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Aging Mar 2024Cachexia, a multifactorial syndrome, is frequently noticed in cancer patients. A recent study has shown inconsistent findings about the relationship between cachexia and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Cachexia, a multifactorial syndrome, is frequently noticed in cancer patients. A recent study has shown inconsistent findings about the relationship between cachexia and the efficiency of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). To analyze this disparity, we did a meta-analysis.
METHODS
From the beginning of each database to July 2023, literature describing the association between cachexia and prognosis of ICI-treated patients with solid malignancies was systematically searched in three online databases. Estimates were pooled, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were generated.
RESULTS
We analyzed a total of 12 articles, which included data from 1407 patients. The combined results of our analysis showed that cancer patients with cachexia had significantly worse overall survival (HR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.59-2.22, < 0.001), progression-free survival (HR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.59-2.12, < 0.001), and time to treatment failure (HR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.32-3.50, = 0.002). These findings were consistent in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Additionally, while not statistically significant, we observed a trend towards a lower objective response rate in cancer patients with cachexia compared to those without cachexia (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.32-1.09, = 0.093).
CONCLUSION
Poor survival in cachexia patients suggests a negative relationship between cachexia and ICI efficacy. In clinical practice, the existence of cachexia should be estimated to choose individuals who may benefit from ICIs.
Topics: Humans; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Cachexia; Neoplasms; Databases, Factual; Multivariate Analysis; Lung Neoplasms
PubMed: 38466657
DOI: 10.18632/aging.205652 -
Cancer Treatment Reviews Apr 2024Cancer-related pain often requires opioid treatment with opioid-induced constipation (OIC) as its most frequent gastrointestinal side-effect. Both for prevention and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Cancer-related pain often requires opioid treatment with opioid-induced constipation (OIC) as its most frequent gastrointestinal side-effect. Both for prevention and treatment of OIC osmotic (e.g. polyethylene glycol) and stimulant (e.g. bisacodyl) laxatives are widely used. Newer drugs such as the peripherally acting µ-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs) and naloxone in a fixed combination with oxycodone have become available for the management of OIC. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to give an overview of the scientific evidence on pharmacological strategies for the prevention and treatment of OIC in cancer patients.
METHODS
A systematic search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library was completed from inception up to 22 October 2022. Randomized and non-randomized studies were systematically selected. Bowel function and adverse drug events were assessed.
RESULTS
Twenty trials (prevention: five RCTs and three cohort studies; treatment: ten RCTs and two comparative cohort studies) were included in the review. Regarding the prevention of OIC, three RCTs compared laxatives with other laxatives, finding no clear differences in effectivity of the laxatives used. One cohort study showed a significant benefit of magnesium oxide compared with no laxative. One RCT found a significant benefit for the PAMORA naldemedine compared with magnesium oxide. Preventive use of oxycodone/naloxone did not show a significant difference in two out of three other studies compared to oxycodone or fentanyl. A meta-analysis was not possible. Regarding the treatment of OIC, two RCTs compared laxatives, of which one RCT found that polyethylene glycol was significantly more effective than sennosides. Seven studies compared an opioid antagonist (naloxone, methylnaltrexone or naldemedine) with placebo and three studies compared different dosages of opioid antagonists. These studies with opioid antagonists were used for the meta-analysis. Oxycodone/naloxone showed a significant improvement in Bowel Function Index compared to oxycodone with laxatives (MD -13.68; 95 % CI -18.38 to -8.98; I = 58 %). Adverse drug event rates were similar amongst both groups, except for nausea in favour of oxycodone/naloxone (RR 0.51; 95 % CI 0.31-0.83; I = 0 %). Naldemedine (NAL) and methylnaltrexone (MNTX) demonstrated significantly higher response rates compared to placebo (NAL: RR 2.07, 95 % CI 1.64-2.61, I = 0 %; MNTX: RR 3.83, 95 % CI 2.81-5.22, I = 0 %). With regard to adverse events, abdominal pain was more present in treatment with methylnaltrexone and diarrhea was significantly more present in treatment with naldemedine. Different dosages of methylnaltrexone were not significantly different with regard to both efficacy and adverse drug event rates.
