[Spain] Mapping palliative care for people living with advanced cancer in phase 1 clinical trials: A scoping review

[Spain] Mapping palliative care for people living with advanced cancer in phase 1 clinical trials: A scoping review
Palliative Medicine; by Diego Candelmi, Alazne Belar, Carla Zapata Del Mar, Ana Landa-Magdalena, Anna Vilalta-Lacarra, Mariano Ponz-Sarvisé, Carlos Centeno; 9/25
This review highlights the unique needs of patients and caregivers in Phase 1 Cancer Clinical Trials and the complexities of integrating palliative care. Key results revealed patients' limited life expectancy, high symptom burden, distress and unmet spiritual needs [and]... patients were reluctant to seek prognostic information or engage in end-of-life discussions, complicating advance care planning. End-of-life care involved frequent unscheduled hospital admissions, hospital deaths and late hospice-care referrals. Caregivers experienced significant distress, while healthcare professionals faced barriers to
integrating palliative care. Palliative care interventions varied widely in approaches, settings and outcomes.
Assistant Editor's note: This article discusses how palliative care could benefit patients that are enrolled in phase 1 clinical trials for cancer. Traditionally, in the USA, it has not been common practice for palliative care programs to serve these kinds of patients and their loved ones. This represents an opportunity for the expansion of much needed palliative care services.