Effects of Dexamethasone and Placebo on Symptom Clusters in Advanced Cancer Patients: A Preliminary Report

The Oncologist
Sriram YennurajalingamEduardo Bruera

Abstract

Advanced cancer patients frequently experience debilitating symptoms that occur in clusters, but few pharmacological studies have targeted symptom clusters. Our objective was to examine the effects of dexamethasone on symptom clusters in patients with advanced cancer. We reviewed the data from a previous randomized clinical trial to determine the effects of dexamethasone on cancer symptoms. Symptom clusters were identified according to baseline symptoms by using principal component analysis. Correlations and change in the severity of symptom clusters were analyzed after study treatment. A total of 114 participants were included in this study. Three clusters were identified: fatigue/anorexia-cachexia/depression (FAD), sleep/anxiety/drowsiness (SAD), and pain/dyspnea (PD). Changes in severity of FAD and PD significantly correlated over time (at baseline, day 8, and day 15). The FAD cluster was associated with significant improvement in severity at day 8 and day 15, whereas no significant change was observed with the SAD cluster or PD cluster after dexamethasone treatment. The results of this preliminary study suggest significant correlation over time and improvement in the FAD cluster at day 8 and day 15 after treatment with dexa...Continue Reading

References

Jan 7, 1984·British Medical Journal·J C WilloxM Drennan
Mar 1, 1993·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·D F CellaJ Brannon
Jul 8, 1999·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·L R Watkins, S F Maier
Oct 3, 1999·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·C L LoprinziB J Christensen
Oct 18, 2000·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·M JohnstonP Hennessey
Apr 12, 2001·Journal of Advanced Nursing·M DoddD Taylor
May 25, 2002·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Christina HempenClemens F Hess
Jul 24, 2002·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Declan WalshSinead Donnelly
May 7, 2005·Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental·Diane B Miller, James P O'Callaghan
Jan 31, 2006·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·Andrea M BarsevickWilliam N Dudley
Jun 9, 2006·Acta Oncologica·Staffan H Lundström, Carl Johan Fürst
Nov 8, 2006·Brain, Behavior, and Immunity·Robert Dantzer, Keith W Kelley
Jan 18, 2007·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Sriram Yennurajalingam, Eduardo Bruera
Mar 31, 2007·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Edward ChowLinda Filipczak
May 19, 2007·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·Saskia C C M TeunissenAlexander de Graeff
May 22, 2007·Seminars in Oncology Nursing·Christine Miaskowski, Bradley E Aouizerat
Feb 19, 2008·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Andrew H MillerMichael R Irwin
May 22, 2008·Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN·Zeeshan ButtDavid Cella
Jul 5, 2008·Brain, Behavior, and Immunity·Mark R HutchinsonLinda R Watkins
Sep 10, 2008·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Susan K LutgendorfDavid M Lubaroff
Oct 11, 2008·Nature Reviews. Cancer·Bostjan SerugaIan F Tannock
Feb 3, 2009·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Winson Y CheungCamilla Zimmermann
Dec 25, 2009·Pain Medicine : the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine·Thomas M AtkinsonEthan Basch
Mar 20, 2010·European Journal of Oncology Nursing : the Official Journal of European Oncology Nursing Society·Greg Irving, Mari Lloyd-Williams
Dec 7, 2010·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·Thomas M AtkinsonEthan Basch
Mar 16, 2011·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·Barry J A LairdMarie T Fallon
Aug 10, 2011·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Julienne E BowerSteve W Cole
Jan 3, 2012·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·Christopher W KerrJames P Donnelly
Apr 3, 2012·Critical Reviews in Oncology/hematology·Marija Trajkovic-VidakovicSaskia C C M Teunissen
Apr 18, 2012·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Michael J FischCharles S Cleeland
Jul 17, 2012·Cell Metabolism·Kenneth C H FearonDenis C Guttridge
Oct 18, 2012·Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy·Antonio MacciòGiovanni Mantovani
Nov 15, 2012·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·Ørnulf PaulsenOla Dale
Feb 1, 2013·Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care·Ann M BergerRita Million

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 26, 2016·Toxicology Letters·R G Ahmed
Dec 14, 2016·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Sebastiano MercadanteFederica Aielli
Feb 21, 2019·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Alison HaywoodJanet R Hardy
Mar 25, 2019·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Andreas CharalambousOxana Palesh
Mar 31, 2020·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. Reviews on Cancer·Jawed A SiddiquiMohd W Nasser
Aug 14, 2021·The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care·Ivy AkidThomas J Smith
Jul 3, 2021·Current Treatment Options in Oncology·Diwakar D BalachandranPasquale F Innominato

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Cardiac Cachexia

Cardiac cachexia is a syndrome associated with the progressive loss of muscle and fat mass. It most commonly affects patients with heart failure and can significantly decrease the quality of life and survival in these patients. Here is the latest research on cardiac cachexia.

Cachexia & Brown Fat

Cachexia is a condition associated with progressive weight loss due to severe illness. In cancer patients, it is proposed to occur as a result of tumor-induced energy wasting. Several proteins have been implicated in browning and depletion of white adipose tissue. Here is the latest research on cachexia and brown fat.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric condition characterized by severe weight loss and secondary problems associated with malnutrition. Here is the latest research on AN.