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- Abel, Edvard, 1970, et al.
(author)
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Impact on quality of life of IMRT versus 3-D conformal radiation therapy in head and neck cancer patients: A case control study
- 2017
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In: Advances in Radiation Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 2452-1094. ; 2:3, s. 346-353
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective The purpose of this study was to prospectively and longitudinally compare the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes between head and neck (HN) cancer patients treated with parotid-sparing intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and patients treated with 3-dimensional conventional radiation therapy (3D-CRT). Methods and materials Before and up to 12 months after treatment, HRQOL was recorded in patients with HN cancer who were referred to the Department of Oncology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital for curative IMRT. The study group's HRQOL was compared with a matched group of patients from previous descriptive HRQOL studies treated with 3D-CRT. Both groups' HRQOL was measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment for Cancer QLQ-C30 and European Organization for Research and Treatment for Cancer QLQ-HN35 at 6 time points in the first year after diagnosis. Results Two hundred and seven patients were included, 111 treated with IMRT and 96 matched controls treated with 3D-CRT. Both groups' HRQOL deteriorated during and after treatment. Just after treatment, worse HRQOL scores were observed in the IMRT group regarding insomnia (38 vs 27; P = .032), appetite loss (64 vs 50; P = .019), senses (54 vs 41; P = .017), and coughing (39 vs 26, P = .009). At 12 months, however, significantly better HRQOL scores were observed in the IMRT group regarding problems with dry mouth (72 vs 62; P = .018), pain (28 vs 20; P = .018), sexuality (37 vs 23; P = .016), social contacts (10 vs 6; P = .026), cognitive functioning (79 vs 87; P = .0057), and financial difficulties (12 vs 20; P = .0019). Conclusions This study further supports the hypothesis that the introduction of IMRT has improved the long-term quality of life of HN cancer patients who have been treated with radiation therapy, but might cause more acute side effects. Longer follow-up is needed to study late complications.
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| 2. |
- Axelsson, Lars, et al.
(author)
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Effect of prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube on swallowing in advanced head and neck cancer: A randomized controlled study.
- 2017
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In: Head & neck. - : Wiley. - 1097-0347 .- 1043-3074. ; 39:5, s. 908-915
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dysphagia is common in head and neck cancer. A percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube is used to facilitate nutrition; however, some retrospective studies have indicated that the PEG tube causes dysphagia.A randomized study of patients with head and neck cancer was conducted with up to 10 years of follow-up. Patients were randomized to either the prophylactic PEG tube group (study group) or the common clinical nutritional support group (control group). At each follow-up, a dietician assessed the oral intake, noted the patients' weight, and if the patients used a PEG tube. Dysphagia was also assessed by the quality of life questionnaire, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 Head and Neck 35-questions (EORTC-QLQ-H&N35).One hundred thirty-four patients were included in this study. There was no significant difference in swallowing function between the groups after 12 months, 24 months, and 8 years based on the EORTC-QLQ-H&N35, the oral intake scale, tube dependence, esophageal intervention, weight, body mass index (BMI), and overall survival.A prophylactic PEG tube can be used without an increased risk of long-term dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2017.
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| 3. |
- Axelsson, Lars, et al.
(author)
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Prognostic factors for head and neck cancer of unknown primary including the impact of human papilloma virus infection
- 2017
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In: Journal of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1916-0216. ; 46
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Head and neck cancer of unknown primary (HNCUP) is rare and prospective studies are lacking. The impact of different prognostic factors such as age and N stage is not completely known, the optimal treatment is not yet established, and the reported survival rates vary. In the last decade, human papilloma virus (HPV) has been identified as a common cause of and important prognostic factor in oropharyngeal cancer, and there is now growing interest in the importance of HPV for HNCUP. The aim of the present study on curatively treated HNCUP was to investigate the prognostic importance of different factors, including HPV status, treatment, and overall survival. Methods: A search for HNCUP was performed in the Swedish Cancer Registry, Western health district, between the years 1992-2009. The medical records were reviewed, and only patients with squamous cell carcinoma or undifferentiated carcinoma treated with curative intent were included. The tumor specimens were retrospectively analyzed for HPV with p16 immunostaining. Results: Sixty- eight patients were included. The mean age was 59 years. The majority were males, and had N2 tumors. Sixty-nine percent of the tumors were HPV positive using p16 staining. Patients who were older than 70 years, patients with N3-stage tumors, and patients with tumors that were p16 negative had a significantly worse prognosis. The overall 5-year survival rate for patients with p16-positive tumors was 88% vs 61% for p16- negative tumors. Treatment with neck dissection and postoperative radiation or (chemo) radiation had 81 and 88% 5- year survival rates, respectively. The overall and disease- free 5-year survival rates for all patients in the study were 82 and 74%. Conclusions: Curatively treated HNCUP had good survival. HPV infection was common. Independent prognostic factors for survival were age over 70 years, HPV status and N3 stage. We recommend that HPV analysis should be performed routinely for HNCUP. Treatment with neck dissection and postoperative radiation or (chemo) radiation showed similar survival rates.
