by Admin | Nov 21, 2024 | Uncategorized
In the fast-paced world of oncology, staying informed and connected is crucial. Bluesky, a rising platform for professionals, offers a growing number of starter packs tailored to oncology professionals, providing quick access to resources and communities. Whether you’re a seasoned oncologist or just stepping into the field, these curated packs can help streamline your work and enhance your knowledge base.
A Bluesky Starter Pack is a curated set of recommendations to help new or existing users quickly integrate into the Bluesky social ecosystem. These packs are tailored to specific interests, communities, or professional fields and serve as a guide to connect users with relevant people, topics, or resources.
Key Features of Bluesky Starter Packs:
- Pre-Made Suggestions: They include curated lists of accounts to follow, hashtags, and communities relevant to a particular topic or profession.
- Quick Onboarding: These packs help users get started with a personalized experience, reducing the overwhelm of exploring content on their own.
- Thematic Focus: Starter packs are organized around themes like hobbies, industries, or professional fields. For example, an “Oncology Starter Pack” might focus on oncology news, research, and networking.
- Customizable: While the packs provide a foundation, users can further tailor their experience by exploring related suggestions and interacting with the platform.
Here’s a quick guide to some of the oncology-specific starter packs available on Bluesky:
by Admin | Apr 24, 2019 | Uncategorized
April 2019
Below are key updates in Geriatric oncology from the last 5 weeks, curated by Dr. Lorenzo Dottorini.
1. Using Implementation Science to Promote the Use of the G8 Screening Tool in Geriatric Oncology Pauline Gulasingam MBBS et al Journal of American Geriatrics Society doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15920
The use of the G8 tool as a geriatric screening evaluation is generally sub-optimal. What are the barriers and limitations for its use and what are the possible implementations strategies to improve its use? The authors discuss this.
2. Benefit of immunotherapy (IT) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in elderly patients (EP)’ Elena Corral de la Fuente et al. Annals of Oncology, Volume 30, 20019 Supplement 2. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdz072
The abstract presented at ELCC 2019 regarding the use of immunotherapy in elderly people affected by NSCLC. This is a single-centre, retrospective analysis of 98 elderly patients affected by NSCLC and treated with immunotherapy. In their analysis overall survival of elderly patients is significantly lower than younger patients. No significant differences in toxicity were observed.
3. Safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab (Pembro) monotherapy in elderly patients with PD-L1-positive advanced NSCLC: Pooled analysis from KEYNOTE-010, -024 and -042’ Kaname Nosaki et al. Annals of Oncology, Volume 30, 20019 Supplement 2. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdz072.
Another abstract presented at ELCC 2019 regarding the use of immunotherapy in elderly people affected by NSCLC. The authors made a pooled analysis of three randomised trial regarding the use of Pembrolizumab Vs chemotherapy (Keynote 010, Keynote 042, Keynote 024) focusing on elderly patients. Their results results show significantly improved overall survival in elderly patients with PD-L1 tumors scores ≥1% treated with pembrolizumab compared to those treated with chemotherapy (hazard ratio 0.76, 95% confidence interval 0.56-1.02). The improvement in overall survival with pembrolizumab compared to chemotherapy was even greater in patients with PD-L1 tumor scores ≥50% (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.23-0.73). One-year overall survival rates with pembrolizumab in elderly patients were comparable to those in younger patients (53.7% vs 54.9% in PD-L1 TPS ≥1% and 61.7% vs 61.7% in PD-L1 TPS ≥50%).
4. Extremity soft tissue sarcoma in the elderly: Are we overtreating or undertreating this potentially vulnerable patient population? Gingrich AA et al. J Surg Oncol. 2019 Apr 12. doi: 10.1002/jso.25470.
A paper that analyzes the differences of surgical treatment and outcome in elderly patients affected by Soft Tissue Sarcoma. Again, it is underlined that elderly patients represent a distinct cohort for whom more careful selection appears indicated.
5. Integrating geriatric assessment into routine gastrointestinal (GI) consultation: The Cancer and Aging Resilience Evaluation (CARE) Grant R. Williams et al. Journal of Geriatric Oncology April 2019 doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2019.04.008
Patients with gastrointestinal malignancies were asked to complete the Cancer and Aging Resilience Evaluation (CARE) on their first visit , a geriatric assessment (GA) adapted from the Cancer and Aging Research Group with modifications to create a completely patient-reported version of the GA. Due to the difficulties to make a full geriatric assessment in everyday clinical practice this could represent a great step toward the introduction of systematic geriatric assessment.
