NEPA efficacy and tolerability during (neo)adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin.

OBJECTIVES: This is a prospective study evaluating NEPA in patients with breast cancer (the NEPA group), who received (neo)adjuvant AC chemotherapy (consisting of doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2). The primary objectives were to assess the efficacy and safety of NEPA in controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). The secondary objectives were to compare CINV between the NEPA group and historical controls (the APR group) who received aprepitant in an earlier prospective randomised study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 60 patients participated in the NEPA group; 62 were in the APR group. Eligibility criteria of both groups were similar, that is, Chinese patients with breast cancer who were treated with (neo)adjuvant AC. NEPA group received NEPA and dexamethasone; APR group received aprepitant, ondansetron and dexamethasone. Individuals filled in self-reported diary, visual analogue scale for nausea and Functional Living Index-Emesis questionnaire. RESULTS: Within the NEPA group, 70.0%, 85.7% and 60.0%, respectively reported complete response in the acute, delayed and overall phases in cycle 1 AC. When compared with the historical APR group during cycle 1 AC, NEPA group achieved significantly higher rates of complete response, complete protection, total control, 'no significant nausea' and 'no nausea' in the delayed phase; similar findings were noted in the overall phase with significantly better quality of life. Superior efficacy of NEPA was maintained over multiple cycles. Both antiemetic regimens were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: In this study on Chinese patients with breast cancer who were uniformly receiving AC, NEPA was effective in controlling CINV. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03386617.

Psychometric properties and correlates of Chinese version of Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS-10) in people with common mental disorders with different employment Statuses.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Several studies have indicated that stress is associated with common mental disorders, and work stress trebles the risk of developing them. However, a validated assessment tool for measuring and establishing psychological stress correlates in this group of clients remains unavailable. The objectives of the present study were to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (CPSS-10) on people with common mental disorders with different employment statuses and explore its correlates. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-two participants with common mental disorders were recruited. The data were analysed through exploratory factor and confirmatory analyses to investigate construct validity. The convergent and discriminant validities were examined based on their correlation with other measures, while the internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach's α coefficient. A t-test was used to detect differences between groups. The CPSS-10 correlates were explored using multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Principal component analysis with varimax rotation yielded two factors, which accounted for 63.82% of the total variance, while confirmatory factor analysis confirmed its factor structure. The CPSS-10 had a positively moderate to strong correlation with other measures, thereby indicating its acceptable convergent and discriminant validities. The internal consistency ranged from acceptable to good for the two subscales and ten overall items, while the item-total correlation was adequate except for the seventh item. There were no group differences in gender nor employment status. Finally, the CPSS-10 predictors were studied. CONCLUSION: The CPSS-10 is a reliable and valid instrument for people with common mental disorders with different employment statuses.

Upfront consolidation treatment with 131I-mIbG followed by myeloablative chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in high-risk neuroblastoma.

IMPORTANCE: 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-mIBG) has a significant targeted antitumor effect for neuroblastoma. However, currently there is a paucity of data for the use of 131I-mIBG as a "front-line" therapeutic agent in those patients with newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma as part of the conditioning regimen for myeloablative chemotherapy (MAC). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of upfront consolidation treatment with 131I-mIBG plus MAC and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in high-risk neuroblastoma patients. METHODS: A retrospective, single-center study was conducted from 2003-2019 on newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma patients without progressive disease (PD) after the completion of induction therapy. They received 131I-mIBG infusion and MAC followed by HSCT. RESULTS: A total of 24 high-risk neuroblastoma patients were enrolled with a median age of 3.0 years at diagnosis. After receiving this sequential consolidation treatment, 3 of 13 patients who were in partial response (PR) before 131I-mIBG treatment achieved either complete response (CR) (n = 1) or very good partial response (VGPR) (n = 2) after HSCT. With a median follow-up duration of 13.0 months after 131I-mIBG therapy, the 5-year event-free survival and overall survival rates estimated were 29% and 38% for the entire cohort, and 53% and 67% for the patients who were in CR/VGPR at the time of 131I-mIBG treatment. INTERPRETATION: Upfront consolidation treatment with 131I-mIBG plus MAC and HSCT is feasible and tolerable in high-risk neuroblastoma patients, however the survival benefit of this 131I-mIBG regimen is only observed in the patients who were in CR/VGPR at the time of 131I-mIBG treatment.

A randomized study of olanzapine-containing versus standard antiemetic regimens for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in Chinese breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) are distressing symptoms. This randomized study evaluated the antiemetic efficacies of standard antiemetic regimen with/without olanzapine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients were chemotherapy-naive Chinese breast cancer patients who were planned for (neo)adjuvant doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide. Antiemetic regimen for all studied population included aprepitant, ondansetron and dexamethasone; patients were randomized to Olanzapine (with olanzapine) or Standard arms (without olanzapine). Patients filled in self-reported diaries and completed visual analogue scales for nausea, as well as Functional Living Index-Emesis questionnaires. Blood profiles including fasting glucose and lipids were monitored. RESULTS: 120 patients were randomized. In Cycle 1 doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide, the Olanzapine arm had significantly higher rates of "Complete Response" than the Standard arm: 65.0% vs 38.3% in the overall period (p = 0.0035), 70.0% vs 51.7% in the acute period (p = 0.0397) and 92.9% vs 74.2% in the delayed period (p = 0.0254). Olanzapine arm also had significantly higher rates of "No significant nausea" and "No nausea" during all 3 time-frames and better QOL. Similar findings were also revealed throughout multiple cycles. Pre-study abnormalities in glucose and lipids occurred in 39.7% and 34.2% of the studied population respectively; there were no differences in these parameters between the two arms at end-of-study assessment. CONCLUSION: The addition of olanzapine to standard aprepitant-based antiemetic regimen provides clinically meaningful improvement in controlling CINV. This was associated with a positive impact on QOL and tolerable toxicity profiles among Chinese breast cancer patients receiving doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide chemotherapy. Further studies on metabolic profiles of breast cancer patients are warranted.