Integrative Oncology in Young Women With Breast Cancer.

Small studies have demonstrated the benefit of integrative oncology (IO) therapies in patients with breast cancer; however, referral patterns and timing of therapies are unknown. This study describes the referral pattern and utilization of IO services by young women with breast cancer. A retrospective review identified female patients, 40 years or younger, with a breast cancer diagnosis between 2014 and 2019, and a documented IO consultation. Patient demographics, cancer characteristics, treatments, reasons for seeking and timing of IO consultation, and IO treatment modalities were analyzed. The IO program treated 64 young women with a median age of 38.6 years. Clinical staging was primarily IA (27%), IIA (34%), or IIB (27%), and 64% of patients were clinically node negative with no evidence of metastasis. Women utilized the IO program for recurrence risk reduction and for treatment-related adverse effects (TRAEs), most commonly vasomotor complaints (44%). Therapies utilized were acupuncture (36%), healing touch (28%), oncology massage (30%), and other (75%; music therapy, therapeutic art, spiritual care, meditation, t'ai chi, yoga, and nutrition), which were commonly initiated during treatment (69%). Our data suggest that young women utilize IO services to reduce their future cancer risk and TRAEs, but they are often referred after standard cancer care treatments have begun. Future studies could examine the optimal timing for IO intervention.

Pilot study of multi-gene pharmacogenetic testing for pain management in oncology palliative medicine.

Aim: We evaluated the application and clinical impact of multi-gene pharmacogenetic testing in oncology palliative medicine. Patients & methods: In a single-arm pilot trial, cancer patients with uncontrolled pain were assessed in a palliative medicine clinic at baseline and received pharmacogenetic testing. Results were used as applicable up to the final visit (day 30). Pain scores, opioid prescribing, and use of pharmacogenetic test results were collected. Results: In 75 patients, the median baseline pain score was 7/10. Of 54 evaluable at the final visit, 28 required opioid modifications and 19 had actionable genotypes, mostly CYP2D6. Pain improvement (≥2-point reduction) was higher than historical data (56 vs 30%; p < 0.001). There were no differences in pain improvement between those with and without actionable genotypes (61 vs 53%). Conclusion: Multi-gene testing identified actionable genotypes and may improve cancer pain.

Pain Improvement After Healing Touch and Massage in Breast Cancer: an Observational Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Healing Touch (HT) and Oncology Massage (OM) are nonpharmacologic pain interventions, yet a comparative effectiveness study has not been conducted for pain in breast cancer. PURPOSE: This breast cancer subgroup analysis compared the effectiveness of HT vs. OM on pain. SETTING: The research occurred at an outpatient setting at an academic hybrid, multi-site, community-based cancer institute and Department of Supportive Oncology across four regional locations. PARTICIPANTS: Breast cancer outpatients along the cancer continuum who experienced routine clinical, nonexperimentally manipulated HT or OM. RESEARCH DESIGN: The study was an observational, retrospective, comparative effectiveness post hoc subanalysis of a larger dataset. Patients reporting pain < 2 were excluded. Pre- and posttherapy pain scores and differences were calculated. Logistic regression modeled posttherapy pain by modality, adjusting for pretherapy pain. The proportions experiencing ≥ 2-point (clinically significant) pain reduction were compared with chi-square tests. INTERVENTION: The study focused on the first session of either HT or OM. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre- and posttherapy pain (range: 0 = no pain to 10 = worst possible pain). RESULTS: A total of 407 patients reported pre- and posttherapy pain scores, comprised of 233 (57.3%) who received HT and 174 (42.8%) who received OM. Pretherapy mean pain was higher in HT (M=5.1, ± 2.3) than OM (M=4.3, ± 2.1) (p < .001); posttherapy mean pain remained higher in HT (M=2.7, ± 2.2) than OM (M=1.9, ± 1.7) (p < .001). Mean difference in pain reduction was 2.4 for both HT and OM. Both HT (p < .001) and OM (p < .001) were associated with reduced pain. Proportions of clinically significant pain reduction were similar (65.7% HT and 69.0% OM, p = .483). Modality was not associated with pain improvement (p = .072). CONCLUSIONS: Both HT and OM were associated with clinically significant pain improvement. Future research should explore attitudes toward the modalities and potential influence of cancer stage and treatment status on modality self-selection.

