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Boire A, Burke K, Cox TR, Guise T, Jamal-Hanjani M, Janowitz T, Kaplan R, Lee R, Swanton C, Vander Heiden MG, Sahai E. Why do patients with cancer die? Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:578-589. [PMID: 38898221 PMCID: PMC7616303 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00708-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is a major cause of global mortality, both in affluent countries and increasingly in developing nations. Many patients with cancer experience reduced life expectancy and have metastatic disease at the time of death. However, the more precise causes of mortality and patient deterioration before death remain poorly understood. This scarcity of information, particularly the lack of mechanistic insights, presents a challenge for the development of novel treatment strategies to improve the quality of, and potentially extend, life for patients with late-stage cancer. In addition, earlier deployment of existing strategies to prolong quality of life is highly desirable. In this Roadmap, we review the proximal causes of mortality in patients with cancer and discuss current knowledge about the interconnections between mechanisms that contribute to mortality, before finally proposing new and improved avenues for data collection, research and the development of treatment strategies that may improve quality of life for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne Boire
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katy Burke
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust Palliative Care Team, London, UK
| | - Thomas R Cox
- Cancer Ecosystems Program, The Garvan Institute of Medical Research and The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
- School of Clinical Medicine, St Vincent's Healthcare Clinical Campus, UNSW Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Theresa Guise
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mariam Jamal-Hanjani
- Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Tobias Janowitz
- Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbour, New York, NY, USA
- Northwell Health Cancer Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rosandra Kaplan
- Paediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Rebecca Lee
- Tumour Cell Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Charles Swanton
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Matthew G Vander Heiden
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erik Sahai
- Tumour Cell Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
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Al‐Ansari AM, Abd‐El‐Gawad WM, AboSerea SM, Ali AA, Abdullah MM, Ali FA, ElShereafy EE, Bahnasy MA. Thromboprophylaxis for Inpatient with Advanced Cancer Receiving Palliative Care: A Retrospective study. Eur J Haematol 2022; 109:494-503. [DOI: 10.1111/ejh.13834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Wafaa Mostafa Abd‐El‐Gawad
- Geriatrics and Gerontology Department, Faculty of Medicine Ain Shams University, Al‐Abbaseya Cairo Egypt
| | | | - Ali Adli Ali
- Palliative Care Center, Al‐Sabah Medical Area Al‐Shuwaikh Kuwait
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Fairweather J, Cooper L, Sneddon J, Seaton RA. Antimicrobial use at the end of life: a scoping review. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2020:bmjspcare-2020-002558. [PMID: 33257407 DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine antibiotic use in patients approaching end of life, in terms of frequency of prescription, aim of treatment, beneficial and adverse effects and contribution to the development of antimicrobial resistance. DESIGN Scoping review DATA SOURCES: An information scientist searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, The Cochrane library, PubMed Clinical Queries, NHS Evidence, Epistemonikos, SIGN, NICE, Google Scholar from inception to February 2019 for any study design including, but not limited to, randomised clinical trials, prospective interventional or observational studies, retrospective studies and qualitative studies. The search of Ovid MEDLINE was updated on the 10 June 2020. STUDY SELECTION Studies reporting antibiotic use in patients approaching end of life in any setting and clinicians' attitudes and behaviour in relation to antibiotic prescribing in this population DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers screened studies for eligibility; two reviewers extracted data from included studies. Data were analysed to describe antibiotic prescribing patterns across different patient populations, the benefits and adverse effects (for individual patients and wider society), the rationale for decision making and clinicians behaviours and attitudes to treatment with antibiotics in this patient group. RESULTS Eighty-eight studies were included. Definition of the end of life is highly variable as is use of antibiotics in patients approaching end of life. Prescribing decisions are influenced by patient age, primary diagnosis, care setting and therapy goals, although patients' preferences are not always documented or adhered to. Urinary and lower respiratory tract infections are the most commonly reported indications with outcomes in terms of symptom control and survival variably reported. Small numbers of studies reported on adverse events and antimicrobial resistance. Clinicians sometimes feel uncomfortable discussing antibiotic treatment at end of life and would benefit from guidelines to direct care. CONCLUSIONS Use of antibiotics in patients approaching the end of life is common although there is significant variation in practice. There are a myriad of intertwined biological, ethical, social, medicolegal and clinical issues associated with the topic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lesley Cooper
- Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group, Healthcare Improvement Scotland Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jacqueline Sneddon
- Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group, Healthcare Improvement Scotland Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Thromboprophylaxis in the End-of-Life Cancer Care: The Update. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12030600. [PMID: 32150978 PMCID: PMC7139629 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12030600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer patients are at increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), which further increases with advanced stages of malignancy, prolonged immobilization, or prior history of thrombosis. To reduce VTE-related mortality, many official guidelines encourage the use of thromboprophylaxis (TPX) in cancer patients in certain situations, e.g., during chemotherapy or in the perioperative period. TPX in the end-of-life care, however, remains controversial. Most recommendations on VTE prophylaxis in cancer patients are based on the outcomes of clinical trials that excluded patients under palliative or hospice care. This translates to the paucity of official guidelines on TPX dedicated to this group of patients. The problem should not be underestimated as VTE is known to be associated with symptoms adversely impacting the quality of life (QoL), i.e., limb or chest pain, dyspnea, hemoptysis. In end-of-life care, where the assurance of the best possible QoL should be the highest priority, VTE prophylaxis may eliminate the symptom burden related to thrombosis. However, large randomized studies determining the benefits and risks profiles of TPX in patients nearing the end of life are lacking. This review summarized available data on TPX in this population, analyzed potential tools for VTE risk prediction in the view of this group of patients, and summarized the most current recommendations on TPX pertaining to terminal care.
