Population-Based Analysis Of The Use Of Radium-223 For Bone-Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer In Ontario, And Of Factors Associated With Treatment Completion And Outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Radium-223 (Ra223) prolongs the survival and improves the quality of life of men with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) to bones. However, compared to other mCRPC therapies, using Ra223 comes with its unique challenges. Hence, we aimed to identify Ra223 utilization patterns under real-world conditions, as well as factors predicting treatment completion and outcome. METHODS: In this retrospective chart analysis, 198 mCRPC patients were identified that had received Ra223 outside of clinical trials or access programs from January 2015 to October 2016 at four cancer centres in Ontario. The main outcomes studied were Ra223 completion rate, reasons for early treatment discontinuation, overall survival, and survival differences in patients completing Ra223 therapy versus patients receiving <6 cycles of Ra223. In addition, patient and disease characteristics were analysed to identify predictors of treatment completion and survival. RESULTS: In this cohort of patients mostly pretreated with abiraterone and/or enzalutamide (92.4%), almost half of which had also received docetaxel (48.5%), the Ra223 completion rate was 46.5%, and the actuarial median survival was 13.3 months. The main reason for early Ra223 discontinuation was disease progression, and Ra223 non-completion was associated with poorer outcome (median survival 8.1 months [6.0-12.2] versus 18.7 months [15.3-22.3] in men completing Ra223, p<0.0001). Lymph node metastases and a high baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were independent predictors of early treatment discontinuation. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models revealed early Ra223 discontinuation, baseline anemia, high PSA, prior skeletal-related events, visceral metastases, and being referred to another centre for Ra223 therapy as predictors of worse outcome. CONCLUSION: Despite a lower completion rate than observed under clinical trial conditions, the real-world results achieved with Ra223 are encouraging. If prospectively validated, predictive patient and disease characteristics identified in our cohort might become instrumental to identify mCRPC patients likely to complete and to most benefit from Ra223 therapy.

Student Perspectives on the Impact of an Undergraduate Work-Integrated Learning Program on Admission and Transition to Medical School.

Work-integrated learning (WIL) is a form of education that integrates academic and workplace study. Such programs provide students the opportunity to concurrently develop cognitive and non-cognitive competencies. The purpose of this study is to explore which experiences and skills learned in a WIL placement are useful in applying to medical school and transitioning into the first year of a Doctor of Medicine program. All individuals who worked in the Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program (RRRP; WIL placement) since 2004 and had completed at least 1 year of medical school were invited to participate. Semi-formal interviews were conducted and transcribed. A thematic analysis was completed to identify recurring concepts, and quotes were selected to represent them. Of 39 eligible individuals, 14 agreed to participate (36%). Students identified the volume of work, achieving a work-life balance, and time management as challenges in first-year medical school. Five themes emerged regarding the impact of the RRRP on applying and transitioning to medical school: time management skills, mentorship opportunities, research experience, clinical experience, and career choice. WIL placements present a unique opportunity for undergraduate students interested in pursuing medicine to acquire skills and experiences that will help them succeed in applying and transitioning to medical school.

Performance of the Vulnerable Elders Survey 13 screening tool in identifying cancer treatment modification after geriatric assessment in pre-treatment patients: A retrospective analysis.

PURPOSE: Geriatric assessment (GA) is recommended for older adults ≥ 70 years with cancer to guide treatment selection. Screening tools such as the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13) and G6 have been used to identify patients at highest need of GA. Whether either tool predicts a change in oncologic treatment following GA is unclear. METHODS: Patients attending a geriatric oncology clinic between July 2015 and June 2017 who completed a VES-13 and underwent subsequent GA were included. Clinical information was extracted from a prospectively maintained database. G6 scores were assigned retrospectively. Patients were stratified into those who were "VES-13 positive" (score ≥ 3) and "VES-13 negative" (score < 3). Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between VES-13 score, G6 score, and treatment modification. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients were seen prior to initiating cancer treatment. The median VES-13 score was 7; with 81.8% of patients scoring ≥3. The treatment plan was modified in 47.5% of patients after GA. VES-13 score was predictive of treatment plan modification (63.0% among VES-13 positive versus 16.7% among VES-13 negative patients; p = 0.001). G6 performed similarly to the VES-13. The only statistically significant predictor of treatment change in multivariable analysis was performance status. CONCLUSION: VES-13 positive patients are more likely to undergo treatment modification to reduce treatment intensity or supportive care only. The VES-13 may provide oncologists with a rapid, reliable way of identifying vulnerability in older adults with cancer who may need further GA prior to commencing cancer treatment.