CONCLUSIONS
Magnesium oxide and naldemedine are most likely effective for prevention of OIC in cancer patients. Naloxone in a fixed combination with oxycodone, naldemedine and methylnaltrexone effectively treat OIC in cancer patients with acceptable adverse events. However, their effect has not been compared to standard (osmotic and stimulant) laxatives. More studies comparing standard laxatives with each other and with opioid antagonists are necessary before recommendations for clinical practice can be made.
Topics: Humans; Laxatives; Analgesics, Opioid; Narcotic Antagonists; Constipation; Oxycodone; Opioid-Induced Constipation; Magnesium Oxide; Cohort Studies; Naloxone; Polyethylene Glycols; Neoplasms; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Naltrexone
PubMed: 38452708
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2024.102704 -
Integrative Cancer Therapies 2024The surgical intervention serves as the paramount and prevalent remedy for individuals afflicted with colorectal malignancies, with the significance of perioperative... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The surgical intervention serves as the paramount and prevalent remedy for individuals afflicted with colorectal malignancies, with the significance of perioperative stewardship and convalescence being indisputable. Prehabilitation coupled with preoperative lifestyle modulation has demonstrated efficacy in patients subjected to certain classifications of abdominal procedures. However, the evidence pertaining to its impact on those battling colorectal cancer remains equivocal.
METHODS
A meta-analysis, grounded in pairwise contrast, of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was orchestrated, coupled with a systematic review, to probe the efficacy of preoperative lifestyle modulation and prehabilitation on patients' postoperative functionality and recuperation. An exhaustive exploration of 8 electronic databases and trial registries was undertaken to encompass all pertinent RCTs disseminated in English or Chinese from January 2012 through December 2022. Employing a random-effects model, we evaluated parameters such as the 6-minute walk test (6 MWT), complications, quality of life (QoL), aggregate and postoperative duration of hospitalization (tLHS and postLHS), and healthcare expenditure (HExp) for postoperative patients.
RESULTS
A total of 28 RCTs were incorporated into the systematic review and meta-analysis. Relative to conventional preoperative care, rehabilitation or preoperative lifestyle management was found to enhance postoperative 6MWT () and diminish the complication rate (). Nonetheless, no significant discrepancies were observed in QoL (), tLHS (), and postLHS () between the groups. HExp could not be evaluated due to a lack of sufficient data for synthesis. Most pooled outcomes exhibited significant heterogeneity, urging a cautious interpretation. Subgroup analysis revealed that nutritional interventions could mitigate the incidence of complications, and preoperative exercise could improve tLHS and postLHS. A combined approach of physical, nutritional, and psychological intervention or prehabilitation proved superior to any single intervention in enhancing postoperative capabilities.
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis delineated the efficacy of preoperative interventions on postoperative capabilities in patients with colorectal cancer, thereby offering evidence for clinical practice. It was concluded that preoperative interventions are unequivocally beneficial for postoperative functional recovery and the reduction of complication rates in patients with colorectal cancer. Nonetheless, the acquisition of more high-level evidence is still necessitated to further ascertain the effectiveness of this strategy for other patient groups and to establish its best practices. The heterogeneity in the pooled outcomes underlines the need for future studies to be more uniform in their design and reporting, which would facilitate more robust and reliable meta-analyses.
Topics: Humans; Preoperative Exercise; Life Style; Quality of Life; Asian People; Colorectal Neoplasms
PubMed: 38439687
DOI: 10.1177/15347354241235590 -
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive &... Mar 2024Flap neurotisation is a promising solution to restore the diminished or complete loss of sensation following mastectomy. This systematic review compared sensory outcomes... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Flap neurotisation is a promising solution to restore the diminished or complete loss of sensation following mastectomy. This systematic review compared sensory outcomes in neurotised versus non-neurotised abdominal-based autologous breast reconstructions to establish its benefit in routine clinical practice.
METHODS
A literature search was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were queried for relevant studies. Pressure sensitivity, measured using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments (SWM) or the pressure-specified sensory device (PSSD), was the primary outcome measure.
