Percutaneous cervical cordotomy for cancer-related pain: prospective multimodal outcomes evaluation

2020 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2019-002084
Author(s):  
Aimee Doyle ◽  
Manohar Lal Sharma ◽  
Manish Gupta ◽  
Andreas Goebel ◽  
Kate Marley

BackgroundPercutaneous cervical cordotomy (PCC) offers pain relief to patients with unilateral treatment-refractory cancer-related pain. There is insufficient evidence about any effects of this intervention on patients’ quality of life.MethodComprehensive multimodal assessment to determine how PCC affects pain, analgesic intake and quality of life of patients with medically refractory, unilateral cancer-related pain.This study was set in a multidisciplinary, tertiary cancer pain service. Patient outcomes immediately following PCC were prospectively recorded. Patients were also followed up at 4 weeks.ResultsOutcome variables collected included: background and breakthrough pain numerical rating scores before PCC, at discharge and 4 weeks postprocedure; oral morphine equivalent opioid dose changes, Patient’s Global Impression of Change, Eastern Cooperative oncology group performance status and health related quality of life score, that is, EuroQol-5 dimension-5 level (EQ-5D).ConclusionsDespite significant improvement in pain and other standard outcomes sustained at 4 weeks, there was little evidence of improvement in EQ-5D scores. In patients with terminal cancer, improved pain levels following cordotomy for cancer-related pain does not appear to translate into improvements in overall quality of life as assessed with the generic EQ-5D measure.

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsunori Miyashita ◽  
Makoto Wada ◽  
Tatsuya Morita ◽  
Mayumi Ishida ◽  
Hideki Onishi ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to develop a scale capable of measuring comprehensive quality of life (QOL) outcomes based on the concept of a good death for patients with advanced cancer.MethodsWe conducted an anonymous cross-sectional questionnaire survey on inpatients being treated at the Oncology Clinic in Saitama Medical University International Medical Center and seven palliative units throughout Japan.ResultsA total of 405 patients with cancer participated in this study. Factor analysis of scores on the Comprehensive Quality of Life Outcome (CoQoLo) inventory revealed 28 items and the following 10 subscales: physical and psychological comfort; staying in a favourite place; maintaining hope and pleasure; good relationships with medical staff; not being a burden to others; good relationships with family; independence; environmental comfort; being respected as an individual; and having a fulfilling life. The total CoQoLo score was moderately correlated with satisfaction (r=0.34) and overall QOL (r=0.34), and moderately correlated with feelings of support and security regarding cancer care (r=0.44). Cronbach's α and the intraclass correlation coefficient of the total score were 0.90 and 0.79, respectively. No significant correlation was found between the total CoQoLo score and self-reported Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (r=−0.01).ConclusionsThese results suggest that the CoQoLo has sufficient reliability and validity and therefore provides an accurate measure of QOL outcomes independent of the general physical condition of the patient.


BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Tremblay ◽  
Patrick Daniele ◽  
Janis Breeze ◽  
Lingling Li ◽  
Jatin Shah ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Selinexor is an oral, selective nuclear export inhibitor. STORM was a phase 2b, single-arm, open-label, multicenter trial of selinexor with low dose dexamethasone in patients with penta-exposed relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) that met its primary endpoint, with overall response of 26% (95% confidence interval [CI], 19 to 35%). Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was a secondary endpoint measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Multiple Myeloma (FACT-MM). This study examines impact of selinexor treatment on HRQoL of patients treated in STORM and reports two approaches to calculate minimal clinically important differences for the FACT-MM. Methods FACT-MM data were collected at baseline, on day 1 of each 4-week treatment cycle, and at end of treatment (EOT). Changes from baseline were analyzed for the FACT-MM total score, FACT-trial outcome index (TOI), FACT-General (FACT-G), and the MM-specific domain using mixed-effects regression models. Two approaches for evaluating minimal clinically important differences were explored: the first defined as 10% of the instrument range, and the second based on estimated mean baseline differences between Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) scores. Post-hoc difference analysis compared change in scores from baseline to EOT for treatment responders and non-responders. Results Eighty patients were included in the analysis; the mean number of prior therapies was 7.9 (standard deviation [SD] 3.1), and mean duration of myeloma was 7.6 years (SD 3.4). Each exploratory minimal clinically important difference threshold yielded consistent results whereby most patients did not experience HRQoL decline during the first six cycles of treatment (range: 53.9 to 75.7% for the first approach; range: 52.6 to 72.9% for the second). Treatment responders experienced less decline in HRQoL from baseline to EOT than non-responders, which was significant for the FACT-G, but not for other scores. Conclusion The majority of patients did not experience decline in HRQoL based on minimal clinically important differences during early cycles of treatment with selinexor and dexamethasone in the STORM trial. An anchor-based approach utilizing patient-level data (ECOG PS score) to define minimal clinically important differences for the FACT-MM gave consistent results with a distribution-based approach. Trial registration This trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under the trial-ID NCT02336815 on January 8, 2015.


