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D’Andre, Stacy D.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4726-7223

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic

Citations 22

Factors Associated With Alcohol Intake in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer
Rajput, Sanjna , Vierkant, Robert A., Larson, Nicole L. , Stan, Daniela L., Mussallem, Dawn M. , D’Andre, Stacy D. , Couch, F, Olson, Janet E., O’Sullivan, Ciara C., Ruddy, Kathryn J. , Vierkant, Robert A., Couch, Fergus J. , Olson, Janet E. , O’Sullivan, Ciara C.

Cancer Medicine | June 17, 2026 | Volume: 15 | Issue: 6 | Pages: No page available

10.1002/cam4.72031 Get It

ABSTRACT Background Alcohol intake is a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer, yet patterns of alcohol intake in women with breast cancer remain underexplored. This study evaluates demographic and clinical predictors of alcohol intake in patients with breast cancer. Methods Patients at Mayo Clinic Rochester diagnosed with breast cancer (Stage 0–3) between July 2014 to March 2022 were surveyed about their average alcohol intake over the 10 years prior to their diagnosis. Alcohol intake was categorized as < 1, 1–4, 5–14, and ≥ 15 drinks per week. Demographic, behavioral, and clinical data were analyzed using univariate Fisher exact tests and multivariate multinomial logistic regression. Results Of 2030 participants (mean age at diagnosis: 59 years; 99.3% female; 95.9% White), 29% consumed < 1 drink/week, 48% reported 1–4 drinks/week, 20% consumed 5–14 drinks/week, and 3% reported ≥ 15 drinks/week. Older age at diagnosis (≥ 60 years), non‐White race, financial difficulty, and never smoking were associated with less alcohol intake. Patients who reported higher levels of mild–moderate intensity exercise reported more alcohol intake. Tumor stage, tumor receptors, and BRCA mutation status were not associated with alcohol intake. PROMIS‐10 physical health scores correlated with alcohol intake in univariate but not multivariate models. Conclusion Alcohol intake is more common prior to a breast cancer diagnosis for patients who are younger, White, financially secure, exercising, and smoking. These findings may inform alcohol intake‐related breast cancer prevention efforts and highlight patient subgroups who could benefit from targeted counseling at the time of diagnosis.
Acupressure for anxiety: a pilot study of a nurse-led acupressure intervention for patients receiving chemotherapy
Rhee, Laura, Cutshall, Susanne, Metzger, Abbey, Kruger, Margaret, Burckhard, Jenna, Mallory, Molly J., Whalen, Fran, D'Andre, Stacy, Ruddy, Kathryn, Loprinzi, Charles L. , Manggaard, Jenn M., Rake, Elizabeth Cathcart-, Cathcart-Rake, Elizabeth , Mallory, Molly , Ruddy, Kathryn J , Cathcart-Rake, Elizabeth J , Rhee, Laura, Cutshall, Susanne M. , Metzger, Abbey K., Kruger, Margaret B., Burckhard, Jenna, D’Andre, Stacy D. , Ruddy, Kathryn J. , Fischer, Karen M.

The Oncologist | April 28, 2026 | Volume: 31 | Issue: 8 | Pages: No page available

10.1093/oncolo/oyag166 Get It

Abstract Background Anxiety is a common symptom experienced by patients with cancer, who are increasingly interested in non-pharmacologic symptom management. Acupressure, a noninvasive intervention thought to impact the neurohormonal axis, has shown promise in reducing anxiety. However, research on acupressure for anxiety in patients with cancer has been limited. Methods Individuals receiving chemotherapy, who reported baseline anxiety, were eligible for this study. Consenting participants received one 15-minute nurse-led acupressure session and completed pre- and post-intervention surveys. The primary endpoint was a change in anxiety. Participants were also asked about symptoms of nausea, pain, well-being, relaxation, worry, and distress. Participants were invited to learn self-acupressure techniques. These participants were asked to complete a final survey 1-week post-intervention. Results Thirty adult patients participated in this study. Mean baseline anxiety was 5 on a 0 to 10 Likert scale. Immediate post-intervention anxiety scores significantly improved for all thirty patients to an average of 2.0 (P &lt; .001). Mean nausea scores improved from 1.5 at baseline to 0 post-intervention (P &lt; .001), and pain scores improved from 2.0 at baseline to 1.0 post-intervention (P = .001). Participants reported significant improvement in sense of wellbeing (P = .0004), distress (P &lt; .001), ability to achieve relaxation (P &lt; .001), and ability to control their worries (P &lt; .001). The improvement in anxiety, well-being, and relaxation was sustained at one week. 100% of participants stated that they would recommend acupressure for symptom management. Conclusion Acupressure is a promising non-pharmacologic intervention for the management of cancer-associated anxiety.
Abstract PS1-04-18: Identifying Smoking-Related Factors in Breast Cancer Patients: Mayo Clinic Registry Insight
Vierkant, R. A., Larson, N. L., D’Andre, S. D., Couch, F. J., Olson, J. E., Ruddy, K. J., Hirani, Samina , Vierkant, Robert A., D’Andre, Stacy D. , Couch, F.J., Ruddy, KJ

Clinical Cancer Research | February 20, 2026 | Volume: 32 | Issue: 4_Supplement | Pages: PS1-04-18-PS1-04-18

10.1158/1557-3265.sabcs25-ps1-04-18 Get It

Abstract Background: Smoking, a known risk factor for numerous cancers, negatively impacts long-term survival in breast cancer (BC) survivors (Parada H Jr et al., 2017; Pierce et al., 2019). This study aims to characterize baseline smoking behaviors among breast cancer patients who self-reported smoking during an initial survey. Objectives: To assess attributes of patients self-reporting as current smokers near BC diagnosis, examining demographics, habits, quality of life, cancer treatments, comorbidities, and finances. Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed BC seen at Mayo Clinic Rochester between 2014-2024 were invited to enroll in the Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry. Consenting participants who completed self-reported questionnaires at baseline were included in this study. Smoking status and related variables at the time of survey completion were assessed via a baseline questionnaire, classifying participants as current, former, or never smokers. Of 3,959 participants completing baseline surveys, 3,729 were analyzed after excluding 103 with missing smoking data and 127 with their baseline survey returned &gt;1-year post-diagnosis. Categorical variables were summarized with frequencies and percents, continuous variables with distributional statistics. Univariable associations with current smoking were assessed via two-sample t-tests (continuous) and chi-square or Fisher exact tests (categorical). Significant variables (p&lt;0.05) were included in a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Among 3,729 BC patients (mean age 58.3 years, SD 12.9), 99.1% were female, 97.1% White, and 98.7% non-Hispanic. Only 2.7% reported financial difficulty, 56.4% had a bachelor's degree or higher, 81.7% were married or equivalent, and 21.7% consumed ≥5 alcoholic drinks/week. Tumor stage distribution was as follows: Stage 0 (13.9%), Stage 1 (43.9%), Stage 2 (28.9%), Stage 3 (8.9%), and Stage 4 (4.5%); 33.8% received chemotherapy, 56.5% radiotherapy, 63.6% endocrine therapy, and 42.2% underwent mastectomy. Current smokers (2.6%, n = 95) had a median diagnosis age of 59.1 (IQR 31.8-87.1),with 32.6% consuming ≥5 drinks/week (vs. 21.5% in non-smokers, univariable p = 0.012), 69.5% with less than a Bachelor’s degree (vs. 42.9%, p&lt;0.001), 9.6% facing financial difficulty (vs. 2.5%, p&lt;0.001), and 10.5% diagnosed within 270-365 days after survey return (vs. 4.2%, p = 0.022). Tumor stage showed 47% with Stage 1 (vs. 43.7%, p = 0.245); 33.7% received chemotherapy, 60.0% radiotherapy, and 58.9% endocrine therapy. Current smokers had a mean smoking initiation age of 19.9 (SD 6.2), smoked 12.5 cigarettes/day (SD 7.9) for 32.8 years (SD 14.1), with mean 22.3 pack-years (SD 17.2).Univariable associations of demographic and clinical characteristics with current smoking showed Compared to never or former smokers, current smokers at the time of survey took a longer time to return their baseline survey (p = 0.022), were more likely to consume five or more alcoholic drinks per week (p = 0.012), were more likely to have difficulty paying their bills (p&lt;0.001) and were less likely to obtain a Bachelor's degree or higher (p&lt;0.001). These associations remained significant after multivariable adjustment. Conclusion: Current smoking (2.6%) soon after a BC diagnosis was independently associated with delayed survey return, higher alcohol use, financial difficulty, and lower education. Assessing smoking status and referring patients to smoking cessation programs are critical for addressing these risk factors and improving health outcomes. These findings highlight distinct socioeconomic and behavioral profiles among current smokers, suggesting potential targets for tailored interventions. Citation Format: S. Hirani, R. A. Vierkant, N. L. Larson, S. D. D’Andre, F. J. Couch, J. E. Olson, K. J. Ruddy. Identifying Smoking-Related Factors in Breast Cancer Patients: Mayo Clinic Registry Insight [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025; 2025 Dec 9-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2026;32(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS1-04-18.
Factors associated with and patterns of alcohol intake in late survivorship for breast cancer survivors
Rajput, Sanjna , Vierkant, Robert A., Olson, Kayleigh N., Larson, Nicole L. , Stan, Daniela L., Mussallem, Dawn M. , D’Andre, Stacy D. , Couch, F, Olson, Janet E., O’Sullivan, Ciara C. , Ruddy, Kathryn, Vierkant, Robert A., Couch, Fergus J. , Olson, Janet E. , Ruddy, Kathryn J.

