Supportive Care in Cancer最新文献

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the attitudes, challenges, and support needs related to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) among patients with oral and maxillofacial cancers and their caregivers in China.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of patients, both pre- and post-surgery, and their caregivers at a tertiary hospital in Chengdu, China. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: A total of 14 participants (7 patients and 7 caregivers) were interviewed. Five key themes and thirteen sub-themes emerged: (1) perceptions and attitudes toward PR, (2) multifactorial influences on participation, (3) preferences for PR education formats, (4) challenges in engaging with PR, and (5) psychological burden and the need for information support.

Conclusion: This study offers critical insights into the barriers and facilitators of PR for oral and maxillofacial cancer patients in China. Findings underscore the need for culturally tailored, patient-centered PR programs that address both physical and psychological recovery. Improved PR initiatives could enhance pulmonary function, quality of life, and overall outcomes for this vulnerable population, offering valuable implications for healthcare stakeholders and policymakers in China and similar settings worldwide.

Purpose: Oral mucositis (OM) is a common and debilitating adverse effect associated with chemoradiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This study aimed to investigate the association between Latexin (LXN) polymorphism and acute toxicity of oral mucositis.

Methods: A total of 238 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients were enrolled. LXN genotypes were analyzed by the Sequenom MassARRAY system. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the association of LXN polymorphisms and chemoradiotherapy-induced toxicities. Multifactor and generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction methods were applied to calculate the SNP-SNP interaction.

Results: Our study showed that the frequency of the AG genotype of rs1492908 was significantly lower in the grade 3-4 oral mucositis group compared to the grade 0-2 group (14.1% vs. 27.1%, respectively). Patients carrying the LXN rs1492908 AG genotype exhibited a decreased risk of severe oral mucositis (OR = 0.452, 95% CI = 0.213-0.959, P = 0.039). Stratification analysis further revealed that the rs1492908 AG genotype conferred protective effects against oral mucositis in specific patient populations, including those aged ≥ 47 years (OR = 0.340, P = 0.041), body mass index (BMI) ≥ 24 (OR = 0.286, P = 0.035), WHO type Ⅲ histology (OR = 0.212, P = 0.007), and receiving a higher radiotherapy dose (planning gross tumor volume of nasopharynx (pGTVnx) ≥ 71 Gy) (OR = 0.158, P = 0.016). Additionally, SNP-SNP interaction analysis identified that the combination of rs1492908, rs9841, rs8455, rs2639655, and rs56321207 was the best multi-locus model for oral mucositis.

Conclusion: This study is the first to establish a link between NPC chemoradiotherapy-induced oral mucositis risk and LXN polymorphisms in the Chinese Han population.

Purpose: The current study investigated the extent of knowledge and care regimen regarding the possible risks of cardiac dysfunction from Trastuzumab (Herceptin) treatment in women with either a diagnosis of primary or metastatic breast cancer who had undergone or were receiving Trastuzumab at the time of the study.

Method: In a qualitative interview, participants were asked questions regarding awareness of cardiac risks of Trastuzumab therapy and knowledge of cardiac damage symptoms, as well as questions concerning the regimen of heart function monitoring during and beyond their course of treatment. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Results: The emerging themes from the thematic analysis revealed inconsistencies in (a) knowledge and awareness of cardiac damage risk prior to taking Trastuzumab, (b) monitoring of cardiac function and risks of cardiac dysfunction during and beyond treatment, and (c) awareness of signs of possible cardiac damage of Trastuzumab during treatment.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that patients feel unsupported and ill-informed about the possible risks of cardiac damage from Trastuzumab. This has implications for the self-management of symptoms and mitigation of risks for cardiac damage and suggests the need for improvement in patient care.

Purpose: The objective of this research was to synthesize the evidence about the usage of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) in women with breast cancer undergoing hypo-fractionated whole-breast irradiation (HFWBI) for the treatment of acute radiodermatitis.

Methods: The study included 50 patients (35-55 years) with unilateral breast cancer post-lumpectomy who received HFWBI. They were randomized into Group A (PEMF plus standard skin care) and Group B (standard skin care only). Skin reactions were assessed during PEMF therapy using sonographic skin thickness measurements and RTOG criterion.

