News

The statistics are shocking: 138,000 registered nurses (RNs) have left the workforce since 2022 and at least 40% plan to retire or leave the profession in the next 5 years — and new updates from the Department of Education could make the national nursing crisis even worse.

The reason? Nursing is no longer considered a professional degree.

A recent Department of Education rulemaking session omitted advanced nursing programs (as well as physician assistance programs, physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, social work, and public health programs) from the definition of professional degrees and limited the amount of student loan funding available to pursue advanced practice degrees like Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice.

“We have a primary care crisis in this country,” said Deborah Trautman PhD, RN, president and chief executive officer of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). “The omission is not only harmful for nursing; the omission is not good for anyone who needs healthcare.”
 

Limiting Loan Access

The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act eliminated the Grad PLUS student loan program and amended the list of professional degrees to exclude advanced practice nursing. Although the change doesn’t affect the licensure or legal standing of nurses, it alters access to financial aid and limits advanced education opportunities.

Starting on July 1, 2026, graduate students will be limited to a total of $100,000 in federal student loans, a decrease from the previous cap of $138,500 but loan caps for graduate students in professional degree programs will increase to $200,000. The changes led the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators to declare, “Many will be shut out of graduate education.”

“It would force people who need loan support and don’t have a sufficient amount through a federal loan to seek [private loans], but federal loans have better interest rates and/or other conditions, and some students may not qualify for the private loans,” Trautman said. “The risk then is that students may not pursue these advanced nursing degrees because of the financial barriers that they will face.”

The Department of Education disagrees. In a statement, the federal department said, “Placing a cap on loans will push the remaining graduate nursing programs to reduce their program costs, ensuring that nurses will not be saddled with unmanageable student loan debt.” So far, Trautman has seen “no evidence” that limiting access to advanced nursing programs would reduce tuition costs.
 

Industry-Wide Impacts

Trautman worries that omitting nursing from the list of professional degrees will reduce access to care.

Nurse practitioners are providing primary care in rural and underserved areas; certified registered nurse anesthetists make up more than 50% of anesthesia providers in the US (a number that jumps to 80% in rural areas); and the percentage of births attended by certified nurse midwives is growing fast.

“These are nurses…who are working to achieve better patient outcomes and to make the health system work better for all of us,” Trautman said. “And we would be compromising this workforce that is so critical to our nation.”

Limiting the federal student loan borrowing cap for advanced nursing degrees could also exacerbate the nursing faculty shortage. In 2023, more than 65,000 qualified applicants were denied admission to baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs; insufficient number of faculty was the top reason.

Colleges depend on nurses with advanced degrees to fill faculty vacancies. In fact, more than 80% of open positions required or preferred a doctoral degree, according to AACN. Removing nursing from the list of professional degree programs and limiting access to student loans will make it even harder to fill vacancies, limiting the number of new nurses entering the profession.

“We’re finalizing the results of [a new national survey] that showed overwhelming feedback from our member deans and students who believe enrollment in advanced nursing programs is going be impacted,” said Trautman. “We’re going to see the faculty shortage worsen; we’re going see increased financial burdens to our students, and we believe it’s going to undermine the stability of the healthcare workforce.”

Industry associations, including the American Nurses Association, American Academy of Nursing, and American Organization for Nursing Leadership have released statements opposing the change and advocating for graduate nursing degrees to be added to the list of professional programs. Trautman hopes that public pressure and cross-sector support will lead the Department of Education to reverse its current position.

“It’s the wrong decision,” she said. “There is an opportunity to make this right, and that is to include nursing on that professional list.”

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The statistics are shocking: 138,000 registered nurses (RNs) have left the workforce since 2022 and at least 40% plan to retire or leave the profession in the next 5 years — and new updates from the Department of Education could make the national nursing crisis even worse.

The reason? Nursing is no longer considered a professional degree.

A recent Department of Education rulemaking session omitted advanced nursing programs (as well as physician assistance programs, physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, social work, and public health programs) from the definition of professional degrees and limited the amount of student loan funding available to pursue advanced practice degrees like Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice.

“We have a primary care crisis in this country,” said Deborah Trautman PhD, RN, president and chief executive officer of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). “The omission is not only harmful for nursing; the omission is not good for anyone who needs healthcare.”
 

Limiting Loan Access

The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act eliminated the Grad PLUS student loan program and amended the list of professional degrees to exclude advanced practice nursing. Although the change doesn’t affect the licensure or legal standing of nurses, it alters access to financial aid and limits advanced education opportunities.

Starting on July 1, 2026, graduate students will be limited to a total of $100,000 in federal student loans, a decrease from the previous cap of $138,500 but loan caps for graduate students in professional degree programs will increase to $200,000. The changes led the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators to declare, “Many will be shut out of graduate education.”

“It would force people who need loan support and don’t have a sufficient amount through a federal loan to seek [private loans], but federal loans have better interest rates and/or other conditions, and some students may not qualify for the private loans,” Trautman said. “The risk then is that students may not pursue these advanced nursing degrees because of the financial barriers that they will face.”

The Department of Education disagrees. In a statement, the federal department said, “Placing a cap on loans will push the remaining graduate nursing programs to reduce their program costs, ensuring that nurses will not be saddled with unmanageable student loan debt.” So far, Trautman has seen “no evidence” that limiting access to advanced nursing programs would reduce tuition costs.
 

Industry-Wide Impacts

Trautman worries that omitting nursing from the list of professional degrees will reduce access to care.

Nurse practitioners are providing primary care in rural and underserved areas; certified registered nurse anesthetists make up more than 50% of anesthesia providers in the US (a number that jumps to 80% in rural areas); and the percentage of births attended by certified nurse midwives is growing fast.

“These are nurses…who are working to achieve better patient outcomes and to make the health system work better for all of us,” Trautman said. “And we would be compromising this workforce that is so critical to our nation.”

Limiting the federal student loan borrowing cap for advanced nursing degrees could also exacerbate the nursing faculty shortage. In 2023, more than 65,000 qualified applicants were denied admission to baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs; insufficient number of faculty was the top reason.

Colleges depend on nurses with advanced degrees to fill faculty vacancies. In fact, more than 80% of open positions required or preferred a doctoral degree, according to AACN. Removing nursing from the list of professional degree programs and limiting access to student loans will make it even harder to fill vacancies, limiting the number of new nurses entering the profession.

“We’re finalizing the results of [a new national survey] that showed overwhelming feedback from our member deans and students who believe enrollment in advanced nursing programs is going be impacted,” said Trautman. “We’re going to see the faculty shortage worsen; we’re going see increased financial burdens to our students, and we believe it’s going to undermine the stability of the healthcare workforce.”

Industry associations, including the American Nurses Association, American Academy of Nursing, and American Organization for Nursing Leadership have released statements opposing the change and advocating for graduate nursing degrees to be added to the list of professional programs. Trautman hopes that public pressure and cross-sector support will lead the Department of Education to reverse its current position.

“It’s the wrong decision,” she said. “There is an opportunity to make this right, and that is to include nursing on that professional list.”

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The statistics are shocking: 138,000 registered nurses (RNs) have left the workforce since 2022 and at least 40% plan to retire or leave the profession in the next 5 years — and new updates from the Department of Education could make the national nursing crisis even worse.

The reason? Nursing is no longer considered a professional degree.

A recent Department of Education rulemaking session omitted advanced nursing programs (as well as physician assistance programs, physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, social work, and public health programs) from the definition of professional degrees and limited the amount of student loan funding available to pursue advanced practice degrees like Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice.

“We have a primary care crisis in this country,” said Deborah Trautman PhD, RN, president and chief executive officer of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). “The omission is not only harmful for nursing; the omission is not good for anyone who needs healthcare.”
 