No container title available | January 29, 2026 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: No page available

10.21203/rs.3.rs-8492613/v1 Get It

Abstract Purpose To evaluate alcohol intake trends and identify demographic, clinical, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors associated with alcohol consumption in late survivorship among breast cancer survivors. Methods Individuals diagnosed with stage 0–3 breast cancer enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Breast Disease registry between 2014 to 2022 reported their average weekly alcohol intake at baseline (time of diagnosis) and at approximately four years post-diagnosis. Alcohol intake was divided into four categories and cross-sectional associations with demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors were examined using Monte Carlo-based Fisher exact tests and multivariable multinomial logistic regression. Changes in alcohol consumption from baseline to Year 4 were evaluated using Bowker’s test of symmetry and multinomial models. Results Among 719 participants, alcohol intake 4 years post diagnosis closely resembled baseline patterns, with 30.2% of patients reporting no alcohol use and 48.8% of patients consuming 1–4 drinks per week. Younger age and current smoking status were strongly associated with higher intake at Year 4. Exercise and better physical health were associated with higher alcohol intake in univariable models, however not in adjusted models. From time of diagnosis to Year 4, 15.6% of patients decreased their alcohol intake, 10.2% increased alcohol intake, and 74.3% reported no change. Higher levels of mild intensity exercise were associated with an elevation in alcohol intake over time. Conclusion Alcohol consumption remained stable in late survivorship, in contrast to the initial decline in alcohol use during early survivorship seen in this cohort. Younger age and smoking were key associations with higher alcohol intake.
Neuro-oncology anywhere: Preliminary results from a decentralized clinical trial aimed at improving neurocognitive outcomes in patients with CNS malignancy.
Neth, Bryan J. , Alden, Eva , Galloway, Taylor , Hughes, Heather , Flickinger, Lynn M. , Chan, Katrina, Breen, William G. , Kizilbash, Sani H. , Campian, Jian , Uhm, Joon H. , Ruff, Michael W. , D’Andre, Stacy D. , Burns, Terence, Stricker, John L. , Geyer, Susan M. , Breutzman, Emily, Kottschade, Becky, Haddad, Tufia C. , Chan, Katrina , Neth, Byran J. , Kizilbash, Sani H , Kottschade, Becky, Stricker, Nikki H. , Sener, Uğur

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: No page available

10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.e13891 Get It

e13891 Background: Most patients with central nervous system (CNS) malignancy develop cognitive impairment, fatigue, and mood-related symptoms that are impacted by cancer and treatment, including radiation therapy. We currently have limited therapies to mitigate neurocognitive toxicity. It is important to accurately assess neurocognitive function and symptom burden when working to establish therapeutics. The objective of this trial is to assess the effectiveness of therapies aimed at improving neurocognitive function and quality of life by leveraging a decentralized approach incorporating an established digital neurocognitive assessment tool and development of a remote symptom collection/medication log to improve capture of longitudinal neurocognitive data. Methods: This is an open-label decentralized clinical trial (NCT06377696) that randomizes patients who have received intracranial radiation for primary and secondary brain tumors in a 1:1 allocation to health promotion with a wearable device +/- metformin (targeting radiation-related toxicity). Remote symptom collection is reported through digital patient surveys. Medication adherence is being monitored through a digital medication log developed for the study. Remote neurologic examination is performed by clinical neuro-oncologists at telehealth visits. Participants perform serial remote cognitive assessments with an established digital neurocognitive testing platform – Mayo Test Drive (MTD). Cognitive assessments and symptom surveys were designed to be completed on a smartphone, tablet, or computer device. Results: The study started enrollment on May 31, 2024. As of January 27, 2025, 54 of 100 planned participants have enrolled (27 on each arm). 51 participants remain active on trial; 3 withdrew from trial participation (2 prior to treatment, 1 after treatment). The overall completion rate for a quality-of-life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) is 85.0%, and each dose of metformin logged is 78.5%. The overall completion rate for virtual neurologic examination and short test of mental status is 94.7%. For MTD, the overall completion rate is 97.9%. The average MTD session duration was 16 minutes. Most participants completed MTD testing using a smartphone (90.5%) at home (89.1%). Conclusions: These results provide preliminary support that a decentralized trial assessing neurocognitive outcomes is feasible in patients with CNS malignancy. The completion rates of questionnaires and objective cognitive evaluation are comparable or higher than expected with historic norms. Final study results will provide real-world cognitive and quality-of-life data for patients with CNS tumors while providing preliminary data on the effectiveness of device-based health promotion +/- metformin for treatment related cognitive decline. Clinical trial information: NCT06377696 .
Association between alcohol intake and health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors.
Rajput, Sanjna , Larson, Nicole L. , Mussallem, Dawn M. , D’Andre, Stacy D. , O’Sullivan, Ciara C. , Ruddy, Kathryn J. , Vierkant, Robert A. , Stan, Daniela , Couch, Fergus J. , Olson, Janet E.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 11114-11114

