M A S C C • S u p p o r t i v e C a r e m a k e s e x c e l l e n t c a n c e r c a r e p o s s i b l e

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer • www.mascc.org

NEWSWelcome to the February Edition of the Society NewsMessage from Editors Anna Ugalde and Anna BoltongWith this edition, we bring you an update of the World Cancer Congress, held in Melbourne in late 2014. We also provide an update on some work from the Oral Care Study Group, and we encourage other study groups to send us updates on their research or other work. We also introduce four new MASCC members and provide a list of publications from current members.

From your editors, Anna & Anna

February 2015

In December 2014, Melbourne h o s t e d t h e U n i o n f o r International Cancer Control’s World Cancer Congress, which was held in conjunction with the local Clinical Oncology Society of Australia’s Annual Scientific Meeting. Nearly 3000 delegates attended the three-day event. The World Cancer Congress has been described as the leading international conference for cancer control experts, practitioners, and advocates who share the latest information in cancer implementation science.

The keynote speakers were amongst the congress highlights. Day 1 featured presentations on sustainability in health care systems by Peter C Doherty, Irene Higginson, and Laura Levit. Day 2 featured Stephen Lewis, who spoke on international initiatives in global health, and Nicola Roxon, former Australian Attorney General and former Minister of Health, who introduced the world’s first plain-packaging regime for cigarettes. Day 3 featured a presentation by Atul Butte on the world of “big data” and its implications for research.

MASCC had a booth at the Congress, where it promoted the 2015 annual meeting in Copenhagen and also the 2016 meeting to be held in Adelaide. Several membership forms were distributed, along with over 100 journals, flyers, and resources including the MASCC Oral Agent Teaching Tool (MOATT). MASCC Executive Director Åge Schultz staffed the MASCC booth (pictured with editors Anna Ugalde & Anna Boltong).

The next World Cancer Congress will be held in Paris, 2016.

Pictured left to right: Anna Uglade, Åge Schultz and Anna Boltong

MASCC at the World Cancer Congress

M A S C C • S u p p o r t i v e C a r e m a k e s e x c e l l e n t c a n c e r c a r e p o s s i b l e

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer • www.mascc.org

Update from the Oral Care Study Group

The Oral Care Study Group has conducted a study on the diagnosis and treatment of oral chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), which was recently published in Supportive Care in Cancer. The study was designed to assess common practices, as well as to determine use of the National Institute of Health scale for the diagnosis and grading of oral cGVHD. The project was headed by Sharon Elad, DMD, MSc, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester Medical Center.

This research involved distribution of an Oral Care Study Group and MASCC/ISOO members in order to identify medical centers with experience in managing patients with oral cGVHD. The structured survey contained questions about the respondents’ demographics, whether or not they treat oral cGVHD, evaluation tools, diagnostic aids, topical treatments, and preventive measures. Seventeen MASCC/ISOO members responded to the survey, 12 of whom reported that they treat oral cGVHD patients on a regular basis. Of these 12, 6 practice in the US, and 6 practice in Europe. Eleven of the 12 were dentists.

Findings indicated that of these 12 respondents, 75% did not use biopsy to diagnose oral cGVHD. This is consistent with NIH guidelines, which consider clinical observation of oral lesions sufficient for diagnosing oral cGVHD. The first-line topical treatment for oral mucosal cGVHD was predominantly steroids (91.7 %), and the second preferred topical treatment was tacrolimus (41.7%). The preferred treatment for hyposalivation was systemic pilocarpine (41.7%). Most practitioners recommend regular topical fluoride use for prevention of dental caries and most recommend an oral cancer screening protocol. While the recommended frequency varied, 50% suggested a follow-up every 6 months.

Although the number of respondents was small, the study provides a snapshot of current practice among a specialized group of professionals with expertise in this disease. The study highlights the importance of standardizing assessment methods across clinics, which would enable standard data collection, thereby allowing for conclusions regarding optimal diagnosis and management of oral cGVHD.

For full results of the study, see: Elad S, Jensen SB, Raber-Durlacher JE, Mouradian N, Correa EM, Schubert MM, Blijlevens NM, Epstein JB, Saunders DP, Waltimo T, Yarom N, Zadik Y, Brennan MT. Clinical approach in the management of oral chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) in a series of specialized medical centers. Supportive Care Cancer, 2014 Nov 23.

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Oral Care Study Group and its Chair, Dr. Siri Beier Jensen, DDS, PhD, and also thank the members who participated in this study.

