Symptom control trials: a 20-year experience

J Support Oncol. 2007 Mar;5(3):119-25, 128.

Abstract

Symptoms related to cancer and/or cancer therapy are a prominent consideration in cancer patients; multiple options have been proposed to alleviate these problems. The US National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) has mandated that CCOP participant institutions be involved with cancer control trials in addition to cancer treatment trials. Through such efforts, scientifically sound symptom control clinical trials are being conducted to determine the effectiveness of promising agents. In this article, the authors provide an update of clinical trial outcomes regarding 13 symptom and symptom complexes related to cancer and/or cancer therapy, emphasizing that publication of both positive and negative study results is important to separate what works from what does not.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anemia / etiology
  • Anemia / prevention & control
  • Anorexia / etiology
  • Anorexia / prevention & control
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Cachexia / etiology
  • Cachexia / prevention & control
  • Clinical Trials as Topic*
  • Fatigue / etiology
  • Fatigue / prevention & control
  • Hot Flashes / etiology
  • Hot Flashes / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Lymphedema / etiology
  • Lymphedema / prevention & control
  • Mucositis / etiology
  • Mucositis / prevention & control
  • Neoplasms / complications
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Nervous System Diseases / etiology
  • Nervous System Diseases / prevention & control
  • Osteoporosis / etiology
  • Osteoporosis / prevention & control
  • Pain / etiology
  • Pain / prevention & control
  • Radiotherapy / adverse effects
  • Skin Diseases / etiology
  • Skin Diseases / prevention & control
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / etiology
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / prevention & control

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents