Cancer
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Several large, randomized trials established the benefits of adjuvant trastuzumab with chemotherapy. However, the benefit for women with small, node-negative HER2-positive (HER2+) disease is unknown, as these patients were largely excluded from these trials. Therefore, a retrospective, single-institution, sequential cohort study of women with small, node-negative, HER2+ breast cancer who did or did not receive adjuvant trastuzumab was conducted. ⋯ Women with small, node-negative, HER2+ primary breast cancers likely derive significant benefit from adjuvant trastuzumab with chemotherapy.
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Understanding racial differences in disease presentation and response to therapy is necessary for the effective treatment and control of prostate cancer. In this study, the authors examined the influence of race on biochemical disease-free survival (BDFS) among men who received prostate brachytherapy. ⋯ AA race appeared to be an independent negative predictor of BDFS after prostate brachytherapy, and this result may highlight the need for more aggressive therapy in this patient population.
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Multicenter Study
Support of cancer patients' spiritual needs and associations with medical care costs at the end of life.
Although spiritual care is associated with less aggressive medical care at the end of life (EOL), it remains infrequent. It is unclear if the omission of spiritual care impacts EOL costs. ⋯ Cancer patients reporting that their spiritual needs are not well supported by the health care team have higher EOL costs, particularly among minorities and high religious coping patients.