Sexual healthcare for cancer patients receiving palliative care: a narrative review.

Palliative care aims to improve quality of life (QoL) for patients and families and does so by addressing issues not limited to pathology, but other symptoms that may be debilitating to patient experience and QoL. Despite sexual health being an important aspect of life for many patients, it is often omitted in clinical practice. This review summarizes published primary studies to explore the prevalence and importance of incorporating sexual health in the symptom screening and assessments of palliative patients, to identify current interventions that are implemented to address sexual health issues, and identify the barriers that health care professionals (HCPs) and patients may encounter which may prevent sexual health discussions. A literature review was conducted on Medline and Embase databases using keywords including "cancer", "sexual health", "intimacy", and "palliative care". Eleven papers focusing on the sexual health and intimacy of terminally ill patients in hospice, palliative or terminal care settings were identified for inclusion. Discussions about sexual health, functioning, and intimacy were not common in patient care, despite being a service that both patients and their partners desired. Referrals to sexologists, or discussions with patients and partners about intimacy and sexuality over the course of the disease trajectory were shown to improve QoL as well as alleviate some of the stress of receiving palliative care services. HCPs cited a lack of training, their own life experiences, or discomfort with the topic as barriers to initiating conversations with patients. In conclusion, sexuality and intimacy remain important parts of many people's lives regardless of their health, and should be incorporated into the care of all patients including those in palliative care. There is a need for further research to evaluate different methods or procedures for educating and counselling patients and their partners on sexual health issues. HCPs should have specific training and education in sexual health care to enable them to initiate and direct these discussions.

Attendance of older patients with bone metastases at a multidisciplinary bone metastases clinic: an 8-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Bone metastases clinic (BMC) is a multidisciplinary clinic where patients with bony metastases are assessed in conjunction by orthopedic surgery, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, and palliative medicine teams. The objective of the study was to determine the number of older adult (OA) referrals made to BMC and to examine their case dispositions. METHODS: Patients who were referred to the BMC from 2007 to 2015 were included in the study. Demographic information including gender, age, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), primary cancer site and reason for referral, as well as case dispositions were recorded for each patient. The proportion of OA attendance was calculated for each year from the total number of patient visits. OA attendance was defined as individuals ≥65 years of age who attended the BMC, and non-OA patients were those <65 years of age. Descriptive statistics were employed. RESULTS: A total of 551 patients were included with a median age of 64 years. The median KPS was 70 for OA and 80 for non-OA patients. OA attendance ranged per year from 42.5% to 58.7%. 14.1% of non-OA and 10.9% of OA patients were offered surgery. 62 patients in both cohorts (22.6% of OA and 22.4% of non-OA patients) were offered palliative radiation. CONCLUSIONS: From 2007 to 2015, OA patients comprised a significant proportion of referrals to the BMC. Younger patients were offered surgery slightly more often when compared to OA patients. Age did not appear to be a precluding factor for BMC referral or a deterrent in treatments offered.

An update in symptom clusters using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System in a palliative radiotherapy clinic.

PURPOSE: To identify symptom clusters in advanced cancer patients attending a palliative radiotherapy clinic using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS). METHODS: Principal component analysis (PCA), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were used to identify symptom clusters among the nine ESAS items using scores from each patient's first visit. RESULTS: ESAS scores from 182 patients were analyzed. The PCA identified three symptom clusters (cluster 1: depression-anxiety-well-being, cluster 2: pain-tiredness-drowsiness, cluster 3: nausea-dyspnea-loss of appetite). The EFA identified two clusters (cluster 1: tiredness-drowsiness-loss of appetite-well-being-pain-nausea-dyspnea, cluster 2: depression-anxiety). The HCA identified three clusters similar to the PCA with an exception of the loss of appetite item being classified under cluster 1 rather than 3. Two to three symptom clusters were identified using three analytical methods, with similar patterns reported in the literature. Particular groups of items co-occurred consistently across all three analyses: depression and anxiety; nausea and dyspnea; as well as pain, tiredness, and drowsiness. CONCLUSION: Three similar symptom clusters were identified in our patient population using the PCA and HCA; whereas, the EFA produced two clusters: one physical and one psychological cluster. Given the implications of symptom clusters in the management of quality of life, clinicians should be aware of these clusters to aid in the palliative treatment of patients.