RESULTS
A total of 12 studies comprising 367 neurotised and 295 non-neurotised flap reconstructions were included, with 8 studies included in the meta-analysis. Neurotised flaps demonstrated superior sensory outcomes over non-neurotised flaps, with significant differences in SWM scores (mean difference [MD], -1.552 95% CI, -2.351 to -0.7535; p = 0.0001) and PSSD (MD -13.36; 95% CI, -26.41 to -0.3117; p = 0.0448) at follow-up (range 8 to 77 months). The differences in total skin sensation (native and flap skin combined) were statistically significant in the SWM group (p = 0.0010) but not in the PSSD group (p = 0.0649). Investigation on the factors impacting sensation recovery in neurotised flaps yielded inconclusive outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS
Neurotised flaps consistently demonstrated superior sensation outcomes compared with non-neurotised flaps, irrespective of flap type or neurotisation technique. However, further research is essential to elucidate the factors that impact sensory recovery and standardise neurotisation practices for more optimal post-mastectomy reconstruction outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Female; Mastectomy; Breast Neoplasms; Mammaplasty; Sensation; Surgical Flaps
PubMed: 38401199
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2024.01.045 -
Medicine Feb 2024Situs inversus is a rare congenital anatomical variant that involves a group of anomalies regarding the arrangement of intrathoracic and intraabdominal organs. Being...
BACKGROUND
Situs inversus is a rare congenital anatomical variant that involves a group of anomalies regarding the arrangement of intrathoracic and intraabdominal organs. Being able to find in the abdominal region the liver, gallbladder, inferior vena cava, and head of the pancreas and ascending colon on the left side of the abdomen, while on the right side there is the spleen, the stomach, the body of the pancreas, the ligament of Treitz, descending colon among others. In this same way, the thoracic organs, lungs and heart, are changed in their position in a mirror translocation.
METHODS
We systematically searched MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CINAHL, Scopus, and LILACS; the search strategy included a combination of the following terms: "Situs inversus," "Situs inversus totalis," "Cancer," "Neoplasm," "Abdominopelvic regions," and "clinical anatomy."
RESULTS
Within the 41 included studies, 46 patients with situs inversus who had cancer, in addition to being found in this organ and in these regions, we also found as a result that the majority of the studies in the research were in stage II; finally, no one study could assert the direct relationship between the situs inversus totalis and the cancer.
CONCLUSION
If our hallmarks could make us think that more exhaustive follow-up of the stomach and other organs should be carried out in these patients, there could also be other predisposing factors for cancer, which is why more studies are suggested to give future diagnostic and treatment guidelines treatment.
Topics: Humans; Situs Inversus; Abdomen; Spleen; Dextrocardia; Neoplasms
PubMed: 38394506
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000037093 -
The British Journal of Surgery Jan 2024Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is increasingly used to treat locally advanced (T3-4 Nx-2 M0) colon cancer due to its potential advantages over the standard approach of upfront... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is increasingly used to treat locally advanced (T3-4 Nx-2 M0) colon cancer due to its potential advantages over the standard approach of upfront surgery. The primary objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyse data from comparative studies to assess the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on oncological outcomes.
METHODS
A systematic review was conducted by searching the MEDLINE and Scopus databases. The search encompassed RCTs, propensity score-matched studies, and controlled prospective studies published up to 1 April 2023. As a primary objective, overall survival and disease-free survival were compared. As a secondary objective, perioperative morbidity, mortality, and complete resection were compared using the DerSimonian and Laird models.
RESULTS
A total of seven studies comprising a total of 2120 patients were included. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a reduction in the hazard of recurrence (HR 0.73, 95% c.i. 0.59 to 0.90; P = 0.003) and death (HR 0.67, 95% c.i. 0.54 to 0.83; P < 0.001) compared with upfront surgery. Additionally, neoadjuvant chemotherapy was significantly associated with higher 5-year overall survival (79.9% versus 72.6%; P < 0.001) and disease-free survival (73.1% versus 64.5%; P = 0.028) rates. No significant differences were observed in perioperative mortality (OR 0.97, 95% c.i. 0.28 to 3.33), overall complications (OR 0.95, 95% c.i. 0.77 to 1.16), or anastomotic leakage/intra-abdominal abscess (OR 0.88, 95% c.i. 0.60 to 1.29). However, neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a lower risk of incomplete resection (OR 0.70, 95% c.i. 0.49 to 0.99).
CONCLUSION
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with a reduced hazard of recurrence and death, as well as improved overall survival and disease-free survival rates, compared with upfront surgery in patients with locally advanced colon cancer.
Topics: Humans; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Prospective Studies; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Disease-Free Survival; Colonic Neoplasms
PubMed: 38381934
DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znae021 -
Clinical Oncology (Royal College of... Apr 2024Prehabilitation is a process of identifying and assessing factors that could compromise the physical and psychological health of patients undergoing cancer treatment and...
