Cancer (Adjunctive Support)

Combined Aerobic and Resistance Training Improves Body Composition, Alters Cardiometabolic Risk, and Ameliorates Cancer-Related Indicators in Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors with Overweight/Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Al-Mhanna SB, Batrakoulis A, Norhayati MN, Mohamed M, Drenowatz C, Irekeola AA · Journal of sports science & medicine · 2024

Breast cancer survivors with obesity are at a high risk of cancer recurrence, comorbidity, and mortality. This review aims to systematically evaluate the effects of combined aerobic and resistance training (CART) on body composition, lipid homeostasis, inflammation, adipokines, cancer-related fatigue, sleep, and quality of life in breast cancer patients and survivors with overweight/obesity. An electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases from inception up to January 8, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) meeting the inclusion criteria were selected for the analysis. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess eligible studies, and the GRADE method to evaluate the quality of evidence. A random-effects model was used, and data were analyzed using mean (MD) and standardized mean differences (SMD) for continuous variables with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We assessed the data for risk of bias, heter

Microbiome-Modifiers for Cancer-Related Fatigue Management: A Systematic Review.

Belloni S, Caruso R, Giacon C, Baroni I, Conte G, Magon A · Seminars in oncology nursing · 2024 · n=284

This study systematically investigates the evidence regarding the use of probiotics in managing cancer-related fatigue (CRF). We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. The systematic search encompassed six databases: PubMed, CINHAL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE, covering the period from inception to December 2023. The assessment of risk of bias employed the Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB 2). A narrative synthesis and an exploratory meta-analysis were conducted to summarize the evidence. Among 460 records, three studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. These studies involved a total of 284 participants with colorectal and breast cancer. One study demonstrated a marginal improvement in CRF postchemotherapy in colorectal cancer patients using probiotics. Another study, also using probiotics, reported a significant reduction in CRF among colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Topical Traditional Chinese Medicines for Cancer Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Liu Y, May BH, Hyde AJ, He Y, Guo X, Zhang AL · Integrative cancer therapies · 2023 · n=1636

Safe and effective management of cancer-related pain is a worldwide challenge. In the search for treatment options, natural products used in Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have received attention in clinical studies for their effects on cancer-related pain. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the clinical evidence for topically applied CHMs as adjunctive treatments for cancer pain management. Nine biomedical databases and 4 clinical trial registries were searched for randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) that reported measures of pain and/or quality of life. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. Meta-analysis employed mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (random effects). Twenty (20) RCTs (1636 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses were grouped based on the comparisons and outcome measures. For pain intensity, there was a greater reduction in the topical CHM group versus placebo (MD -0.72 [-1.04, -0.40]), no difference wh

Updated trends in the global prevalence and burden of mental disorders, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.

GBD 2023 Mental Disorder Collaborators · Lancet (London, England) · 2026

The 2023 iteration of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) estimated prevalence, incidence, and health burden for 375 diseases and injuries, including 12 mental disorders. We assess past, current, and emerging trends in the prevalence and burden of mental disorders across sexes and age groups, for 21 regions, 204 countries and territories, and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile, from 1990 to 2023. Mental disorders included in GBD 2023 were anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, conduct disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, idiopathic developmental intellectual disability, and a residual category of other mental disorders. A literature review identified epidemiological data for each disorder. These were analysed via a Bayesian meta-regression to estimate prevalence by disorder, sex, age, location, and year. Disorder-speci

Disease burden attributable to intimate partner violence against females and sexual violence against children in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.

GBD 2023 Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence against Children Collaborators · Lancet (London, England) · 2026

Violence against women and against children are human rights violations with lasting harms to survivors and societies at large. Intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence against children (SVAC) are two major forms of such abuse. Despite their wide-reaching effects on individual and community health, these risk factors have not been adequately prioritised as key drivers of global health burden. Comprehensive x§and reliable estimates of the comparative health burden of IPV and SVAC are urgently needed to inform investments in prevention and support for survivors at both national and global levels. We estimated the prevalence and attributable burden of IPV among females and SVAC among males and females for 204 countries and territories, by age and sex, from 1990 to 2023, as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2023. We searched several global databases for data on self-reported exposure to IPV and SVAC and undertook a systematic review to

Acupoint massage: a comprehensive descriptive review of its forms, applications, and underlying mechanisms.

