Articles: cancer.
-
The lancet oncology · Jun 2016
Review Meta AnalysisFOLFIRINOX for locally advanced pancreatic cancer: a systematic review and patient-level meta-analysis.
35% of patients with pancreatic cancer have unresectable locally advanced disease at diagnosis. Several studies have examined systemic chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX (leucovorin and fluorouracil plus irinotecan and oxaliplatin) in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of FOLFIRINOX as first-line treatment in this patient population. ⋯ None.
-
BMJ Support Palliat Care · Jun 2016
Review Meta AnalysisA systematic review and meta-analysis of meditative interventions for informal caregivers and health professionals.
Burnout, stress and anxiety have been identified as areas of concern for informal caregivers and health professionals, particularly in the palliative setting. Meditative interventions are gaining acceptance as tools to improve well-being in a variety of clinical contexts, however, their effectiveness as an intervention for caregivers remains unknown. ⋯ Meditation provides a small to moderate benefit for informal caregivers and health professionals for stress reduction, but more research is required to establish effects on burnout and caregiver burden.
-
Cancer treatment reviews · Jun 2016
Review Meta AnalysisBeta blockers and cancer prognosis - The role of immortal time bias: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Findings from experimental and observational studies have suggested beneficial effects of beta blocker (BB) use on cancer survival. Nevertheless, results have been inconclusive and there have been concerns that the observed associations might have resulted from immortal time bias (ITB). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize existing evidence, paying particular attention to this potential source of bias. ⋯ We found no clinically meaningful evidence for an association between BB use and survival after excluding studies with a possible ITB. Our results support suggestions that the proposed beneficial effect of BBs on cancer survival might be based on ITB.
-
Cancer treatment reviews · May 2016
Review Meta AnalysisHow low should we go: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of restrictive red blood cell transfusion strategies in oncology.
Most non-oncologic clinical practice guidelines recommend restrictive allogeneic blood transfusion practices; however, there is a lack of consensus regarding the best transfusion practice in oncology. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to compare the efficacy and safety of restrictive versus liberal transfusion strategies in patients with cancer. ⋯ Restrictive strategy appears to decrease blood utilization without increasing morbidity or mortality in oncology. This review is limited by a paucity of high quality studies on this topic. Better designed studies are warranted.
-
Smoking is the most important individual risk factor for many cancer sites but its association with breast and prostate cancer is not entirely clear. Rate advancement periods (RAPs) may enhance communication of smoking related risk to the general population. Thus, we estimated RAPs for the association of smoking exposure (smoking status, time since smoking cessation, smoking intensity, and duration) with total and site-specific (lung, breast, colorectal, prostate, gastric, head and neck, and pancreatic) cancer incidence and mortality. ⋯ This investigation shows that smoking, even among older adults, considerably advances, and cessation delays, the risk of developing and dying from cancer. These findings may be helpful in more effectively communicating the harmful effects of smoking and the beneficial effect of smoking cessation.