Limiting Loan Access

The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act eliminated the Grad PLUS student loan program and amended the list of professional degrees to exclude advanced practice nursing. Although the change doesn’t affect the licensure or legal standing of nurses, it alters access to financial aid and limits advanced education opportunities.

Starting on July 1, 2026, graduate students will be limited to a total of $100,000 in federal student loans, a decrease from the previous cap of $138,500 but loan caps for graduate students in professional degree programs will increase to $200,000. The changes led the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators to declare, “Many will be shut out of graduate education.”

“It would force people who need loan support and don’t have a sufficient amount through a federal loan to seek [private loans], but federal loans have better interest rates and/or other conditions, and some students may not qualify for the private loans,” Trautman said. “The risk then is that students may not pursue these advanced nursing degrees because of the financial barriers that they will face.”

The Department of Education disagrees. In a statement, the federal department said, “Placing a cap on loans will push the remaining graduate nursing programs to reduce their program costs, ensuring that nurses will not be saddled with unmanageable student loan debt.” So far, Trautman has seen “no evidence” that limiting access to advanced nursing programs would reduce tuition costs.
 

Industry-Wide Impacts

Trautman worries that omitting nursing from the list of professional degrees will reduce access to care.

Nurse practitioners are providing primary care in rural and underserved areas; certified registered nurse anesthetists make up more than 50% of anesthesia providers in the US (a number that jumps to 80% in rural areas); and the percentage of births attended by certified nurse midwives is growing fast.

“These are nurses…who are working to achieve better patient outcomes and to make the health system work better for all of us,” Trautman said. “And we would be compromising this workforce that is so critical to our nation.”

Limiting the federal student loan borrowing cap for advanced nursing degrees could also exacerbate the nursing faculty shortage. In 2023, more than 65,000 qualified applicants were denied admission to baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs; insufficient number of faculty was the top reason.

Colleges depend on nurses with advanced degrees to fill faculty vacancies. In fact, more than 80% of open positions required or preferred a doctoral degree, according to AACN. Removing nursing from the list of professional degree programs and limiting access to student loans will make it even harder to fill vacancies, limiting the number of new nurses entering the profession.

“We’re finalizing the results of [a new national survey] that showed overwhelming feedback from our member deans and students who believe enrollment in advanced nursing programs is going be impacted,” said Trautman. “We’re going to see the faculty shortage worsen; we’re going see increased financial burdens to our students, and we believe it’s going to undermine the stability of the healthcare workforce.”

Industry associations, including the American Nurses Association, American Academy of Nursing, and American Organization for Nursing Leadership have released statements opposing the change and advocating for graduate nursing degrees to be added to the list of professional programs. Trautman hopes that public pressure and cross-sector support will lead the Department of Education to reverse its current position.

“It’s the wrong decision,” she said. “There is an opportunity to make this right, and that is to include nursing on that professional list.”

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Neuropathic pain in individuals with cancer remains a challenging clinical problem that requires advanced pharmacologic skills and a clear understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive it.

At the 32nd Annual Congress of the Italian Society of Palliative Care, 3 experts outlined an updated framework that begins with basic biology and leads to the most appropriate therapeutic choice.
 

Fibre Reprogramming

Diego Maria Michele Fornasari, professor of pharmacology and director of the Postgraduate School of Specialization in Pharmacology and Clinical Toxicology at the University of Milan, Milan, Italy, outlined how a healthy nerve fibre becomes chronically hyperexcitable.

“The pathogenic mechanisms of pain, even though we experience hundreds of different pains, can be counted on the fingers of one hand,” he said.

In oncology, nerve injury caused by tumour compression, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy initiates a molecular cascade that reshapes the nerve fibre.

“The injured area is reprogrammed because the neuron attempts to regenerate, and to regenerate it must express proteins seen during embryonic life,” Fornasari said.

This process leads to the appearance of embryonic sodium channels (particularly Nav1.3), which impart abnormally high electrical activity to neurones.

The second mechanism involves the loss of a protective physiologic feature, namely, intermittent failure of signal conduction. Under normal conditions, occasional conduction failures reduce pain intensity. In neuropathic pain, overexpression of hyperpolarisation–activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, the same channels that govern sinoatrial node automaticity, makes the neuron hyperexcitable and unable to modulate transmission. The result is that “all stimuli reach the spinal cord and the central nervous system.”

Fornasari illustrated the concerns regarding pain in bone metastases. “The tumour cell is an intelligent cell, capable of producing substances that can interfere with nociceptive mechanisms,” he said.

He also highlighted the mechanisms of pain in patients with bone metastases. Prostate cancer cells that metastasised to the bone that produce tumour cells produce large amounts of nerve growth factor, which does not promote growth in adult neurones but causes hypertrophy and sprouting of nerve fibres. “Each of these ‘spikes’ is actually a neuropathic lesion of the fibre,” Fornasari explained, clarifying how this mechanism contributes to the often-devastating intensity of pain from bone metastases.
 

Diagnostic Precision

Francesca Dina Ricchini, oncologist and palliative care specialist working in the Palliative Care Unit at the National Cancer Institute in Milan, Italy, addressed the translation of molecular knowledge into clinical diagnosis. “It is very important to be able to translate these concepts into diagnostic tools,” she said.

Neuropathic involvement affects approximately 40% of individuals with cancer, with 20% presenting with pure neuropathic pain and another 20% with mixed pain.

Approximately 75% of cases are related to the disease itself, and the remainder are related to oncologic treatments. Despite its prevalence, neuropathic pain remains underdiagnosed, contributing to suboptimal analgesia and an impaired quality of life.

Screening tools such as PainDETECT, DN4, and the LANSS scale can support assessment, but Ricchini cautioned that “they are tools that can be used as aids but do not make a diagnosis on their own and have not been validated in oncology patients.”

She noted that quantitative sensory testing (QST) complements clinical judgement by quantifying sensory thresholds for thermal, mechanical, and pain stimuli, aiding in the identification of neuropathic pain mechanisms, particularly in oncology settings. QST can complement clinical judgement and diagnostic algorithms developed by the International Association for the Study of Pain to help clinicians systematically identify neuropathic components.

“The key is to start from symptoms, what the patient tells us,” Ricchini added.

However, bedside assessments remain essential. Simple tool needles, cotton, and the clinician’s thumb allow the evaluation of hyperalgesia, allodynia, and other neuropathic features of the affected area. With careful history taking and physical examination, clinicians can often reach an accurate diagnosis without complex testing.
 

Opioid Use

Sebastiano Mercadante, director of the Anesthesia & Intensive Care and Pain Relief and Supportive Care Unit in La Maddalena Cancer Center Palermo at the University of Palermo in Palermo, Italy, discussed opioid therapy in neuropathic pain. “Responsiveness to opioid drugs varies from patient to patient,” he said.

Opioids develop tolerance and have a ceiling effect that is driven by adverse events. Mercadante emphasised the need to “optimise their use” by staying within the therapeutic window where the benefits outweigh the harm.

Responsiveness depends on genetic polymorphisms affecting receptors and metabolism, pain patterns, age, sex, and psychological distress. “Those with the worst response are patients with significant psychological distress,” he noted.

The opioid escalation index helps to stratify patients. Slow escalation predicts a better prognosis, whereas rapid escalation should prompt specialist involvement and evaluation of factors such as delirium, anxiety, and depression in patients.
 

Drug Strategies

Switching opioids can be helpful when they become less effective. Mercadante explained that switching opioids “can facilitate receptor internalisation, excluding from continuous stimulation,” allowing “receptor refreshing” and allowing an overstimulated system to be cleared and restoring analgesia. Switching to methadone, when conducted by experienced clinicians, often yields substantial benefits for patients.

Fornasari clarified the mechanisms of action of gabapentinoids, which act on the alpha-2-delta subunit of calcium channels by restoring normal channel numbers rather than by closing them. This distinction is important because it is a slow mechanism that requires approximately 2 weeks for full effect, which is crucial information for clinicians who often discontinue treatment prematurely after a few days of treatment.