Yao C, Zeng X, Zhang S, Xiao B, Sun P, Kong L · Chinese medicine · 2025

Acupoint massage is a non-invasive traditional therapy that has demonstrated reliable clinical outcomes in pain management, mental health relief, sleep disorder regulation, gastrointestinal treatment, and as an adjunct therapy for cancer. Its convenience and cost-effectiveness further enhance its appeal. However, the existing English literature lacks a systematic review that encompasses the various forms of acupoint massage. The acupoint massage forms adaptability is particularly notable when considering the diverse conditions, it addresses, as well as its applicability across different age groups and gender differences. Providing a comprehensive understanding, it is crucial to outline common practices and explore specific applications in key areas. The comprehensive understanding can create opportunities for effective collaboration between preclinical and clinical studies. Defining and categorizing different forms of acupoint massage is essential, alongside investigating the neural ci

Suspected cancer: recognition and referral

NICE

This guideline covers recognising and referring adults, children and young people with symptoms that could be caused by cancer. It aims to help people get diagnosed more quickly.

Semaglutide for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in major depressive disorder: A randomized clinical trial.

Badulescu S, Gill H, Shah H, Brudner R, Phan L, Di Vincenzo JD · Med (New York, N.Y.) · 2026 · n=35

Evidence suggests that glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) might have pro-cognitive effects. No prior study has evaluated the efficacy and safety of a GLP-1RA for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) in a randomized clinical trial. This was a 16-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial (NCT04466345). Eligible adults met DSM-5-defined criteria for MDD, exhibited pre-treatment evidence of cognitive impairment, and were overweight/obese. Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive an adjunctive placebo or 14 mg oral semaglutide. The primary outcome was an executive function composite score comprising the digit symbol substitution test, the Stroop test, and the n-back test. Secondary outcomes included a global cognition composite score, measures of functioning, depressive symptom severity, suicidality, and body weight. 72 participants were randomized to oral semaglutide (n = 35) or placebo (n

Single-Cell RNA Transcriptomics and Multi-omics Analyses Reveal the Clinical Effects of Acupuncture on Methadone Reduction.

Chen Y, Fan B, Zeng J, Zou Y, Tao C, Chen C · Research (Washington, D.C.) · 2025 · n=25

Opioid use disorders (OUDs) pose a substantial global health burden, with methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) widely adopted as an intervention; however, MMT is associated with immunosuppression, metabolic disturbances, and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Despite the potential of acupuncture in reducing methadone dosages and opioid addiction, the underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to integrate clinical trial data with multi-omics analysis, including single-cell sequencing, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and metagenomics, to evaluate the effects of acupuncture in patients undergoing MMT. We collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells, plasma, and fecal samples from 48 MMT participants in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Participants were divided into acupuncture (n = 25) and sham-acupuncture (n = 23) groups. After 8 weeks of intervention, 84% of patients in the acupuncture group achieved ≥20% reduction in methadone dosage, compared to

Effect of a ChatGPT-based digital counseling intervention on anxiety and depression in patients with cancer: A prospective, randomized trial.

Akdogan O, Uyar GC, Yesilbas E, Baskurt K, Malkoc NA, Ozdemir N · European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990) · 2025 · n=150

Psychological distress is prevalent among newly diagnosed cancer patients, often exacerbating treatment-related anxiety and depression. Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven interventions, such as large language models (LLMs), offer scalable solutions for patient education. However, their effectiveness in mitigating psychological distress in oncology remains unverified. We conducted a prospective, two-center, randomized controlled trial between July and October 2024 to evaluate the effect of a ChatGPT-based digital counseling intervention on anxiety and depression in chemotherapy-naïve cancer patients. Participants were randomized 1:1 to either a ChatGPT-assisted counseling group or a standard clinician-led education group. The primary outcome was the change in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores before the second chemotherapy cycle. Secondary outcomes included patient engagement behavior and the accuracy of AI-generated responses. Multivariable logistic regression

Obesity pharmacotherapy in older adults: a narrative review of evidence.

