Beate Hornemann

Patients’ perspectives on palliative chemotherapy of colorectal and non - colorectal cancer: a prospective study in a chemotherapy- experienced population

BackgroundA better understanding of patients’ views on the benefit and burden obtained from palliative chemotherapy would facilitate shared decision making. We evaluated palliative cancer patients’ reported outcomes (PROs) for toxicity and investigated the survival threshold for which they would repeat chemotherapy (CTx).MethodsPatients who had received a minimum of three months of palliative CTx for advanced colorectal (CRC) or non-colorectal (non-CRC: upper gastrointestinal, lung and head-and-neck) cancer were assessed by questionnaire. Patients were questioned about PROs for toxicity, subjective burden from side effects, and were asked for the survival threshold necessary for them to repeat CTx. Expected survival (sum of indicated survival threshold and median survival time with best supportive care) was compared to the patients’ actual survival.ResultsOne hundred and thirty-four patients (CRC: 58; non-CRC: 76) were surveyed. The most frequent PRO- grade 3/4 toxicities were acne (12.8%), fatigue (9.0%), and diarrhea (8.5%). The symptom causing the highest subjective burden was fatigue and was worse than expected in 29.9% of the patients. The median survival threshold for which patients would repeat CTx was significantly longer in CRC than in non-CRC patients (p=0.01). Median expected survival was significantly longer than actual median survival (CRC: 44.0 months [22.0-65.9] compared with 30.0 months of actual survival [20.9-39.1]; non-CRC: 22.0 months [15.3-28.6] compared with 19.0 months of actual survival [15.1-22.9], p=0.03).ConclusionFatigue deserves more attention when toxicity of treatment and symptoms of disease are explained to patients. Patients’ survival expectations from palliative chemotherapy are higher than previously described, exceed the median survival time known from phase III trials, and are significantly longer than their actual survival.

Body image mediates the effect of cancer-related stigmatization on depression: A new target for intervention

Because cancer‐related stigmatization is prevalent but difficult to change, research on its impact on psychological burden and respective intervening variables is needed. Therefore, we investigated the effect of stigmatization on depressive symptomatology and whether body image mediates this relationship.

Effects of a home-based exercise program on physical capacity and fatigue in patients with low to intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndrome-a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION Fatigue is a frequent and disabling symptom in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). There is evidence for the benefit of exercise on fatigue in haematological malignancies, but clinical trials targeting patients with MDS do not exist. METHODS A prospective, non-randomized feasibility trial was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of a home-based exercise intervention in patients with MDS. Exercise schedule contained endurance or strength training in daily turns over 12 weeks. Outcome measures included 6-min walking distance (6-MWD), an ergometer check, strength measurement of lower limb, abdomen and back, quality of life and fatigue. RESULTS Twenty-one patients (13 male, 8 female) were included. Median age was 66 years (range 29-87). Fifteen patients (71%) continued the program till week 12 (T1), of whom eleven patients met criteria for program completion. There were no adverse events reported due to the intervention. 6-MWD significantly improved from 580m at T0 to 645m at T1 (p<0.05). Fatigue scores did not significantly change over time (MFI: 12.8 vs. 12.3 vs. 11.9; QLQ-C30 fatigue scale: 48.2 vs. 46.7 vs. 47.4). CONCLUSION These data provide evidence that an unsupervised outpatient exercise program is feasible and can improve physical capacity. Randomized, controlled studies implementing these interventions are warranted.

Long-term quality of life in inoperable non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with conventionally fractionated compared to hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy – Results of the randomized CHARTWEL trial

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) of patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer treated with conventionally fractionated radiotherapy (CF) vs. continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy weekend-less (CHARTWEL). MATERIAL AND METHODS The largest monocentric subgroup of the phase III CHARTWEL trial was analyzed up to three years after randomization. QoL was assessed with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Core Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and lung cancer module (QLQ-LC13) and compared using linear mixed models. QoL interrelations with recurrence, metastasis, and death were explored by multi-state modeling. RESULTS 160 patients (98%) provided at least one QoL assessment. Average treatment differences of CF vs. CHARTWEL over three years were -5.4 points (95%CI [-13.6,2.8], p = 0.19) in global QoL, 11.9 ([2.8,21.0], p = 0.01) in fatigue, 13.4 ([3.5,23.3], p = 0.009) in pain, 10.5 ([1.3,19.6], p = 0.03) in dyspnea, and 5.2 ([-2.7,13.0], p = 0.19) in dysphagia. At 12 months, the probabilities of being disease-free with good, good or moderate, any global QoL, or alive were 5.1%, 20.3%, 34.2%, 54.4% under CF and 10.4%, 21.0%, 37.5%, 65.3% under CHARTWEL. CONCLUSIONS Over three years, QoL was similar or more favorable under CHARTWEL compared to CF. Modeling QoL together with disease states provided additional insight into treatment comparisons.

Ongoing Clinical Trials

CAPP 2 Randomized controlled trial of colorectal polyp and cancer prevention using aspirin and resistant starch in carriers of hereditary nonpoly-posis colon cancer (HNPCC) Prof. John Burn University of Newcastle, UK Phase II, multicenter (33 centers), prospective, double-blind trial Factorial design Regimen: Aspirin 600 mg, resistant starch 30 g for 2-4 years Control: Placebo/active Endpoint: Colorectal neoplasm Patient population: Gene carriers of hereditary HNPCC n=1000 Ongoing (start January 1999; end December 2006) MRC, Cancer Research UK, Bayer AG, National Starch and Chemical Company Ms. Gail Barker Newcastle upon Tyne, UK