucial in determining cell fate during the development of the thyroid, kidney, brain, eyes and Müllerian system and regulates expression of the Wilms' tumor suppressor gene (WT1). Several previous studies have reported that PAX8 is expressed at high levels in specific types of tumor, including thyroid and renal carcinomas and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. In addition, PAX8 has been reported to be useful for the detection and differential diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma. The consistency of PAX8 staining in epithelial ovarian carcinomas (EOCs) and the fallopian tube has provided morphological evidence that EOC may originate from the fallopian tube. The molecular mechanism of PAX8 in the carcinogenesis of these tumors remains unclear and requires further studies.