Antidepressants, including amitriptyline and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as duloxetine, strengthen descending inhibitory pathways by increasing serotonin and noradrenaline levels.

Fornasari also mentioned desvenlafaxine, the active metabolite of venlafaxine, which “has greater activity on descending noradrenergic pathways” and could be particularly useful when the predominant component is noradrenergic.
 

Topical Options

Capsaicin is an option for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, the expert explained, is related to the overexpression of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1, also known as the capsaicin receptor. Topical capsaicin abnormally stimulates these receptors, causing a massive influx of calcium that “defunctionalises the fibre” for periods ranging from a week to 2 months.
 

Clinical Takeaways

Therefore, neuropathic pain, particularly in patients with cancer, requires a multimodal approach that begins with an understanding of the molecular mechanisms to develop personalised treatment options. As Fornasari concluded, “Often, a lack of knowledge of a drug’s mechanism of action leads to its inappropriate, and ultimately ineffective, use.” The challenge for clinicians is to translate this knowledge into tangible improvements for patients, remembering that each patient is unique and requires personalised care that goes beyond standardised protocols.

Clinicians aim to translate these insights into meaningful relief, recognising that each patient requires tailored care.
 

Practical Guidance

• Accurate diagnosis: Screening tools should only be used as support, and decisions should be on the basis of a detailed history and physical examination. In individuals with cancer, the interview always began with the patient’s account.
• Recognising negative prognostic factors: Neuropathic pain, incident pain, psychological distress, delirium, and unrealistic expectations indicate a more difficult course and require a more intensive approach.
• Opioids should be used wisely: Dose escalation should be monitored, rotation should be considered when needed, and psychological factors should be assessed throughout care. As experts have noted, clinicians should try at least 2 or 3 opioids and at least 2 routes of administration before considering invasive procedures.
• Integrating adjuvant medicines early: Gabapentin and other antidepressants are not third-line treatments for individuals with cancer. Adequately dosed for at least 2 weeks to allow therapeutic benefit.
• Consider topical options: In localised peripheral neuropathies, capsaicin can be a valid addition to treatment.
• Use of non-opioid medicines: Some individuals respond exceptionally well to anti-inflammatory agents, with effects that can match those of high morphine doses.

This story was translated from Univadis Italy, part of the this news organization Professional Network.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

Neuropathic pain in individuals with cancer remains a challenging clinical problem that requires advanced pharmacologic skills and a clear understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive it.

At the 32nd Annual Congress of the Italian Society of Palliative Care, 3 experts outlined an updated framework that begins with basic biology and leads to the most appropriate therapeutic choice.
 

Fibre Reprogramming

Diego Maria Michele Fornasari, professor of pharmacology and director of the Postgraduate School of Specialization in Pharmacology and Clinical Toxicology at the University of Milan, Milan, Italy, outlined how a healthy nerve fibre becomes chronically hyperexcitable.

“The pathogenic mechanisms of pain, even though we experience hundreds of different pains, can be counted on the fingers of one hand,” he said.

In oncology, nerve injury caused by tumour compression, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy initiates a molecular cascade that reshapes the nerve fibre.

“The injured area is reprogrammed because the neuron attempts to regenerate, and to regenerate it must express proteins seen during embryonic life,” Fornasari said.

This process leads to the appearance of embryonic sodium channels (particularly Nav1.3), which impart abnormally high electrical activity to neurones.

The second mechanism involves the loss of a protective physiologic feature, namely, intermittent failure of signal conduction. Under normal conditions, occasional conduction failures reduce pain intensity. In neuropathic pain, overexpression of hyperpolarisation–activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, the same channels that govern sinoatrial node automaticity, makes the neuron hyperexcitable and unable to modulate transmission. The result is that “all stimuli reach the spinal cord and the central nervous system.”

Fornasari illustrated the concerns regarding pain in bone metastases. “The tumour cell is an intelligent cell, capable of producing substances that can interfere with nociceptive mechanisms,” he said.

He also highlighted the mechanisms of pain in patients with bone metastases. Prostate cancer cells that metastasised to the bone that produce tumour cells produce large amounts of nerve growth factor, which does not promote growth in adult neurones but causes hypertrophy and sprouting of nerve fibres. “Each of these ‘spikes’ is actually a neuropathic lesion of the fibre,” Fornasari explained, clarifying how this mechanism contributes to the often-devastating intensity of pain from bone metastases.
 

Diagnostic Precision

Francesca Dina Ricchini, oncologist and palliative care specialist working in the Palliative Care Unit at the National Cancer Institute in Milan, Italy, addressed the translation of molecular knowledge into clinical diagnosis. “It is very important to be able to translate these concepts into diagnostic tools,” she said.

Neuropathic involvement affects approximately 40% of individuals with cancer, with 20% presenting with pure neuropathic pain and another 20% with mixed pain.

Approximately 75% of cases are related to the disease itself, and the remainder are related to oncologic treatments. Despite its prevalence, neuropathic pain remains underdiagnosed, contributing to suboptimal analgesia and an impaired quality of life.

Screening tools such as PainDETECT, DN4, and the LANSS scale can support assessment, but Ricchini cautioned that “they are tools that can be used as aids but do not make a diagnosis on their own and have not been validated in oncology patients.”

She noted that quantitative sensory testing (QST) complements clinical judgement by quantifying sensory thresholds for thermal, mechanical, and pain stimuli, aiding in the identification of neuropathic pain mechanisms, particularly in oncology settings. QST can complement clinical judgement and diagnostic algorithms developed by the International Association for the Study of Pain to help clinicians systematically identify neuropathic components.

“The key is to start from symptoms, what the patient tells us,” Ricchini added.

However, bedside assessments remain essential. Simple tool needles, cotton, and the clinician’s thumb allow the evaluation of hyperalgesia, allodynia, and other neuropathic features of the affected area. With careful history taking and physical examination, clinicians can often reach an accurate diagnosis without complex testing.
 

Opioid Use

Sebastiano Mercadante, director of the Anesthesia & Intensive Care and Pain Relief and Supportive Care Unit in La Maddalena Cancer Center Palermo at the University of Palermo in Palermo, Italy, discussed opioid therapy in neuropathic pain. “Responsiveness to opioid drugs varies from patient to patient,” he said.

Opioids develop tolerance and have a ceiling effect that is driven by adverse events. Mercadante emphasised the need to “optimise their use” by staying within the therapeutic window where the benefits outweigh the harm.

Responsiveness depends on genetic polymorphisms affecting receptors and metabolism, pain patterns, age, sex, and psychological distress. “Those with the worst response are patients with significant psychological distress,” he noted.

The opioid escalation index helps to stratify patients. Slow escalation predicts a better prognosis, whereas rapid escalation should prompt specialist involvement and evaluation of factors such as delirium, anxiety, and depression in patients.
 

Drug Strategies

Switching opioids can be helpful when they become less effective. Mercadante explained that switching opioids “can facilitate receptor internalisation, excluding from continuous stimulation,” allowing “receptor refreshing” and allowing an overstimulated system to be cleared and restoring analgesia. Switching to methadone, when conducted by experienced clinicians, often yields substantial benefits for patients.

Fornasari clarified the mechanisms of action of gabapentinoids, which act on the alpha-2-delta subunit of calcium channels by restoring normal channel numbers rather than by closing them. This distinction is important because it is a slow mechanism that requires approximately 2 weeks for full effect, which is crucial information for clinicians who often discontinue treatment prematurely after a few days of treatment.

Antidepressants, including amitriptyline and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as duloxetine, strengthen descending inhibitory pathways by increasing serotonin and noradrenaline levels.

Fornasari also mentioned desvenlafaxine, the active metabolite of venlafaxine, which “has greater activity on descending noradrenergic pathways” and could be particularly useful when the predominant component is noradrenergic.
 