I am the Chief Executive Officer of Dental Oncology Professionals, an oral medicine private practice in the Dallas, Texas area. Our practice is dedicated to meeting the unique dental and oral health care needs of individuals battling various forms of cancer at all stages. I am also on medical staff in dental oncology at Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. I am involved in supportive care on a daily basis. The vast majority of my patients are referred to my practice by medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and oncological surgeons. We are responsible not only for dental clearance prior to cancer therapy, but are also a part of our patients' oncology care team to manage and treat dental and oral complications that may arise during treatment or in remission. We serve patients with all forms of cancer, not just oral and head and neck. I joined MASCC/ISOO to associate with others around the world who value the importance of supportive cancer care, particularly the importance of oral health during the cancer journey. I hope to be able to contribute to the collective knowledge and help bridge the gap between medicine and dentistry that has existed for too long. Many friends I have made through the American Academy of Oral Medicine have encouraged me to join. I know membership in MASCC/ISOO will help me stay current in advances of oral health related to cancer care.

Meet a New MASCC Member, Dennis Abbott

M A S C C • S u p p o r t i v e C a r e m a k e s e x c e l l e n t c a n c e r c a r e p o s s i b l e

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer • www.mascc.org

I am the interim Head of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. I specialise in physical medicine and rehabilitation, cancer rehabilitation, pain medicine, geriatrics, and biofeedback. I am involved in supportive care in cancer because I work in an outpatient clinic for cancer rehabilitation at the general hospital of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna. I am also interested in physical therapies and pain management for cancer patients. I am pleased to have taken up a position on the Editorial Board of Supportive Care in Cancer. As an Associate Editor, I will be responsible for articles focusing on rehabilitation and cancer survivorship. Joining MASCC/ISOO represents an opportunity to get in touch with colleagues from the whole world.

MASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting 2015 - Join us in Copenhagen!Abstract submission deadline: February 15, 2015

Early registration deadline: April 24, 2015

I am the Supportive Care Nurse Director at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, USA. The focus of my role is the implementation and adoption of best practices in supportive care for patients with cancer, with emphasis on excellence in palliative care from diagnosis to the end of life. My professional career includes work as a bench scientist in oncology, then at the bedside as an oncology nurse, and finally earning my Master’s in Nursing at McGill University in Montreal. Throughout my career, I have been interested in the care of cancer patients. Researchers have made great strides in the discovery of treatments to cure and control cancer, but one can never lose sight of the importance of the patient’s and family’s quality of life and well-being during those treatments.  I attended the 2014 Annual Meeting in Miami and appreciate the opportunity to participate in a multidisciplinary and multinational organisation. I have recently co-authored a paper that may be of interest to MASCC members:

• Warnke J & Thirlwell S (2014). End-of-Life Experiential Learning for Newly Licensed Nurses. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 45(3), 106-107

Meet a New MASCC Member, Sarah Thirlwell

Meet a New MASCC Member, Richard Crevenna

M A S C C • S u p p o r t i v e C a r e m a k e s e x c e l l e n t c a n c e r c a r e p o s s i b l e

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer • www.mascc.org

Publications from MASCC members1: Brinkman WB, Epstein JN, Auinger P, Tamm L, Froehlich TE. Association of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder with early tobacco and alcohol use. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2014 Dec 2.

2: Hui D, Kim YJ, Park JC, Zhang Y, Strasser F, Cherny N, Kaasa S, Davis MP, Bruera E. Integration of Oncology and Palliative Care: A Systematic Review. Oncologist. 2014 Dec 5.

3: Saunders DP, Epstein JB, Elad S, Allemano J, Bossi P, van de Wetering MD, Rao NG, Potting C, Cheng KK, Freidank A, Brennan MT, Bowen J, Dennis K, Lalla RV; For The Mucositis Study Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO). Erratum to: systematic review of antimicrobials, mucosal coating agents, anesthetics, and analgesics for the management of oral mucositis in cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. 2014 Dec 5.

4: Delahunt B, Hammond E, Egevad L, Samaratunga H, Srigley JR, Humphrey PA, Rubin M, Epstein JI, Lin DW, Gore JL, Nacey JN, Klotz L, Sandler H, Zietman AL, Holden S, Montironi R, Evans AJ, McKenney JK, Berney D, Wheeler TM, Chinnaiyan AM, True L, Knudsen B, Amin MB. Active surveillance for prostate cancer: the role of the pathologist. Pathology. 2014 Dec 3.

5: Uronis HE, Ekström MP, Currow DC, McCrory DC, Samsa GP, Abernethy AP. Oxygen for relief of dyspnoea in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who would not qualify for home oxygen: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Thorax. 2014 Dec 3.

6: Atisha DM, Rushing CN, Samsa GP, Locklear TD, Cox CE, Shelley Hwang E, Zenn MR, Pusic AL, Abernethy AP. A National Snapshot of Satisfaction with Breast Cancer Procedures. Ann Surg Oncol. 2014 Dec 3.

7: Elad S, Jensen SB, Raber-Durlacher JE, Mouradian N, Correa EM, Schubert MM, Blijlevens NM, Epstein JB, Saunders DP, Waltimo T, Yarom N, Zadik Y, Brennan MT. Clinical approach in the management of oral chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) in a series of specialized medical centers. Support Care Cancer. 2014 Nov 23.