Henney AE, Wilding JPH, Alam U, Cuthbertson DJ · International journal of obesity (2005) · 2025

The prevalence of obesity in older adults (people aged >60 years) is increasing in line with the demographic shift in global populations. Despite knowledge of obesity-related complications in younger adults (increased risk of type 2 diabetes, liver and cardiovascular disease and malignancy), these considerations may be outweighed, in older adults, by concerns regarding weight-loss induced reduction in skeletal muscle and bone mass, and the awareness of the 'obesity paradox'. Obesity in the elderly contributes to various obesity-related complications from cardiometabolic disease and cancer, to functional decline, worsening cognition, and quality of life, that will have already suffered an age-related decline. Lifestyle interventions remain the cornerstone of obesity management in older adults, with emphasis on resistance training for muscle strength and bone mineral density preservation. However, in older adults with obesity refractory to lifestyle strategies, pharmacotherapy, using

Global burden of 292 causes of death in 204 countries and territories and 660 subnational locations, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.

GBD 2023 Causes of Death Collaborators · Lancet (London, England) · 2025

Timely and comprehensive analyses of causes of death stratified by age, sex, and location are essential for shaping effective health policies aimed at reducing global mortality. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023 provides cause-specific mortality estimates measured in counts, rates, and years of life lost (YLLs). GBD 2023 aimed to enhance our understanding of the relationship between age and cause of death by quantifying the probability of dying before age 70 years (70q0) and the mean age at death by cause and sex. This study enables comparisons of the impact of causes of death over time, offering a deeper understanding of how these causes affect global populations. GBD 2023 produced estimates for 292 causes of death disaggregated by age-sex-location-year in 204 countries and territories and 660 subnational locations for each year from 1990 until 2023. We used a modelling tool developed for GBD, the Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODEm), to esti

Isoflavones: Promising Natural Agent for Cancer Prevention and Treatment.

Ul Hassan MH, Shahbaz M, Imran M, Momal U, Naeem H, Mujtaba A · Food science & nutrition · 2025

Isoflavones are currently being investigated by researchers in order to demonstrate their ability to prevent the proliferation of cancer cells. The current review aimed to demonstrate the potential of isoflavones to eliminate cancerous cells in the stomach, liver, lung, breast, and prostate, as their anticancer properties are due to the ability to block the signaling pathways of the extracellular signal-controlled kinase (MAPK/ERK) and proteasome (PI3K/AKT/mTOR). Isoflavones can inhibit the cell division of various cancer cells. Isoflavones can block the androgen receptor (AR), a protein that is required for the growth and dissemination of prostate cancer. It initiates the caspase cascade and obstructs the production of new proteins to eliminate lung cancer cells. These inhibit colon cancer cells by entering their G2/M cell cycle phase and inducing apoptosis. These are also known to inhibit the production of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and cyclin B1, two proteins that are related to an e

Cancer A to Z

NHS

The NHS offers extensive information on various cancers, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options, as well as advice on living with cancer. It serves as a reliable source for public health information and support.

About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products: Cancer

Memorial Sloan Kettering About Herbs

Memorial Sloan Kettering provides evidence-based information on herbs, botanicals, and other complementary products, including their potential interactions and efficacy for cancer patients.

Cochrane Library: Cancer

Cochrane

The Cochrane Library provides high-quality, independent evidence to inform healthcare decision-making, including systematic reviews on various aspects of cancer care. It offers summaries of research evidence on effectiveness of interventions.

TRIP Database: Cancer Support

TRIP Database

TRIP Database is a clinical search engine designed to allow users to quickly and easily find high-quality research evidence to support their practice. Searching 'cancer support' yields a wide range of evidence, including guidelines, systematic reviews, and primary research.

Trip Database: Cancer

TRIP Database

TRIP is a clinical search engine designed to allow users to quickly and easily find high-quality research evidence to support their practice. It aggregates evidence across various cancer-related topics.