Genetic predisposition to persistent fatigue after a diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (fatigue) is a common and persistent symptom after cancer treatment, yet the role of genetic susceptibility remains unclear.

Methods: We leveraged data from a prospective cohort study, ColoCare Study (ie, five U.S.

Personalizing Patient Education for Pancreatic Cancer Patients Receiving Multidisciplinary Care with Integration of Novel Digital Tools.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a diagnosis with a poor prognosis which can be associated with significant distress and may hinder a patient's ability to understand treatment details. Educating patients based on their learning preferences (LPs) and emotions may allow for personalized, enhanced care. This prospective project enrolled patients with non-metastatic PC.

Hidden Costs of Endocrine Therapy for Black Breast Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Examination of Patient and Provider Experiences.

Background: Non-adherence to endocrine therapy (ET) remains an unsolved clinical issue that decreases rates of survival. Non-white race and socioeconomic status have been associated with ET non-adherence, but the reasons for these disparities are unclear. Addressing this issue effectively requires the characterization of the contributing factors to these inequities.

Diet and physical activity intervention preferences for young adult cancer survivors.

Objective: Patient preferences for diet and physical activity interventions likely vary by patient age at cancer diagnosis, gender, and ethnicity. Efficacious multiple health behavior interventions to improve diet and physical activity in young adult cancer survivors are critically needed. This study aimed to collect data to inform preferences for diet and physical activity interventions for young adult cancer survivors that could be modified, if needed, based on gender and ethnicity.

A Large-scale Digital Survey of Patients with Localized and Advanced Prostate Cancer in Germany, the UK, and the USA.

Background And Objective: We conducted a prostate cancer (PC) survey to provide a better understanding of the patient journey, expectations, and attitudes related to treatment.

Methods: This large-scale digital survey of patients with localized or advanced PC from Germany, the UK, and the USA assessed their demographics, diagnosis, treatment history, perception of therapy, medical care team involvement, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The survey was designed and interpreted by a large multistakeholder group.

Intricacies of human-AI interaction in dynamic decision-making for precision oncology.

AI decision support systems can assist clinicians in planning adaptive treatment strategies that can dynamically react to individuals' cancer progression for effective personalized care. However, AI's imperfections can lead to suboptimal therapeutics if clinicians over or under rely on AI. To investigate such collaborative decision-making process, we conducted a Human-AI interaction study on response-adaptive radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Developing and Assessing a Scalable Digital Health Tool for Pretest Genetic Education in Patients With Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer: Mixed Methods Design.

Background: National guidelines recommend germline genetic testing (GT) for all patients with early-onset colorectal cancer. With recent advances in targeted therapies and GT, these guidelines are expected to expand to include broader groups of patients with colorectal cancer. However, there is a shortage of genetic professionals to provide the necessary education and support for informed consent.

The National Cancer Institute clinical trials planning meeting to address gaps in observational and intervention trials for cancer-related cognitive impairment.

Cancer-related cognitive impairment is a broad term encompassing subtle cognitive problems to more severe impairment. The severity of this impairment is influenced by host, disease, and treatment factors, and the impairment affects patients before, during, and following cancer treatment. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Symptom Management and Health-Related Quality of Life Steering Committee (SxQoL SC) convened a clinical trial planning meeting to review the state of the science on cancer-related cognitive impairment and develop phase II/III intervention trials aimed at improving cognitive function in cancer survivors with non-central nervous system disease and longitudinal studies to understand the trajectory of cognitive impairment and contributing factors.

Concurrent substance use among cancer patients with and without a history of cannabis use since cancer diagnosis at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center in Florida.

Background: Although substance use may have adverse impacts on cancer outcomes, little is known regarding patterns of concurrent substance use with cannabis among cancer patients. Our objective was to examine predictors of concurrent substance use with cannabis among cancer patients since their cancer diagnosis and explore perceptions of cannabis among these patients.

Methods: Patients treated at a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center were invited to participate in an electronic survey regarding medical cannabis from August to November 2021.

Cannabis use and patient-reported outcomes among patients at a comprehensive cancer center.

Background: Patients with cancer report increasing rates of cannabis use, often to manage symptoms and toxicities. The efficacy and safety of cannabis, however, for some use cases remains unclear. To better understand characteristics of patients with cancer who report using cannabis, we examined data from a cannabis use survey of among patients with cancer seen at a National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center.

Patient-provider communication about the use of medical cannabis for cancer symptoms: a cross-sectional study.

Background: There has been limited study regarding patient-provider communication about medical cannabis for cancer symptom management. To address this gap, this study assesses the determinants and prevalence of patient-provider communication about the use of medical cannabis for cancer symptoms at a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Methods: Individuals who completed cancer treatment from July 2017 to December 2019 were invited to participate in a survey regarding medical cannabis.

Social isolation, depression, and anxiety among young adult cancer survivors: The mediating role of social connectedness.

Background: Social isolation and social connectedness are health determinants and aspects of social well-being with strong associations with psychological distress. This study evaluated relationships among social isolation, social connectedness, and psychological distress (i.e.

