Factors associated with self-perceived burden to the primary caregiver in older patients with hematologic malignancies: an exploratory study

Objective: Although cancer patients frequently experience self-perceived burden to others, this perception has not been enough studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of selfperceived burden to the primary caregiver (SPB-PC) and associated factors in an older patient population with hematologic malignancies at the time of chemotherapy initiation. Methods: In total, 166 consecutive patients with hematologic malignancies aged ≥65 years were recruited at the time of chemotherapy initiation. Patients’ SPB-PC was assessed using a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Characteristics potentially associated with SPB-PC, including sociodemographic and medical characteristics, physical functioning status (Karnofsky performance score, activities of daily living (ADL)/instrumental ADL), symptoms (fatigue, pain, nausea, quality of life), psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)), perceived cognitive function (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive (FACT-Cog) Scale), and patients’/primary caregivers’ personal relationship characteristics (family tie, support), were assessed. Results: Thirty-five percent of patients reported moderate to severe SPB-PC (VAS ≥ 50 mm). Patients’ SPB-PC was associated with lower Karnofsky performance (β = 0.135, p = 0.058) and ADL (β = 0.148, p = 0.037) scores, and higher HADS (β = 0.283, p<0.001) and FACT-Cog perceived cognitive impairments subscale (β = 0.211, p = 0.004) scores. The proportion of explained variance was 23.5%. Conclusions: Health care professionals should be aware that about one third of older cancer patients experience moderate to severe SPB-PC at the time of chemotherapy initiation. They should adapt their support of patients who report such a feeling

Serum N-glycome biomarker for monitoring development of DENA-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rat

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is a demand for serum markers for the routine assessment of the progression of liver cancer. We previously found that serum N-linked sugar chains are altered in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we studied glycomic alterations during development of HCC in a rat model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Rat HCC was induced by the hepatocarcinogen, diethylnitrosamine (DENA). N-glycans were profiled using the DSA-FACE technique developed in our laboratory.</p> <p>In comparison with control rats, DENA rats showed a gradual but significant increase in two glycans (R5a and R5b) in serum total N-glycans during progression of liver cirrhosis and cancer, and a decrease in a biantennary glycan (P5). The log of the ratio of R5a to P1 (NGA2F) and R5b to P1 [log(R5a/P1) and log(R5b/P1)] were significantly (p < 0.0001) elevated in HCC rats, but not in rats with cirrhosis or fibrosis or in control rats. We thus propose a GlycoTest model using the above-mentioned serum glycan markers to monitor the progression of cirrhosis and HCC in the DENA-treated rat model. When DENA-treated rats were subsequently treated with farnesylthiosalicyclic acid, an anticancer drug, progression to HCC was prevented and GlycoTest markers (P5, R5a and R5b) reverted towards non-DENA levels, and the HCC-specific markers, log(R5a/P1) and log(R5b/P1), normalized completely. <b>Conclusions</b>: We found an increase in core-α-1,6-fucosylated glycoproteins in serum and liver of rats with HCC, which demonstrates that fucosylation is altered during progression of HCC. Our GlycoTest model can be used to monitor progression of HCC and to follow up treatment of liver tumors in the DENA rat. This GlycoTest model is particularly important because a rapid non-invasive diagnostic procedure for tumour progression in this rat model would greatly facilitate the search for anticancer drugs.</p

La psycho-oncogériatrie: enjeux, connaissances et perspectives

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

La prise de décision oncologique dans un contexte de haute incertitude: une étude multicentrique

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Optimising HCP-Patient communication'_sharing experience

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Aborder l’incertitude en oncologie :un défi pour les soignants ?

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

La prise de décision thérapeutique dans un contexte de haute incertitude en oncogériatrie: une étude internationale

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

La prise de décision en oncologie dans les contextes de haute incertitude :des recommandations actuelles à leur application clinique

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Comment aider les médecins à mieux communiquer avec les patients atteints d’un cancer ?

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe