The present meta-analytic review assessed the relations between coping categories and indices of adjustment in men with prostate cancer. Relevant methodological and statistical information was extracted from 33 target studies (n = 3,133 men with prostate cancer). Men with prostate cancer who used approach, problem-focused, and emotion-focused coping were healthier both psychologically and physically, although the effect sizes for problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping were more modest. For approach coping these effect sizes were particularly strong for measures of self-esteem, positive affect, depression, and anxiety. Conversely, men with prostate cancer who used avoidance coping experienced heightened negative psychological adjustment and physical health, and particularly for measures of positive mood and physical functioning. The findings of this study suggest that active approaches to coping with prostate cancer are beneficial psychologically, physically, and are positively associated with a return to pre-cancer activities.

Prior literature emphasizes that Asian

In the fight against COVID-19, frontline health workers have been vital to keeping the pandemic at bay, but recognition of individual professions' efforts have been inconsistent at all levels. Pharmacists around the world have continued to provide direct patient care and perform frontline duties for their communities during this pandemic, but are often relegated to the background and overlooked when frontline workers are heralded. Community pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare practitioners, which is further proven during the pandemic as they continued to provide direct patient care despite restrictions imposed by the government due to the pandemic. Due to the inaccessibility of other healthcare practitioners during this time, community pharmacists have reduced the burden on the healthcare system by diverting the influx of patients away from hospitals through triaging and screening patients. Community pharmacists have played various roles in supporting the healthcare system during COVID-19: delivering medications to patients, educating patients on telehealth services, assessing patients for renewal of chronic medications, performing consultations on minor ailments, clarifying misconceptions about COVID-19 treatments, and contributing to COVID-19 screening. Alongside ICU nurses, physicians, and respiratory therapists, hospital pharmacists have been part of the COVID-19 efforts and their roles include management of drug shortages, development of treatment protocols, participation of patient rounds, interpretation of lab results for COVID-19, participant recruitment for clinical trials, exploration of new drugs, medication management advice, and antimicrobial stewardship. Further support from pharmacists will be needed once a vaccine is launched in order to reach population-wide coverage. Amid COVID-19, pharmacists have not stopped working as frontline workers and they should be recognized as such.

Introduction Folate receptor alpha (FRA) regulates cellular uptake of folates and antifolates. Information about FRA protein expression in metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is limited. We investigated FRA as a biomarker for pemetrexed-based chemotherapy and compared it to thymidylate synthase (TS), the main target of pemetrexed. Materials and Methods Pre-treatment tumor specimens from 207 NSCLC patients with advanced disease were assessed for FRA and TS protein expression by immunohistochemistry using the H-score (range: 0–300) and correlated to patients’ clinicopathological data, radiographic response (RECIST), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results Low total (cytoplasmic and nuclear) TS protein expression (H-score <210) was associated with improved PFS (median: 5.6 vs. 3.5 months; HR=0.6379, P=0.0131) and prolonged OS (median: 22.5 vs. 11.5 months; HR: 0.5680, P=0.0107). An association between lower TS levels and response to pemetrexed-based therapy was found: mean H-score 187±5, median 180 for responders vs. 201±4, median 210, P=0.0244. High intracellular FRA expression (H-score ≥ 110) was associated with prolonged OS (28.9 vs. 11.7 months, HR=0.5316, P=0.0040) and a trend for association with PFS (5.6 vs. 4.1 months, HR=0.7395, P=0.0801) was noted. Membranous FRA expression was seen in 83% of patients, moreover, high membranous expression (H-score ≥20) was associated with improved PFS (5.6 vs. 3.7 months, HR=0.6445, P=0.0306) and OS (22.1 vs. 11.5 months, HR=0.5378, P=0.0131). Conclusions A large number of NSCLC patients have high expression of FRA and/or low level of TS expression. Expression levels of FRA and TS were associated with clinical benefit from pemetrexed-therapy.

As part of a National Cancer Institute Moonshot P30 Supplement, the Stanford Cancer Center piloted and integrated tobacco treatment into cancer care. This quality improvement (QI) project reports on the process from initial pilot to adoption within 14 clinics. The Head and Neck Oncology Clinic was engaged first in January 2019 as a pilot site given staff receptivity, elevated smoking prevalence, and a high tobacco screening rate (95%) yet low levels of tobacco cessation treatment referrals (<10%) and patient engagement (<1% of smokers treated). To improve referrals and engagement, system changes included an automated “opt-out” referral process and provision of tobacco cessation treatment as a covered benefit with flexible delivery options that included phone and telemedicine. Screening rates increased to 99%, referrals to 100%, 74% of patients were reached by counselors, and 33% of those reached engaged in treatment. Patient-reported abstinence from all tobacco products at 6-month follow-up is 20%. In July 2019, two additional oncology clinics were added. In December 2019, less than one year from initiating the QI pilot, with demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy, the tobacco treatment services were integrated into 14 clinics at Stanford Cancer Center.