Living with the financial consequences of cancer: A life course perspective

Abstract

Purpose

Financial hardship can be a major cause of distress among persons with cancer, resulting in chronic stress and impacting physical and emotional health. This paper provides an analysis of the lived experience of cancer patients’ financial hardship from diagnosis to post-treatment.     

RESIRT: A Phase 1 Study of Selective Internal Radiation Therapy Using Yttrium-90 Resin Microspheres in Patients With Primary Renal Cell Carcinoma

IntroductionSelective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) is a potential treatment of primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) deemed unsuitable for conventional therapy. RESIRT is the first-in-human study to evaluate safety and feasibility of SIRT for primary RCC.Patients and MethodsPatients with RCC, unsuitable for, or who declined conventional therapy, were eligible. A single transfemoral micro-catheter administration of yttrium-90 (Y-90) resin microspheres (SIR-Spheres) was delivered super selectively via the renal artery to the tumour at intended radiation doses of 75, 100, 150, 200, 300 Gy and a final cohort with a procedural endpoint of “imminent stasis,” in a dose-escalation design. Post-SIRT follow-up was 12 months. Study endpoints included safety and toxicity 30-days and 12-months post-SIRT and tumour response (RECIST v1.1).ResultsIn total, 21 patients were enrolled, mean (SD) age was 75 (9.3) years, WHO performance status was 0 in 81%, 12 (57%) had stage 3 chronic kidney disease, and 7 (33%) had prior contralateral nephrectomy. Overall, 71% of patients completed 12 months of follow-up. Intended doses were delivered without any dose-limiting toxicity. Seventeen out of 21 (81%) patients experienced an adverse event (AE) from any cause within 30 days post-SIRT; all SIRT-related AEs were grade 1 to 2. Best overall tumour responses were partial response 1/21 (4.8%), stable disease 19/21 (90.5%) and progressive disease 1/21 (4.8%).ConclusionThis study demonstrated good tolerability of SIRT at all dose levels including “imminent stasis” in treating primary tumours in RCC patients otherwise unsuitable for conventional therapy. SIRT with Y-90 resin microspheres may be a feasible treatment option for RCC.     

Out of the boxes,out of the silos: The need of interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce poor-quality medical products in the supply chain

In this paper, we argue that understanding and addressing the problem of poor-quality medical products requires a more interdisciplinary approach than has been evident to date. While prospective studies based on rigorous standardized methodologies are the gold standard for measuring the prevalence of poor-quality medical products and understanding their distribution nationally and internationally, they should be complemented by social science research to unpack the complex set of social, economic, and governance factors that underlie these patterns. In the following sections, we discuss specific examples of prospective quality surveys and of social science studies, highlighting the value of cross-sector partnerships in driving high-quality, policy-relevant research in this area.     

免疫检查点抑制剂应用于晚期胃癌治疗的研究进展

我国属胃癌高发国家,且以进展期胃癌为主。以手术和化疗为主的多学科治疗无法有效改善晚期胃癌患者的预后。近年来,免疫检查点抑制剂类药物的疗效在诸多癌症中得到了证实,因此,该类药物在胃癌中的治疗效果也受到了广泛的关注。本文对近年来的相关研究成果进行综述,全面介绍了免疫检查点抑制剂类药物在胃癌治疗中的临床应用情况、联合用药情况以及不良反应。对于其他治疗均失败的晚期胃癌患者,PD-1抑制剂是一个可行的治疗选项,其代表药物派姆单抗是目前唯一被美国食品药品监督管理局批准应用于胃癌治疗的免疫抑制剂类药物,而我国国家食品药品监督管理总局尚未批准任何此类药物应用于胃癌的临床治疗。如何进一步提高治疗的客观缓解率,将会是后续临床和基础研究的一大焦点。     

An off-the-shelf plasma-based material to prevent pacemaker pocket infection

Bacterial infection of subcutaneous “pockets” housing cardiovascular implantable electronic devices is a significant clinical complication. In this study, pacemakers encapsulated in a blood plasma-based material (PBM) composited with antibiotics were investigated for use as prophylactics against such infections. PBMs, which are made from pooled allogeneic plasma and platelets, are off-the-shelf biomaterials that can be manufactured in the form of complex 3D shapes, extrudable putties, or injectable pastes. In vitro studies with PBM pastes formulated with rifampicin and minocycline demonstrated antibiotic release over 6 days, activity against Escherichia coli, and reduced cytotoxic effects of the antibiotics on fibroblasts. The materials were also evaluated in vivo in a rabbit model in which pacemaker pockets were inoculated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strain and examined 1 week later. The pockets containing the pacemaker plus S. aureus were grossly purulent and culture positive, whereas pockets into which PBM with antibiotics were injected around the pacemaker were free of purulence and culture negative (p < 0.001). None of the pockets into which PBM without antibiotics were placed demonstrated purulence, but 60% were culture positive. These results demonstrate the potential of PBMs to deliver antibiotics to diminish the incidence of pocket infections for pacemakers and other implantable devices.