Summary Background and aims We performed a systematic review to examine the effect of nutritional interventions on nutritional status, quality of life (QoL) and mortality in patients with head and ...neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) receiving radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Methods We searched Pubmed, EMBASE, CENTRAL and Cinahl from inception through January 3rd, 2012 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from a broad range of nutritional interventions in patients with HNSCC during (chemo)radiotherapy. Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility and risk of bias, and extracted data. Results Of 1141 titles identified, 12 study reports were finally included, describing 10 different studies with 11 interventions. Four out of 10 studies examined the effects of individualized dietary counseling, and showed significant benefits on nutritional status and QOL compared to no counseling or general nutritional advice by a nurse ( p < 0.05). Three studies on oral nutritional supplements (ONS) were inconsistent about the effect on nutritional status compared with no supplementation. One study showed that nasogastric tube feeding had beneficial effects on nutritional status compared to ONS, but not in all patient groups ( p < 0.04). One study showed benefits of percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy (PEG) feeding on nutritional status shortly after RT compared with nasogastric feeding ( p = 0.001). Two studies showed that prophylactic PEG feeding was not superior over tube feeding if required. Conclusions This review shows beneficial effects of individualized dietary counseling on nutritional status and QoL, compared to no counseling or standard nutritional advice. Effects of ONS and tube feeding were inconsistent.
Purpose
To investigate the prevalence of adjustment disorder (AD) among cancer patients and the acceptance of psychological treatment, in relation to sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological ...factors.
Methods
Breast, prostate, and head and neck cancer patients of all stages and treatment modalities (
N
= 200) participated in this observational study. Patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Checklist Individual Strength, Distress Thermometer and problem list. Patients with increased risk on AD based on these questionnaires were scheduled for a diagnostic interview. Patients diagnosed with AD were invited to participate in a randomized controlled trial on the cost-effectiveness of psychological treatment. Participation in this trial was used as a proxy of acceptance of psychological treatment. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate associated factors.
Results
The overall prevalence of AD was estimated at 13.1%. Sensitivity analyses showed prevalence rates of AD of 11.5%, 15.0%, and 23.5%. Acceptance of psychological treatment was estimated at 65%. AD was associated both with being employed (OR = 3.3, CI = 1.3–8.4) and having a shorter time since diagnosis (OR = 0.3, CI = 0.1–0.8).
Conclusion
Taking sensitivity analysis into account, the prevalence of AD among cancer patients is estimated at 13 to 15%, and is related to being employed and having a shorter time since diagnosis. The majority of cancer patients with AD accept psychological treatment.
Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a subtype of salivary gland cancer with a dismal prognosis and a need for better prognostication and novel treatments. The aim of this national cohort study was to ...investigate clinical outcome, prognostic factors, androgen receptor (AR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression. SDC patients diagnosed between 1990 and 2014 were identified by the Nationwide Network and Registry of Histo‐ and Cytopathology in the Netherlands (PALGA). Subsequently, medical records were evaluated and pathological diagnoses reviewed. Data were analyzed for overall survival (OS), disease‐free survival (DFS), distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS) and prognostic factors. AR was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC), HER2 by IHC and fluorescent in‐situ hybridization. A total of 177 patients were included. The median age was 65 years, 75% were male. At diagnosis, 68% presented with lymph node metastases and 6% with distant metastases. Median OS, DFS and DMFS were 51, 23 and 26 months, respectively. In patients presenting without distant metastases, the absolute number of positive lymph nodes was associated with poor OS and DMFS in a multivariable analysis. AR and HER2 were positive in 161/168 (96%) and 44/153 (29%) tumors, respectively, and were not prognostic factors. SDC has a dismal prognosis with primary lymph node involvement in the majority of patients. The absolute number of lymph node metastases was found to be the only prognostic factor for DMFS and OS. AR expression and—to a lesser extent—HER2 expression hold promise for systemic treatment in the metastatic and eventually adjuvant setting.
What's new?
Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a rare and often fatal malignancy. Little is known about associations between its pathological features and clinical outcome. In this study, clinicopathological factors were analyzed for 177 patients diagnosed with SDC in The Netherlands between 1990 and 2014. The data show that median overall survival (OS) and distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS) were 51 and 26 months, respectively. At diagnosis, 68% of patients presented with lymph node metastases. Lymph node positivity was associated with poor OS and poor DMFS. The absolute number of metastatic lymph nodes was the only significant prognostic factor for survival in a multivariate analysis. Androgen receptor and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) were positive in 96% and 29%, respectively and were not a prognostic factor.
