Wednesday, March 06, 2013
Patient–physician concordance and discordance in gynecology: Do physicians identify patients’ reasons for visit and do patients understand physicians’ actions?
Blogger's Note: abstract does not specify if gyn cancer patients were/were not included in this study; given past history of ovarian cancer's often 'misdiagnosis' it would seem relevant but may not have been part of the focus in this article; type of counselling? too many questions in the absence of an open access publication
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Abstract:
Communication study
Objective
To
assess physician–patient concordance on reasons for consultation and
actions taken during consultation in five different gynecological
practices, and to investigate patient and physician factors influencing
discordance in reporting.
Effects of screening for psychological distress on patient outcomes in cancer: A systematic review
Effects of screening for psychological distress on patient outcomes in cancer: A systematic review
Conclusion
Treatment studies reported modest improvement in distress symptoms, but only a single eligible study was found on the effects of screening cancer patients for distress, and distress did not improve in screened patients versus those receiving usual care. Because of the lack of evidence of beneficial effects of screening cancer patients for distress, it is premature to recommend or mandate implementation of routine screening.Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Factors Affecting Visualisation of Postmenopausal Ovaries - Descriptive Study from the Multicentre United Kingdom Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS)
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:
Transvaginal scanning is core to any ovarian cancer (OC) screening strategy. General population screening involves older postmenopausal women in whom ovarian visualisation is difficult due to decreasing ovarian size and lack of follicular activity. We report on factors affecting visualisation of postmenopausal ovaries in the multicentre United Kingdom Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS)......
Observer bias in randomized clinical trials with measurement scale outcomes: a systematic review of trials with both blinded and nonblinded assessors [Research]
Observer bias in randomized clinical trials with measurement scale outcomes: a systematic review of trials with both blinded and nonblinded assessors [Research]:
Background:
Clinical trials are commonly done without blinded outcome assessors despite the risk of bias. We wanted to evaluate the effect of nonblinded outcome assessment on estimated effects in randomized clinical trials with outcomes that involved subjective measurement scales.
Interpretation:
We provide empirical evidence for observer bias in randomized clinical trials with subjective measurement scale outcomes. A failure to blind assessors of outcomes in such trials results in a high risk of substantial bias.
Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance (new awareness/symptoms study underway)
Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance - COCA News Updates
"In a study, that COCA is proudly funding, a group of researchers with ties to the University of Colorado, Regis University and other organizations, have joined together and designed a study to determine the current level of knowledge (awareness of signs and symptoms) of ovarian cancer in Colorado among women and primary health care providers."
Common Cancer Vaccine Ingredient Diverts T Cells From Tumors
Common Cancer Vaccine Ingredient Diverts T Cells From Tumors
" Cancer vaccines that attempt to stimulate an immune system assault fail because the killer T cells aimed at tumors instead find the vaccination site a more inviting target, scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report in Nature Medicine.....
Cigarette smoking and risk of ovarian cancer: a pooled analysis of 21 case–control studies
Abstract
Purpose
The majority of
previous studies have observed an increased risk of mucinous ovarian
tumors associated with cigarette smoking, but the association with other
histological types is unclear. In a large pooled analysis, we examined
the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer associated with multiple measures
of cigarette smoking with a focus on characterizing risks according to
tumor behavior and histology.
FDA Panel Nixes 2 Nonhormonal Drugs for Hot Flashes
FDA Panel Nixes 2 Nonhormonal Drugs for Hot Flashes
"The FDA is expected to make a decision on gabapentin by May 31 and on Noven's paroxetine mesylate by June 28. The agency does not have to follow the advice of its advisory committees, but it usually does."
Monday, March 04, 2013
notice: Canadian Health Coalition | Pharmacare 2013 Conference
Canadian Health Coalition | Pharmacare 2013 Conference
Pharmacare has many advantages. It would provide equal access to prescription drugs, replacing our uneven patchwork of provincial programs and private insurance at work. It would also control costs by allowing providers to negotiate good prices and reducing administrative costs. A national pharmacare program could improve drug safety and improve prescribing practices as well. Like so many other industrialized countries, Canada can afford a national drug plan. We already pay for our drugs — but pharmacare would let us do so more effectively, more economically and more fairly.
