2011 ASCO Annual Meeting

Models psychosocial care that use nurses, nurse practitioners, and/or physician assistants as care managers enhanced quality of life in elderly patients with depression and cancer and in patients with major depressive disorder being treated as outpatients in a large cancer center.

Nutrition interventions should prevent nutrient deficiencies, maintain lean body mass (not to be confused with body weight), and minimize the impact of treatment-related side effects, according to nutrition experts.

Disappointingly, flaxseed failed to have a significant effect on reducing hot flashes in women compared with placebo, according to results of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial supported by the NCCTG.

Exemestane reduced the risk of a first invasive breast cancer by 65% in healthy postmenopausal women with risk factors for breast cancer, and also reduced the risk of known breast cancer precursor lesions, including ductal carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma in situ, atypical ductal hyperplasia, and atypical lobular hyperplasia, according to results of the randomized, placebo-controlled MAP.3 trial.

More support for bevacizumab in the treatment of ovarian cancer emerged, with studies showing the drug prolongs the time to disease progression, both in the metastatic and primary disease settings.