10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.11114 Get It

11114 Background: Advances in early detection and treatment of breast cancer (BC) have significantly improved survival outcomes. In this growing survivor population, addressing modifiable lifestyle factors such as alcohol intake (AI), a known risk factor for BC and BC recurrence, is critical to improving prognosis and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study examines AI patterns and their associations with mental and physical HRQoL in early BC survivorship. Methods: Adult patients newly diagnosed (≤1 year) with stage I–III BC at Mayo Clinic Rochester were invited to enroll in the Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry. Of the 3252 patients who consented, 1997 completed surveys approximately one-year post-diagnosis, capturing weekly AI, demographic factors, and PROMIS-10 scores. PROMIS-10 (a 10-item measure of health, well-being, and distress) physical and mental health T-scores (mean = 50, SD = 10) are standardized to the U.S. population. Weekly AI was categorized as minimal/none (<1 drink), mild (1–4 drinks), moderate (5–14 drinks), or high (≥15 drinks). Univariate analyses were performed with Monte Carlo-based Fisher exact tests. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression models using a glogit link function assessed AI as the outcome and PROMIS-10 scores as independent variables, adjusting for financial status, smoking, chemotherapy, and moderate exercise because those were associated with AI at year 1 in prior analyses. Results: Univariate analyses revealed statistically significant associations between AI and PROMIS-10 scores (Table 1). Adjusted multivariate analyses identified that patients with better physical health were more likely to drink 1–4 or 5–14 drinks/week and less likely to abstain (<1 drink/week) than those with poorer physical health (p=0.027). There was no statistically significant association between AI and mental health QoL after adjustment for covariates. Conclusions: Better physical HRQoL during early survivorship was associated with higher AI, suggesting that patients who are feeling physically unwell may be less likely to drink alcohol. Additional public health messaging about the relationship between AI and breast cancer risk and recurrence may be needed, especially for those who are feeling well enough to consume alcohol. Univariate analyses of year 1 PROMIS-10 scores with year 1 alcohol consumption using Monte Carlo-based Fisher exact test. Alcoholic drinks per week at year 1 < 1(N=1204) 1-4(N=600) 5-14(N=175) 15+(N=18) Total(N=1997) P-value PROMIS global mental health T score, Year 1, n (%) 0.008 < 50 466 (63.8%) 200 (27.4%) 54 (7.4%) 10 (1.4%) 730 (37.1%) 50+ 718 (57.9%) 394 (31.8%) 120 (9.7%) 7 (0.6%) 1239 (62.9%) Missing 20 6 1 1 28 PROMIS global physical health T score, Year 1, n (%) <0.001 < 50 440 (66.5%) 165 (24.9%) 50 (7.6%) 7 (1.1%) 662 (33.6%) 50+ 740 (56.7%) 432 (33.1%) 124 (9.5%) 10 (0.8%) 1306 (66.4%) Missing 24 3 1 1 29
Demographic and clinical factors associated with sleep disturbance in breast cancer survivors.
Marell, Paulina S. , Larson, Nicole L. , Ehlers, Shawna L. , Donovan, Kristine A. , D’Andre, Stacy D. , Ruddy, Kathryn J. , Vierkant, Robert A. , Couch, Fergus J. , Olson, Janet E.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 12083-12083

