Predicting Chemotherapy Toxicity in Older Patients with Cancer: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Standard oncology tools are inadequate to distinguish which older patients are at higher risk of developing chemotherapy-related complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients over 70 years of age starting new chemotherapy regimens were prospectively included in a multicenter study. A prechemotherapy assessment that included sociodemographics, tumor/treatment variables, and geriatric assessment variables was performed. Association between these factors and the development of grade 3-5 toxicity was examined by using logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 551 patients were accrued. Chemotherapy doses (odds ratio [OR] 1.834; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.237-2.719) and creatinine clearance (OR 0.989; 95% CI 0.981-0.997) were the only factors independently associated with toxicity. Only 19% of patients who received reduced doses of chemotherapy and had a creatinine clearance ≥40 mL/minute had grade 3-4 toxicity, compared with 38% of those who received standard doses or had a creatinine clearance <40 mL/minute (p < .0001). However, no satisfactory multivariate model was obtained using different selection approaches. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy doses and renal function were identified as the major risk factors for developing severe toxicity in the older patient. These factors should be considered when planning to initiate a new chemotherapy regimen and should also lead to a closer follow-up in these patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Older patients are more vulnerable to chemotherapy toxicity. However, standard tools are inadequate to identify who is at higher risk of developing chemotherapy-related complications. Chemotherapy doses (standard vs. reduced) and renal function were identified as the major risk factors for developing severe toxicity in the elderly. These factors should be considered when planning to initiate a new chemotherapy regimen and should also lead to a closer follow-up.

Psychometric properties and factorial analysis of invariance of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) in cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), evaluate the measurement invariance with respect to sex, age, and tumor location, as well as analyze associations between life satisfaction and socio-demographic and clinical variables among individuals with resected, non-advanced cancer. METHODS: A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to explore the dimensionality of the scale and test invariance across gender, age, and tumor localization in a prospective, multicenter cohort of 713 patients who completed the following scales: SWLS, Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18). RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis results indicated that the SWLS is an essentially unidimensional instrument, providing accurate scores: both McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha estimates were 0.91. Strong measurement invariance was found to hold across gender, age, and tumor localization. Low satisfaction with life was associated with psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression, and somatization), and decreased quality of life (malfunction, symptoms, poor global QoL). CONCLUSION: The SWLS is a reliable, valid satisfaction with life measurement among people with cancer and should be recommended as an indicator of psychological adjustment in oncological patients.

Prediction of Chemotoxicity, Unplanned Hospitalizations and Early Death in Older Patients with Colorectal Cancer Treated with Chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: To identify risk factors for toxicity, unplanned hospitalization (UH) and early death (ED) in older patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) initiating chemotherapy. METHODS: 215 patients over 70 years were prospectively included. Geriatric assessment was performed before treatment, and tumor and treatment variables were collected. The association between these factors and grade 3-5 toxicity, UH and ED (<6 months) was examined by using multivariable logistic regression. Score points were assigned to each risk factor. RESULTS: During the first 6 months of treatment, 33% of patients developed grade 3-5 toxicity, 31% had UH and 23% died. Risk factors were, for toxicity, instrumental activities of daily living, creatinine clearance, weight loss and MAX2 index; for UH, Charlson Comorbidity Score, creatinine clearance, weight loss, serum albumin, and metastatic disease; and for ED, basic activities in daily living, weight loss, metastatic disease, and hemoglobin levels. Predictive scores were built with these variables. The areas under receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curves for toxicity, UH and ED were 0.70 (95% CI: 0.64-0.766), 0.726 (95% IC: 0.661-0.799) and 0.74 (95% IC: 0.678-0.809), respectively. CONCLUSION: Simple scores based on geriatric, tumor and laboratory characteristics predict severe toxicity, UH and ED, and may help in treatment planning.

Quality of life, coping, and psychological and physical symptoms after surgery for non-metastatic digestive tract cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of curative surgery for non-metastatic digestive tract cancers on quality of life (QoL), psychological status, and coping strategies. METHODS: A prospective, transversal, multicenter study was conducted in 404 patients: 361 with colorectal, 44 with gastroesophageal, and 35 with pancreaticobiliary cancer six months after surgery. Participants completed questionnaires evaluating QoL, including functioning (EORTC-QLC-C30), coping strategies (Mini-MAC), and psychological distress (BSI-18). RESULTS: The effects of surgery had a strong impact on functional domains, global QoL, and symptoms, especially in pancreaticobiliary and gastroesophageal cancer. Patients with pancreaticobiliary and gastroesophageal cancer had lower functional scale scores than those with colorectal cancer. Fatigue, appetite loss, diarrhea, depression, and psychological distress were the most common symptoms after surgery. Subjects with pancreaticobiliary cancer reported more fatigue, pain, insomnia, depression, somatization and psychological distress, whereas individuals with gastroesophageal cancer exhibited more fatigue, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, depression, psychological distress, and helplessness than those with colorectal cancer. Only participants with colorectal cancer displayed improved QoL six months post-surgery, albeit their psychological state had worsened. CONCLUSION: Surgeons should discuss expectations regarding symptoms and QoL with patients prior to surgery to minimize physical and psychological impact.

Ablation of the stress protease OMA1 protects against heart failure in mice.

Heart failure (HF) is a major health and economic burden in developed countries. It has been proposed that the pathogenesis of HF may involve the action of mitochondria. We evaluate three different mouse models of HF: tachycardiomyopathy, HF with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF), and LV myocardial ischemia and hypertrophy. Regardless of whether LVEF is preserved, our results indicate that the three models share common features: an increase in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species followed by ultrastructural alterations in the mitochondrial cristae and loss of mitochondrial integrity that lead to cardiomyocyte death. We show that the ablation of the mitochondrial protease OMA1 averts cardiomyocyte death in all three murine HF models, and thus loss of OMA1 plays a direct role in cardiomyocyte protection. This finding identifies OMA1 as a potential target for preventing the progression of myocardial damage in HF associated with a variety of etiologies.

SEOM Clinical Guideline update for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (2021)

Among the side effects of anticancer treatment, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is one of the most feared given its high prevalence, affecting up to 40% of patients. It can impair patient’s quality of life and provoke low adherence to cancer treatment or chemotherapy dose reductions that can comprise treatment efficacy. Suffering CINV depends on factors related to the intrinsic emetogenicity of antineoplastic drugs and on patient characteristics. CINV can appear at different times regarding the administration of antitumor treatment and the variability of risk according to the different antitumor regimens has, as a consequence, the need for a different and adapted antiemetic treatment prophylaxis to achieve the desired objective of complete protection of the patient in the acute phase, in the late phase and in the global phase of emesis. As a basis for the recommendations, the level of emetogenicity of anticancer treatment is considered and they are classified as high, moderate, low and minimal emetogenicity and these recommendations are based on the use of antiemetic drugs with a high therapeutic index: anti 5-HT, anti-NK and steroids. Despite having highly effective treatments, clinical reality shows that they are not applied enough, so evidence-based recommendations are needed to show the best options and help in decision-making. To cover all the antiemetic prophylaxis options, we have also included recommendations for oral treatments, multiday regimens and radiation-induced emesis prevention.