2020 ◽  
Vol 102-B (12) ◽  
pp. 1709-1716
Author(s):  
Yutaro Kanda ◽  
Kenichiro Kakutani ◽  
Yoshitada Sakai ◽  
Takashi Yurube ◽  
Shingo Miyazaki ◽  
...  

Aims With recent progress in cancer treatment, the number of advanced-age patients with spinal metastases has been increasing. It is important to clarify the influence of advanced age on outcomes following surgery for spinal metastases, especially with a focus on subjective health state values. Methods We prospectively analyzed 101 patients with spinal metastases who underwent palliative surgery from 2013 to 2016. These patients were divided into two groups based on age (< 70 years and ≥ 70 years). The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS), Barthel index (BI), and EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D) score were assessed at study enrolment and at one, three, and six months after surgery. The survival times and complications were also collected. Results In total, 65 patients were aged < 70 years (mean 59.6 years; 32 to 69) and 36 patients were aged ≥ 70 years (mean 75.9 years; 70 to 90). In both groups, the PS improved from PS3 to PS1 by spine surgery, the mean BI improved from < 60 to > 80 points, and the mean EQ-5D score improved from 0.0 to > 0.7 points. However, no significant differences were found in the improvement rates and values of the PS, BI, and EQ-5D score at any time points between the two groups. The PS, BI, and EQ-5D score improved throughout the follow-up period in approximately 90% of patients in each group. However, the improved PS, BI, and EQ-5D scores subsequently deteriorated in some patients, and the redeterioration rate of the EQ-5D was significantly higher in patients aged ≥ 70 than < 70 years (p = 0.027). Conclusion Palliative surgery for spinal metastases improved the PS, activities of daily living, and quality of life, regardless of age. However, clinicians should be aware of the higher risk of redeterioration of the quality of life in advanced-age patients. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(12):1709–1716.


2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 807-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles S. Fuchs ◽  
Melvin R. Moore ◽  
Graydon Harker ◽  
Luis Villa ◽  
David Rinaldi ◽  
...  

Purpose: Randomized trials in fluorouracil (FU)-refractory colorectal cancer demonstrate significant survival advantages for patients receiving irinotecan. We prospectively compared the efficacy and tolerability of two irinotecan regimens (once a week for 4 weeks followed by a 2-week rest period [weekly] v once every 3 weeks) in such patients. Patients and Methods: This multicenter, open-label, phase III study randomly assigned patients in a 1:2 ratio to irinotecan given either weekly (125 mg/m2) or once every 3 weeks (350 mg/m2, or 300 mg/m2 in patients who were ≥ 70 years of age, who had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status equal to 2, or who had prior pelvic irradiation). Results: With median follow-up of 15.8 months, there was no significant difference in 1-year survival (46% v 41%, respectively; P = .42), median survival (9.9 v 9.9 months, respectively; P = .43), or median time to progression (4.0 v 3.0 months, respectively; P = .54) between the two regimens. Grade 3/4 diarrhea occurred in 36% of patients treated weekly and in 19% of those treated once every 3 weeks (P = .002). Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 29% of patients treated weekly and 34% of those treated once every 3 weeks (P = .35). Treatment-related mortality occurred in five patients (5.3%) receiving irinotecan weekly and three patients (1.6%) given therapy once every 3 weeks (P = .12). Global quality of life was not statistically different between treatment groups. Conclusion: Irinotecan schedules of weekly and of once every 3 weeks demonstrated similar efficacy and quality of life in patients with FU-refractory, metastatic colorectal cancer. The regimen of once every 3 weeks was associated with a significantly lower incidence of severe diarrhea.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duan Guo ◽  
Taiping Lin ◽  
Chuanyao Deng ◽  
Yuxia Zheng ◽  
Langli Gao ◽  
...  

Objective: Delirium is common and highly distressing for the palliative care population. Until now, no study has systematically reviewed the risk factors of delirium in the palliative care population. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate delirium risk factors among individuals receiving palliative care.Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane database to identify relevant observational studies from database inception to June 2021. The methodological quality of the eligible studies was assessed by the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. We estimated the pooled adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for individual risk factors using the inverse variance method.Results: Nine studies were included in the review (five prospective cohort studies, three retrospective case-control studies and one retrospective cross-section study). In pooled analyses, older age (aOR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.04, I2 = 37%), male sex (aOR:1.80, 95% CI: 1.37–2.36, I2 = 7%), hypoxia (aOR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77–0.99, I2 = 0%), dehydration (aOR: 3.22, 95%CI: 1.75–5.94, I2 = 18%), cachexia (aOR:3.40, 95% CI: 1.69–6.85, I2 = 0%), opioid use (aOR: 2.49, 95%CI: 1.39–4.44, I2 = 0%), anticholinergic burden (aOR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.07–1.30, I2 = 9%) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (aOR: 2.54, 95% CI: 1.56–4.14, I2 = 21%) were statistically significantly associated with delirium.Conclusion: The risk factors identified in our review can help to highlight the palliative care population at high risk of delirium. Appropriate strategies should be implemented to prevent delirium and improve the quality of palliative care services.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 256-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matina Symeonidi ◽  
Irene Panagiotou ◽  
Eleni Tsilika ◽  
Anna Roumeliotou ◽  
Antonis Galanos ◽  
...  

Purpose: Pain is prevalent in cancer patients, appearing to be moderate to severe in more than one third of them. Despite the fact that fentanyl is widely used with effective analgesic results, some patients do not correspond to treatment, resulting in opioid change. Methods: This is a cohort study, performed in Greek patients with cancer. Its scope was to identify potential reasons responsible for opioid change, due to transdermal-fentanyl intolerance, resulting from inadequate analgesia (pain relief<33% in 1week) and/or unacceptable adverse-events (grade≥3 at Common Terminology Criteria-v4.0). The final sample included 289 participants. To investigate responsible reasons for transdermal-fentanyl intolerance we studied its relation with patients’ history, haematology, biochemistry, body-mass-index, demographic and disease related characteristics. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status scale, the Mini Mental State Examination questionnaire, the M.D.Anderson Symptom Inventory and the Greek Brief Pain Inventory were also used to measure performance status and quality-of-life for the same reason. Results: Almost one third of the patients had to change to an alternative opioid oral-morphine in order to achieve adequate analgesia or/and avoid adverse-events. The most common adverse-events observed were nausea/vomiting and sleepiness. Statistical analysis demonstrated that younger age (OR=0.976) and obesity (OR=0.29 against underweight, OR=0.39 against normal, OR=0.48 against pre-obese) had a higher possibility to contribute to modification of the analgesic treatment. Furthermore, a higher impact of symptoms in patient’s life (OR=1.184) and chemotherapy (OR=2.109) could also contribute to the need of change of the opioid analgesic medication. Conclusion: This study found significant variables for transdermal-fentanyl intolerance. This knowledge may help person-center care in moderate to severe cancer pain. This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see “For Readers”) may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue’s contents page.


2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 2114-2122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan H. Schiller ◽  
Sudeshna Adak ◽  
David Cella ◽  
Russell F. DeVore ◽  
David H. Johnson

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of topotecan in combination with standard chemotherapy in previously untreated patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) conducted a phase III trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had measurable or assessable disease and an ECOG performance status of 0 to 2; stable brain metastases were allowed. All patients received four cycles of cisplatin and etoposide every 3 weeks (step 1; PE). Patients with stable or responding disease were then randomized to observation or four cycles of topotecan (1.5 mg/m2/d for 5 days, every 3 weeks; step 2). A total of 402 eligible patients were registered to step 1, and 223 eligible patients were registered to step 2 (observation, n = 111; topotecan, n = 112). RESULTS: Complete and partial response rates to induction PE were 3% and 32%, respectively. A 7% response rate was observed with topotecan (complete response, 2%; partial response, 5%). The median survival time for all 402 eligible patients was 9.6 months. Progression-free survival (PFS) from date of randomization on step 2 was significantly better with topotecan compared with observation (3.6 months v 2.3 months; P < .001). However, overall survival from date of randomization on step 2 was not significantly different between the observation and topotecan arms (8.9 months v 9.3 months; P = .43). Grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 50% and 3%, respectively, of PE patients in step 1 and 60% and 13% of topotecan patients in step 2. Grade 4/5 infection was observed in 4.6% of PE patients and 1.8% of topotecan patients. Grade 3/4 anemia developed in 22% of patients who received topotecan. No difference in quality of life between topotecan and observation was observed at any assessment time or for any of the subscale scores. CONCLUSION: Four cycles of PE induction therapy followed by four cycles of topotecan improved PFS but failed to improve overall survival or quality of life in extensive-stage SCLC. Four cycles of standard PE remains an appropriate first-line treatment for extensive-stage SCLC patients with good performance status.


