Questionnaire survey of healthcare professionals on taxane-induced nail change in Japan.

PURPOSE: Taxanes are widely used chemotherapeutic agents that frequently cause nail changes and have a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Despite the prevalence of taxane-induced nail toxicity, limited data are available regarding evidence-based management strategies for the prevention or treatment of taxane-induced nail changes. Therefore, we aimed to gain insights into the prevention, treatment, and evaluation of nail changes in patients with cancer in Japan by conducting a questionnaire survey of physicians, pharmacists, and nurses involved in oncology treatment. METHODS: The questions addressed prophylactic methods, evaluation practices, and treatment approaches for various nail disorders. The questionnaires were distributed on March 1, 2022, with a response deadline of December 1, 2022. RESULTS: Of the 120 questionnaires distributed, 88 (73.3%) were returned, and all of them were analyzed. The respondents included 69 physicians (32 oncologists, 26 breast surgeons, 6 dermatologists, 3 obstetricians/gynecologists, 1 gastroenterological surgeon, and 1 urologist), 9 pharmacists, and 10 nurses. Prophylactic measures included moisturizing (58.0%), protection (42.0%), cooling therapy (37.5%), and cleanliness (33.0%). Approximately 70% of the respondents used the Common Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), while approximately 30% did not use a specific evaluation method. Opinions regarding treatment with antimicrobial or corticosteroid ointments varied; however, all severe cases were referred by dermatologists. CONCLUSION: Our survey revealed that the management of chemotherapy-induced nail changes varies in clinical practice in Japan. These findings emphasize the need for standardized management strategies and further research.

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Chemotherapy-induced Alopecia Distress Scale.

BACKGROUND: The Chemotherapy-induced Alopecia Distress Scale (CADS) is a patient-reported outcome measure for assessing distress associated with Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA). This study aimed to confirm the psychometric validity of the Japanese version of the CADS (CADS-J). METHODS: A total of 132 patients with breast cancer who developed CIA were asked to complete the CADS-J twice at 2 week intervals to confirm test-retest reliability. The body image domain of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ) breast cancer-specific module, the self-esteem scale from the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the emotional domain of the EORTC QLQ Core 30 were used to confirm the convergent validity of the CADS-J. The overall quality of life and physical domains of the EORTC QLQ Core 30 were used to confirm the discriminant validity of the CADS-J. RESULTS: In total, 125 participants provided valid responses. The mean age was 52.2 years. The overall Cronbach's alpha for the CADS-J was 0.903. The intraclass correlation coefficients of the first and second responses were r = 0.874, r = 0.952, r = 0.911, and r = 0.959 for the physical domain, emotional domain, activity domain, and relationship domain, respectively. In terms of convergent validity, the total CADS-J score was moderately correlated with body image (r = - 0.63), self-esteem (r = - 0.48), and the emotional domain (r = - 0.61). Regarding discriminant validity, the total CADS-J score was weakly correlated with the overall quality of life (r = - 0.34) and physical domain (r = - 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: The CADS-J is psychometrically reliable and valid for evaluating the distress caused by CIA. It is expected to be used in daily practice and as an endpoint in various studies.

Complete response of metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus to nivolumab plus cabozantinib.

Introduction: The effectiveness of nivolumab plus cabozantinib for metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus remains unclear. Case presentation: A 77-year-old male was diagnosed with right papillary renal cell carcinoma with a metastatic lesion on Gerota's fascia, lymph node metastasis, and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. He was treated with nivolumab plus cabozantinib. As all lesions regressed enough to permit complete resection, radical nephrectomy, thrombectomy, and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection were performed. No viable malignant cells were identified histopathologically. Despite the discontinuation of nivolumab plus cabozantinib, there has been no recurrence for 9 months. Conclusion: Nivolumab plus cabozantinib has effectiveness for metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus.

BRAF Mutation Heterogeneity Detected Using Circulating Tumor DNA Sequencing in Synchronous Colon Cancer: A Case Report.