Results: After radiation, skin thickness increased in both groups, peaking at 4 weeks (PEMF 2.82 mm; control 2.74 mm, p = 0.030). By 6 weeks, thickness declined in the PEMF group but remained high in controls (p < 0.001), and by 8 weeks PEMF returned near baseline (2.01 mm) while controls stayed thickened (p < 0.001). Skin reactions worsened in both groups by week 4, with more severe cases in controls (36% vs. 12%, p = 0.150). By week 6, PEMF patients mostly had mild reactions (72% Grade 0-1) compared to predominantly severe reactions in controls (84% Grade 2-3, p = 0.001). At 8 weeks, recovery was greater with PEMF, as 52% returned to Grade 0 versus only 8% in controls (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: Results such as these indicate that PEMF therapy accelerates recovery from radiotherapy and diminishes the intensity of acute radiodermatitis.

Trial registration: Trial registration number: NCT06003764. Date of registration: 12 August 2023. Prospectively registered for prospectively registered trials.

Background: In diseases requiring long-term treatment, such as cancer, the importance of holistic nursing support is increasing. Both foot massage and bed baths are holistic care methods that address patients' physical, emotional, and psychological needs, and research indicates they can effectively reduce symptoms like fatigue and sleep disturbances.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate and compare the effects of foot massage and bed baths on fatigue and sleep quality in hospitalized cancer patients.

Method: The research was conducted with hospitalized patients in the oncology clinic of a university hospital between April and November 2024, employing a three-group randomized controlled experimental design. The study included 39 cancer patients who were randomly assigned to three groups: Foot Massage (FM) (n = 12), Bed Bath (BB) (n = 12), and Control (n = 15). The treatments were administered for four consecutive days, two hours before bedtime, with each session lasting 30 min. The control group received routine care without additional interventions. Data was collected using the Patient Information Form, the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), and the Richard Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ), through five repeated measurements.

Results: Before the interventions began, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of fatigue or sleep quality. Regarding the BFI scores, on days three (p < .05) and four (p < .001) the FM group demonstrated lower mean scores compared with both the BB group and the control group. On day five, the BFI scores of the FM group and the BB group remained lower than those of the control group, and this difference reached statistical significance (p < .001). Regarding the RCSQ scores, starting from day three, the FM group exhibited significantly higher mean scores than the control group (p < .05 and p < .001). From day four onward, the BB group also demonstrated significantly higher RCSQ scores compared with the control group (p < .001). No significant differences were observed between the FM and BB groups regarding the RCSQ (p > .05).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that foot massage and bed baths serve as effective supplementary nursing interventions for reducing fatigue and improving sleep quality in hospitalized cancer patients.

Clinical trial number: NCT06373614.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials. gov Registry (NCT06373614) in April 2024.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in oncology to support early diagnosis and develop personalized treatment plans. However, its successful use in cancer care depends not only on the technology itself, but also on whether people trust it, understand it, and are open to accepting it. This study explored how digitally engaged adults living in Abu Dhabi, UAE, perceive AI-assisted cancer treatment, focusing on how factors like demographics, AI familiarity, and personal cancer experience influence acceptance and concern. A cross-sectional survey was completed by 413 adults using a structured, bilingual (Arabic-English) questionnaire. Participants were asked about their awareness of AI in healthcare, their willingness to accept AI-assisted cancer treatment, and their concerns about issues such as safety, accuracy, cost, and data privacy. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the relationships between these factors. Familiarity with AI had a significant impact on acceptance (p = 0.0006), with those who were very familiar with AI more likely to accept its use in cancer treatment. In contrast, education level (p = 0.664) and personal experience with cancer (p = 0.3562) were not significantly associated with acceptance. Participants who were less familiar with AI expressed more concerns about its accuracy, safety, cost, and the privacy of their data (p = 0.0073), pointing to awareness as a key factor in shaping trust. These findings suggest that trust in AI-assisted cancer care is driven more by how familiar people are with the technology than by their educational background or cancer experience. To build public trust and encourage responsible use of AI in oncology, it is essential to keep healthcare professionals actively involved and to communicate clearly and transparently with patients.