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| 4. |
- Carlström, Eric, 1957, et al.
(author)
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The unannounced patient in the corridor - trust, friction and person centered care.
- 2017
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In: International Journal of Health Planning and Management. - : Wiley. - 0749-6753 .- 1099-1751. ; 32:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this study, a Swedish cancer clinic was studied where three to four unscheduled patients sought support from the hospital on a daily basis for pain and nutrition problems. The clinic was neither staffed nor had a budget to handle such return visits. In order to offer the patients a better service and decrease the workload of the staff in addition to their everyday activities, a multidisciplinary team was established to address the unscheduled return visits. The team was supposed to involve the patient, build trust, decrease the friction, and contribute to a successful rehabilitation process. Data were collected from the patients and the staff. Patients who encountered the team (intervention) and patients who encountered the regular ad hoc type of organization (control) answered a questionnaire measuring trust and friction. Nurses in the control group spent 35% of their full‐time employment, and the intervention group staffed with nurses spent 30% of their full‐time employment in addressing the needs of these return patients. The patients perceived that trust between them and the staff was high. In summary, it was measured as being 4.48 [standard deviation (SD) = 0.82] in the intervention group and 4.41 (SD = 0.79) in the control group using the 5‐point Likert scale. The data indicate that using a multidisciplinary team is a promising way to handle the problems of unannounced visits from patients. Having a team made it cost effective for the clinic and provided a better service than the traditional ad hoc organization.
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| 5. |
- Fernström, Erik, et al.
(author)
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Results of preoperative chemoradiotherapy for patients with advanced cancer of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.
- 2017
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In: Acta oto-laryngologica. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1651-2251 .- 0001-6489. ; 137:12, s. 1292-1300
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Curative treatment of nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer is challenging due to the proximity to critical anatomical structures. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of trimodality therapy with preoperative chemotherapy and reduced-dose radiotherapy followed by organ-preserving surgery for treating patients with nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer.This retrospective study included all 156 patients diagnosed with sinonasal cancer in western Sweden between 1986 and 2009. We determined the treatment selection pattern and treatment outcomes for 79 patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy.Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histology. The five-year overall survival was 54%, and 85% of these patients had T3 or T4 tumors. The five-year cumulative incidence rate of local recurrence was 32%. The five-year overall survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma was 45% and 76%, respectively. The median preoperative radiation dose was 48Gy. Orbital exenteration was performed in 7% of patients.Preoperative chemoradiotherapy may be beneficial for patients with advanced sinonasal cancer when primary radical surgery is challenging. Survival outcomes were comparable to outcomes reported in the literature despite conservative surgery and relatively low radiation doses in patients with locally advanced tumors.
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| 6. |
- Qvarnström, Fredrik, et al.
(author)
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Double strand break induction and kinetics indicate preserved hypersensitivity in keratinocytes to subtherapeutic doses for 7weeks of radiotherapy
- 2017
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In: Radiotherapy and Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-8140 .- 1879-0887. ; 122:1, s. 163-169
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and purpose Previously we reported that hyper-radiosensitivity (HRS) was evidenced by quantifying DNA double strand break (DSB) foci in epidermis biopsies collected after delivering radiotherapeutic one and five dose fractions. The aim of this study was to determine whether HRS was preserved throughout a 7-week radiotherapy treatment, and also to examine the rate of foci decline and foci persistence between dose fractions. Materials and methods 42 patients with prostate cancer received 7-week fractionated radiotherapy treatment (RT) with daily dose fractions of 0.05–1.10Gy to the skin. Before RT, and at several times throughout treatment, skin biopsies (n=452) were collected at 30min, and 2, 3, 24, and 72h after dose fractions. DSB-foci markers, γH2AX and 53BP1, were labelled in epidermal keratinocytes with immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining. Foci were counted both with digital image analysis and manually. Results HRS in keratinocytes was evidenced by the dose–response relationships of DSB foci, observed throughout the treatment course, independent of sampling time and quantification method. Foci observed at 24h after dose fractions indicated considerable DSB persistence. Accordingly, foci significantly accumulated after 5 consecutive dose fractions. For doses below 0.3Gy, persistent foci could be observed even at 72h after damage induction. A comparison of γH2AX and 53BP1 quantifications in double-stained biopsies showed similar HRS dose–response relationships. Conclusions These results represented the first evidence of preserved HRS, assessed by γH2AX- and 53BP1-labelled DSB foci, throughout a 7-week treatment course with daily repeated subtherapeutic dose fractions. © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd
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