Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
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To clarify the bereaved family's perceptions about the appropriateness of timing when physicians first referred patients to palliative care units, and to identify the factors contributing to family-perceived late referrals. ⋯ In Japan, the timing of referrals to palliative care units was late or very late from the families' perspectives. The independent determinants of family-perceived late referrals were: family misconception about palliative care, inadequate communication with physicians, and families' insufficient preparation for deterioration of patients' conditions. Systematic strategies to overcome these barriers would contribute to providing appropriate palliative care at all stages of cancer.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Phase III, randomized, double-blind study of epoetin alfa compared with placebo in anemic patients receiving chemotherapy.
To determine whether weekly epoetin alfa could improve hemoglobin (HgB) levels, reduce RBC transfusions, and improve quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced cancer and with anemia after receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy. ⋯ Epoetin alfa significantly improved HgB and reduced transfusions in this patient population. These results support the use of weekly epoetin alfa as an ameliorative agent for cancer-related anemia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy and tolerability of aprepitant for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with breast cancer after moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.
This is the first study in which the NK(1)-receptor antagonist, aprepitant (APR), was evaluated for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) with moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. ⋯ The aprepitant regimen was more effective than the control regimen for prevention of CINV in patients receiving both an anthracycline and cyclophosphamide.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Weekly epoetin alfa maintains hemoglobin, improves quality of life, and reduces transfusion in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
Epoetin alfa administered at 40,000 U once weekly (qw) to anemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy increases hemoglobin levels, improves quality of life (QOL), and reduces transfusions. The benefit of epoetin alfa in maintaining hemoglobin levels in cancer patients with hemoglobin less than 12 g/dL has not been evaluated. ⋯ Epoetin alfa administered at 40,000 U qw is effective in improving QOL, maintaining hemoglobin level, and reducing transfusion requirements in breast cancer patients. The high effectiveness observed could be attributed in part to early treatment with epoetin alfa.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Treatment of nonmetastatic rhabdomyosarcoma in childhood and adolescence: third study of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology--SIOP Malignant Mesenchymal Tumor 89.
To improve outcome for children with nonmetastatic rhabdomyosarcoma and to reduce systematic use of local therapy. ⋯ Selective avoidance of local therapy is justified in some patients, though further work is required to prospectively identify those for whom this is most applicable. Exclusion of alkylating agents is justified for the most favorable subset of patients. The value of the new six-drug chemotherapy combination is being evaluated further in a randomized study (MMT 95).