Background/Aim: Synchronous colorectal cancer, which occurs in approximately 4.8-8.4% of all colorectal cancers, has a genetic profile with a higher rate of v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) mutation and microsatellite instability-high than solitary colorectal cancer. However, little information is available on heterogeneity among tumor lesions because of difficulty in performing genetic tests in all lesions in clinical practice. Case Report: A 44-year-old man presented with multiple recurrent lung metastases 42 months after the endoscopic resection of early stage synchronous ascending and sigmoid colon cancers. The genetic testing of sigmoid colon cancer tissue samples, their state being more advanced than that of ascending colon cancer, revealed a v-Ki-ras 2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog mutation (G13C) and BRAF wild type. However, the tumor was refractory to initial chemotherapy and rapidly progressed to new liver metastases. Therefore, we suspected that there may be biological heterogeneity between the primary sigmoid colon lesion and liver metastases. Next, we performed next-generation sequencing on circulating tumor DNA from the patient's plasma (Foundation One Liquid CDx®), which revealed the V600E mutation of BRAF, suggesting that there was genetic heterogeneity among the synchronized primary lesions, one of which was responsible for the chemo-refractory rapid-growing liver metastases. Conclusion: Genetic profiling with liquid biopsy at the time of recurrence and metastasis may be useful in patients with multiple synchronous cancers because there is less heterogeneity between primary and metastatic sites.

Cabozantinib-induced serum creatine kinase elevation and rhabdomyolysis: a retrospective case series.

PURPOSE: Rhabdomyolysis, which is primarily characterized by serum creatine kinase (CK) elevation, is a potentially fatal disease, and it can occur in a variety of etiologies, including drug-induced. Cabozantinib is one of the standard treatments for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This retrospective case series aimed to investigate the frequency of cabozantinib-induced CK elevation and rhabdomyolysis, and to reveal their detailed clinical features. METHODS: To investigate the frequency of cabozantinib-induced serum CK elevation and rhabdomyolysis, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical information and laboratory data of the patients with advanced RCC who received cabozantinib monotherapy at our institution from April 2020 to April 2023. Data were retrieved from the electronic medical records and the RCC database of our institution. Primary endpoint of the current case series was the frequency of CK elevation and rhabdomyolysis. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were retrieved form the database and 13 were included in the case series (excluded by clinical trial enrollment [n = 2] and short-term administration [n = 1]). Eight (61.5%) patients among them experienced serum CK elevation, including five patients who were classified into grade 1. CK elevation occurred a median of 14 days after initiation of cabozantinib. Two patients with grade 2 or 3 of CK elevation developed rhabdomyolysis with muscle weakness and/or acute kidney injury. CONCLUSIONS: CK elevation may frequently happen during cabozantinib treatment, and in most cases, it may be asymptomatic and may not be clinically problematic. However, medical providers should be aware that symptomatic CK elevations suggestive of rhabdomyolysis may occasionally occur.

Bell's palsy during rechallenge of immune checkpoint inhibitor.

Introduction: The peripheral nervous system is one of the target organs of immune-related adverse events. Peripheral facial nerve palsy, also called Bell's palsy, which is induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors, is quite rare, and its clinical features are not well known. Case presentation: A man with renal cell carcinoma who received rechallenging immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy developed unilateral facial palsy and was diagnosed with Bell's palsy. He did not have any severe immune-related adverse events during his previous immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. Corticosteroid therapy was immediately initiated, and his facial palsy symptoms promptly improved. Conclusion: Physicians should be aware that Bell's palsy can occur as an immune-related adverse event. Additionally, careful observation is necessary during rechallenge with immune checkpoint inhibitors, even in patients who did not have previous immune-related adverse events.

[Evaluation of oral medications in the geriatric medical care ward based on the Guidelines for Appropriate Use of Medications for the Elderly (2018), and an analysis of the number of oral medicines in relation to the nutritional route and activities of daily living (ADL) categories].