Topical Options

Capsaicin is an option for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, the expert explained, is related to the overexpression of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1, also known as the capsaicin receptor. Topical capsaicin abnormally stimulates these receptors, causing a massive influx of calcium that “defunctionalises the fibre” for periods ranging from a week to 2 months.
 

Clinical Takeaways

Therefore, neuropathic pain, particularly in patients with cancer, requires a multimodal approach that begins with an understanding of the molecular mechanisms to develop personalised treatment options. As Fornasari concluded, “Often, a lack of knowledge of a drug’s mechanism of action leads to its inappropriate, and ultimately ineffective, use.” The challenge for clinicians is to translate this knowledge into tangible improvements for patients, remembering that each patient is unique and requires personalised care that goes beyond standardised protocols.

Clinicians aim to translate these insights into meaningful relief, recognising that each patient requires tailored care.
 

Practical Guidance

• Accurate diagnosis: Screening tools should only be used as support, and decisions should be on the basis of a detailed history and physical examination. In individuals with cancer, the interview always began with the patient’s account.
• Recognising negative prognostic factors: Neuropathic pain, incident pain, psychological distress, delirium, and unrealistic expectations indicate a more difficult course and require a more intensive approach.
• Opioids should be used wisely: Dose escalation should be monitored, rotation should be considered when needed, and psychological factors should be assessed throughout care. As experts have noted, clinicians should try at least 2 or 3 opioids and at least 2 routes of administration before considering invasive procedures.
• Integrating adjuvant medicines early: Gabapentin and other antidepressants are not third-line treatments for individuals with cancer. Adequately dosed for at least 2 weeks to allow therapeutic benefit.
• Consider topical options: In localised peripheral neuropathies, capsaicin can be a valid addition to treatment.
• Use of non-opioid medicines: Some individuals respond exceptionally well to anti-inflammatory agents, with effects that can match those of high morphine doses.

This story was translated from Univadis Italy, part of the this news organization Professional Network.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

Neuropathic pain in individuals with cancer remains a challenging clinical problem that requires advanced pharmacologic skills and a clear understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive it.

At the 32nd Annual Congress of the Italian Society of Palliative Care, 3 experts outlined an updated framework that begins with basic biology and leads to the most appropriate therapeutic choice.
 

Fibre Reprogramming

Diego Maria Michele Fornasari, professor of pharmacology and director of the Postgraduate School of Specialization in Pharmacology and Clinical Toxicology at the University of Milan, Milan, Italy, outlined how a healthy nerve fibre becomes chronically hyperexcitable.

“The pathogenic mechanisms of pain, even though we experience hundreds of different pains, can be counted on the fingers of one hand,” he said.

In oncology, nerve injury caused by tumour compression, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy initiates a molecular cascade that reshapes the nerve fibre.

“The injured area is reprogrammed because the neuron attempts to regenerate, and to regenerate it must express proteins seen during embryonic life,” Fornasari said.

This process leads to the appearance of embryonic sodium channels (particularly Nav1.3), which impart abnormally high electrical activity to neurones.

The second mechanism involves the loss of a protective physiologic feature, namely, intermittent failure of signal conduction. Under normal conditions, occasional conduction failures reduce pain intensity. In neuropathic pain, overexpression of hyperpolarisation–activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, the same channels that govern sinoatrial node automaticity, makes the neuron hyperexcitable and unable to modulate transmission. The result is that “all stimuli reach the spinal cord and the central nervous system.”

Fornasari illustrated the concerns regarding pain in bone metastases. “The tumour cell is an intelligent cell, capable of producing substances that can interfere with nociceptive mechanisms,” he said.

He also highlighted the mechanisms of pain in patients with bone metastases. Prostate cancer cells that metastasised to the bone that produce tumour cells produce large amounts of nerve growth factor, which does not promote growth in adult neurones but causes hypertrophy and sprouting of nerve fibres. “Each of these ‘spikes’ is actually a neuropathic lesion of the fibre,” Fornasari explained, clarifying how this mechanism contributes to the often-devastating intensity of pain from bone metastases.
 

Diagnostic Precision

Francesca Dina Ricchini, oncologist and palliative care specialist working in the Palliative Care Unit at the National Cancer Institute in Milan, Italy, addressed the translation of molecular knowledge into clinical diagnosis. “It is very important to be able to translate these concepts into diagnostic tools,” she said.

Neuropathic involvement affects approximately 40% of individuals with cancer, with 20% presenting with pure neuropathic pain and another 20% with mixed pain.

Approximately 75% of cases are related to the disease itself, and the remainder are related to oncologic treatments. Despite its prevalence, neuropathic pain remains underdiagnosed, contributing to suboptimal analgesia and an impaired quality of life.

Screening tools such as PainDETECT, DN4, and the LANSS scale can support assessment, but Ricchini cautioned that “they are tools that can be used as aids but do not make a diagnosis on their own and have not been validated in oncology patients.”

She noted that quantitative sensory testing (QST) complements clinical judgement by quantifying sensory thresholds for thermal, mechanical, and pain stimuli, aiding in the identification of neuropathic pain mechanisms, particularly in oncology settings. QST can complement clinical judgement and diagnostic algorithms developed by the International Association for the Study of Pain to help clinicians systematically identify neuropathic components.

“The key is to start from symptoms, what the patient tells us,” Ricchini added.

However, bedside assessments remain essential. Simple tool needles, cotton, and the clinician’s thumb allow the evaluation of hyperalgesia, allodynia, and other neuropathic features of the affected area. With careful history taking and physical examination, clinicians can often reach an accurate diagnosis without complex testing.
 

Opioid Use

Sebastiano Mercadante, director of the Anesthesia & Intensive Care and Pain Relief and Supportive Care Unit in La Maddalena Cancer Center Palermo at the University of Palermo in Palermo, Italy, discussed opioid therapy in neuropathic pain. “Responsiveness to opioid drugs varies from patient to patient,” he said.

Opioids develop tolerance and have a ceiling effect that is driven by adverse events. Mercadante emphasised the need to “optimise their use” by staying within the therapeutic window where the benefits outweigh the harm.

Responsiveness depends on genetic polymorphisms affecting receptors and metabolism, pain patterns, age, sex, and psychological distress. “Those with the worst response are patients with significant psychological distress,” he noted.

The opioid escalation index helps to stratify patients. Slow escalation predicts a better prognosis, whereas rapid escalation should prompt specialist involvement and evaluation of factors such as delirium, anxiety, and depression in patients.
 

Drug Strategies

Switching opioids can be helpful when they become less effective. Mercadante explained that switching opioids “can facilitate receptor internalisation, excluding from continuous stimulation,” allowing “receptor refreshing” and allowing an overstimulated system to be cleared and restoring analgesia. Switching to methadone, when conducted by experienced clinicians, often yields substantial benefits for patients.

Fornasari clarified the mechanisms of action of gabapentinoids, which act on the alpha-2-delta subunit of calcium channels by restoring normal channel numbers rather than by closing them. This distinction is important because it is a slow mechanism that requires approximately 2 weeks for full effect, which is crucial information for clinicians who often discontinue treatment prematurely after a few days of treatment.

Antidepressants, including amitriptyline and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as duloxetine, strengthen descending inhibitory pathways by increasing serotonin and noradrenaline levels.

Fornasari also mentioned desvenlafaxine, the active metabolite of venlafaxine, which “has greater activity on descending noradrenergic pathways” and could be particularly useful when the predominant component is noradrenergic.
 

Topical Options

Capsaicin is an option for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, the expert explained, is related to the overexpression of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1, also known as the capsaicin receptor. Topical capsaicin abnormally stimulates these receptors, causing a massive influx of calcium that “defunctionalises the fibre” for periods ranging from a week to 2 months.
 