Feel like we missed something? Please feel free to add it in the comments section below.
by Admin | Mar 26, 2019 | Uncategorized
By Dr. Lorenzo Dottorini
1. Predicting chemotherapy toxicity in older adults: Comparing the predictive value of the CARG Toxicity Score with oncologists’ estimates of toxicity based on clinical judgement
Erin B. Moth et al. Journal of Geriatric Oncology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2018.08.010
In this study the authors aimed to evaluate the CARG score and compare it to oncologists’ estimates for predicting severe chemotherapy toxicity in older adults. The outcome showed that neither the CARG score, nor oncologists’ estimates based on clinical judgement, predicted severe chemotherapy-related toxicity in older Australian adults with cancer.
2. Screening for frailty among older patients with cancer using blood biomarkers of inflammation
Magnus Harneshaug et al. Journal of Geriatric Oncology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2018.07.003
Is there an association between frailty, inflammation and biomarkers of inflammation? That’s what the authors wanted to figure out. They discovered that there exists a strong association between Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), which combines C-reactive protein and albumin, and frailty.
3. Taking to Bed at the End of Life
Thomas M. et al. Jornal of the American Geriatrics Society https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15822
Interesting analysis of 651 decedents older patients whose need of rest during the day was studied and a progressive growth has been seen in the last months of life. The authors concluded that the need to sleep could be an indicator that death is approaching and should prompt discussions about referral to a hospice.
4. Mental status evaluation in older adults with cancer: Development of the Mental Health Index-13
Mackenzi Pergolotti et al. Journal of Geriatric Oncology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2018.08.009
An evaluation of Mental Health Index-17 (MHI-17) in geriatric oncology population and further development of a shorter scale (MHI-13), more accurate and able to separately identify anxiety and/or depression in older patients.
5. Cetuximab monotherapy and cetuximab plus capecitabine as first-line treatment in older patients with RAS- and BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer. Results of the multicenter phase II trial SAKK 41/10
Dirk L. Kienle et al. Journal of Geriatric Oncology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2018.11.011
The objective of the authors was to evaluate low-intensity regimens in less fit elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer : the benefit of cetuximab, alone or in combination with capecitabine, was evaluated in vulnerable elderly patients with RAS/BRAF-wild-type mCRC. The trial was stopped prematurely due to slow accrual (24 patients, 11 in the monotherapy arm, 13 in the combination arm) but, bearing in mind the very small sample size, upfront cetuximab treatment appeared tolerable and showed promising activity in left-sided tumors in both treatment arms.
6. PARP inhibitors in older patients with ovarian and breast cancer: Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology review paper
Gabor Liposits et al. Journal of Geriatric Oncology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2018.10.008
Review paper by young SIOG about the use of PARP inhibitors in older patients with ovarian and breast cancer. The most recent and updated document on this subject.
Feel like we missed something? Please feel free to add it in the comments section below.
by Admin | Mar 1, 2019 | Uncategorized
March 2019
Below are key updates in Geriatric oncology from the last 5 weeks, curated by Dr. Lorenzo Dottorini.
1.Patient- and tumor-related predictors of chemotherapy intolerance in older patients with cancer: A systematic review. van Abbema DL, van den Akker M, Janssen-Heijnen ML
In this study, it is once again highlighted how the physical, psychic and social conditions of the patient, normally included in the multidimensional geriatric evaluation, as well as some specific types of chemotherapy, can influence tolerability of treatments in elderly patient.
Full link : Journal of Geriatric Oncology 2019 Jan;10(1):31-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2018.04.001.
2. A Practical Approach to Assessing and Mitigating Loneliness and Isolation in Older Adults. Perissinotto C, Holt-Lunstad J, Periyakoil VS, Covinsky K.
Loneliness and social isolation are strongly associated with several adverse health outcomes in older persons including death, functional impairments and quality of life. This paper provides a practical approach on how to recognise loneliness and isolation, on the different ways of loneliness affecting older patients and guidance for future interventions.
Full link : Journal of the American Geriatrics Society doi: 10.1111/jgs.15746
3. Depressive Symptom Profiles and Survival in Older Patients with Cancer: Latent Class Analysis of the ELCAPA Cohort Study. Gouraud C, Paillaud E, Martinez-Tapia C, et al.
This paper is a subanalysis of the ELCAPA study. Five classes of depressive symptom were identified (“no depression/somatic only”, “no depression/pauci-symptomatic”, “mild depression”, “severe depression”, and “demoralization”) and were observed that poorer outcome were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Here is underlined how identification and management of depression should be considered a high priority in this population. Practice-changing paper?
Full link : The Oncologist doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2018-0322.
4. “Surgical Decision Making for Older Adults” Jill Q. Dworsky, Marcia M. Russell,
Published on JAMA patient page a very interesting reflection on the objectives and goals to which an elderly patient should think before undergoing a delicate surgical procedure such as the importance of prolonging life, preserving independence, or maintaining quality of life.
Full link : JAMA. 2019;321(7):716. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.0283
Feel like we missed something? Please feel free to add it in the comments section below.