Objective: To comprehensively map the available evidence on the application of Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN) in cancer patients, summarize its current application status, reported effects, and identified challenges, and to identify gaps in the literature to inform future research directions.

Methods: This scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework. A computer-based search was conducted in eight databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and CBM) for relevant studies from their inception to April 16, 2025. The content from 19 included studies was extracted, summarized, and analyzed.

Results: A total of 19 studies were included, comprising 10 randomized controlled trials and 9 quasi-experimental studies. The most frequently studied cancer type was esophageal cancer (n = 11), followed by gastric cancer (n = 4); other cancer types (gastrointestinal, liver, nasopharyngeal, and colorectal) were also represented. The most frequently reported outcome domains were nutritional status (assessed in 18 studies), quality of life (7 studies), complications/adverse events (6 studies), and Chemotherapy-related conditions (5 studies), the included literature frequently reported improvements in these areas among patients receiving HEN.

Conclusion: The current literature suggests that HEN may play a beneficial role in the management of cancer patients, with studies reporting improvements in nutrition, quality of life, and chemotherapy tolerance. However, there are deficiencies in the quality and standardization of current research. Future research should focus on conducting high-quality studies, establishing unified standards, and strengthening personnel training and patient education to generate high-quality evidence and guide the rational application of HEN in cancer treatment.

Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the Quality of Life of caregivers of patients with urologic cancer and identify key factors influencing their well-being.

Methods: The study involved caregivers of patients with urologic cancers, treated at Venizelio General Hospital of Heraklion. The CareGiver Oncology Quality of Life questionnaire was used to evaluate different QoL domains in relation with demographic and clinical data. Scores were calculated for each domain and transformed to a 0-100 scale.

Results: The sample included 106 caregivers; 86 of them were females (81.1%), with most aged between 56-75 years (44.4%). Care was offered by 65 spouses (61.3%), and 30 patients' children (28.3%). The overall QoL score was 59.7 (± 12.8), with the worst scores being in leisure, psychological well-being, and private life. Female caregivers had inferior psychological well-being (p = 0.035) and private life scores (p = 0.008) compared to males. Younger caregivers had the worst self-esteem scores (p = 0.031), while those with poorer education reported reduced leisure scores (p = 0.015). Financially disadvantaged caregivers scored worse in their relationship with healthcare (p = 0.001), administration and finances (p = 0.015), and self-esteem (p = 0.013). Spousal caregivers had the least private life (p = 0.001) and leisure scores (p = 0.032), and those living with the patient experienced poorer scores in both leisure (p = 0.002) and private life (p = 0.003).

Conclusion: In summary, caregivers of patients with urologic cancer experience substantial QoL challenges. Tailored interventions and policy support are essential to address their complex needs and enhance their overall well-being.

Purpose: Febrile neutropenia is a frequent complication of oncological treatment. Empirical antibiotic therapy should be started within the first hour after admission. Delays in its administration are associated with prolonged hospital stays and higher mortality rates. This study assessed the impact of Manchester Triage on time to antibiotic initiation in febrile neutropenia patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED).

Methods: This retrospective single-center study included adult cancer patients admitted to the ED in 2022 diagnosed with febrile neutropenia.

Results: Among 38 patients, 34% were assigned an orange code and 11% a white code (referred from outpatient consultation); all in these two groups were directed to Internal Medicine (IM). A yellow triage code was assigned to 55% of patients, who were then directed either to IM or General Medicine (GM), without a defined criterion. Among patients triaged to IM (74%), the median time from admission to initiation of antibiotics was 4 h 27 min compared with 7 h 46 min for those triaged to GM (p = 0.03). There was no statistically significant correlation between time to antibiotic initiation and length of hospital stay or mortality.

Conclusion: Delays are significant and worsened when patients are assigned a yellow Manchester Triage code and are directed to GM. The study was underpowered to detect a statistically significant effect on mortality, but the observed mortality rate was double that reported in the literature. Proper triage of febrile oncological patients in the ED is crucial, and protocols with well-defined criteria should be implemented to ensure timely treatment.