8: Montironi R, Hammond EH, Lin DW, Gore JL, Srigley JR, Samaratunga H, Egevad L, Rubin MA, Nacey J, Klotz L, Sandler H, Zietman AL, Holden S, Humphrey PA, Evans AJ, Delahunt B, McKenney JK, Berney D, Wheeler TM, Chinnaiyan A, True L, Knudsen B, Epstein JI, Amin MB. Consensus statement with recommendations on active surveillance inclusion criteria and definition of progression in men with localized prostate cancer: the critical role of the pathologist. Virchows Arch. 2014 Dec;465(6):623-8.

9: Brennan ME, Gormally JF, Butow P, Boyle FM, Spillane AJ. Survivorship care plans in cancer: a systematic review of care plan outcomes. Br J Cancer. 2014 Nov 11;111(10):1899-908.

10: Barlogie B, Mitchell A, van Rhee F, Epstein J, Morgan GJ, Crowley J. Curing myeloma at last: defining criteria and providing the evidence. Blood. 2014 Nov 13;124(20):3043-51.

I am a Senior Physical Therapist in the Department of Oncology Physical Therapy

Rehabilitation, VS Cancer Hospital, Chennai, India. I am interested in general supportive

care in addressing pain in cancer patients, and also care of oral mucositis for head and neck

cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. We are currently doing some work

in this area and have a research proposal in development on effects of low-level laser

therapy on radiation- and chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and

neck cancer. I have joined MASCC because of the work MASCC has done on oral

mucositis.

Meet a New MASCC Member, Gowdhama Kumaran

M A S C C • S u p p o r t i v e C a r e m a k e s e x c e l l e n t c a n c e r c a r e p o s s i b l e

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer • www.mascc.org

Publications from MASCC members 11: Johnson MJ, Bland JM, Oxberry SG, Abernethy AP, Currow DC. Measuring improvement in dyspnoea: should absolute or relative values be used? Eur Respir J. 2014 Dec;44(6):1700-3.

12: Güneri P, Epstein JB. Late stage diagnosis of oral cancer: Components and possible solutions. Oral Oncol. 2014 Dec;50(12):1131-1136.

13: Kerkhofs TM, Ettaieb MH, Verhoeven RH, Kaspers GJ, Tissing WJ, Loeffen J, Van den Heuvel-Eibrink MM, De Krijger RR, Haak HR. Adrenocortical carcinoma in children: First population‑based clinicopathological study with long-term follow-up. Oncol Rep. 2014 Dec;32(6):2836-44.

14: Havrilesky LJ, Alvarez Secord A, Ehrisman JA, Berchuck A, Valea FA, Lee PS, Gaillard SL, Samsa GP, Cella D, Weinfurt KP, Abernethy AP, Reed SD. Patient preferences in advanced or recurrent ovarian cancer. Cancer. 2014 Dec 1;120(23):3651-9.

15: Sadot E, Brennan MF, Lee SY, Allen PJ, Gönen M, Groeger JS, Peter Kingham T, D'Angelica MI, DeMatteo RP, Jarnagin WR, Fong Y. Readmission after pancreatic resection: causes and causality pattern. Ann Surg Oncol. 2014 Dec;21(13):4342-50.

16: Yee J, Davis GM, Beith JM, Wilcken N, Currow D, Emery J, Phillips J, Martin A, Hui R, Harrison M, Segelov E, Kilbreath SL. Physical activity and fitness in women with metastatic breast cancer. J Cancer Surviv. 2014 Dec;8(4):647-56.

17: Abernethy AP, Capell WH, Aziz NM, Ritchie C, Prince-Paul M, Bennett RE, Kutner JS. Ethical conduct of palliative care research: enhancing communication between investigators and institutional review boards. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2014 Dec;48(6):1211-21.

18: Blum D, Rosa D, deWolf-Linder S, Hayoz S, Ribi K, Koeberle D, Strasser F. Development and validation of a medical chart review checklist for symptom management performance of oncologists in the routine care of patients with advanced cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2014 Dec;48(6):1160-7.

19: Disler RT, Green A, Luckett T, Newton PJ, Inglis S, Currow DC, Davidson PM. Experience of Advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Metasynthesis of Qualitative Research. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2014 Dec;48(6):1182-1199.

20: Lewis SL, Brody R, Touger-Decker R, Parrott JS, Epstein J. Feeding tube use in patients with head and neck cancer. Head Neck. 2014 Dec;36(12):1789-95.

Have any news items to share?Please send contributions for the MASCC News to MASCCnews@mascc.org or the co-editors:

Anna Ugalde a.ugalde@deakin.edu.au Anna Boltong anna.boltong@cancervic.org.au

For more information please contact: Åge Schultz, MASCC Executive Director: aschultz@mascc.org