Clinical Takeaways

Therefore, neuropathic pain, particularly in patients with cancer, requires a multimodal approach that begins with an understanding of the molecular mechanisms to develop personalised treatment options. As Fornasari concluded, “Often, a lack of knowledge of a drug’s mechanism of action leads to its inappropriate, and ultimately ineffective, use.” The challenge for clinicians is to translate this knowledge into tangible improvements for patients, remembering that each patient is unique and requires personalised care that goes beyond standardised protocols.

Clinicians aim to translate these insights into meaningful relief, recognising that each patient requires tailored care.
 

Practical Guidance

• Accurate diagnosis: Screening tools should only be used as support, and decisions should be on the basis of a detailed history and physical examination. In individuals with cancer, the interview always began with the patient’s account.
• Recognising negative prognostic factors: Neuropathic pain, incident pain, psychological distress, delirium, and unrealistic expectations indicate a more difficult course and require a more intensive approach.
• Opioids should be used wisely: Dose escalation should be monitored, rotation should be considered when needed, and psychological factors should be assessed throughout care. As experts have noted, clinicians should try at least 2 or 3 opioids and at least 2 routes of administration before considering invasive procedures.
• Integrating adjuvant medicines early: Gabapentin and other antidepressants are not third-line treatments for individuals with cancer. Adequately dosed for at least 2 weeks to allow therapeutic benefit.
• Consider topical options: In localised peripheral neuropathies, capsaicin can be a valid addition to treatment.
• Use of non-opioid medicines: Some individuals respond exceptionally well to anti-inflammatory agents, with effects that can match those of high morphine doses.

This story was translated from Univadis Italy, part of the this news organization Professional Network.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

The FDA has approved lisocabtagene maraleucel (Breyanzi, Bristol Myers Squibb) for relapsed or refractory marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) in adults after at least two prior lines of systemic therapy.

Lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso–cel) is now the only CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T–cell therapy approved for MZL. The approval marks liso-cel’s fifth indication, the most of any CD19-directed CAR T–cell therapy, BMS said in a press release. 

Prior approvals are also in the relapsed or refractory setting and include large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.

MZL is a slow-growing subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), accounting for about 7% of all NHL cases and typically diagnosed in older adults. Prognosis is generally favorable, but in patients who relapse or become refractory, NHL can transform into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. 
 

Basis for Approval

Liso-cel’s new approval was based on the MZL cohort of the single arm TRANSFORM FL trial, which included 66 patients in the third or later lines; 95.5% responded to the one-time treatment, with 62.1% having a complete response. Responses were durable in 90.1% of patients at 2 years, according to the BMS press release.

In terms of safety, 76% of MZL patients developed cytokine release syndrome, which was grade 3 or worse in 4.5%. Nervous system disorders included headache (21%, grade ≥ 3 in 1.5%), encephalopathy (21%, grade ≥ 3 in 1.5%), tremor (21%), dizziness (16%), and aphasia (10%). 

Labeling also warns of hypersensitivity reactions, serious infections, prolonged cytopenias, hypogammaglobulinemia, and secondary malignancies. 
 

Cost of Treatment

One-time treatment costs $567,237.18, according to drugs.com. BMS noted liso-cel is broadly covered by commercial and government insurance programs.

M. Alexander Otto is a physician assistant with a master’s degree in medical science and a journalism degree from Newhouse. He is an award–winning medical journalist who worked for several major news outlets before joining this news organization. Alex is also an MIT Knight Science Journalism fellow. Email: [email protected]

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The FDA has approved lisocabtagene maraleucel (Breyanzi, Bristol Myers Squibb) for relapsed or refractory marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) in adults after at least two prior lines of systemic therapy.

Lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso–cel) is now the only CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T–cell therapy approved for MZL. The approval marks liso-cel’s fifth indication, the most of any CD19-directed CAR T–cell therapy, BMS said in a press release. 

Prior approvals are also in the relapsed or refractory setting and include large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.

MZL is a slow-growing subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), accounting for about 7% of all NHL cases and typically diagnosed in older adults. Prognosis is generally favorable, but in patients who relapse or become refractory, NHL can transform into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. 
 

Basis for Approval

Liso-cel’s new approval was based on the MZL cohort of the single arm TRANSFORM FL trial, which included 66 patients in the third or later lines; 95.5% responded to the one-time treatment, with 62.1% having a complete response. Responses were durable in 90.1% of patients at 2 years, according to the BMS press release.

In terms of safety, 76% of MZL patients developed cytokine release syndrome, which was grade 3 or worse in 4.5%. Nervous system disorders included headache (21%, grade ≥ 3 in 1.5%), encephalopathy (21%, grade ≥ 3 in 1.5%), tremor (21%), dizziness (16%), and aphasia (10%). 

Labeling also warns of hypersensitivity reactions, serious infections, prolonged cytopenias, hypogammaglobulinemia, and secondary malignancies. 
 

Cost of Treatment

One-time treatment costs $567,237.18, according to drugs.com. BMS noted liso-cel is broadly covered by commercial and government insurance programs.

M. Alexander Otto is a physician assistant with a master’s degree in medical science and a journalism degree from Newhouse. He is an award–winning medical journalist who worked for several major news outlets before joining this news organization. Alex is also an MIT Knight Science Journalism fellow. Email: [email protected]

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The FDA has approved lisocabtagene maraleucel (Breyanzi, Bristol Myers Squibb) for relapsed or refractory marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) in adults after at least two prior lines of systemic therapy.

Lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso–cel) is now the only CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T–cell therapy approved for MZL. The approval marks liso-cel’s fifth indication, the most of any CD19-directed CAR T–cell therapy, BMS said in a press release. 

Prior approvals are also in the relapsed or refractory setting and include large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.

MZL is a slow-growing subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), accounting for about 7% of all NHL cases and typically diagnosed in older adults. Prognosis is generally favorable, but in patients who relapse or become refractory, NHL can transform into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. 
 

Basis for Approval

Liso-cel’s new approval was based on the MZL cohort of the single arm TRANSFORM FL trial, which included 66 patients in the third or later lines; 95.5% responded to the one-time treatment, with 62.1% having a complete response. Responses were durable in 90.1% of patients at 2 years, according to the BMS press release.

In terms of safety, 76% of MZL patients developed cytokine release syndrome, which was grade 3 or worse in 4.5%. Nervous system disorders included headache (21%, grade ≥ 3 in 1.5%), encephalopathy (21%, grade ≥ 3 in 1.5%), tremor (21%), dizziness (16%), and aphasia (10%). 

Labeling also warns of hypersensitivity reactions, serious infections, prolonged cytopenias, hypogammaglobulinemia, and secondary malignancies. 
 

Cost of Treatment

One-time treatment costs $567,237.18, according to drugs.com. BMS noted liso-cel is broadly covered by commercial and government insurance programs.

M. Alexander Otto is a physician assistant with a master’s degree in medical science and a journalism degree from Newhouse. He is an award–winning medical journalist who worked for several major news outlets before joining this news organization. Alex is also an MIT Knight Science Journalism fellow. Email: [email protected]

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

A single dose of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine provided protection against RSV illness and associated health care use in nearly 290,000 older US veterans over 2 respiratory illness seasons compared with unvaccinated individuals; however, protection declined over time, particularly among immunocompromised individuals.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers emulated a target trial to assess the long-term effectiveness of a single does of RSV vaccine, administered between September 2023 and March 2024, to prevent RSV infection and associated health care use among older US veterans.
• The primary outcome was any positive RSV test from 14 days after vaccination; secondary outcomes included RSV-associated emergency department or urgent care visits, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions.
• The median follow-up duration, measured from 14 days after vaccination, was 15.8 months, with a maximum of 19.0 months.