10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.12083 Get It

12083 Background: Fatigue and sleep disturbance are prevalent during and after cancer treatment; sleep-related symptoms affect 30-50% of patients with cancer, and sleep-wake disruptions persist beyond the immediate post-surgical period in breast cancer (BC) survivors. Identifying demographic- and treatment-related factors associated with sleep-related symptoms during survivorship is critical to inform interventions for those at highest risk of sleep disturbance. Methods: Patients who were seen at least once at Mayo Clinic Rochester following an initial diagnosis of BC at age 18 or older and provided informed consent were prospectively enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry. Surveys mailed to this cohort included two 11-point numeric rating scale questions regarding difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep in the past week, with values for each ranging from 0 (no problem) to 10 (as severe as you can imagine). Participants who provided sleep-related information on the Year 1 survey (answered approximately one year after cancer diagnosis) were included. Participants were excluded if they had clinical or pathologic metastatic disease and/or recurrence prior to the Year 1 survey. Associations of sleep-related symptoms with demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed using multivariate linear regression models, fitting the sleep difficulty rating scale as the outcome and clinical and demographic factors as exposures. Results: In total, 3,354 participants met inclusion criteria. The average age at BC diagnosis was 59, and most participants were female (99.3%), White (95.4%), non-Hispanic (96.2%), married (78.1%), had at least some college education (80.4%), did not report financial insecurity (76.2%), did not consume alcohol (60.6%) or smoke tobacco (93.2%), and reported at least some weekly exercise (76,6%). Sixty-two percent of participants had clinical stage 0 or I disease; 50.3% underwent lumpectomy (not mastectomy), 59.2% received radiotherapy, 34.1% received chemotherapy, and 67.2% received endocrine therapy. Overall, sleep-related symptoms were relatively low (mean rating for falling asleep = 2.1, mean rating for staying asleep = 3.1). In multivariate analyses, more difficulty falling asleep was associated with higher clinical stage (p < 0.001), more cigarettes smoked per day (p = 0.012), less moderate and/or strenuous exercise (p = 0.001), and more financial hardship (p < 0.001). More difficulty staying asleep was associated with higher clinical stage (0.003), older age (p < 0.001), more education (p = 0.011), and more financial hardship (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In our cohort of BC survivors, factors associated with both increased difficulty with falling and staying asleep at one year after diagnosis are higher clinical stage and more financial hardship. Future research should explore the course of these symptoms over time and across varied treatment trajectories.
Olanzapine for managing side effects from tyrosine-kinase inhibitors.
Koch, Regina M. , Muniz, Miguel, Peskey, Candy S , Jatoi, Aminah , Ruddy, Kathryn J. , Orme, Jacob J. , Pagliaro, Lance C. , Quevedo, Fernando , Costello, Brian A. , Spychalla, Megan, Heath, Elisabeth I. , D’Andre, Stacy D. , Loprinzi, Charles L. , Zakharia, Yousef , Singh, Parminder Pal , Riaz, Irbaz Bin , Cathcart-Rake, Elizabeth , Childs, Daniel S.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | February 18, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 5_suppl | Pages: 524-524