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and to examine the number of oral medicines based on the swallowing function and activities of daily living (ADL) categories in a geriatric medical care ward. METHODS: A prospective investigation of oral medication use of 124 consecutive patients (male, n=58; female, n=66) admitted to a geriatric medical care ward was conducted from November 2019 to October 2020. Nutritional routes and ADL categories were quantitatively assessed, and the respective medication quantities were subjected to a statistical analysis. RESULTS: The average number of oral medications was 5.8 at acute care admission, 4.4 upon transfer to the geriatric medical care ward and 4.8 at discharge. Approximately 30% of oral medications were classified as PIMs, including antithrombotic agents, diuretics, antidiabetic drugs, magnesium oxide, sleep and anxiolytic medications, and antipsychotic drugs. Magnesium oxide, antipsychotic drugs, sleep and anxiolytic medications were frequently discontinued during the patient's stay at the geriatric medical care ward. The proportion of PIMs significantly decreased from 35.1% at admission, to 28.8% at ward transfer, and 24.3% at discharge (P<0.01). The number of oral medicines at discharge varied based on the nutritional route, with averages of 5.5 for oral intake, 3.6 for enteral nutrition, and 0.7 for venous nutrition. It also varied based on ADL categories, with averages of 6.0 for ADL 1, 5.8 for ADL 2, and 3.8 for ADL 3. CONCLUSION: The use of PIMs decreased in the geriatric medical care ward. A reduced swallowing function and lower ADL were associated with a decrease in the quantity of oral medicines.

Efficacy of Telemedicine Using Videoconferencing Systems in Outpatient Care for Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: This systematic review aimed to investigate the efficacy of telemedicine (TM) using videoconferencing systems in outpatient care for patients with cancer. METHODS: We searched six electronic databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov) through June 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials that evaluated the use of TM using videoconferencing systems compared with usual face-to-face care in outpatient care for patients with cancer. We assessed the certainty of evidence on the basis of the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. RESULTS: From the 2,400 articles screened, six randomized controlled trials were eligible for this study. Two studies evaluated the use of TM in cancer follow-up and four investigated psychotherapy for cancer. TM using videoconferencing systems may result in no differences in primary outcomes such as patient satisfaction (standardized mean difference, 0.11; 95% CI, -0.18 to 0.40) and outpatient attendance complete proportion (risk difference, 0.02%; 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.09), and secondary outcomes such as medical professional satisfaction, time devoted to outpatient care, and depression score. The certainty of evidence for these outcomes was low. Although the average money spent on outpatient visit was a primary outcome, the level of evidence was uncertain. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that TM using videoconferencing systems in outpatient care for patients with cancer may be as effective as usual face-to-face care. Use of TM more frequently may be considered for patients with cancer who are expected to obtain benefit from TM using videoconference systems.

Complete response of metastatic renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus to nivolumab plus ipilimumab.

Introduction: The effectiveness of nivolumab plus ipilimumab for metastatic renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus remains unclear. Case presentation: A 75-year-old male was diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus and treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab. The renal mass and thrombus regressed and all pulmonary nodules except for one lesion diminished. To avoid thrombotic complications, radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy were performed. No viable malignant cells were revealed histopathologically. Although nivolumab was continued after the surgical interventions, the remaining lesion did not change. Considering the discontinuation of nivolumab, metastasectomy was performed, and no viable malignant cells were revealed histopathologically. There has been no recurrence after the discontinuation. Conclusion: Nivolumab plus ipilimumab could have effectiveness for metastatic renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus.

[Hypopituitarism].

In recent years, the role ofimmune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)has become crucial in cancer therapy. However, ICIs are known to trigger a wide variety of autoimmune side effects, termed immune-related adverse events(irAEs), which can influence multiple organs. Hypophysitis induced by ICIs, which is defined as the inflammation of the pituitary gland and is the cause ofhypopituitarism, is one ofthe important toxicities, because it can be life-threatening event when it is not diagnosed or managed properly. Therefore, ICIs-induced hypophysitis should be recognized as one ofthe oncologic emergencies. Symptoms, laboratory data, hormone level measurement, and pituitary magnetic resonance imaging are necessary for diagnosis. It should be taken into consideration that types of agents in ICIs have an effect on patterns of symptoms, onset timing, and hormone deficiencies. Replacement of appropriate hormones according to severity is fundamental strategy. Patient education especially about sick day rules is vital, because adrenal insufficiency secondary to adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency usually remains permanently. There is no established predictive biomarker for irAEs yet. Thus, for an early awareness of the symptoms ofirAEs and a proper management in clinical practice, interprofessional collaboration among oncologists, endocrinologists, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care workers must be essential.