Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Mar 2014
Review Meta AnalysisA systematic review and meta-analysis on the use of traditional Chinese medicine compound kushen injection for bone cancer pain.
Bone cancer pain presents a clinical challenge with limitations of current treatments. Compound kushen injection (CKI) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulation in treatment of patients with bone cancer pain. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of CKI for bone cancer pain. ⋯ This systematic review showed positive but weak evidence of CKI for bone cancer pain because of the poor methodological quality and the small quantity of the included trials. Future rigorously designed RCTs are required.
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Support Care Cancer · Mar 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialDelaying skeletal-related events in a randomized phase 3 study of denosumab versus zoledronic acid in patients with advanced cancer: an analysis of data from patients with solid tumors.
Bone complications of metastatic disease, including skeletal-related events (SREs), impair patients' functioning and quality of life. In a randomized, phase 3 trial of 1,776 patients with metastases from solid tumors (except breast or prostate) or multiple myeloma, denosumab was non-inferior to zoledronic acid (ZA) in delaying or preventing SREs. This ad hoc analysis reports outcomes in the subgroup of 1,597 patients with solid tumors, excluding patients with multiple myeloma. ⋯ Denosumab was more effective in delaying or preventing SREs in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors and also prevented pain progression compared to ZA in this ad hoc analysis.
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Support Care Cancer · Mar 2014
ReviewThe end-of-life phase of high-grade glioma patients: a systematic review.
High-grade gliomas (HGG) are rare and incurable; yet, these neoplasms result in a disproportionate share of cancer morbidity and mortality. Treatment of HGG patients is directed not merely towards prolonging life but also towards quality of life, which becomes the major goal in the end of life (EOL). The latter has received increasing attention over the last decade. ⋯ The EOL phase of HGG is substantially different from other patient groups, and more clinical studies in HGG on supportive medication, advance care planning and decision making are required. The organization of care, development of guidelines and interventions to decrease caregiver burden in the EOL phase are critical as well.
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Support Care Cancer · Mar 2014
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialA prospective, open-label, multicenter study of the clinical efficacy of extended-release hydromorphone in treating cancer pain inadequately controlled by other analgesics.
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether extended-release hydromorphone (osmotic-controlled release oral delivery system [OROS] hydromorphone) treatment provided pain relief in cancer patients whose pain was inadequately controlled by other analgesics. ⋯ This study suggested that active pain management using the strong opioid OROS hydromorphone was beneficial in the management of cancer pain that was not controlled by other analgesics.
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Support Care Cancer · Mar 2014
Psychometric evaluation of the Sibling Cancer Needs Instrument (SCNI): an instrument to assess the psychosocial unmet needs of young people who are siblings of cancer patients.
The current study sought to establish the psychometric properties of the revised Sibling Cancer Needs Instrument (SCNI) when completed by young people who have a brother or sister with cancer. ⋯ The SCNI is the first measure of psychosocial unmet needs which has been developed for young people who have a brother or sister with cancer. The sound psychometric properties allow the instrument to be used with confidence. The measure will provide a substantial clinical benefit in highlighting the unmet needs of this population to assist with the prioritisation of targeted supportive care services and evaluating the impact of interventions targeted at siblings.