AIMS
Prehabilitation is a process of identifying and assessing factors that could compromise the physical and psychological health of patients undergoing cancer treatment and implementing an intervention to combat such concerns. The use of prehabilitation in cancer surgery has yielded positive outcomes in rectal, lung and abdominal cancers. Prehabilitation strategies have potential to improve the management of patients receiving radiation therapy or chemoradiation. The aim of the present study was to map the evidence of the assessment and evaluation of prehabilitation for radiation therapy patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A database search using EMBASE and PubMed was conducted. The PRISMA guidelines were adhered to. Keywords included prehabilitation, radiation therapy/radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy/chemoradiation, intervention and exercise. Types of prehabilitation strategy, their purposes and impact, according to cancer site, were analysed.
RESULTS
Prehabilitation is most commonly evaluated in head and neck cancer, whereby unimodal, physical interventions manage dysphagia. Prehabilitation for lung cancer demonstrated its ability to widen treatment options for patients. Physical prehabilitation is administered to combat adverse effects of neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in patients with rectal cancer.
CONCLUSION
Prehabilitation is adaptive and tailored to specific patient and site needs; thus it is applied across a wide range of cancer sites. More interventions by which radiation therapy is the definitive treatment modality and larger sample sizes within these studies are warranted to increase prehabilitation utilisation for patients undergoing radiation therapy.
Topics: Humans; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Preoperative Care; Preoperative Exercise; Rectal Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms
PubMed: 38350785
DOI: 10.1016/j.clon.2024.02.002 -
International Journal of Surgery... May 2024
Meta-Analysis
A commentary on 'The efficacy and safety of probiotics for prevention of chemoradiotherapy-induced diarrhea in people with abdominal and pelvic cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on 23 randomized studies'.
Topics: Humans; Probiotics; Diarrhea; Chemoradiotherapy; Pelvic Neoplasms; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Abdominal Neoplasms
PubMed: 38349002
DOI: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000001172 -
Indian Journal of Anaesthesia Dec 2023Neurolytic splanchnic nerve block (NSNB) is practised in intractable abdominal pain secondary to intra-abdominal malignancies. This review evaluated the efficacy of NSNB.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Neurolytic splanchnic nerve block (NSNB) is practised in intractable abdominal pain secondary to intra-abdominal malignancies. This review evaluated the efficacy of NSNB.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched for articles published from January 2001 to October 2023. Two independent reviewers extracted the data from the included studies. The quality of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB 2), and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used for cohort studies.
RESULTS
Fourteen articles (4 RCTs, 3 non-randomised prospective, and 7 retrospectives) were included. Ten articles were quantitatively assessed and demonstrated significant pain relief at 1 week (standardised mean difference (SMD): 3.46 [2.09, 4.83], < 0.001, I = 95%), 2 weeks (SMD: 4.45 [2.61, 6.29], < 0.001, I = 95%), 4 weeks (SMD: 3.35 [2.23, 4.47], < 0.001, I = 97%), 8 weeks (SMD: 3.7 [2.71, 4.7], < 0.001, I = 86%), 12 weeks (SMD: 4.01 [2.66, 5.36], < 0.001, I = 95%), and 24 weeks (SMD: 2.54 [1.71,3.37], < 0.001, I = 84%). Daily narcotic consumption and quality of life (QOL) significantly improved post neurolysis, but survival rates showed controversial results. Significant heterogeneity was reported, and sub-group analysis revealed a moderate level of variability [I = 47.3%] pertaining to study design as a source of heterogeneity. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Pro GDT recommendation for the primary objective was 'high' for the analysis of RCTs and 'very low' evidence quality for observational studies. Only transient minor complications were reported.
CONCLUSION
NSNB appears to be an efficacious technique that provides substantial pain relief, reduces opioid consumption, and ameliorates QOL.
PubMed: 38343676
DOI: 10.4103/ija.ija_439_23 -
Asian Journal of Surgery May 2024
Meta-Analysis
Both thoracic and abdominal muscles can be used as effective indicators for sarcopenia in patients with lung cancer undergoing surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Topics: Humans; Sarcopenia; Lung Neoplasms; Abdominal Muscles
PubMed: 38302351
DOI: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2024.01.106