Purpose
To investigate the long-term follow-up (5 years) of implementing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in clinical practice to monitor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in head and ...neck cancer (HNC) patients.
Methods
A mixed method design was used. The usage rate of OncoQuest (a touch screen computer system to monitor HRQOL) and the subsequent nurse consultation was calculated among HNC patients who visited the outpatient clinic for regular follow-up, as well as differences between ever users and never users (sociodemographic and clinical characteristics). The content of the nurse consultation was investigated. Reasons for not using (barriers) or using (facilitators) OncoQuest and the nurse consultation were explored from the perspective of HNC patients, and of head and neck surgeons.
Results
Usage rate of OncoQuest was 67% and of the nurse consultation 79%. Usage of OncoQuest was significantly related to tumor subsite and tumor stage. Topics most frequently (>40%) discussed during the nurse consultation were global quality of life (97%), head and neck cancer related symptoms (82%), other physical symptoms such as pain (61%), and psychological problems such as anxiety (44%). Several barriers and facilitators to implement PROMs in clinical practice were reported by both patients and head and neck surgeons.
Conclusion
Usage of PROMs in clinical practice and a nurse consultation is durable, even 5 years after the introduction. This study contributes to better insight into long-term follow-up of implementation, thereby guiding future research and projects that aim to implement PROMs in clinical practice to monitor HRQOL among (head and neck) cancer patients.
Purpose
The aim of this pretest–posttest study was to investigate the reach and effects of My Changed Body (MyCB), an expressive writing activity based on self-compassion, among head and neck cancer ...(HNC) survivors.
Methods
This pilot study had a pretest–posttest design. HNC survivors received an invitation to complete a baseline survey on body image-related distress. At the end of the survey, HNC survivors were asked if they were interested in the intervention study. This entailed the writing activity and a survey 1 week and 1 month post-intervention. The reach was calculated by dividing the number of participants in the intervention study, by the number of (1) eligible HNC survivors and (2) those who filled in the baseline survey. Linear mixed models were used to analyze the effect on body image-related distress. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors associated with the reach and reduced body image-related distress. MyCB was evaluated using study-specific questions.
Results
The reach of MyCB was 15–33% (depending on reference group) and was associated with lower education level, more social eating problems, and fewer wound healing problems. Among the 87 participants, 9 (10%) showed a clinically relevant improvement in body image-related distress. No significant effect on body image-related distress was found. Self-compassion improved significantly during follow-up until 1 month post-intervention (p=0.003). Users rated satisfaction with MyCB as 7.2/10.
Conclusion
MyCB does not significantly improve body image-related distress, but is likely to increase self-compassion, which sustains for at least 1 month.
Knowledge about the efficacy of behavioural intervention technologies that can be used by cancer survivors independently from a health-care provider is scarce. We aimed to assess the efficacy, reach, ...and usage of Oncokompas, a web-based eHealth application that supports survivors in self-management by monitoring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and cancer-generic and tumour-specific symptoms and obtaining tailored feedback with a personalised overview of supportive care options.
In this non-blinded, randomised, controlled trial, we recruited patients treated at 14 hospitals in the Netherlands for head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Adult survivors (aged ≥18 years) were recruited through the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR) and invited by their treating physician through the Patient Reported Outcomes Following Initial Treatment and Long term Evaluation of Survivorship (PROFILES) registry. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) by an independent researcher to the intervention group (access to Oncokompas) or control group (access to Oncokompas after 6 months), by use of block randomisation (block length of 68), stratified by tumour type. The primary outcome was patient activation (knowledge, skills, and confidence for self-management), assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month and 6-month follow-up. Linear mixed models (intention-to-treat) were used to assess group differences over time from baseline to 6-month follow-up. The trial is registered in the Netherlands Trial Register, NTR5774 and is completed.
Between Oct 12, 2016, and May 24, 2018, 625 (21%) of 2953 survivors assessed for eligibility were recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention (320) or control group (305). Median follow-up was 6 months (IQR 6−6). Patient activation was not significantly different between intervention and control group over time (difference at 6-month follow-up 1·7 95% CI −0·8–4·1, p=0·41).
Oncokompas did not improve the amount of knowledge, skills, and confidence for self-management in cancer survivors. This study contributes to the evidence for the development of tailored strategies for development and implementation of behavioural intervention technologies among cancer survivors.
Dutch Cancer Society (KWF Kankerbestrijding).
