Sexual satisfaction and its predictors in patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers in six European countries: Baseline data from the DIAdIC study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of sexual satisfaction in patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using baseline survey data from a randomized controlled trial in six European countries. Patients with advanced cancer and their family caregiver completed measures on sexual satisfaction (one item from Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General questionnaire for patients and Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer scale for family caregivers) and health-related characteristics. Multivariable linear regressions were performed for all predictors (identified based on literature) with sexual satisfaction as dependent variable. RESULTS: The sample comprised 431 patient-family caregiver dyads. Patients with prostate or gynecological cancer reported lower sexual satisfaction (respectively B = -0.267 95% CI: -1.674, -0.594 and B = -0.196, 95% CI -2.103, -0.452). Higher emotional (B = 0.278, 95% CI 0.024, 0.057) physical (B = 0.305, 95% CI 0.012, 0.025) and social functioning (B = 0.151, 95% CI 0.001, 0.013), global health (B = 0.356, 95% CI 0.007, 0.013) and social wellbeing (B = 0.161, 95% CI 0.013, 0.082) among patients were associated with higher sexual satisfaction. Among family caregivers, sexual satisfaction was lower with increased age (B = -0.142, 95% CI -0.022, -0.004). Higher emotional functioning (B = 0.027, 95% CI 0.011, 0.043) and quality of life (B = 0.165, 95% CI -0.165, 0.716) were associated with higher sexual satisfaction in family caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: The results underscore that sexual wellbeing of patients and family caregivers is related to health related factors in physical, emotional, and social domains. Patients and family caregivers could benefit from a dyadic approach to address sexual wellbeing.

Mental Health and Quality of Life among Patients with Cancer during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Results from the Longitudinal ONCOVID Survey Study.

PURPOSE: This longitudinal survey study aimed to investigate the self-reported outcome measures of COVID-19 peritraumatic distress, depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life (QOL), and their associated factors in a cohort of cancer patients treated at a tertiary care hospital during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. METHODS: Surveys were administered at four time points between 1 April 2020 and 18 September 2020. The surveys included the CPDI, DASS-21, and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires. RESULTS: Survey response rates were high (61.0% to 79.1%). Among the 355 participants, 71.3% were female, and the median age was 62.2 years (IQR, 53.9 to 69.1). The majority (78.6%) were treated with palliative intention. An important proportion of the participants reported symptoms of COVID-19 peritraumatic distress (34.2% to 39.6%), depression (27.6% to 33.5%), anxiety (24.9% to 32.7%), and stress (11.4% to 15.7%) at any time point during the study period. We did not find clinically meaningful mental health and QOL differences during the study period, with remarkably little change in between the pandemic's first and second wave. We found no consistent correlates of mental health or QOL scores, including cancer type, therapy intention, and sociodemographic information. CONCLUSION: This cohort of cancer patients showed considerable resilience against mental health and QOL deterioration during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

A clearer view on ovarian clear cell carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is a less common subtype accounting for approximately 5% of all epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs). Clinical experience and research findings confirm the remarkable differences in clinical behavior, molecular alterations and pathogenesis of OCCC. The diagnosis of OCCC is typically set at a younger age, and earlier stage and in a background of endometriosis. RESULTS: Molecularly, OCCCs rarely harbor BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations and have fewer copy number variants (CNVs). The most common molecular changes occur in the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex genes, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)/Ras signaling pathway.Five-year disease-specific survival of patients with OCCC is worse compared to high grade serous carcinomas (HGSOC). The current treatment options for OCCC are based on studies that included patients with predominantly HGSOC and only a minor proportion of cancers with clear cell histology. In order to improve outcomes for patients with OCCC, research should be specific for this subtype. DISCUSSION: As the available information about the specific characteristics of OCCC is increasing, especially at a molecular level, it should be possible to continuously improve the specific diagnostics and treatment. Since OCCC is so rare, it is essential to collect new evidence at an international level. To avoid extrapolation from EOC trials with possible erroneous conclusions, patients should always be encouraged to participate in specific histological trials and basket trials, while paying extra attention to OCCC-like subtypes.