The oncologist
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The aim of this study was to assess the patients' global impression (PGI) after symptom management, as well as the achievement of personalized symptom goals (PSG). The secondary outcome was to assess related factors. ⋯ Personalized symptom goals and global impression of change are relevant for patients' assessment and decision-making process, translating in terms of therapeutic intervention. Some factors may be implicated in determining the individual target and clinical response.
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In the phase III CORRECT trial, regorafenib significantly improved survival in treatment-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The CONSIGN study was designed to further characterize regorafenib safety and allow patients access to regorafenib before market authorization. ⋯ Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who fail treatment with standard therapies, including chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies targeting vascular endothelial growth factor or epidermal growth factor receptor, have few treatment options. The multikinase inhibitor regorafenib was shown to improve survival in patients with treatment-refractory mCRC in the phase III CORRECT (N = 760) and CONCUR (N = 204) trials. However, safety data on regorafenib for mCRC in a larger number of patients were not available. The CONSIGN trial, carried out prospectively in more than 2,800 patients across 25 countries, confirmed the safety profile of regorafenib from the phase III trials and reinforced the importance of using treatment modifications to manage adverse events.
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The findings of this prospective, single-arm, phase II study showed that neoadjuvant erlotinib was well tolerated and might improve the radical resection rate in patients with stage IIIA-N2 epidermal growth factor receptor mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Erlotinib shows promise as a neoadjuvant therapy option in this patient population.Next-generation sequencing may be useful for predicting outcomes with preoperative tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with NSCLC.Large-scale randomized controlled trials investigating the role of TKIs in perioperative therapy, combining neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatments to enhance personalized therapy for patients in this precision medicine era, are warranted. ⋯ Neoadjuvant erlotinib was well tolerated and may improve the radical resection rate in this patient population. Next-generation sequencing may predict outcomes with preoperative TKIs.
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Immuno‐oncology has been heralded as a breakthrough cancer treatment, and Chinese researchers have emerged as important contributors to this area of research. The Immuno‐Oncology Special Issue highlights articles by researchers in China, focusing on immunotherapy for various cancer types from different perspectives for the benefit of our readers.
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National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline-based treatment is a marker of high-quality care. The impact of guideline discordance on cost and health care utilization is unclear. ⋯ Previous studies lack details about types of deviations from chemotherapy guidelines that occur in older early-stage breast cancer patients. Understanding the patterns of guideline discordance and its impact on patient outcomes will be particularly important for these patients. This study found 16% received guideline-discordant care, predominantly related to reduced intensity treatment and associated with higher costs and rates of health care utilization. Increasing older adult participation in clinical trials should be a priority in order to fill the knowledge gap about how to treat older, less fit patients with breast cancer.