Community-based participatory research to improve life quality and clinical outcomes of patients with breast cancer (DianaWeb in Umbria pilot study)

Abstract

IntroductionBreast cancer (BC) is the most frequent cancer in Europe and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has estimated over 460 000 incident cases per year. Survival among patients with BC has increased in the past decades and EUROCARE-5 has estimated a 5-year relative survival rate of 82% for patients diagnosed in 2000–2007. There is growing evidence that lifestyle (such as a diet based on Mediterranean principles associated with moderate physical activity) may influence prognosis of BC; however, this information is not currently available to patients and is not considered in oncology protocols. Only a few epidemiological studies have investigated the role of diet in BC recurrence and metastasis.Methods and analysisDianaWeb is a community-based participatory research dedicated to patients with BC and represents a collaborative effort between participants and research institutions to determine if specified changes in lifestyle would result in improved outcomes in terms of quality of life or survival. The aim of the study is to recruit a large number of participants, to monitor their lifestyle and health status over time, to provide them tips to encourage sustainable lifestyle changes, to analyse clinical outcomes as a function of baseline risk factors and subsequent changes, and to share with patients methodologies and results. DianaWeb uses a specific interactive website (http://www.dianaweb.org/) and, with very few exceptions, all communications will be made through the web. In this paper we describe the pilot study, namely DianaWeb in Umbria.Ethics and disseminationDianaWeb does not interfere with prescribed oncological treatments; rather, it recommends that participants should follow the received prescriptions. The results will be used to plan guidelines for nutrition and physical activity for patients with BC. The pilot study was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Perugia (reference number 2015-002), and is supported by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Perugia (2013.0185 021).

Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet–Wine Association: The Role of Ingredients

“…The Mediterranean diet is a model of eating based on the traditional foods and drinks of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. In recent decades, it has been promoted worldwide (UNESCO 2010) as one of the healthiest dietary patterns and has been reported to have benefits regarding chronic diseases, i.e., cardiovascular illness [2,3], breast [4] and colon cancer [5], cognition [6] and longevity [7]. Many consumers do not know what to believe when it comes to the health effects of drinking wine.…”

Dietary Fiber Intake and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

“…SCFA can also modulate inflammation [ 57 ], which has an effect on the risk of pancreatic cancer [ 58 ]. Dietary fiber intake also seems to improve glycemic control and other key risk factors such as abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome, and insulin sensitivity [ 59 ], all of which are associated with an increased risk of cancer [ 60 , 61 , 62 ]. Moreover, low insulin sensitivity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes are risk factors for pancreatic cancer [ 63 ].…”

Special Attention to Physical Activity in Breast Cancer Patients during the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: The DianaWeb Cohort

“…DianaWeb protocol was previously detailed [ 17 ] and was approved by the ethics Committee of the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano (Approval INT 24/16). Briefly, patients are recruited on a voluntary basis and, after having signed an informed consensus form, they are enrolled in the study.…”