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Dyer J, Vaux L, Broom A, Broom J. Antimicrobial use in patients at the end of life in an Australian hospital. Infect Dis Health 2019; 24:92-97. [PMID: 30655096 DOI: 10.1016/j.idh.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antimicrobial resistance is increasing and there is an urgent international imperative to optimise use within hospitals. Antibiotic use at the end of life is frequent in the hospital setting, but data on use in Australian hospitals in this context is limited, and optimisation is complicated by clinical/diagnostic, ethical and humanistic considerations. As yet there is little data available on baseline use in hospital end of life settings, an empirical gap we sought to begin to fill here. METHODS A retrospective review of antibiotic use in patients who died in a Queensland hospital between January 2015 and July 2015. RESULTS One hundred and thirty-seven patients were included, of which 73 were male (53.3%) and the median age was 81 years. Of these patients, 86 received antibiotics at the end of life. The most common antibiotic prescribed was piperacillin/tazobactam (41.9%). The most common site of infection was pulmonary (32.8%). Of 86 patients prescribed antibiotics, 29 patients (33.7%) received antibiotics after futility was documented. 83 patients (96.5%) were administered their antibiotics intravenously. CONCLUSION Antimicrobial use at the end of life is frequent, with greater than one third of the patients who died in hospital having their antibiotics continued after discussion of futility. Antimicrobial use in this setting is complex with significant clinical, social and ethical considerations which need to be addressed if antibiotic optimization in this area (and more broadly in the hospital) is to be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Dyer
- Department of Medicine, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Hospital Road, Nambour, QLD, 5470, Australia.
| | - Lucinda Vaux
- Department of Medicine, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Hospital Road, Nambour, QLD, 5470, Australia
| | - Alex Broom
- School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Jennifer Broom
- Department of Medicine, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Hospital Road, Nambour, QLD, 5470, Australia
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Reid VL, McDonald R, Nwosu AC, Mason SR, Probert C, Ellershaw JE, Coyle S. A systematically structured review of biomarkers of dying in cancer patients in the last months of life; An exploration of the biology of dying. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0175123. [PMID: 28384249 PMCID: PMC5383239 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Neuberger review made a number of recommendations to improve end of life care, including research into the biology of dying. An important aspect of the biology of dying is the identification of biomarkers as indices of disease processes. Biomarkers have the potential to inform the current, limited understanding of the dying process and assist clinicians in recognising dying, in particular how to distinguish dying from reversible acute deterioration. OBJECTIVES To critically appraise the literature on biological factors that may be used as prognostic indicators in advanced cancer patients and to identify candidate biomarkers of the dying process that can be measured serially in cancer patients' bodily fluids. METHODS A systematically structured review was conducted using three electronic databases. A hand search of six peer-reviewed journals and conference abstracts was also conducted. Studies reporting prognostic biomarkers in cancer patients with a median survival of ≤90 days and post-mortem studies were included. Final levels of evidence and recommendations were made using the Evidence Based Medicine modified GRADE system. RESULTS 30 articles were included. Seven prognostic biological factors demonstrated Grade A evidence (lymphocyte count, white blood cell count, serum C-reactive protein, albumin, sodium, urea and alkaline phosphatase). An additional eleven prognostic factors were identified with Grade B evidence (platelet count, international normalised ratio, serum vitamin B12, prealbumin, bilirubin, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, pseudocholinesterase and urate). A number of biomarkers were specifically identified in the last two weeks of life but limitations exist. No post-mortem studies met the inclusion criteria. CONCLUSION The biology of dying is an important area for future research, with the evidence focused on signs, symptoms and prognostic factors. This review identifies a number of common themes shared amongst advanced cancer patients and highlights candidate biomarkers which may be indicative of a common biological process to dying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Louise Reid
- The Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute Liverpool, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Rachael McDonald
- Renal Medicine, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Amara Callistus Nwosu
- The Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute Liverpool, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen R. Mason
- The Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute Liverpool, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Probert
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - John E. Ellershaw
- The Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute Liverpool, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Séamus Coyle
- The Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute Liverpool, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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