10.1200/jco.2025.43.5_suppl.524 Get It

524 Background: Antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) play a key role in treating renal cell carcinoma and other solid organ malignancies, but TKIs cause bothersome side effects that frequently necessitate dose reductions or treatment holds. Olanzapine has been useful for palliating symptoms from classical chemotherapies and advanced cancer, but its effect on TKI-related symptoms is largely unknown. This retrospective study aimed to estimate the efficacy of olanzapine for TKI-induced nausea, vomiting, anorexia, weight loss, and insomnia. Methods: All patients prescribed olanzapine with lenvatinib, cabozantinib, axitinib, or tivozanib at Mayo Clinic between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2024 were assessed for inclusion. For baseline symptom assessment, clinical care team notes documenting the presence or absence of symptoms and indication(s) for starting olanzapine were reviewed. For response assessment, clinical notes and patient portal messages from the first three months after starting olanzapine were evaluated for qualitative descriptions of change in symptom burden. Relevant data were extracted as direct quotations, which were reviewed by the research team and categorized as “improved,” “worsened,” “stable,” or “missing data.” Each symptom domain was analyzed independently when olanzapine was prescribed for multiple interrelated symptoms. Results: A total of 60 patients who received olanzapine for the treatment of TKI-related adverse effects were included. The most common documented indication for olanzapine was nausea without vomiting (n=35), followed by anorexia (n=25), nausea with vomiting (n=16), weight loss (n=16), and insomnia (n=11). In 32 cases (53%), olanzapine was prescribed for multiple, simultaneous symptoms. Response rates for each symptom domain are shown in the table. In addition, prior to olanzapine, 34 patients (57%) had documented weight loss. Following olanzapine, 50% (n=17) gained weight (median increase: 6.1 kg; range: 2.0 - 10.7 kg), 26% (n=9) stabilized their weight (±1 kg), and 24% (n=8) continued to lose weight. Clinicians utilized a TKI dose reduction within one week of olanzapine initiation in 5 cases (8.3%), and 3 of these patients could resume the higher dose of TKI after starting olanzapine. Only 4 patients (7%) discontinued olanzapine within 3 months due to perceived side effects. Conclusions: Olanzapine appears to be effective in treating TKI-induced nausea, vomiting, anorexia, insomnia, and weight loss. Prospective randomized placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings. Improvedn (%) Worsened n (%) Stablen (%) Missing Datan (%) Nausea without emesis 32 (84) 3 (8) 1 (3) 2 (5) Nausea with emesis 13 (93) 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (7) Anorexia 26 (74) 2 (6) 4 (11) 3 (9) Insomnia 11 (85) 0 (0) 2 (15) 0 (0)
Treatment of Established Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy with N-Palmitoylethanolamide: A Randomized, Double-Blind Phase II Pilot Study
Davis, Mellar P. , Ulrich, Angela , Gudena, Vinay, Ruddy, Kathryn J. , D’Andre, Stacy D. , Giridhar, Karthik V. , Vasireddy, Vamsi K., Agarwal, Rajiv , Azzouqa, Abdel‐Ghani, Novotny, Paul, McCue, Shaylene , Bauer, Brent A. , Loprinzi, Charles L. , Giridhar, Karthik V , Agarwal, Rajiv , Bauer, Brent A , Loprinzi, Charles , Ulrich, Angela , Segal, Rebecca A.

Cancers | December 20, 2024 | Volume: 16 | Issue: 24 | Pages: 4244

10.3390/cancers16244244 Get It

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) from oxaliplatin and taxane drugs is a bothersome toxicity. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has been reported to improve myelinated nerve fiber function in patients experiencing painful CIPN. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of PEA in patients with established CIPN. Methods: Eligible patients were adults who had pain, numbness, tingling, or other symptoms of CIPN for at least three months following completion of paclitaxel, oxaliplatin, or cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Study patients were randomized to one of the two treatment groups (PEA versus placebo, both administered either once or twice daily). The CIPN20 questionnaire was assessed weekly. Results: A total of 17 males and 71 females participated in the study; most had neuropathy from paclitaxel. Most (85%) finished 8 weeks of treatment. There was no suggestion that either of the PEA arms did any better than the combined placebo arms. There was no signal of significant toxicity differences between the three study arms. Quality of life outcome measures were similar between the study arms, as were cognitive function evaluations. Discussion: PEA failed to improve established CIPN. Future trials might explore whether PEA may be effective in preventing CIPN or cognitive changes based on data that suggest it may be helpful in this situation. Conclusions: PEA failed to improve established chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.
Cancer and Stress: Understanding the Connections and Interventions
D’Andre, Stacy D. , Ellsworth, Lisa L., Kirsch, Janae L. , Montane, Heather N. , Kruger, Margaret B., Donovan, Kristine A. , Bronars, Carrie, Ehlers, Shawna L. , Bronars, Carrie A, Ellsworth, Lisa L., Markovic, Svetomir N.

American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine | December 6, 2024 | Volume: 19 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 1193-1215

10.1177/15598276241304373 Get It

Stress is ubiquitous in our modern society and contributes to many disease states. This narrative review describes the effect of stress/distress on cancer development and progression. Seminal randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews/meta-analyses, and distress management guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the Society for Integrative LinearOncology (SIO) are highlighted. We describe the physiological effects of distress, distress assessment, and management. Psychological treatments are summarized. Evidence-based lifestyle modifications and integrative therapies are reviewed in detail, including mindfulness-based techniques, yoga, guided imagery, breathing techniques, hypnosis, exercise, music therapy, qigong/Tai Chi, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and improving sleep and heart rate variability. Recognition and treatment of distress can improve quality of life. More research is needed to determine the effects of managing distress on cancer outcomes, as well as the best type and duration of intervention, noting that the benefits of interventions may be specific for patients with different cancer types.