A “field in motion” Cancer LIvES (Lifestyle Intervention for Ovarian Cancer Enhanced Survival)
open access:
"Most people agree that physical fitness is good for one's overall health, but some researchers are taking that knowledge a step further and asking whether exercise can prevent cancer from developing or recurring.....
(Lynch Syndrome) Are the common genetic variants associated with colorectal cancer risk for DNA mismatch repair gene mutation carriers?
Blogger's Note: while this pertains to Lynch Syndrome, we need to be reminded that specific and targeted research is still in very early stages (human genome)
Abstract:
Background
Genome-wide association studies have identified at least 15 independent common genetic variants associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. The aim of this study was to investigate whether 11 of these variants are associated with CRC risk for carriers of germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes.Conclusions
We found no evidence that the SNPs associated with CRC in the general population are modifiers of the risk for MMR gene mutation carriers overall, and therefore any evidence of proven clinical utility in Lynch syndrome.Plasma MicroRNAs as Novel Biomarkers for Endometriosis and Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Cancer
Abstract:
Purpose: Endometriosis, a
largely benign, chronic inflammatory disease, is an independent risk
factor for endometrioid and clear cell
epithelial ovarian tumors. We aimed to identify
plasma miRNAs that can be used to differentiate patients with
endometriosis
and ovarian cancer from healthy individuals.
Sunday, March 03, 2013
Saturday, March 02, 2013
Markers of Response for the Antiangiogenic Agent Bevacizumab
Abstract:
"Bevacizumab
is the first antiangiogenic therapy proven to slow metastatic disease
progression in patients with cancer. Although it has changed clinical
practice, some patients do not respond or gradually develop resistance,
resulting in rather modest gains in terms of overall survival. A major
challenge is to develop robust biomarkers that can guide selection of
patients for whom bevacizumab therapy is most beneficial. Here, we
discuss recent progress in finding such markers, including the first
results from randomized phase III clinical trials evaluating the
efficacy of bevacizumab in combination with comprehensive biomarker
analyses. In particular, these studies suggest that circulating levels
of short vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) isoforms,
expression of neuropilin-1 and VEGF receptor 1 in tumors or plasma, and
genetic variants in VEGFA or its receptors are strong biomarker
candidates. The current challenge is to expand this first set of markers
and to validate it and implement it into clinical practice. A first
prospective biomarker study known as MERiDiAN, which will treat patients
stratified for circulating levels of short VEGF-A isoforms with
bevacizumab and paclitaxel, is planned and will hopefully provide us
with new directions on how to treat patients more efficiently."
financial news: Endocyte's Investigational Diagnostic Imaging Agent Etarfolatide Identifies Ovarian Cancer and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Most Likely to Benefit From Folate Receptor-Targeted Treatment, New Analysis Shows
"Vintafolide and etarfolatide are currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 randomized, double-blind clinical trial for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROCEED trial; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01170650)"
Managing incidental genomic findings: legal obligations of clinicians : Genetics in Medicine : Nature Publishing Group
Blogger's Note: there has been, as noted, extensive debate concerning this particular and complex issue
Abstract:
Purpose:
Clinical whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing will
result in a broad range of incidental findings, but clinicians’
obligations to identify and disclose such findings are a matter of
debate. We sought legal cases that could offer insights into clinicians’
legal liability.
PLOS ONE: Paclitaxel Resistance and Multicellular Spheroid Formation Are Induced by Kallikrein-Related Peptidase 4 in Serous Ovarian Cancer Cells in an Ascites Mimicking Microenvironment
PLOS ONE: Paclitaxel Resistance and Multicellular Spheroid Formation Are Induced by Kallikrein-Related Peptidase 4 in Serous Ovarian Cancer Cells in an Ascites Mimicking Microenvironment
"....Nonetheless, these data suggest that KLK4 inhibition, in conjunction with paclitaxel, may improve the outcome for women with serous epithelial ovarian cancer and high KLK4 levels in their tumors."
2012 Cochrane Review: Robotic assisted surgery for gynaecological cancer
Review:
Abstract
Background
Objectives
2013 Cochrane Review: Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in combination with surgery for ovarian carcinosarcoma including plain language summary
Review:
Abstract
Background
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