Objective: To study the effectiveness of the MSC cold cap system to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Methods: The system was applied in 83 cancer patients (mean age 49.8 years) undergoing chemotherapy with alopecia-causing agents. Seven patients did not tolerate the system. Seventy-six patients were evaluable for assessment; 26 received anthracycline (group A), 33 taxane (group T), 5 anthracycline plus taxane (group AT), 7 intravenous etoposide (group E) and 5 ifosfamide with or without other alopecia-causing drugs (group I). In group A, 18 patients received conventional (subgroup Ac) and 8 high doses (subgroup Ah). In group T, 8 patients received docetaxel (subgroup D) and 25 paclitaxel (subgroup P). Alopecia grade 0–1 (Dean’s system) was considered as treatment success. Results: Grade 0–1 alopecia was achieved in 49/76 (64.5%) patients: group T 23/33 (69.6%), subgroup P 16/25 (64%) and subgroup D 7/8 (87.5%); group A 18/26 (69.2%), subgroup Ac 16/18 (88.8%) and subgroup Ah 2/8 (25%); group AT 1/5 (20%); group E 6/7 (85.7%), and group I 1/5 (20%). Conclusions: The MSC cold cap system is effective in preventing alopecia from anthracycline, etoposide or taxane but not from anthracycline-taxane combinations or ifosfamide-containing regimens.

BackgroundVitamin D status is considered a potential determinant of lung function in cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of this retrospective longitudinal study was to investigate the decline of spirometric values in association with vitamin D status.MethodsThe data regarding 25‐hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) serum levels, spirometric measurements (FEV1, FVC, FEF25‐75%), and factors known to be associated with the decline of lung function in CF were retrospectively collected over a 5‐year period. The spirometric indices were recorded as the best and the average value of each year, as well as the value, recorded concurrently or closely with 25OHD level measurement.ResultsA significantly positive relationship was observed between 25OHD serum levels and the best annual value of FEV1 (P = .034), and the values of FEV1 (P = .010) and FVC (P = .018) measured concurrently or closely with serum 25OHD levels. The evolution of the best annual value of FEV1 was worse in patients with a mean 5‐year value of 25OHD levels less than 20 ng/mL compared with patients with a mean 5‐year value of ≥30 ng/mL (P < .001), or ≥20 to <30 (P < .001). There was no significant difference between patients with mean 5‐year 25OHD levels ≥30 ng/mL and ≥20 to <30 ng/mL (P = .76).ConclusionsVitamin D status is associated with lung function in patients with CF. Levels of 25OHD above 20 ng/mL were associated with higher best annual FEV1.

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Introduction: Gynaecology cancers, including ovarian (OC), endometrial (EC), and cervical (CC), are prevalent with high mortality. Sarcopenia is found in 38.7% of cancer patients, adversely affecting prognosis. Computed tomography (CT) is performed routinely in oncology, yet CT assessments of sarcopenia are not commonly used to measure prognosis. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prognostic potential of pretreatment sarcopenia assessments on overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) in gynaecology cancer. Methodology: Four electronic databases were systematically searched from 2000 to May 2020 in English: Ovid Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CINAHL plus. Titles and abstracts were screened, eligible full-texts were reviewed, and data from included studies was extracted. Meta-analyses were conducted on homogenous survival data, heterogenous data were narratively reported. Results: The initial search yielded 767 results; 27 studies were included in the systematic review (n=4286), all published between 2015-2020. Meta-analysis of unadjusted results revealed a negative effect of pre-treatment sarcopenia on OS in

(1) Background: Malnutrition in cancer patients impacts quality of life (QoL) and performance status (PS). When oral/enteral nutrition is not possible and patients develop intestinal failure, parenteral nutrition (PN) is indicated. Our aim was to assess nutritional status, QoL, and PS in hospitalised cancer patients recently initiated on PN for intestinal failure. (2) Methods: The design was a cross-sectional observational study. The following information was captured: demographic, anthropometric, biochemical and medical information, as well as nutritional screening tool (NST), patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA), functional assessment of cancer therapy-general (FACT-G), and Karnofsky PS (KPS) data. (3) Results: Among 85 PN referrals, 30 oncology patients (56.2 years, 56.7% male) were identified. Mean weight (60.3 ± 16.6 kg) corresponded to normal body mass index values (21.0 ± 5.1 kg/m2). However, weight loss was significant in patients with gastrointestinal tumours (p < 0.01). A high malnutrition risk was present in 53.3–56.7% of patients, depending on the screening tool. Patients had impaired QoL (FACT-G: 26.6 ± 9.8) but PS indicated above average capability with independent daily activities (KPS: 60 ± 10). (4) Conclusions: Future research should assess the impact of impaired NS and QoL on clinical outcomes such as survival, with a view to encompassing nutritional and QoL assessment in the management pathway of this patient group.