TAKEAWAY:

• The estimated vaccines effectiveness against RSV infection decreased from 82.5% (95% CI, 77.5%-86.9%) over 0 to 1 month to 59.4% (95% CI, 55.6%-63.5%) over 0 to 18 months of follow-up.
• Protection against RSV-associated emergency department and urgent care visits fell from 84.9% over 0 to 1 month to 60.6% over 0 to 18 months, and the estimated effectiveness against hospitalizations decreased from 88.9% to 57.3% over the same interval.
• The estimated effectiveness against RSV-associated ICU admissions reduced from 92.5% (95% CI, 61.1%-100%) over 0 to 1 month to 71.9% (95% CI, 42.8%-90.0%) over 0 to 18 months.
• Among immunocompromised individuals, protection against RSV infection showed the largest decline from 75.2% at 0 to 1 month to 39.7% over 18 months.

IN PRACTICE:

"Boosters may be needed, but for now, our efforts should be focused on saving lives and decreasing disease by encouraging vaccination of persons 75 years and older and those 60 years and older with underlying health issues," experts wrote in an accompanying editorial.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Kristina L. Bajema, MD, Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon. It was published online on November 24, 2025, in JAMA Internal Medicine.

LIMITATIONS:

RSV documentation may have been incomplete for veterans who sought care outside the Veterans Health Administration. The cohort was predominantly White men, limiting generalizability. Residual confounding could not be excluded. Estimates of long-term effectiveness should be interpreted cautiously because they reflect patients who remained in care and may differ from the original matched cohort.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by the US Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program, US Department of Health and Human Services, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and FDA. Two authors reported receiving grants from the study funder and/or the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute; one of these authors also reported co-ownership of van Breemen & Hynes, LLC, unrelated to the submitted work.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

A single dose of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine provided protection against RSV illness and associated health care use in nearly 290,000 older US veterans over 2 respiratory illness seasons compared with unvaccinated individuals; however, protection declined over time, particularly among immunocompromised individuals.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers emulated a target trial to assess the long-term effectiveness of a single does of RSV vaccine, administered between September 2023 and March 2024, to prevent RSV infection and associated health care use among older US veterans.
• The primary outcome was any positive RSV test from 14 days after vaccination; secondary outcomes included RSV-associated emergency department or urgent care visits, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions.
• The median follow-up duration, measured from 14 days after vaccination, was 15.8 months, with a maximum of 19.0 months.

TAKEAWAY:

• The estimated vaccines effectiveness against RSV infection decreased from 82.5% (95% CI, 77.5%-86.9%) over 0 to 1 month to 59.4% (95% CI, 55.6%-63.5%) over 0 to 18 months of follow-up.
• Protection against RSV-associated emergency department and urgent care visits fell from 84.9% over 0 to 1 month to 60.6% over 0 to 18 months, and the estimated effectiveness against hospitalizations decreased from 88.9% to 57.3% over the same interval.
• The estimated effectiveness against RSV-associated ICU admissions reduced from 92.5% (95% CI, 61.1%-100%) over 0 to 1 month to 71.9% (95% CI, 42.8%-90.0%) over 0 to 18 months.
• Among immunocompromised individuals, protection against RSV infection showed the largest decline from 75.2% at 0 to 1 month to 39.7% over 18 months.

IN PRACTICE:

"Boosters may be needed, but for now, our efforts should be focused on saving lives and decreasing disease by encouraging vaccination of persons 75 years and older and those 60 years and older with underlying health issues," experts wrote in an accompanying editorial.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Kristina L. Bajema, MD, Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon. It was published online on November 24, 2025, in JAMA Internal Medicine.

LIMITATIONS:

RSV documentation may have been incomplete for veterans who sought care outside the Veterans Health Administration. The cohort was predominantly White men, limiting generalizability. Residual confounding could not be excluded. Estimates of long-term effectiveness should be interpreted cautiously because they reflect patients who remained in care and may differ from the original matched cohort.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by the US Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program, US Department of Health and Human Services, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and FDA. Two authors reported receiving grants from the study funder and/or the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute; one of these authors also reported co-ownership of van Breemen & Hynes, LLC, unrelated to the submitted work.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

A single dose of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine provided protection against RSV illness and associated health care use in nearly 290,000 older US veterans over 2 respiratory illness seasons compared with unvaccinated individuals; however, protection declined over time, particularly among immunocompromised individuals.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers emulated a target trial to assess the long-term effectiveness of a single does of RSV vaccine, administered between September 2023 and March 2024, to prevent RSV infection and associated health care use among older US veterans.
• The primary outcome was any positive RSV test from 14 days after vaccination; secondary outcomes included RSV-associated emergency department or urgent care visits, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions.
• The median follow-up duration, measured from 14 days after vaccination, was 15.8 months, with a maximum of 19.0 months.

TAKEAWAY:

• The estimated vaccines effectiveness against RSV infection decreased from 82.5% (95% CI, 77.5%-86.9%) over 0 to 1 month to 59.4% (95% CI, 55.6%-63.5%) over 0 to 18 months of follow-up.
• Protection against RSV-associated emergency department and urgent care visits fell from 84.9% over 0 to 1 month to 60.6% over 0 to 18 months, and the estimated effectiveness against hospitalizations decreased from 88.9% to 57.3% over the same interval.
• The estimated effectiveness against RSV-associated ICU admissions reduced from 92.5% (95% CI, 61.1%-100%) over 0 to 1 month to 71.9% (95% CI, 42.8%-90.0%) over 0 to 18 months.
• Among immunocompromised individuals, protection against RSV infection showed the largest decline from 75.2% at 0 to 1 month to 39.7% over 18 months.

IN PRACTICE:

"Boosters may be needed, but for now, our efforts should be focused on saving lives and decreasing disease by encouraging vaccination of persons 75 years and older and those 60 years and older with underlying health issues," experts wrote in an accompanying editorial.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Kristina L. Bajema, MD, Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon. It was published online on November 24, 2025, in JAMA Internal Medicine.

LIMITATIONS:

RSV documentation may have been incomplete for veterans who sought care outside the Veterans Health Administration. The cohort was predominantly White men, limiting generalizability. Residual confounding could not be excluded. Estimates of long-term effectiveness should be interpreted cautiously because they reflect patients who remained in care and may differ from the original matched cohort.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by the US Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program, US Department of Health and Human Services, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and FDA. Two authors reported receiving grants from the study funder and/or the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute; one of these authors also reported co-ownership of van Breemen & Hynes, LLC, unrelated to the submitted work.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE: A novel single-incision robotic surgery technique for colorectal procedures demonstrated feasibility with 0% conversion to open surgery rate; only 1 case required additional ports. The technique achieved a 30-day all-severity morbidity rate of 20% and major morbidity of 6%.

METHODOLOGY: 

• Researchers conducted a retrospective review to report a unique, single-incision robotic surgery technique that uses a fascial wound protector device and multiport robotic surgical system in colorectal surgery.
• Analysis included 50 patients (60% women) with mean ages of 53.5 years and median BMI of 27.2 kg/m².
• Study was performed at a single quaternary, urban, academic institution from December 2023 to April 2025.
• Patients aged ≥ 18 years with colorectal indications who underwent robotic single-incision surgery using a Da Vinci multiport robotic platform were included.

TAKEAWAY:

• Conversion to open surgery rate was 0%; 1 case required additional robotic ports.
• The 30-day all-severity morbidity rate was 20%; 30-day major morbidity was 6%.
• Pathologies treated included Crohn's disease (26%), diverticulitis (22%), colon cancer (16%), colostomy status (8%), and rectal cancer (4%).
• Successful procedures included right-sided colectomies (14%), left-sided colectomies (28%), total colectomy (4%), rectal resection (4%), small bowel procedures (22%), and ostomy creation/reversal (18%).

IN PRACTICE: "Our rSIS technique utilizing a multiport robotic system is safe and feasible across a wide spectrum of colorectal procedures," wrote the study authors.