Prognostic value of pre- and post-treatment health-related quality of life in predicting survival of patients with brain metastases.

AIM: The present study aimed to determine the prognostic survival value of pretreatment health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and changes in HRQOL following whole-brain radiation treatment in patients with brain metastases. METHODS: Patients who were treated with whole-brain radiation treatment and completed HRQOL questionnaires were included. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models of overall survival (OS) were conducted for overall HRQOL and domain scores. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: Patients with lower HRQOL at baseline, especially lower physical functioning and motor dysfunction domains, were more likely to have poorer survival. Changes in overall HRQOL and its domains were not significantly related to OS. Pretreatment HRQOL, especially physical functioning and motor dysfunction, has added prognostic value in patients with brain metastases.

Clinical presentations of below knee bone metastases: a case series.

Bone metastases are a common complication of advanced malignancy; however, presentation of below-the-knee metastases, particularly affecting the fibula and tibia, are infrequently observed in both the clinical setting and the literature, and present a therapeutic challenge to patients and physicians alike. Due to the weight-bearing capacity of bones below-the-knee, the disruption of the structural and functional integrity of these bones can reduce mobility and thus quality of life. Treatment options for these patients include surgery, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy. Candidates for surgery typically have affected weightbearing bones. For patients not suitable for surgery, radiotherapy is prescribed for pain relief and bone remineralization. Herein, we report four cases in which two female and two male patients developed painful below knee metastases. Orthopedic surgery was consulted for all cases. Two patients underwent surgical fixation followed by radiotherapy, while the other two received palliative radiotherapy alone.

Impact of dyspnea on advanced cancer patients referred to a palliative radiotherapy clinic.

PURPOSE: Dyspnea is a debilitating symptom commonly experienced by advanced cancer patients that can lead to negative effects on function and quality of life (QOL). The present study aims to determine the relationship between dyspnea and other Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) symptoms in palliative cancer patients referred to a radiotherapy clinic. METHODS: The presence and severity of dyspnea was measured using the ESAS. All patients that visited a palliative radiotherapy clinic between 1999 to 2002 and 2006 to 2009 and completed the ESAS were included. ESAS scores and other demographic and clinical information were extracted from a prospectively collected database. Statistical tests including chi-squared tests, Spearman correlations, and multivariate analysis were conducted to explore the relationship between dyspnea, other ESAS items, and other demographic factors. Kaplan-Meier overall survival curves were generated based on dyspnea severity. RESULTS: One thousand three hundred forty-four patients were included in the dyspnea analysis; reported moderate or severe dyspnea. Dyspnea severity was significantly associated with eight other ESAS interference severities (p < 0.001). Upon multivariate analysis, greater severity of dyspnea was significantly related to higher ESAS scores for tiredness, nausea, depression, anxious, drowsiness, and poor appetite (p < 0.05). The actuarial median survival time was 6.57 months (95% CI 5.91-7.29 months). There were highly significant differences in overall survival between those with none, mild, and moderate dyspnea (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Cancer patients often experience dyspnea along with a multitude of other symptoms. Moderate and severe dyspnea should be assessed and optimally managed to reduce functional and QOL debilitations. As presence of increased dyspnea severity is associated with worse overall survival, interventions should occur at the end of life to reduce symptom burden in palliative patients.

Effects of circadian rhythms and treatment times on the response of radiotherapy for painful bone metastases.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have observed how the time of radiotherapy delivery can impact toxicities and outcomes. The goal of this study was to determine whether treatment time influenced radiotherapy response for bone metastases. METHODS: Patients who received radiation treatment to painful bone metastases from January 2000 to December 2010 were included in our analysis. Demographic and treatment information including performance status, primary site, treatment dose and fraction, and response were collected prospectively. Treatment times were extracted from patient medical records. Patients were allocated to 8:00 AM-11:00 AM, 11:01 AM-2:00 PM, or 2:01 PM-5:00 PM cohorts based on their treatment times. To compare treatment response between the three cohorts, the Fisher exact test was used. A two-sided P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Analysis was repeated with males and females separately. RESULTS: A total of 194 patients were included. The median age was 68 years and 55.5% of patients responded to treatment. The dose and fraction of radiation received differed significantly between treatment cohorts using all allocation methods. Females in the 11:01 AM-2:00 PM cohort exhibited a significantly higher response rate (P=0.02) and differing proportions of response types (P=0.03) compared to the 8:00 AM- 11:00 AM and 2:01 PM-5:00 PM cohorts when allocated using all treatment times. No significant differences in response were seen between cohorts when all patients were analysed together or analysed for males only. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment time may affect response in female patients receiving radiotherapy for painful bone metastases. Subsequent chronotherapy studies in radiation should investigate these gender differences.

