The lancet oncology
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The lancet oncology · Jan 2018
ReviewSystematic review of health-related quality of life and patient-reported outcome measures in gestational trophoblastic disease: a parallel synthesis approach.
Gestational trophoblastic disease is a rare complication of pregnancy that can develop into cancer. Medical outcomes of gestational trophoblastic disease are well researched, but the effect of the disease on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) requires attention if care is to be improved. This systematic review was designed to establish the effect of gestational trophoblastic disease and its treatment on HRQOL and to identify the appropriateness of HRQOL measures. ⋯ Within qualitative studies on HRQOL for survivors of gestational trophoblastic disease, new conditions emerged, including nerve damage, fatigue, amenorrhoea, and grief. These areas are not captured in existing patient-reported outcome measures, and the content might not be valid for this population. Further qualitative research might lead to the development of a specific patient-reported outcome measure for gestational trophoblastic disease, providing reliable, meaningful, and valid assessments, and allowing longitudinal data to be obtained.
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The lancet oncology · Jan 2018
Review Meta AnalysisLong-term outcomes for neoadjuvant versus adjuvant chemotherapy in early breast cancer: meta-analysis of individual patient data from ten randomised trials.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for early breast cancer can make breast-conserving surgery more feasible and might be more likely to eradicate micrometastatic disease than might the same chemotherapy given after surgery. We investigated the long-term benefits and risks of NACT and the influence of tumour characteristics on outcome with a collaborative meta-analysis of individual patient data from relevant randomised trials. ⋯ Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation, UK Medical Research Council, and UK Department of Health.
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The lancet oncology · Jan 2018
Review Practice GuidelineClinical trial design for systemic agents in patients with brain metastases from solid tumours: a guideline by the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Brain Metastases working group.
Patients with active CNS disease are often excluded from clinical trials, and data regarding the CNS efficacy of systemic agents are usually obtained late in the drug development process or not at all. In this guideline from the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Brain Metastases (RANO-BM) working group, we provide detailed recommendations on when patients with brain metastases from solid tumours should be included or excluded in clinical trials of systemic agents. ⋯ We consider how to optimally incorporate or exclude such patients in systemic therapy trials depending on the likelihood of CNS activity of the agent by considering three scenarios: drugs that are considered very unlikely to have CNS antitumour activity or efficacy; drugs that are considered very likely to have CNS activity or efficacy; and drugs with minimal baseline information on CNS activity or efficacy. We also address trial design issues unique to patients with brain metastases, including the selection of appropriate CNS endpoints in systemic therapy trials.
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Leptomeningeal metastasis is a complication of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Diagnosis and monitoring of leptomeningeal metastasis are challenging, and are based on neurological, radiographic, and cerebrospinal fluid findings. ⋯ This Review discusses cumulative data on multiple treatment modalities with a particular focus on recent advances in molecularly targeted therapies in subtypes of patients with leptomeningeal metastasis from NSCLC. Future research is needed to further understand the biology of leptomeningeal metastasis and the mechanisms of resistance to treatment.
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Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT can save lives. This European Union (EU) position statement presents the available evidence and the major issues that need to be addressed to ensure the successful implementation of low-dose CT lung cancer screening in Europe. ⋯ This position statement recommends the following actions: a risk stratification approach should be used for future lung cancer low-dose CT programmes; that individuals who enter screening programmes should be provided with information on the benefits and harms of screening, and smoking cessation should be offered to all current smokers; that management of detected solid nodules should use semi-automatically measured volume and volume-doubling time; that national quality assurance boards should be set up to oversee technical standards; that a lung nodule management pathway should be established and incorporated into clinical practice with a tailored screening approach; that non-calcified baseline lung nodules greater than 300 mm3, and new lung nodules greater than 200 mm3, should be managed in multidisciplinary teams according to this EU position statement recommendations to ensure that patients receive the most appropriate treatment; and planning for implementation of low-dose CT screening should start throughout Europe as soon as possible. European countries need to set a timeline for implementing lung cancer screening.