British journal of cancer
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British journal of cancer · Apr 2013
Does referral to specialist paediatric palliative care services reduce hospital admissions in oncology patients at the end of life?
Despite advances in the treatment of childhood cancer, some children continue to die from their disease. This study aimed to assess the impact of specialist paediatric palliative care services (SPPCSs) on the number of hospital admissions in children who subsequently died from cancer in Yorkshire, UK. ⋯ Referral to SPPCS significantly reduced the number of planned hospital admissions for children and young people with cancer before their death, which are often integral to paediatric oncology treatment regimens. Overall, our findings show that SPPCS have a role in reducing hospital admissions during end of life care of paediatric cancer patients with potential personal, social and economic benefits.
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British journal of cancer · Apr 2013
Using macrophage activation to augment immunotherapy of established tumours.
Successful immunotherapy will require alteration of the tumour microenvironment and/or decreased immune suppression. Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) are one major factor affecting tumour microenvironment. We hypothesised that altering TAM phenotype would augment the efficacy of immunotherapy. ⋯ Modulating intratumoural macrophages dramatically augmented the effect of immunotherapy. Our observations suggest that addition of agents that activate TAMs to immunotherapy should be considered in future trials.
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British journal of cancer · Mar 2013
Multicenter StudyRidaforolimus as a single agent in advanced endometrial cancer: results of a single-arm, phase 2 trial.
This open-label, multicentre, phase 2 trial evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor ridaforolimus in women with advanced endometrial cancer. ⋯ Single-agent ridaforolimus has antitumor activity and acceptable tolerability in advanced endometrial cancer patients. Further clinical evaluation of ridaforolimus is warranted.
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British journal of cancer · Mar 2013
Breast cancer survival and stage at diagnosis in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the UK, 2000-2007: a population-based study.
We investigate whether differences in breast cancer survival in six high-income countries can be explained by differences in stage at diagnosis using routine data from population-based cancer registries. ⋯ International differences in breast cancer survival are partly explained by differences in stage at diagnosis, and partly by differences in stage-specific survival. Low overall survival arises if the stage distribution is adverse (e.g. Denmark) but stage-specific survival is normal; or if the stage distribution is typical but stage-specific survival is low (e.g. UK). International differences in staging diagnostics and stage-specific cancer therapies should be investigated.
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British journal of cancer · Feb 2013
Multicenter StudyValidation of the EORTC QLQ-GINET21 questionnaire for assessing quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumours.
Quality of life is an important end point in clinical trials, yet there are few quality of life questionnaires for neuroendocrine tumours. ⋯ The QLQ-GINET21 is a valid and responsive tool for assessing quality of life in the gut, pancreas and liver neuroendocrine tumours.