No abstract

The systematic monitoring of VAS by nurses at a medical oncology inpatients' ward is feasible with a good patient compliance. The reliability of the procedure in terms of guiding the analgesic treatment has yet to be demonstrated.

BackgroundChemotherapy (CT) in patients with advanced cancer (ACP) near the end of life is an increasing practice of oncology units. A closer integration with palliative care (PC) services could reduce the use of potentially harmful CT. This prospective study is aimed at assessing whether a more integrated care model could reduce CT use near the end of life and increase local PC service utilisation.MethodsThe study enrolled sequentially two cohorts of ACP with an estimated life expectancy of ≤6 months. In the first cohort, the usual oncologist’s practice to prescribe CT and to activate local PC services were recorded. In cohort 2, the oncologist’s decision was taken after an in-hospital consultation with the local PC teams. After patient death, a follow-back survey was carried out.ResultsThe two cohorts included 109 and 125 evaluable patients, respectively. The oncologist’s decision to prescribe CT occurred in 51.4% and 60%, respectively: the percentages of patients receiving the final CT administration in the last 30 days of life did not differ in the two cohorts (33.9% and 29.3%, respectively,p=0.83). Conversely, an increase in home PC service utilisation (from 56.9% to 82.4%, p=0.00), at home deaths (from 40.4% to 56.8%, p=0.01) and in-hospice deaths (from 8.3% to 19.2%, p=0.00) occurred in cohort 2.ConclusionThe implementation of an initial in-hospital consultation of oncologists and experienced home PC teams has not reduced the use of CT near the end of life but increased PC service utilisation and reduced in-hospital deaths.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Introduction: More than 2 years after the WHO declaration of a pandemic, SARS-Cov-2 still represents a public health problem The pandemic has increased the complexity of cancer treatments including breast cancer. These difficulties were highlighted in adjuvant treatments but above all in metastatic disease. Vaccination has been one of the most important public health factors that has reduced deaths, hospitalizations and the severity of symptoms related to infection. In metastatic breast cancer hormone receptor positive and HER2/neu negative currently the first line of treatment is given by the association between cyclin 4/6 inhibitors and hormone therapy (aromatase inhibitors or fulvestrant) A well-known and frequent side effect of this therapy is the reduction of white blood cell values and neutrophils. The hypothesis that this study is to evaluate whether treatment with cyclin inhibitors initiated before the period of vaccinations may have influenced, due to the reduction in white blood cell values, an increased risk of infection in these patients. Materials and methods: In our study, we selected patients who had started treatment with cyclin inhibitors before starting the vaccination cycle (in Italy up to the fourth dose in cancer patients) and continue it without evidence of disease progression. All patients were offered a vaccination cycle with mRNA COVID vaccines and were followed during their cancer treatments. All patients, at least 90 days after the last dose of vaccine, have been tested for antibodies against SARS CoV-2 (trimeric spike protein) with a value expressed in binding antibodies unit (BAU) according to international standard WHO During the observation period (starting from the first dose of vaccine administered) the patients were clinically checked and in case of suspicion of infectious pathology with symptoms suggestive of SARS-COV-19 infection, they were tested with molecular swab Results: We evaluated 52 patients who started cyclin treatment before the vaccination course and who are currently without signs of disease recurrence During the study period we found 14 SARS-COV19 infections (28% of patients) and one patient with two infectious episodes. No patients needed treatment in a hospital or resuscitation setting. All patients have fully recovered from the infection and at most after 21 days have resumed the treatment still in place Statistically, a linear regression calculation was applied to evaluate a functional relationship between variables measured on the basis of sample data. We did not find a relationship between spikes or infections compared to the start date of the vaccination cycle; instead we observed a relationship between the value of the spike and the date of last immunization (considered as an active infection or fourth dose of vaccine) with a reduction in the values the further you go away Conclusion: The data of the study show that there is a correlation between the time elapsed between the last vaccination and the risk of getting sick. For this reason, the fourth recall represents a strong help to reduce this risk. We did not find any ranges we could refer to regarding the dosage of trimeric spike protein. Considering the positivity rate of infections that does not exceed the general vaccinated population and the absence of serious infectious symptoms with hospitalization, treatment with cyclin inhibitors appears to be a safe treatment even in a pandemic period. Last day immunization and spike with IA or fulvestrant Last day immunization and spike with IA or fulvestrant Citation Format: Filippo Giovanardi, Edoardo Carretto, Giancarlo Bisagni, Claudia Degli Esposti, Elisa Gasparini, Alessandra Bologna, Roberto Di Cicilia, Gabriella Moretti, Carmine Pinto. Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor in advanced breast cancer during the COVID pandemic period: efficacy in relation to vaccination for SARS-COV 19 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-03-04.