LIMITATIONS: According to the authors, reproducible successful completion of surgeries using this technique may be challenging in populations requiring deep pelvic dissections, especially in narrow male pelvis cases, and in patients with very high BMI and significant intra-abdominal adipose tissue.

DISCLOSURES: The authors report no financial support was received for this study and declare no competing interests.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

TOPLINE: A novel single-incision robotic surgery technique for colorectal procedures demonstrated feasibility with 0% conversion to open surgery rate; only 1 case required additional ports. The technique achieved a 30-day all-severity morbidity rate of 20% and major morbidity of 6%.

METHODOLOGY: 

• Researchers conducted a retrospective review to report a unique, single-incision robotic surgery technique that uses a fascial wound protector device and multiport robotic surgical system in colorectal surgery.
• Analysis included 50 patients (60% women) with mean ages of 53.5 years and median BMI of 27.2 kg/m².
• Study was performed at a single quaternary, urban, academic institution from December 2023 to April 2025.
• Patients aged ≥ 18 years with colorectal indications who underwent robotic single-incision surgery using a Da Vinci multiport robotic platform were included.

TAKEAWAY:

• Conversion to open surgery rate was 0%; 1 case required additional robotic ports.
• The 30-day all-severity morbidity rate was 20%; 30-day major morbidity was 6%.
• Pathologies treated included Crohn's disease (26%), diverticulitis (22%), colon cancer (16%), colostomy status (8%), and rectal cancer (4%).
• Successful procedures included right-sided colectomies (14%), left-sided colectomies (28%), total colectomy (4%), rectal resection (4%), small bowel procedures (22%), and ostomy creation/reversal (18%).

IN PRACTICE: "Our rSIS technique utilizing a multiport robotic system is safe and feasible across a wide spectrum of colorectal procedures," wrote the study authors.

LIMITATIONS: According to the authors, reproducible successful completion of surgeries using this technique may be challenging in populations requiring deep pelvic dissections, especially in narrow male pelvis cases, and in patients with very high BMI and significant intra-abdominal adipose tissue.

DISCLOSURES: The authors report no financial support was received for this study and declare no competing interests.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

TOPLINE: A novel single-incision robotic surgery technique for colorectal procedures demonstrated feasibility with 0% conversion to open surgery rate; only 1 case required additional ports. The technique achieved a 30-day all-severity morbidity rate of 20% and major morbidity of 6%.

METHODOLOGY: 

• Researchers conducted a retrospective review to report a unique, single-incision robotic surgery technique that uses a fascial wound protector device and multiport robotic surgical system in colorectal surgery.
• Analysis included 50 patients (60% women) with mean ages of 53.5 years and median BMI of 27.2 kg/m².
• Study was performed at a single quaternary, urban, academic institution from December 2023 to April 2025.
• Patients aged ≥ 18 years with colorectal indications who underwent robotic single-incision surgery using a Da Vinci multiport robotic platform were included.

TAKEAWAY:

• Conversion to open surgery rate was 0%; 1 case required additional robotic ports.
• The 30-day all-severity morbidity rate was 20%; 30-day major morbidity was 6%.
• Pathologies treated included Crohn's disease (26%), diverticulitis (22%), colon cancer (16%), colostomy status (8%), and rectal cancer (4%).
• Successful procedures included right-sided colectomies (14%), left-sided colectomies (28%), total colectomy (4%), rectal resection (4%), small bowel procedures (22%), and ostomy creation/reversal (18%).

IN PRACTICE: "Our rSIS technique utilizing a multiport robotic system is safe and feasible across a wide spectrum of colorectal procedures," wrote the study authors.

LIMITATIONS: According to the authors, reproducible successful completion of surgeries using this technique may be challenging in populations requiring deep pelvic dissections, especially in narrow male pelvis cases, and in patients with very high BMI and significant intra-abdominal adipose tissue.

DISCLOSURES: The authors report no financial support was received for this study and declare no competing interests.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved tisotumab vedotin (Genmab AS) for adults with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer.

The decision, made via the International Recognition Procedure, applies to patients whose disease has progressed after prior systemic therapy. It provides a new treatment option for a high-risk group with limited alternatives.

How the Treatment Works

Tisotumab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate that combines a tissue factor-directed human monoclonal antibody with monomethyl auristatin E, a microtubule-disrupting agent. The therapy targets tissue factor, which is overexpressed in a several solid tumours, including recurrent cervical cancer.

It is administered as a 30-minute intravenous infusion once every 3 weeks.

What Trials Showed

The approval is based on evidence from multiple clinical studies demonstrating tisotumab vedotin's efficacy in previously treated patients.

In the phase 2 innovaTV 204 study, 102 patients were enrolled and 101 received at least 1 dose of tisotumab vedotin. The confirmed objective response rate was 24%, including seven complete responses and 17 partial responses, demonstrating clinically meaningful activity in a heavily pretreated population.

Further evidence came from the phase 3 innovaTV-301 trial, which randomly assigned 502 patients to receive either tisotumab vedotin or investigator's-choice chemotherapy.

Median overall survival was 11.5 months with the new therapy compared with 9.5 months in the chemotherapy arm, translating to roughly a 30% reduction in the risk for death. The confirmed objective response rate was also significantly higher with tisotumab vedotin—17.8% vs 5.2%—underscoring its advantage over standard treatment options.

Safety and Tolerability

Ocular toxicity and peripheral neuropathy were the most notable adverse reactions.

Common treatment-related events in the phase 2 study included alopecia (38%), epistaxis (30%), nausea, conjunctivitis (26%), and fatigue (26%).

Grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events occurred in about 28% of patients. Clinicians should be alert to conjunctivitis and keratitis as well as sensory neuropathic symptoms (numbness, tingling, or a burning sensation in the hands and feet).

Julian Beach, interim executive director of healthcare quality and access at the MHRA, said that patient safety is the agency's "top priority." "We will continue to monitor its safety closely as it becomes more widely used," he added.

The Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information Leaflets will be published on the MHRA website within 7 days of approval.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved tisotumab vedotin (Genmab AS) for adults with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer.

The decision, made via the International Recognition Procedure, applies to patients whose disease has progressed after prior systemic therapy. It provides a new treatment option for a high-risk group with limited alternatives.

How the Treatment Works

Tisotumab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate that combines a tissue factor-directed human monoclonal antibody with monomethyl auristatin E, a microtubule-disrupting agent. The therapy targets tissue factor, which is overexpressed in a several solid tumours, including recurrent cervical cancer.

It is administered as a 30-minute intravenous infusion once every 3 weeks.

What Trials Showed

The approval is based on evidence from multiple clinical studies demonstrating tisotumab vedotin's efficacy in previously treated patients.

In the phase 2 innovaTV 204 study, 102 patients were enrolled and 101 received at least 1 dose of tisotumab vedotin. The confirmed objective response rate was 24%, including seven complete responses and 17 partial responses, demonstrating clinically meaningful activity in a heavily pretreated population.

Further evidence came from the phase 3 innovaTV-301 trial, which randomly assigned 502 patients to receive either tisotumab vedotin or investigator's-choice chemotherapy.

Median overall survival was 11.5 months with the new therapy compared with 9.5 months in the chemotherapy arm, translating to roughly a 30% reduction in the risk for death. The confirmed objective response rate was also significantly higher with tisotumab vedotin—17.8% vs 5.2%—underscoring its advantage over standard treatment options.

Safety and Tolerability

Ocular toxicity and peripheral neuropathy were the most notable adverse reactions.

Common treatment-related events in the phase 2 study included alopecia (38%), epistaxis (30%), nausea, conjunctivitis (26%), and fatigue (26%).

Grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events occurred in about 28% of patients. Clinicians should be alert to conjunctivitis and keratitis as well as sensory neuropathic symptoms (numbness, tingling, or a burning sensation in the hands and feet).

