Symptom science research conducted in NCI community programs over the past decade.

Authors

null

Diane C. St. Germain

National Cancer Institute, Arlington, VA

Diane C. St. Germain, Ann M. O'Mara

Organizations

National Cancer Institute, Arlington, VA, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

Research Funding

Other

Background: With the rising number of survivors across many cancer sites, increasing attention is being paid to assessing, preventing, and managing cancer and treatment related symptoms. This presentation will discuss the breadth of the symptom management portfolio within the community research programs funded by the NCI: The Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) and the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) from 2008 to 2018. Trends in types of symptoms and study designs will be described to identify research gaps. Methods: Symptom management research was operationally defined as any clinical study focusing on cancer and treatment related symptoms and/or related psychological, social and spiritual problems. The primary endpoint is measured by a patient reported outcome (PRO). Using this definition, a search was conducted of the NCI database to capture clinical studies implemented in the CCOP and NCORP networks from 2008 to 2018. Results: Between 2008 and 2018, 68 clinical studies were conducted in the NCI community research programs that met this definition. During this period of time, the most frequently studied symptom was neurotoxicities (n = 13), comprised of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (n = 3), neurocognition (n = 9) and ototoxicity (n = 1). Gastrointestinal symptoms (n = 10), pain (n = 9) and fatigue (6) were the following most frequent. The least studied symptoms included genitourinary symptoms (n = 1), vaginal health (n = 1), sexual desire (n = 1), psychosocial (n = 2) and lymphedema (n = 2). The predominant trial design was phase II or III randomized clinical trial with the remaining longitudinal, cohort design. Further delineation of these data will be presented. Conclusions: The prevalence of the symptoms studied within the NCI community programs mirrors the symptom literature in terms of frequency. Cancer survivors have reported a number of symptoms not adequately addressed by their clinicians such as sexual health and psychosocial issues. This gap also mirrors the frequency of research conducted in the community networks. Future research in the network focusing on these understudied areas should be considered by investigators.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2018 Palliative and Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B: Advance Care Planning; Caregiver Support; Coordination and Continuity of Care; End-of-Life Care; Models of Care; Survivorship; and Symptom Biology, Assessment and Management

Track

Advance Care Planning,End-of-Life Care,Survivorship,Coordination and Continuity of Care,Symptom Biology, Assessment, and Management,Models of Care,Caregiver Support

Sub Track

Symptom Biology, Assessment, and Management

Citation

J Clin Oncol 36, 2018 (suppl 34; abstr 220)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2018.36.34_suppl.220

Abstract #

220

Poster Bd #

G6

Abstract Disclosures