2 research outputs found
Knowledge and attitudes towards clinical trials among women with ovarian cancer: results of the ACTO study
Background Despite several initiatives by research groups, regulatory authorities, and scientific associations to engage citizens/patients in clinical research, there are still obstacles to participation. Among the main discouraging aspects are incomplete understanding of the concepts related to a clinical trial, and the scant, sometimes confused, explanations given. This observational, cross-sectional multicenter study investigated knowledge, attitudes and trust in clinical research. We conducted a survey among women with ovarian cancer at their first follow-up visit or first therapy session, treated in centers belonging to the Mario Negri Gynecologic Oncology (MaNGO) and Multicenter Italian Trials in Ovarian Cancer (MITO) groups. A questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes and experience was assembled ad hoc after a literature review and a validation process involving patients of the Alliance against Ovarian Cancer (ACTO). Results From 25 centers 348 questionnaire were collected; 73.5% of responders were 56 years or older, 54.8% had a high level of education, more than 80% had no experience of trial participation. Among participants 59% knew what clinical trials were and 71% what informed consent was. However, more than half did not know the meaning of the term randomization. More than half (56%) were in favor of participating in a clinical trial, but 35% were not certain. Almost all responders acknowledged the doctor's importance in decision-making. Patients' associations were recognized as having a powerful role in the design and planning of clinical trials. Conclusions This study helps depict the knowledge and attitudes of women with ovarian cancer in relation to clinical trials, suggesting measures aimed at improving trial "culture", literacy and compliance, and fresh ways of communication between doctors and patients
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A Ten-Year Real-Life Experience with Pazopanib in Uterine Leyomiosarcoma in Two High-Specialized Centers in Italy: Effectiveness and Safety
Peer reviewed: TrueAcknowledgements: Editorial support was provided by PINCH s.r.l.Publication status: PublishedBackground: Uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) is characterized by aggressive behavior associated with a high risk of relapse and mortality. Several therapeutic agents have been employed in the treatment of metastatic disease, with a poor objective response rate. Pazopanib, approved in 2012, is a multi-targeted, orally active small molecule that exerts its effects by inhibiting several tyrosine kinases. To date, poor research on real-life data has been conducted. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of the drug in everyday clinical practice. Methods: We present results of multicenter retrospective data on 38 patients with heavily pretreated metastatic uLMS who underwent oral pazopanib during their therapeutic journey. Results: At a median follow-up of 8.6 months, the disease control rate was 55.2%, with 17% partial responses and 15 patients (39.5%) with stable disease. At a median follow-up of 8.6 months, median progression-free survival was 4 months, and median overall survival was 19.8 months. The most common grade 3 adverse events (AEs) drug-related were hepatic toxicities, diarrhea, hypertension, nausea, and vomiting (all of them with an incidence of 5% considering the whole study cohort). No grade 4 AEs occurred. Conclusions: Pazopanib in everyday clinical practice is safe and shows a good disease control rate with prolonged survival.</jats:p