2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALICE INMAN ◽  
KENNETH L. KIRSH ◽  
STEVEN D. PASSIK

Objective: Spirituality has been neglected when assessing the well-being of cancer patients. Traditionally, researchers have focused on areas such as physical, social, and emotional functioning. However, there is a potential for spirituality to have a large impact on quality of life in patients with cancer. The current study was conducted to investigate the relationship between spirituality and boredom, constraint, social contact, and depression.Methods: A total of 100 oncology patients completed several assessment instruments, including the Purposelessness, Under-stimulation, and Boredom (PUB) Scale, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale–Anemia, Brief Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (BZSDS), Cancer Behavior Inventory, Systems of Belief Inventory, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status Scale.Results: The average age of the sample was 62.37 years (SD = 13.43) and was comprised of 60 women (60%) and 40 men (40%). A regression analysis conducted to explore the impact of the variables on quality of life found only the BZSDS (R2Δ = .650, F = 180.392, p < .001) and the PUB Scale (R2Δ = .077, F = 26.885, p < .001) were significant predictors of quality of life. Another set of regression analyses were conducted to explore whether spirituality had a mediating effect on this relationship, but the mediated model was not supported.Significance of results: We conclude that spirituality and boredom are difficult concepts to define, operationalize, and measure, but crucial to our understanding of quality of life in advanced cancer. More research is needed to clarify the nature of the interrelationships between these important concepts.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e15173-e15173
Author(s):  
Linda J. Patrick-Miller ◽  
Fengmin Zhao ◽  
Charles S. Cleeland ◽  
Lynne I. Wagner ◽  
Michael Fisch ◽  
...  

e15173 Background: Optimal treatment outcomes for patients (pts) with prostate cancer are dependent upon rigorous symptom assessment. The MDSAI, a patient-reported outcome measure of symptoms (sxs) and their impact validated in a sample of patients of diverse cancer types has the potential to inform symptom experience and guide treatment specific to prostate cancer pts. Methods: SOAPP, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) study, was conducted at academic and community medical oncology clinics and included pts with prostate cancer of all stages and phases of care. At baseline and 4 weeks, pts completed a measure of symptom severity and functional interference (MDASI). Symptom experiences and psychometric properties of the MDASI in prostate cancer pts (n = 320) were analyzed. Results: The 5 most prevalent moderate/severe sxs reported at baseline were fatigue (34%), disturbed sleep (25%), drowsiness (18%), pain (17%), and dry mouth (15%); moderate/severe nausea (5%) and vomiting (2%) were the least prevalent. At baseline ECOG performance status (PS) was ≥2 in 9% of pts. Pain, sadness, and difficulty remembering things occurred in 17%, 14%, and 13% respectively, and among pts whose PS worsened, severity of these sxs had the highest change scores at follow-up. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the MDASI were good, with Cronbach coefficient alphas ≥0.84 and intra-class correlations ≥0.78 for all subscales. Significantly higher scores and moderately large effects for the MDASI severity scale were reported by pts with poorer PS (2.2 vs 1.0, ES=.83) and tumor progression (2.4 vs 1.2, ES=.73) p<.05. Results were similar for the interference scale, demonstrating MDASI known-group validity. Pts whose quality of life declined showed significantly greater increase in severity (1.1 vs .14, p<.01) and interference (1.9 vs .28, p<.004) from baseline to follow-up than pts whose quality of life was unchanged, demonstrating MDASI sensitivity to change. Conclusions: The MDASI is a valid, reliable, and sensitive symptom assessment method for descriptive and clinical studies, and patient care in medical oncology outpatients with prostate cancer.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arif Ahmed ◽  
Sushma Bhatnagar ◽  
Deepa khurana ◽  
Saurabh Joshi ◽  
Sanjay Thulkar

Background: Breakthrough pain (BTP) arising due to rib metastasis is very distressing and often very difficult to manage by titration of traditional analgesics. This study is undertaken to determine the efficacy of radiofrequency (RF) treatment of intercostal nerves for the prevention of BTP. Methods: The RF treatment of the intercostal nerves was carried out in 25 patients with uncontrolled BTP arising out of the rib metastasis. The intensity and episode of BTP, background pain, opioid dose, functional status (Karnofky score), and quality of life (Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36]) were noted at baseline visit and subsequently after the RF treatment. Results: After the RF treatment, there was more than 50% decrease in both intensity and frequency of BTP in more than 50% of patients for 3 months, and there was more than 50% decrease in BTP opioid dose in more than 50% of patients throughout the study period. There was also significant improvement in background pain, functional status, and the quality of life after the RF. Interestingly, pain relief, lowering of opioid dose, and functional status improvement were found mostly in patients with mixed and neuropathic type of pain and in patients in whom the metastasis were confined to the ribs only. Conclusion: RF of the intercostal nerves is effective in preventing and deceasing the severity of BTP arising due to rib metastasis in selected group of patients with mixed and neuropathic type of pain and with the metastasis involving the ribs only.


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