Articles

ORLANDO—Breakthrough pain in cancer patients can be managed easily and effectively with fentanyl pectin nasal spray, according to new data.

Minocycline, given before the start of treatment with cetuximab and chemoradiotherapy, plus topical pimecrolimus as needed, can reduce the severity of cetuximab-induced skin toxicity in patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to researchers from The Netherlands.

ORLANDO—Women who are on intravenous (IV) chemotherapy regimens for recurrent ovarian carcinoma are at risk for nonadherence or nonpersistence with their treatment. But telephone support by an advanced practice nurse (APN) can lower this risk and even boost compliance, a new, nonrandomized study suggests.

The addition of new biomarkers for establishing a prognosis for patients with breast cancer has been recommended in the 2010 edition of the American Joint Committee of Cancer’s Cancer Staging Handbook.¹ Human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) status and multigene signature “scores” have been added to estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) determinations.¹ So, where are we regarding multigene signature scores? Read More ›

ORLANDO—Despite the need for nurses with specialized oncology knowledge to care for the growing population of cancer patients and survivors, few graduate oncology nursing programs currently exist. A collaboration between The Ohio State University Comp rehensive Cancer Center The James Cancer Hospital (OSUCCC-James) and the university’s College of Nursing (CON) has been established to help fulfill the need for nurses with specialized oncology education.

MILAN—Painful vertebral compression fractures can be promptly and effectively treated with balloon kyphoplasty, an international study showed.

The Cancer Patient Fracture Evaluation (CAFE) study was the first to randomize cancer patients with vertebral compression fractures to balloon kyphoplasty or standard nonsurgical treatment (controls). The results were reported by Leonard Bastian, MD, of the Klinikum Leverkusen in Leverkusen, Germany.

SAN DIEGO—Stereotactic radiation appears to be highly effective and safe for treatment of patients with operable, early-stage non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In some cases, it may be an appropriate alternative surgery, resulting in fewer side effects, according to a new Japanese study presented at the 52nd annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

SAN DIEGO—Two studies presented at the 52nd annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology have found that the use of fast neutron radiotherapy (FNRT), a form of radiation that is about three times more powerful than typical photon radiotherapy, is highly effective and safe for patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

ORLANDO—More education about assessment and management of cardiotoxicity would strengthen the quality of nursing care of cancer patients, according to a new study.

MILAN—Prolonging chemotherapy until disease progression improves progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), according to a systematic analysis presented at the 35th European Society for Medical Oncology Congress.