Clinical Trial Protocol for VIOLET: A Single-Center, Phase I/II Trial Evaluation of Radioligand Treatment in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer with [Tb]Tb-PSMA-I&T.

[Lu]Lu-PSMA is an effective class of therapy for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC); however, progression is inevitable. The limited durability of response may be partially explained by the presence of micrometastatic deposits, which are energy-sheltered and receive low absorbed radiation with Lu due to the approximately 0.7-mm mean pathlength.

Need for Behavioral Interventions for Young Adults Living with Advanced Cancer in the U.S.

The population of young adults (YAs) aged 18-39 living with advanced cancer is growing and faces a compounded set of challenges at the intersection of age and disease. Despite these substantial challenges, behavioral interventions tailored to YAs living with advanced cancer remain scarce. This commentary aims to (1) discuss the unmet psychological, social, and behavioral needs of YAs living with advanced cancer; (2) highlight the paucity of behavioral interventions tailored to this growing population; (3) offer recommendations for the development of behavioral interventions targeting the unique needs of YAs living with advanced cancer; and (4) describe potential far-reaching public health benefits of these targeted behavioral interventions.

Intricacies of Human-AI Interaction in Dynamic Decision-Making for Precision Oncology: A Case Study in Response-Adaptive Radiotherapy.

Background: Adaptive treatment strategies that can dynamically react to individual cancer progression can provide effective personalized care. Longitudinal multi-omics information, paired with an artificially intelligent clinical decision support system (AI-CDSS) can assist clinicians in determining optimal therapeutic options and treatment adaptations. However, AI-CDSS is not perfectly accurate, as such, clinicians' over/under reliance on AI may lead to unintended consequences, ultimately failing to develop optimal strategies.

Novel Virtual Reality App for Training Patients on MRI-guided Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: Patients receiving respiratory gated magnetic resonance imaging-guided radiation therapy (MRIgRT) for abdominal targets must hold their breath for ≥25 seconds at a time. Virtual reality (VR) has shown promise for improving patient education and experience for diagnostic MRI scan acquisition. We aimed to develop and pilot-test the first VR app to educate, train, and reduce anxiety and discomfort in patients preparing to receive MRIgRT.

Comparing patient-reported outcomes and lifestyle factors before and after the COVID-19 pandemic among Black and Hispanic breast cancer survivors in New Jersey.

Purpose: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in the US since March 2020 on cancer survivorship among Black and Hispanic breast cancer (BC) survivors remains largely unknown. We aimed to evaluate associations of the pandemic with participant characteristics, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and lifestyle factors among Black and Hispanic BC survivors in the Women's Circle of Health Follow-Up Study and the New Jersey BC Survivors Study.

Methods: We included 447 Black (n = 364 and n = 83) and 182 Hispanic (n = 102 and n = 80) BC survivors who completed a home interview approximately 24 months post-diagnosis between 2017 and 2023.

Psychosocial consequences of head and neck cancer symptom burden after chemoradiation: a mixed-method study.

Purpose: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) experience significant symptom burden from combination chemotherapy and radiation (chemoradiation) that affects acute and long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, psychosocial impacts of HNC symptom burden are not well understood. This study examined psychosocial consequences of treatment-related symptom burden from the perspectives of survivors of HNC and HNC healthcare providers.

Barriers to endocrine therapy adherence: perspectives of Black breast cancer survivors and their providers.

Purpose: Adherence to oral endocrine therapy (ET) remains an issue for up to half of women prescribed these medications. There is emerging data that Black breast cancer survivors (BCS) have lower rates of ET adherence. Given the disparities in breast cancer recurrence and survival for Black BCS compared to their White counterparts, the goal of this study is to better understand barriers to ET adherence among Black BCS from the patient and provider perspectives.

Support Through Remote Observation and Nutrition Guidance (STRONG), a digital health intervention to reduce malnutrition among pancreatic cancer patients: A study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Malnutrition is a common and distressing condition among pancreatic cancer patients. Fewer than a quarter of pancreatic cancer patients receive medical nutrition therapy (MNT), important for improving nutritional status, weight maintenance, quality of life and survival. System, provider, and patient level barriers limit access to MNT.

Risk factors and health behaviors associated with loneliness among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loneliness may exacerbate poor health outcomes particularly among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about the risk factors of loneliness among cancer survivors. We evaluated the risk factors of loneliness in the context of COVID-19 pandemic-related prevention behaviors and lifestyle/psychosocial factors among cancer survivors.

Feasibility and acceptability of C-PRIME: A health promotion intervention for family caregivers of patients with colorectal cancer.

Purpose: This study aimed to test the feasibility and acceptability of a digital health promotion intervention for family caregivers of patients with advanced colorectal cancer and explore the intervention's preliminary efficacy for mitigating the impact of caregiving on health and well-being.

Methods: We conducted a single-arm pilot feasibility trial of C-PRIME (Caregiver Protocol for Remotely Improving, Monitoring, and Extending Quality of Life), an 8-week digital health-promotion behavioral intervention involving monitoring and visualizing health-promoting behaviors (e.g.