Summary The purpose of the research was to evaluate postoperative complications, functional outcome and survival after salvage laryngectomy. Second, to evaluate the management of the neck in ...combination with a laryngectomy in this group of patients. A retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent total laryngectomy for residual or recurrent squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma after (chemo)radiotherapy between November 1990 and June 2007 was performed. Of the 120 patients that were included, the complication rate was 56% (33% major and 23% minor). In univariate analyses, T-stage ( p = 0.05), bilateral neck dissection ( p = 0.09) and ASA score ( p = 0.08) showed a trend for postoperative major complications. Lymph node metastases were found in 26% of the neck dissection specimens, with a trend towards more regional disease at higher initial N-stage ( p = 0.06) and T-stage ( p = 0.08). Five-year disease specific survival was 58%. In univariate analyses pre-operative chemoradiation (vs. radiation) ( p = 0.0001), N3 neck ( p = 0.001) and positive surgical margins ( p = 0.02) were significant predictors for a worse disease specific survival, but only positive surgical margins ( p < 0.001) maintained significance in multivariate analysis. Eighty-seven percent of the patients were able to produce speech using a voice prosthesis, and 84% of the patients were able to have a ‘normal’ or ‘soft’ diet. There was an almost significant increase in mean body mass index (BMI) 6–12 months postoperative ( p = 0.057). Laryngectomy after radiotherapy offers good survival, with a substantial risk of complications and good functional outcome.
Highlights • The psychometric characteristics of the patient reported symptom questionnaires VHI, SHI, and SWAL-QOL are good among laryngeal cancer patients. • Prevalence of voice, speech, and ...swallowing problems among laryngeal cancer patients is high. • Voice, speech, and swallowing problems in laryngeal cancer patients are clearly related to quality of life and psychological distress.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an online self-care education program supporting early rehabilitation of patients after total laryngectomy (TLPs) and factors ...associated with satisfaction.
Methods
Health care professionals (HCPs) were invited to participate and to recruit TLPs. TLPs were informed on the self-care education program “In Tune without Cords” (ITwC) after which they gained access. A study specific survey was used (at baseline T0 and postintervention T1) on TLPs’ uptake. Usage, satisfaction (general impression, willingness to use, user-friendliness, satisfaction with self-care advice and strategies, Net Promoter Score (NPS)), sociodemographic, and clinical factors were analyzed.
Results
HCPs of 6 out of 9 centers (67 % uptake rate) agreed to participate and recruited TLPs. In total, 55 of 75 TLPs returned informed consent and the baseline T0 survey and were provided access to ITwC (73 % uptake rate). Thirty-eight of these 55 TLPs used ITwC and completed the T1 survey (69 % usage rate). Most (66 %) TLPs were satisfied (i.e., score ≥7 (scale 1–10) on 4 survey items) with the self-care education program (mean score 7.2, SD 1.1). NPS was positive (+5). Satisfaction with the self-care education program was significantly associated with (higher) educational level and health literacy skills (
P =
.004,
P
= .038, respectively). No significant association was found with gender, age, marital status, employment status, Internet use, Internet literacy, treatment modality, time since total laryngectomy, and quality of life.
Conclusion
The online self-care education program ITwC supporting early rehabilitation was feasible in clinical practice. In general, TLPs were satisfied with the program.
Purpose
The eHealth self-management application ‘Oncokompas’ was developed to support cancer survivors in monitoring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and symptoms, and obtaining personalized ...feedback and options for supportive care. The aim of this study was to assess the cost-utility of Oncokompas compared with care as usual (CAU) among cancer survivors.
Methods
Survivors were randomly allocated to the intervention or control group. Direct (non-)medical, indirect non-medical costs, and HRQOL were measured at 3- and 6-month follow-up, using iMTA Medical Consumption and Productivity Costs and the EuroQol-5D questionnaires. Mean cumulative costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were compared between both groups.
Results
In total, 625 survivors were randomized into intervention (
n
= 320) or control group (
n
= 305). Base case analysis showed that incremental costs from a societal perspective were − €163 (95% CI, − 665 to 326), and incremental QALYs were 0.0017 (95% CI, − 0.0121 to 0.0155) in the intervention group compared with those in the control group. The probability that, compared with CAU, Oncokompas is more effective was 60%, less costly 73%, and both more effective and less costly 47%. Sensitivity analyses showed that incremental costs vary between − €40 and €69, and incremental QALYs vary between − 0.0023 and − 0.0057.
Conclusion
Oncokompas is likely to be equally effective on utilities, and not more expensive than CAU, and will therefore contribute to sustainable cancer survivorship care in a (cost-)effective manner.
Implications for Cancer Survivors
Oncokompas seems to improve HRQOL and reduces the burden of several tumour-specific symptoms, while costs from a societal perspective are similar to CAU.
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