Use of multimedia in patient and caregiver education for cancer pain management: a literature review.

Pain is one of the most prominent symptoms faced by cancer patients. It is known that patient and caregiver-targeted educational interventions addressing the proper use of pain management may provide significant clinical value. This review examines the literature surrounding the use of multimedia interventions for patient and caregiver education (PCE) on pain management compared to traditional educational interventions. A literature search was conducted in Ovid MEDLINE (1946-July Week 2, 2016), Ovid Embase (1947-2016 Week 29), and Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (up to June 2016). Paired reviewers conducted title and abstract screening and full-text screening to identify experimental, quasi-experimental and cohort studies evaluating one or more multimedia-based PCE interventions focused on cancer pain and pain management and targeting patients and/or caregivers. Findings were extracted by paired reviewers and synthesized qualitatively. Of the 68 full-text papers assessed, 7 were deemed relevant, of which 5 were RCTs and 2 were observational studies. We found limited but convincing quantitative data to suggest that the use of multimedia use in pain management education for patients/caregivers has greater value-added benefit compared to standard education. While there is evidence suggesting a positive effect on pain-related outcomes with the use of multimedia-based patient and caregiver-targeted interventions, it is limited to a small number of lower-quality studies. More robust and large-scale studies are needed to supplement existing evidence and provide more insight regarding the usability and user-friendliness of these tools in practice.

Could time of whole brain radiotherapy delivery impact overall survival in patients with multiple brain metastases?

OBJECTIVE: Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is commonly used to treat brain metastases. Previous studies have explored how radiotherapy treatment time can affect response. The present study evaluated the influence of treatment time on overall survival (OS) for cancer patients receiving WBRT. METHODS: Patients who received WBRT from 2004 to 2016 were included. Demographic information including age, performance status, primary site, dose, fraction, treatment time, and date of death were collected. Based on different percentages of treatment times falling into one time frame (i.e., 100%, ≥80%, ≥70%, or ≥60%), patients were allocated to three cohorts (8:00-11:00 AM, 11:01 AM-2:00 PM, 2:01-5:00 PM). Demographics were compared among cohorts using the Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test and Fisher exact test. To control the multiple comparisons on select demographic variables a Bonferroni adjusted P value was considered statistically significant. Kaplan-Meier curves were created for OS. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard (PH) model were used to find predictive factors of OS in all patients, females and males. RESULTS: A total of 755 patients were included with a median age of 66 years. The actuarial median OS was 2.37 months. Treatment time was not associated with OS for all patients or males only. In elderly female patients (>65 years), a significant difference in OS was found among treatment cohorts (P=0.02). Treatment time (when ≥80% or ≥70% of treatment times were in one time frame), age, and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) were significant predictive factors of OS in univariate analysis for females. Only age and KPS remained significant in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Time of WBRT delivery for brain metastases was significantly related to OS upon univariate analyses in females only. Future investigations should be conducted prospectively with homogenous patient groups to elucidate the effect of chronotherapy in palliative brain metastases patients as time of WBRT administration may affect OS in specific subsets of patients.

Correlating symptoms and their changes with survival in patients with brain metastases.

OBJECTIVE: Having a clear prognosis for patients with brain metastases allows health care practitioners (HCPs) to determine appropriate palliative management and assist patients when making informed treatment decisions. The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of commonly experienced symptoms as well as their changes. METHODS: Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the date of consultation for palliative radiotherapy to date of death or censored at last follow-up date. Symptom changes at follow up were defined as worsened, improved, or no change. Univariate and multivariate cox proportional hazard (PH) model of OS was conducted on 14 symptoms at baseline and on changes in those symptoms at 1-, 2-, and 3-month follow-ups. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2013, 1,660 patients were included for baseline symptom analysis. Through univariate analysis, fatigue, nausea, appetite loss, coordination, concentration, balance and depression were significantly related to OS. Upon multivariate analysis, fatigue and appetite loss were most predictive of short survival. For symptom change, 201 patients were included. The actuarial median OS was 5.0 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.3-7.0], 7.1 months (95% CI: 5.2-9.5) and 8.8 months (95% CI: 5.8-11.5) for patients with month 1, 2, and 3 follow-ups, respectively. The most common symptom changes following whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) were: worsened fatigue, appetite loss, and weakness. Worsened difficulty concentrating, fatigue, nausea and headaches were most predictive of a poorer survival outcome. CONCLUSIONS: HCPs should be aware of the shorter prognosis associated with patients exhibiting one or more of these symptoms and tailor care accordingly to maximize patients' remaining quality of life (QOL).

Symptoms and quality of life in patients with brain metastases receiving whole-brain radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: Patients with multiple brain metastases may be treated with whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT). For these patients, symptom palliation and improvement of quality of life (QOL) and performance status is of the upmost importance. The objective of the present study was to determine the symptom experience and overall QOL in patients with brain metastases before and after WBRT. METHODS: A total of 14 symptom scores and overall QOL were collected prospectively in 217 patients for up to 3 months. Wilcoxon signed rank test was applied to determine significant symptoms and QOL changes. Spearman's correlations were applied to determine the relationship between symptom scores and QOL. RESULTS: Appetite loss, weakness, and nausea significantly increased from baseline, while balance, headache, and anxiety significantly decreased from baseline. At baseline, all symptoms other than coordination were significantly correlated with QOL. At 1-month follow-up (FU), changes in concentration, weakness, coordination, and balance were significantly associated with QOL changes. At 2-month FU, changes in pain, insomnia, concentration, balance, and depression were significantly associated with QOL changes. At 3-month FU, only change in nausea was significantly associated with QOL changes. CONCLUSIONS: Following WBRT, certain symptoms may influence overall QOL to a greater extent than others, which may fluctuate with time.

Pelvic insufficiency fractures in women following radiation treatment: a case series.

Insufficiency fractures are stress fractures that occur from normal weight-bearing on weakened bone. Radiation treatment to malignancies in the prostate, rectum, anus, or cervix may increase the risk of insufficiency fractures in the pelvic region by damaging osteoblasts that are essential to bone formation. In elderly women with cancer, this risk is greater due to their susceptibility to developing osteoporosis. These fractures may be confused with pathological fractures resulting from bone metastases on imaging and should be identified for proper management. We report two cases in which two women developed painful insufficiency fractures in the pelvic region after receiving radiation treatment to the rectum. After consulting an orthopedic surgeon, one patient underwent a cementoplasty, while the other patient was encouraged to take bone strengthening medications.

Comparison of the FACT-C, EORTC QLQ-CR38, and QLQ-CR29 quality of life questionnaires for patients with colorectal cancer: a literature review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this review was to compare the development, characteristics, validity, and reliability of three widely used quality of life (QOL) assessment tools used in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients: the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Colorectal Cancer Module (QLQ-CR38) and its successor, the QLQ-CR29. METHODS: A literature search was conducted using Ovid EMBASE and EMBASE Classic (1996-2015 Week 39), Ovid MEDLINE and OLDMEDLINE (1996 September Week 4 2015), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (up to August 2015) to identify studies that discussed the FACT-C, EORTC QLQ-CR38, and QLQ-CR29 including, but not limited to, their development, characteristics, validity, and reliability. RESULTS: The FACT-C consists of 36 items, presented on a 5-point Likert scale, in four domains of well-being (physical, emotional, social, and functional), and the Colorectal Cancer Subscale (CCS). The physical and social well-being scales showed reasonable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient > 60) in all studied populations. The EORTC QLQ-CR38 (38 items) and the QLQ-CR29 (29 items) are implemented in conjunction with the core QLQ-C30 (30 items); all are presented in 4-point Likert scales. Seven scales in the QLQ-CR38 demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient > 0.70). In the QLQ-CR29, three scales had a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of less than 0.70. CONCLUSION: The FACT-C, QLQ-CR38, and QLQ-CR29 have been extensively validated. However, analysis of their characteristics, validity, and reliability suggest differing suitability in assessing QOL in specific clinical situations.

The Brain Symptom and Impact Questionnaire in brain metastases patients: a prospective long-term follow-up study.

AIMS: To assess the ability of the Brain Metastases Symptom and Impact Questionnaire (BASIQ) in evaluating symptoms and impact on daily life. PATIENTS & METHODS: Patients with brain metastases completed BASIQ, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General, FACT-Brain at baseline and at 1, 2 and 3 months follow-ups. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients completed all follow-ups. BASIQ correlated well (r ≥ 0.40) with FACT subscales, except for social/family and emotional wellbeing. Linear regression analysis found no significant changes in quality of life (QOL) over time in both the BASIQ and FACT scales. Therefore, the two questionnaires coincide as both detected nonchanges. CONCLUSION: The ability of the BASIQ in evaluating symptoms and impact on over longer assessment periods was supported by the FACT questionnaires.

