European journal of cancer : official journal for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) [and] European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)
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Multicenter Study
Complementary and alternative treatment methods in children with cancer: A population-based retrospective survey on the prevalence of use in Germany.
Few studies have been conducted to date on the prevalence of use of complementary and alternative treatment methods (CAMs) in paediatric oncology, and those that have been conducted are often not representative. We therefore decided to study a representative sample of children with cancer in the German population. ⋯ CAMs are administered alongside standard therapy to 35% of children with cancer in Germany, usually by the parents. Prospective studies on the effects and side-effects of the most frequently used methods are urgently needed, and paediatric oncologists should have sufficient knowledge of CAM to enable them to advise parents professionally and competently about these treatments, too.
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Gene expression profiling has been extensively used to predict outcome in breast cancer patients. We have previously reported on biological hypothesis-driven analysis of gene expression profiling data and we wished to extend this approach through the combinations of various gene signatures to improve the prediction of outcome in breast cancer. ⋯ A combination of biological gene expression signatures can be used to identify a powerful and independent predictor for outcome in breast cancer patients.
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To determine if patients with advanced cancer are interested in participation in palliative care research, particularly RCTs, and the importance of demographic factors in decision making. It sought relatives' views towards supporting trial entry, and assessed if demographic factors can predict participation. ⋯ Despite the likely absence of individual benefit, many patients appear willing to participate in palliative care research. Trial design and the possibility of side-effects proved very influential in their decision making. Clinical trials in palliative care are more likely to be successful if developed in accordance with the views of patients and their relatives.
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To identify the risk of lung metastases at the time of diagnosis in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and to establish the optimum imaging strategy for the diagnosis of these metastases and whether this affects outcome. ⋯ We recommend that all patients with a suspected STS should have a CXR at presentation, prior to histological diagnosis. CT of the chest should then be performed in those patients with an abnormality on the presentation CXR and routinely in those patients who have large, deep seated or high/intermediate grade tumours and in certain histological subtypes where the incidence of lung metastases at diagnosis is known to be high. In our experience, this strategy will detect 93% of all chest metastases. With current treatment strategies for metastases, outcome is not likely to be affected by any delay in diagnosis.
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Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a major dose limiting side effect of many commonly used chemotherapeutic agents, including platinum drugs, taxanes, epothilones and vinca alkaloids, and also newer agents such as bortezomib and lenolidamide. Symptom control studies have been conducted looking at ways to prevent or alleviate established CIPN. This manuscript provides a review of studies directed at both of these areas. ⋯ Effective treatment of established CIPN, however, has yet to be found. Lastly, paclitaxel causes a unique acute pain syndrome which has been hypothesised to be caused by neurologic injury. No drugs, to date, have been proven to prevent this toxicity.