Psychometric properties of the Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire (SDM-Q-9) in oncology practice / Propiedades psicométricas del Questionnaire Shared Decision-Making (SDM-Q-9) en oncología

Background/Objective: This study sought to assess the psychometric properties of the 9-item Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire (SDM-Q-9) in patients with resected, non-metastatic cancer and eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy. Method: A total of 568 patients were recruited from a multi-institutional, prospective, transversal study. Patients answered the SDM-Q-9 after visiting their medical oncologist who, in turn, completed the SDM-Q-Physician version. Reliability, factorial structures [exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)], and convergent validity of the SDM-Q-9 scores were explored. Results: SDM-Q-9 showed a clear factorial structure, compatible with a strong and replicable general factor and a secondary group factor, in patients with resected, non-metastatic cancer. Total sum scores derived from the general factor showed good reliability in terms of omega coefficient: .90. The association between patient and physician perception of SDM was weak and failed to reach statistical significance. Males and patients over 60 years of age displayed the greatest satisfaction with SDM. Conclusions: SDM-Q-9 can aid in evaluating SDM from the cancer patients' perspective. SDM-Q-9 is helpful in studies examining patient perspectives of SDM and as an indicator of the degree of quality and satisfaction with health care and patient-physician relationship

Antecedentes/Objetivo: Este estudio analiza las propiedades psicométricas del Questionnaire Shared Decision-Making (SDM-Q-9) en pacientes con cáncer resecado, no metastásico y elegible para quimioterapia adyuvante. Métodos: Un total de 568 pacientes fueron reclutados en un estudio multi-institucional, prospectivo, transversal. Los pacientes respondieron al SDM-Q-9 después de visitar a su oncólogo que, a su vez, completó el SDM-Q-versión médico. Se estudiaron la fiabilidad, la estructura factorial (análisis factorial exploratorio y análisis factorial confirmatorio) y la validez convergente de las puntuaciones del SDM-Q-9. Resultados: La escala SDM-Q-9 mostró una estructura factorial clara, compatible con un factor general fuerte y replicable y un factor de grupo secundario, en pacientes con cáncer resecado y no metastásico. La puntuación del factor general mostró una buena fiabilidad en términos de coeficiente omega: 0,90. La asociación entre la percepción del médico y del paciente en la SDM fue débil y no logró alcanzar significación estadística. Los hombres y los pacientes mayores de 60 años mostraron mayor satisfacción con la toma de decisión compartida. Conclusiones: SDM-Q-9 puede ayudar en la evaluación de la toma de decisión compartida desde la perspectiva de los pacientes de cáncer y como indicador del grado de calidad y satisfacción en el cuidado de la salud en la relación médico-paciente

Tratamiento psicológico de las náuseas y vómitos anticipatorios inducidos por quimioterapia por radioterapia / No disponible

La emesis producida por la quimioterapia y radioterapia puede afectar significativamente la calidad de vida de los pacientes con cáncer. La emesis anticipatoria es una respuesta condicionada que aparece en pacientes antes de recibir el ciclo de quimioterapia ya que se basa en un aprendizaje de una experiencia negativa con dicho tratamiento. El objetivo de este artículo es revisar los tratamientos eficaces, farmacológicos y psicológicos, para el control de la emesis anticipatoria. El mejor tratamiento para prevenir la emesis anticipatoria es el control de la emesis aguda y tardía. Los nuevos fármacos antieméticos, como el palonosetrón o el aprepitant, suelen evitar las náuseas y los vómitos por la quimioterapia, pero no mejoran las náuseas y vómitos anticipatorios. Las intervenciones conductuales, como la relajación muscular progresiva y el entrenamiento en desensibilización sistemática, deben considerarse métodos importantes para la prevención y el tratamiento de la emesis anticipatoria (AU)

Chemotherapy-induced or radiotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting can significantly affect patients´ quality of life. Anticipatory emesis is a conditioned response which occurs before patients receive their next chemotherapy cycle. It is based on the learning of a patient´s negative experience. The aim of this article is to review effective treatments, pharmacological and psychological, for the control of anticipatory emesis. The best treatment to prevent anticipatory emesis is the control of acute and delayed emesis. The new antiemetic drugs, palonosetron and aprepitant, are usually able to prevent nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, but not to improve anticipatory nausea and vomiting. Behavioral interventions such as progressive muscle relaxation training and systematic desensitization should be considered important methods for preventing and treating anticipatory emesis (AU)