An Overview of Radiation-Induced Nausea and Vomiting.

BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced nausea and vomiting (RINV) is common occurrence in cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. When radiation is prescribed to certain sites, it can lead to retching, vomiting, and nausea that can lead to impairments on quality of life and even effect adherence to treatment regimes. The present study reports select literature examining RINV phenomena and reviews mechanisms of RINV as well as current management strategies. METHODS: A literature search was conducted on PubMed using search strategies such as "radiation-induced nausea vomiting," "RINV," and "radiation and antiemetics." The search was limited to articles published from January 2000 to April 2016 and those that involved humans and were published in English. Information regarding emetic risk of each treatment and management strategies used were extracted from each article. RESULTS: A total of 25 articles were included in this select review. The current evidence regarding the standard antiemetics for RIINV are discussed, as well as upcoming therapies and future potential endeavors. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer patients treated with emetogenic radiotherapy are at risk of experiencing RINV. RINV has the potential to impact patient quality of life and treatment delivery and optimal prophylactic strategies should be implemented, particularly in radiation naïve patients. More awareness on these topics is warranted, so that standard antiemetic regimens can be used in both the prophylactic and rescue settings.

Quality of life after palliative radiotherapy in bone metastases: A literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the quality of life (QOL) following palliative radiotherapy for painful bone metastases. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in OvidSP Medline (1946-Jan Week 4 2014), Embase (1947-Week 5 2014), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Dec 2013) databases. The search was limited to English. Subject headings and keywords included 'palliative radiation', 'cancer palliative therapy', 'bone metastases', 'quality of life', and 'pain'. All studies (prospective or retrospective) reporting change in QOL before and after palliative radiotherapy for painful bone metastases were included. RESULTS: Eighteen articles were selected from a total of 1730. The most commonly used tool to evaluate QOL was the Brief Pain Inventory. Seventeen studies collected data prospectively. An improvement in symptoms and functional interference scores following radiotherapy was observed in all studies. The difference in changes in QOL between responders and non responders was inconsistently reported. CONCLUSION: QOL improves in patients who respond to palliative radiotherapy for painful bone metastases.

Retrospective review of the incidence of monitoring blood glucose levels in patients receiving corticosteroids with systemic anticancer therapy.

BACKGROUND: Corticosteroids are used adjuvant to certain chemotherapy regimens, either as an antiemetic, to reduce other side effects, or to enhance cancer treatment. Additionally, they are frequently used for symptom control in cancer patients with end stage disease. Corticosteroid use may induce hyperglycemia in approximately 20-50% of patients, which may negatively affect patient outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of blood glucose monitoring in patients with and without diabetes receiving continuous corticosteroids with chemotherapy, and to determine the incidence of treatment-emergent abnormal blood glucose levels and steroid-induced diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted for 30 genitourinary (GU) cancer patients who were treated with continuous oral corticosteroids as part of their chemotherapy regimen. The Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) criterion for diagnosis of diabetes was applied to categorize patients into two distinct groups, patients with diabetes and patients without diabetes. This categorization was made based on glucose measurements completed prior to commencement of corticosteroid therapy. Glucose monitoring was defined as receiving a laboratory blood glucose test before first chemotherapy administration along with a test within a week of each subsequent treatment cycle. The CDA criteria for diagnosis of pre-diabetes and diabetes was used to classify glucose levels as hyperglycemic. RESULTS: The mean incidence of blood glucose monitoring was 19% and 76% in patients with diabetes and patients without diabetes, respectively. Approximately, 40% of patients with diabetes required an adjustment to their diabetes management and a further 20% required hospitalization. Fifteen patients without diabetes received a fasting blood glucose test, of which 40% had abnormal blood glucose results; half of these fell into the pre-diabetic range and half in the diabetic range. Ten patients without diabetes were tested for diabetes using the CDA criteria for diabetes diagnosis during or after their chemotherapy, of which 30% developed diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: In order to optimize patient care, blood glucose levels should be monitored in all patients receiving continuous oral corticosteroids as part of their chemotherapy. Future studies should be conducted prospectively to determine the most effective manner of monitoring in order to implement screening guidelines and avoid unnecessary morbidity.