ONS Connect - January 2008 - (Page 8)

JUSTiN [By Deborah McBride, RN, MSN, CPON ®, Contributing Editor] New Drug may Treat Some Childhood Cancers new drug has shown preclinical activity against cells from several types of children’s cancers, according to research presented at the National Cancer Research Institute Conference in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Scientists from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom have shown in laboratory tests that the drug RH1 can kill tumor cells from neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma, three types of childhood and adolescent cancers that often are resistant to currently available chemotherapy. The researchers found that even low doses of RH1 increased the cancer cell death rate by as much as 50% when compared with untreated cells. Although survival rates for childhood cancers have improved, new drugs are needed to combat drug-resistant cancers. RH1’s activity is enhanced by an enzyme, DT diaphorase, which often is found in cancers of the lungs, liver, and breasts. A Based on the preclinical results, researchers are planning a phase I trial for the drug involving children with cancer. National Cancer Research Institute Conference. (n.d.). Early stage drug shows promise against cancer cells from young patients [Press release]. Retrieved November 5, 2007, from http:// www.ncri.org.uk/ncriconference/info/releases/ pr5.pdf Videos tailored to a patient’s race and symptoms are available on the PDA the day before each scheduled office visit. Only videos dealing with the symptoms that the patient was reporting are shown. If patients report having significant problems with a symptom, they are prompted to contact their physicians immediately. Ohio State University Medical Center. (2007). OSU study: Personal digital assistants help cancer patients [Press release]. Retrieved November 5, 2007, from http://medicalcenter.osu .edu/mediaroom/press/article.cfm?ID=3483 Study will Assess Use of pDAs for patientprovider Communication esearchers from the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center recently launched a pilot study to assess the use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) by patients with breast cancer to record their levels of pain, fatigue, and depression and to watch patient communication videos. The PDAs will allow patients to communicate more effectively with their healthcare providers during chemotherapy treatment. Twenty-five patients received PDAs and were trained on how to use them to record weekly assessments on pain, fatigue, and depression and to watch videos about communicating their symptoms to healthcare professionals. A control group of 25 patients undergoing the usual care for chemotherapy treatment also is being evaluated. Physicians receive printouts of patients’ symptoms before office visits. R Drinking Coffee may lower liver Cancer Risk new study on the effect that coffee drinking has on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) confirmed that an inverse association exists between the two. The results of the study appeared in the August 2007 issue of Hepatology. The meta-analysis of 10 published studies conducted in southern Europe and Japan showed a 41% reduction of HCC risk among coffee drinkers compared to those who never drank coffee. According to the researchers, a risk reduction was evident in all of the studies, regardless of whether they were from Europe, which has a high consumption of coffee, or Japan, where less coffee is consumed. The study, conducted by researchers from the Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri in Milan, Italy, included 2,260 cases of HCC. The researchers pointed out that animal and laboratory studies have indicated that certain compounds found in coffee may act as blocking agents by reacting with enzymes involved in carcinogenic detoxification. Other components, including caffeine, have been shown to have A 8 ONS CONNECT JANUARY 2008 http://www.ncri.org.uk/ncriconference/info/releases/pr5.pdf http://www.ncri.org.uk/ncriconference/info/releases/pr5.pdf http://www.ncri.org.uk/ncriconference/info/releases/pr5.pdf

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ONS Connect - January 2008 Contents Editor's Note Just In Up Front You Tell Us Up Close & Professional Web Connect Capitol Connection Notice Nursing Now Caregiver Care Five Minute In-Service New Treatments, New Hope Calendar of Events ONS Election Working For You Staying On Top

ONS Connect - January 2008

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