Invasive anal squamous-cell carcinoma in the HIV-positive patient: outcome in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of invasive anal squamous-cell carcinoma in patients with HIV is increasing. We report the outcome after combined chemoradiotherapy for anal squamous-cell carcinoma in HIV-infected individuals. METHODS: Thirty-two HIV-positive patients treated at the St. Vincent's Cancer Care Center for anal squamous-cell carcinoma from 1997 through mid 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients also received highly active antiretroviral therapy. Treatment consisted of radiotherapy concurrent with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C in most patients. Overall survival, anal cancer-specific survival, local recurrence, and toxicity were assessed. RESULTS: Median time from completion of radiotherapy to last follow-up of surviving patients was 35 months. Five-year locoregional relapse, anal cancer-specific survival, and overall survival were 16 , 75, and 65 percent, respectively. In multivariate analysis, locoregional recurrence, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival were all significantly associated with tumor size. Overall survival was independently associated with high viral load and low CD4 count. Acute toxicity included: Grade 3 skin in 25 percent of patients, Grade 3 diarrhea: 28 percent, and Grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicity in 21 and 48 percent, respectively. More than two-thirds of patients required radiotherapy interruption. There was no negative impact of chemoradiotherapy on viral load. CONCLUSIONS: Outcome after chemoradiotherapy for HIV-related anal squamous-cell carcinoma in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy is comparable to outcome in patients without HIV. However, significant toxicity is seen with standard treatment regimens. Earlier diagnosis and risk-adapted therapy could lead to improved survival and decreased treatment-related morbidity.

Is failure to meet spiritual needs associated with cancer patients' perceptions of quality of care and their satisfaction with care?

PURPOSE: Few studies regarding patients' views about spirituality and health care have included patients with cancer who reside in the urban, northeastern United States. Even fewer have investigated the relationship between patients' spiritual needs and perceptions of quality and satisfaction with care. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Outpatients (N = 369) completed a questionnaire at the Saint Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York, NY. The instrument included the Quality of End-of-Life Care and Satisfaction with Treatment quality-of-care scale and questions about spiritual and religious beliefs and needs. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 58 years; 65% were female; 67% were white; 65% were college educated; and 32% had breast cancer. Forty-seven percent were Catholic; 19% were Jewish; 16% were Protestant; and 6% were atheist or agnostic. Sixty-six percent reported that they were spiritual but not religious. Only 29% attended religious services at least once per week. Seventy-three percent reported at least one spiritual need; 58% thought it appropriate for physicians to inquire about their spiritual needs. Eighteen percent reported that their spiritual needs were not being met. Only 6% reported that any staff members had inquired about their spiritual needs (0.9% of inquiries by physicians). Patients who reported that their spiritual needs were not being met gave lower ratings of the quality of care (P = .009) and reported lower satisfaction with care (P = .006). CONCLUSION: Most patients had spiritual needs. A slight majority thought it appropriate to be asked about these needs, although fewer thought this compared with reports in other settings. Few had their spiritual needs addressed by the staff. Patients whose spiritual needs were not met reported lower ratings of quality and satisfaction with care.

Ocular changes with oxaliplatin.

Ocular toxicity, although uncommon, can occur with many chemotherapeutic agents. Platinum compounds have been documented to produce a variety of ocular side effects, and reports have been made of ocular toxicity with oxaliplatin. This article reports on four patients who experienced ocular symptoms while receiving oxaliplatin. The symptoms included tunnel vision and visual loss with postural changes. One patient had objective findings that included papilledema. All of the changes were reversible. Oxaliplatin will continue to be used widely, so clinicians treating patients with it must be alert for unusual toxicities such as those described in this article.