Anticancer therapy at end-of-life: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of patients with incurable cancer receive systemic anticancer therapy (SACT) within their last 30 days of life (DOL). The treatment has questionable benefit, nevertheless is considered a quality indicator of end-of-life (EOL) care. This retrospective cohort study aims to investigate the rates and potential predictors of SACT and factors associated with SACT within the last 30 DOL. The study also evaluates the scope of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status and the modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) as decision-making tools for oncologists. PATIENTS AND MATERIAL: This review of medical records included 383 patients with non-curable cancer who died between July 2018 and December 2019. Descriptive statistics with Chi-squared tests and regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with SACT within the last 30 DOL. RESULTS: Fifty-seven (15%) patients received SACT within the last 30 DOL. SACT within 30 last DOL was associated with shorter time from diagnosis until death (median 234 days vs. 482, p = 0.008) and ECOG score < 3 30 days prior to death (p = 0.001). Patients receiving SACT during the last 30 DOL were more likely to be hospitalised and die in hospital. ECOG and mGPS score were stated at start last line of treatment only in 139 (51%) and 135 (49%) respectively. INTERPRETATION: Those with short time since diagnosis tended to receive SACT more frequently the last 30 DOL. The use of mGPS as a decision-making tool is modest, and there is lack in documentation of performance status.

Early experiences with PD-1 inhibitor treatment of platinum resistant epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we evaluated the toxicity and clinical efficacy of nivolumab, a programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor, on patients with platinum resistant ovarian cancer. METHODS: Every second week, 18 patients with platinum resistance ovarian cancer received nivolumab until disease progression occurred. We assessed toxicity, disease control rate, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Radiological response evaluation according to irRECIST was performed every 12th week, while clinical evaluation was done every second week. RESULTS: The disease control rate was 44% (95% confidence interval [CI]=19-87) as 8 showed stable disease, 6 showed progressive disease and 4 died before the first radiological response evaluation. The median OS was 30 weeks (95% CI=14-42; range, 3-95), and PFS was 15 weeks (95% CI=13-17). The median follow-up time was 30 weeks (range, 3-123). The rate of grade 2-5 adverse events was 28% (5 out of 18). Two patients (11%) developed grade 2 and 3 adverse events, respectively, while no grade 4 events were observed. One patient died from intestinal perforation, believed to be caused by concomitant bevacizumab rather than nivolumab. CONCLUSION: This study shows few adverse events, and promising clinical efficacy when using nivolumab for ovarian cancer.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy is effective and safe in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer with low performance status and severe comorbidity.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) results and toxicity for stage I non-small cell lung cancer patients with low performance status and severe comorbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From September 2008 to April 2010, 36 patients with 38 lesions were treated with hypofractionated SBRT. All except one were medically inoperable, had low performance status and/or severe cardiovascular and/or cardiopulmonary comorbidity. The patients were immobilized in an Elekta stereotactic body frame to improve setup accuracy, and four-dimensional CT scans were used for target delineation. Fractions of 15 Gy were prescribed to cover the planning target volume, giving a total dose of 45 Gy, with 1 fraction every second day. Cone beam CT was applied at each fraction to correct for setup errors. The patients were followed with toxicity evaluation and radiographic follow-up. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 13.8 months (0-21 months). The local tumor control after 12 months was 100%. Four patients developed regional relapse about 12 months after SBRT. The 1-year disease-free survival was 83%. The median tumor shrinkage at 1 year was 22 mm. Three patients experienced systemic relapse after 13 months. One patient developed grade 3 chest pain toxicity and 16 patients reported temporary grade 1 chest pain toxicity. Two patients reported temporary increased dyspnea. No patient experienced a reduction of the performance status after SBRT. CONCLUSION: SBRT is an effective and safe treatment modality for elderly patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, having low performance status and severe comorbidity. It is possible to achieve high local control rates with good tolerance.

Excessive Soft Tissue Reaction after Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in a Woman with Four Different Cancer Diagnoses.

Patients experiencing several cancers can be a challenge, as optimal treatment options for the different cancers might interfere with each other. In this case report, we present a woman diagnosed with 4 different types of cancer. She was treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Her performance status was generally good, and she tolerated the treatment very well, except some troublesome side effects in the thoracic soft tissue after stereotactic body radiotherapy.

Psychosocial rehabilitation and satisfaction with life in adults with childhood-onset of end-stage renal disease.

Little information is available on vocational rehabilitation and satisfaction with the quality of life in adult patients with early onset of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). A sample of 39 patients (mean age =26.7+/-6, range, 18 to 43 years, n =13 on dialysis, n =26 transplanted successfully) were required to report data on their vocational qualification and employment, and their degree of general and health-related satisfaction with life was surveyed. Data on psychosocial rehabilitation were collected by a structured questionnaire, whereas satisfaction with the quality of life was assessed with the standardized "Questionnaire on Satisfaction in Life (FLZ)." Fifty-eight percent of the patients had left school with certificates equivalent to high school graduation, 87% had completed vocational training and 67% were in paid employment. Forty-nine percent lived on their own or with a partner and 72% fully or partly earned their own living. The mean general and health-related satisfaction with life is significantly reduced compared to the general population. The patients were least satisfied in the areas 'partnership/sexuality' and 'family life/offspring' in general, as well as 'physical condition' and 'ability to relax' within health-orientated satisfaction. Final mean body height was 167.6+/-11.9 (SDS -1.54+/-1.59) for male and 153.77+/-8.29 for female patients (SDS -1.58+/-1.54). Thirty-six percent reported to be dissatisfied with their present body height compared to 4% of age-matched healthy controls. Positive perception of quality of life was significantly correlated to satisfaction with adult height ( r =0.41, P =0.008). Vocational rehabilitation of adult patients with early onset of ESRD achieves lower values than among the general population, however, more favorable percentages than among young adult patients or patients with adult onset of ESRD. The patients' self-evaluation of both their general and health-related quality of life proves to be clearly muted, which is a clear indication of the physical and psychological strain of living with a chronic disease.

Advanced coronary and carotid arteriopathy in young adults with childhood-onset chronic renal failure.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular mortality is excessive in young adults with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The factors contributing to ESRD-related vascular disease are incompletely understood. Young adults with childhood-onset chronic renal failure (CRF) are uniquely suited for risk factor assessment because of their long-term exposure at an age when vascular pathology in the general population is still minimal. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used novel noninvasive technologies to screen for coronary and carotid artery disease in 39 patients with ESRD aged 19 to 39 years with childhood-onset CRF presently treated by dialysis or renal transplantation. Coronary artery calcification burden was assessed by CT scan with ECG gating and the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries by high-resolution ultrasound. Coronary artery calcifications were present in 92% of patients; calcium scores exceeded the 95th age- and sex-specific percentiles >10-fold on average. Carotid IMT was significantly increased compared with matched control subjects. Both coronary calcium scores and IMT were associated with cumulative dialysis and ESRD time and the cumulative serum calcium-phosphate product. Coronary calcium scores were strongly correlated with C-reactive protein and Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity, time-averaged mean serum parathyroid hormone, and plasma homocysteine. C-reactive protein and parathyroid hormone independently predicted coronary calcium accumulation. Smoking, obesity, and HbA1c were correlated with IMT in the control subjects but not in the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults with childhood-onset CRF have a high prevalence of arteriopathy associated with indicators of microinflammation, hyperparathyroidism, calcium-phosphate overload, and hyperhomocysteinemia but not traditional atherogenic risk factors. These risk factors persist even after successful renal transplantation.