Opioid Risk Screening in an Oncology Palliative Medicine Clinic.

PURPOSE: Little information exists on factors that predict opioid misuse in oncology. We adopted the Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients With Pain-Short Form (SOAPP-SF) and toxicology testing to assess for opioid misuse risk. The primary objective was to (1) identify characteristics associated with a high-risk SOAPP-SF score and noncompliant toxicology test, and (2) determine SOAPP-SF utility to predict noncompliant toxicology tests. METHODS: From July 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017, new patients completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS), SOAPP-SF, and narcotic use agreement. Toxicology test results were collected at subsequent visits. RESULTS: Of 223 distinct patients, 96% completed SOAPP-SF. Mean age was 61 ± 12.7 years, 58% were female, 68% were White, and 28% were Black. Eighty-three eligible patients (38%) completed toxicology testing. Younger age, male sex, and increased ESAS depression scores were associated with high-risk SOAPP-SF scores. Smoking habit was associated with an aberrant test. An SOAPP-SF score ≥ 3 predicted a noncompliant toxicology test. CONCLUSION: Male sex, young age, and higher ESAS depression score were associated with a high SOAPP-SF score. Smoking habit was associated with an aberrant test. An SOAPP-SF of ≥ 3 (sensitivity, 0.74; specificity, 0.64), not ≥ 4, was predictive of an aberrant test; however, performance characteristics were decreased from those published by Inflexxion, for ≥ 4 (sensitivity, 0.86; specificity, 0.67). The specificity warrants caution in falsely labeling patients. The SOAPP-SF may aid in meeting National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommendations to screen oncology patients for opioid misuse.

Pain Management Using Clinical Pharmacy Assessments With and Without Pharmacogenomics in an Oncology Palliative Medicine Clinic.

PURPOSE: Approximately 30% of patients with cancer who have pain have symptomatic improvement within 1 month using conventional pain management strategies. Engaging clinical pharmacists in palliative medicine (PM) and use of pharmacogenomic testing may improve cancer pain management. METHODS: Adult patients with cancer with uncontrolled pain had baseline assessments performed by PM providers using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. Pharmacotherapy was initiated or modified accordingly. A subset of patients consented to pharmacogenomic testing. The first pharmacy assessment occurred within 1 week of baseline and a second assessment was done within another week if intervention was required. Each patient's final visit was at 1 month. Pain improvement rate (a reduction of two or more points on a 0-to-10 pain scale) from baseline to final visit was compared applying the Fisher exact test to published historical control data, and between patients with and without pharmacogenomic testing. Multivariate logistic regression identified pain improvement covariates. RESULTS: Of 142 patients undergoing pharmacy assessments, 53% had pain improvement compared with 30% in historical control subjects (P < .001). Pain improvement was not different between those who received (n = 43) and did not receive (n = 99) pharmacogenomics testing (56% v 52%; P = .716). However, of 15 patients with an actionable genotype, 73% had pain improvement. Higher baseline pain (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; 95% CI, 1.43 to 2.24; P < .001), black or other race (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.18 to 0.95; P = .04), and performance status 3 or 4 (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.83; P = .03) were associated with odds of pain improvement, but pharmacogenomic testing was not (P = .64). CONCLUSION: Including pharmacists in PM improves pain management effectiveness. Although pharmacogenomics did not statistically improve pain, a subset of patients with actionable genotypes may have benefited, warranting larger and randomized studies.

Impact of dietary n-3 FA deficiency on rat bone tissue FA composition.

The effect of dietary n-3 FA deficiency on bone tissue FA composition was evaluated in growing rats. Two mixtures combining hydrogenated coconut oil with safflower oil served as the n-3-deficient dietary treatments and provided two levels of linoleic acid (LA). The n-3 treatments were formulated with added alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) from flaxseed oil (diet LNA) or LNA plus DHA, and both were balanced for LA. This study showed that bone is sensitive to changes in dietary n-3 FA and that DHA is more effective than LNA in maintaining DHA levels in these tissues.