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Introduction: It has been suggested that age could influence the treatment-induced side effects and survival time of cancer patients. The influence of age on blood-based biomarkers, acute radiation skin reactions (ARSRs), and survival time of breast cancer patients was analysed. Materials and Methods: Two hundred ninety-three individuals, 119 breast cancer patients, and 174 healthy blood donors were included. Results: Before radiotherapy (RT), decreased levels of lymphocytes, interleukin 2, platelet-derived growth factors, and tumour necrosis factor but increased levels of monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, and macrophage inflammatory protein 1b (MIP1b) were detected in the patient group. All of the patients developed ARSRs and intensity of ARSRs was inversely related to the MIP1b level before RT. Fifteen out of 119 (13%) patients deceased during follow-up time. No influence of age (≤50 compared to >50 years) on survival time was detected (p = 0.442). Tumour recurrence, found in 11 out of 119 (9%) patients, had impact on survival time of these patients (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The level of circulating MIP1b before RT was associated with intensity of ARSRs. Tumour recurrence, but not age, was associated with poor survival time. Analysis of circulating MIP1b was low cost, rapid, and could be done in routine laboratory facility. Since RT almost always induces ARSRs, the possibility of using MIP1b as a prognostic biomarker for ARSRs is of interests for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy experience nausea and vomiting, both common symptoms affecting quality of life. The aim of the current study was to describe how nausea, vomiting, and well-being vary during the first 10 days after chemotherapy in women with breast cancer. A pilot study with a repeated-measurements design was conducted at a Swedish county hospital where 39 women with breast cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy were observed. A structured 10-day diary was used for data collection. Of the 39 women in the study, 33 experienced nausea and 6 also experienced vomiting after chemotherapy. Changes in well-being as a result of nausea or vomiting during any part of the day, as well as distress for other reasons, were reported. Well-being also varied among the individuals. The pattern of change in experienced levels of well-being was not homogeneous, nor did it move in any certain direction. The results of this study show that an individualized treatment approach is required to better meet individual women's needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background and purpose: Studies on accelerated fractionation (AF) in head and neck cancer have shown increased local control and survival compared with conventional fractionation (CF), while others have been non-conclusive. In 1998 a national Swedish group decided to perform a randomised controlled clinical study of AF. Materials and methods: Patients with verified squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx (except glottic T1–T2, N0) and hypopharynx were included. Patients with prior chemotherapy or surgery were excluded. Patients were randomised to either CF (2Gy/day, 5days/week for 7 weeks, total dose 68Gy) or to AF (1.1Gy+2.0Gy/day, 5days/week for 4.5weeks, total dose 68Gy). An extensive quality assurance protocol was followed throughout the study. The primary end point was loco-regional tumour control (LRC) at two years after treatment. Results: The study was closed in 2006 when 750 patients had been randomised. Eighty-three percent of the patients had stages III–IV disease. Forty eight percent had oropharyngeal, 21% laryngeal, 17% hypopharyngeal and 14% oral cancers. There were no significant differences regarding overall survival (OS) or LRC between the two regimens. The OS at two years was 68% for AF and 67% for CF. The corresponding figures for LRC were 71% and 67%, respectively. There was a trend towards improved LRC for oral cancers treated (p =0.07) and for large tumours (T3–T4) (p =0.07) treated with AF. The AF group had significantly worse acute reactions, while there was no significant increase in late effects. Conclusion: Overall the AF regimen did not prove to be more efficacious than CF. However, the trend towards improved results in AF for oral cancers needs to be further investigated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]