EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE|
February 8, 2007 at 6:00 PM (EST)
CONTACT:
Danielle Potuto
703-519-1422
Tiffany Reynolds
703-519-1423
Alexandria, VA—Two new studies shed light on important issues in the care of advanced cancer patients. The first study, which assessed the importance of spiritual support for advanced cancer patients, found that nearly three-quarters of patients felt their religious and spiritual needs were not supported by the medical system.
The second study found that more than one-third of patients with advanced cancer enrolled in phase I clinical trials use biologically-based complementary and alternative medicine (vitamins, minerals, and herbal preparations and other dietary supplements)—which can affect the results of these safety trials.
Both studies are being published in the February 10 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO).
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Religiousness and Spiritual Support Among Advanced Cancer Patients
In the first study—led by Tracy Balboni, MD, MPH, senior resident physician in the Harvard University Radiation Oncology Program—researchers from the Coping with Cancer study surveyed 230 advanced patients from five cancer centers about the importance of religious and spiritual support in their lives, and its relationship to their quality of life, treatment preferences, and advanced care planning. They found that 68% of the patients considered religion to be very important—especially African-American and Hispanic patients. Nearly three quarters (72%) of these patients reported that their spiritual needs were minimally or not at all supported by the medical system (e.g., doctors, nurses, or chaplains), and 47% reported that their spiritual needs were minimally or not at all supported by a religious community (e.g., clergy, members of a congregation).
The study also found that spiritual support was strongly associated with better quality of life. Patients who felt religion was important were also twice as likely to request aggressive measures to extend life as patients who did not, though the study did not identify the reasons for this association.
“This report is a strong statement of a seriously unmet need in the vast majority of patients in our care,” said Betty Ferrell, PhD, FAAN, research scientist in City of Hope Cancer Center’s Department of Nursing Research & Education, in an accompanying editorial. “The oncologist who dares to ask about spirituality imparts a vital message to patients that they are being cared for by someone who has not forgotten that a broken patient remains a whole person, and that healing transcends survival.”
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Use of Biologically-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Advanced Cancer Patients in Phase I Trials
In the second study, University of Chicago researchers interviewed 212 patients with advanced cancer enrolled in phase I clinical trials. Patients were interviewed about their use of biologically-based CAM, such as vitamins, herbal preparations, minerals, and other dietary supplements.
Biologically-based CAM is sometimes taken by cancer patients in an attempt to relieve the side effects of anti-cancer drugs, or in the hope that the agent will have an anti-cancer effect. However, because phase I studies are designed to assess the side effects associated with an investigational drug, and to find the highest dose that can be safely given to patients, the use of biologically-based CAM in conjunction with an investigational drug has the potential to confound the results of a clinical trial.
The study found that 34% of patients were taking these supplements—similar to their usage in the general U.S. population. Forty-one patients reported taking vitamins and minerals (such as vitamins A, C, D, E, and B12, selenium, magnesium, zinc, and copper), and 40 patients said they took herbal preparations (including cat’s claw, laetrile, St. John’s wort, milk thistle, ginseng, and Echinacea.)
“If a patient in a phase I clinical trial is taking a complementary or alternative substance that is increasing or decreasing side effects, it will affect our knowledge about the side effects of the experimental drug itself,” said Christopher Daugherty, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago and the study’s senior author. “It is therefore very important for doctors to ask patients in these studies if they are taking these supplements, and for patients to let doctors know if they are taking them.”
“Religiousness and Spiritual Support Among Advanced Cancer Patients and Associations With End-of-Life Treatment Preferences and Quality of Life.” Tracy Balboni, et al, Harvard University, Boston, MA.
“Meeting Spiritual Needs: What Is an Oncologist to Do?” Betty Ferrell, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA.
“Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Advanced Cancer Patients Enrolled on Phase I Trials: A Study of Prognosis, Quality of Life, and Preferences for Decision Making.” Fay J. Hlubocky, et al, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
A consumer information piece on this study can be found on ASCO’s patient website, People Living With Cancer.org, at www.plwc.org/CancerAdvances at the time of embargo lift. For additional, oncologist approved information on complimentary and alternative medicine, refer your readers to www.plwc.org/cam.
The Journal of Clinical Oncology is the semi-monthly peer-reviewed journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the world’s leading professional society representing physicians who treat people with cancer.
ATTRIBUTION TO THE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY IS REQUESTED IN ALL NEWS COVERAGE.
For the full text of any JCO article, contact 703-519-1422 or 703-519-1423.
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