Exploring the Thoughts, Needs and Fears of Chemotherapy Patients-An Analysis Based on Google Search Behavior.

Chemotherapy poses both physical and psychological challenges for patients, prompting many to seek answers independently through online resources. This study investigates German Google search behavior regarding chemotherapy-related terms using Google AdWords data from September 2018 to September 2022 to gain insights into patient concerns and needs. A total of 1461 search terms associated with "chemotherapy" were identified, representing 1,749,312 to 28,958,400 search queries. These terms were categorized into four groups based on frequency and analyzed. Queries related to "adjuvant" and "neoadjuvant" chemotherapy, as well as "immunotherapy", suggest potential confusion among patients. Breast cancer emerged as the most searched tumor type, with hair loss, its management, and dermatological issues being the most searched side effects. These findings underscore the role of search engines such as Google in facilitating access to healthcare information and provide valuable insights into patient thoughts and needs. Healthcare providers can leverage this information to deliver patient-centric care and optimize treatment outcomes.

C6 Ceramide (d18:1/6:0) as a Novel Treatment of Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma.

Cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCLs) represent a heterogeneous group of T cell lymphomas that primarily affect the skin. The most frequent forms of CTCL are mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome. Both are characterized by frequent recurrence, developing chronic conditions and high mortality with a lack of a curative treatment. In this study, we evaluated the effect of short-chain, cell-permeable C6 Ceramide (C6Cer) on CTCL cell lines and keratinocytes. C6Cer significantly reduced cell viability of CTCL cell lines and induced cell death via apoptosis and necrosis. In contrast, primary human keratinocytes and HaCaT keratinocytes were less affected by C6Cer. Both keratinocyte cell lines showed higher expressions of ceramide catabolizing enzymes and HaCaT keratinocytes were able to metabolize C6Cer faster and more efficiently than CTCL cell lines, which might explain the observed protective effects. Along with other existing skin-directed therapies, C6Cer could be a novel well-tolerated drug for the topical treatment of CTCL.