Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Specific training program improves oncologists' palliative care communication skills in a randomized controlled trial.
The aim of the study was to demonstrate that COM-ON-p, concise and individualized communication skills training (CST), improves oncologists' communication skills in consultations focusing on the transition to palliative care. ⋯ Physicians can be trained to meet better core challenges during the transition to palliative care through developed concise CST. Generalization and transfer into clinical practice must be proven in additional studies.
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To evaluate efficacy and safety of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel and trastuzumab as neoadjuvant treatment in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-overexpressing breast cancer. ⋯ Neoadjuvant combination of trastuzumab and chemotherapy resulted in a high pCR rate in HER2-overexpressing primary breast cancer. Patients with a pCR after neoadjuvant anti-HER2 therapy in combination with chemotherapy followed by maintenance trastuzumab have an improved long-term outcome. Patients without a pCR had an increased risk for relapse and death.