Julian Beach, interim executive director of healthcare quality and access at the MHRA, said that patient safety is the agency's "top priority." "We will continue to monitor its safety closely as it becomes more widely used," he added.

The Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information Leaflets will be published on the MHRA website within 7 days of approval.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved tisotumab vedotin (Genmab AS) for adults with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer.

The decision, made via the International Recognition Procedure, applies to patients whose disease has progressed after prior systemic therapy. It provides a new treatment option for a high-risk group with limited alternatives.

How the Treatment Works

Tisotumab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate that combines a tissue factor-directed human monoclonal antibody with monomethyl auristatin E, a microtubule-disrupting agent. The therapy targets tissue factor, which is overexpressed in a several solid tumours, including recurrent cervical cancer.

It is administered as a 30-minute intravenous infusion once every 3 weeks.

What Trials Showed

The approval is based on evidence from multiple clinical studies demonstrating tisotumab vedotin's efficacy in previously treated patients.

In the phase 2 innovaTV 204 study, 102 patients were enrolled and 101 received at least 1 dose of tisotumab vedotin. The confirmed objective response rate was 24%, including seven complete responses and 17 partial responses, demonstrating clinically meaningful activity in a heavily pretreated population.

Further evidence came from the phase 3 innovaTV-301 trial, which randomly assigned 502 patients to receive either tisotumab vedotin or investigator's-choice chemotherapy.

Median overall survival was 11.5 months with the new therapy compared with 9.5 months in the chemotherapy arm, translating to roughly a 30% reduction in the risk for death. The confirmed objective response rate was also significantly higher with tisotumab vedotin—17.8% vs 5.2%—underscoring its advantage over standard treatment options.

Safety and Tolerability

Ocular toxicity and peripheral neuropathy were the most notable adverse reactions.

Common treatment-related events in the phase 2 study included alopecia (38%), epistaxis (30%), nausea, conjunctivitis (26%), and fatigue (26%).

Grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events occurred in about 28% of patients. Clinicians should be alert to conjunctivitis and keratitis as well as sensory neuropathic symptoms (numbness, tingling, or a burning sensation in the hands and feet).

Julian Beach, interim executive director of healthcare quality and access at the MHRA, said that patient safety is the agency's "top priority." "We will continue to monitor its safety closely as it becomes more widely used," he added.

The Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information Leaflets will be published on the MHRA website within 7 days of approval.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

PHOENIX – For patients who suffer from persistent symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) despite therapy, the first step is symptom evaluation, said Kristle L. Lynch, MD, in a presentation at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting.

Patients with persistent GERD who have cough and asthma, as well as those with hoarseness, globus, or other ear, nose, and throat concerns, may first undergo workup by other clinicians, said Lynch, who is a professor of clinical medicine and director of the Physiology and Motility Laboratory at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

With these patients, “given the low pretest probability of an acid reflux source, it makes sense to bypass a trial of acid-suppressing medication if symptoms persist and instead move on to consideration of upper endoscopy,” she said.

“If negative for damage or sequelae of reflux, this test is often followed by advanced reflux testing and high-resolution manometry, to help diagnose the cause of reflux and swallowing problems,” she noted.

For patients with heartburn, regurgitation, or noncardiac chest pain (and no other concerning symptoms), moving to an empiric trial of antisecretory therapy before endoscopy can be reasonable, Lynch said. But if symptoms persist, an endoscopy should be done before any advanced pH testing.
 

Advanced pH Testing Options

Advanced reflux testing options for persistent GERD after an endoscopy include catheter-based pH-impedance testing and wireless pH testing, said Lynch.

“Wireless pH monitoring offers improved patient comfort by eliminating the need for a nasal catheter, allowing individuals to maintain normal daily activities and diet during testing,” Lynch told GI & Hepatology News.

“It also enables extended monitoring periods of up to 96 hours, enhancing the detection of intermittent acid reflux episodes,” she said. “However, unlike pH-impedance catheter-based testing, wireless pH measures only acid exposure and cannot identify nonacid reflux events.”

In addition, the wireless capsule may detach prematurely or cause mild chest discomfort, and its endoscopic placement adds procedural complexity with the need for anesthesia, as well as additional cost, she noted.

Catheter-based pH-impedance testing involves sedation-free catheter placement while the patient is awake, followed by monitoring for 24 hours, and involves assessment of bolus movement in tandem with pH measurements, Lynch said. The catheter monitors levels of acid refluxing into the esophagus and transmits this information to the smartphone-sized computer worn by the patient over the 24-hour period.

Unlike wireless testing, impedance testing allows for adjunctive measures of mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) and post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic waves (PSPW), the latter of which is shown to predict response to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy in patients with reflux.

Logistics include a concurrent manometry for the lower esophageal sphincter to optimize location, followed by a transnasal placement. Challenges associated with the catheter-based test include potential catheter migration and patient discomfort, she added.
 

Assessing pH Testing Results

After pH testing of either type, abnormal acid exposure time (AET) when the pH in the lower esophagus is greater than 6% supports a diagnosis of GERD; AET between 4% and 6% is considered borderline GERD; and AET less than 4% is considered normal and outside the bounds of pathologic reflux, as per the Lyon Consensus, Lynch explained.

Treatment for patients meeting the GERD criteria based on AET includes not only diet and lifestyle changes but also potential pharmacologics, including acid suppressants, alginates, gamma-aminobutyric acid agonists, and prokinetics. In some cases, anti-reflux surgery may be considered, such as magnetic sphincter augmentation, transoral incisionless fundoplication, or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, Lynch said.

But not all heartburn in patients with persistent GERD is acid-related, she said. Functional heartburn and reflux hypersensitivity can be seen in these cases.

Patients not meeting the criteria for GERD on advanced pH testing and diagnosed with reflux hypersensitivity or functional heartburn may be treated with neuromodulators or nonpharmacologic therapies such as hypnosis, diaphragmatic breathing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or acupuncture, said Lynch in her presentation.

Overall, “advanced pH testing should be assessed within the framework of other investigations and the patient as a whole,” she emphasized.
 

Challenges in the Clinic

One of the biggest mistakes while diagnosing a patient with persistent GERD symptoms despite PPI therapy is always assuming their symptoms are driven by ongoing pathologic acid exposure, said Michael Kingsley, MD, a gastroenterologist specializing in gastrointestinal motility disorders and a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, in an interview.

He agreed with Lynch that patients with reflux hypersensitivity or functional heartburn are more likely to benefit from interventions other than a PPI, such as a neuromodulator.

But managing GERD in the clinic also requires making time to assess whether patients are taking PPI correctly and to counsel them on lifestyle modifications, he noted.

One of the current biggest challenges in GERD is how best to manage a patient who falls into the inconclusive range of not definitely normal or abnormal on pH testing, Kingsley told GI & Hepatology News. 

“As alluded to in this talk, MNBI and PSPW are emerging metrics, both of which require a pH-impedance study (as opposed to a wireless pH study),” he said. “Further elucidating the ideal application and cutoffs of these metrics may provide additional tools for best treating patients who fall into the “inconclusive” range with standard metrics.”

Lynch and Kingsley disclosed no financial conflicts of interest.
 

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com . 

PHOENIX – For patients who suffer from persistent symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) despite therapy, the first step is symptom evaluation, said Kristle L. Lynch, MD, in a presentation at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting.

Patients with persistent GERD who have cough and asthma, as well as those with hoarseness, globus, or other ear, nose, and throat concerns, may first undergo workup by other clinicians, said Lynch, who is a professor of clinical medicine and director of the Physiology and Motility Laboratory at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

With these patients, “given the low pretest probability of an acid reflux source, it makes sense to bypass a trial of acid-suppressing medication if symptoms persist and instead move on to consideration of upper endoscopy,” she said.

“If negative for damage or sequelae of reflux, this test is often followed by advanced reflux testing and high-resolution manometry, to help diagnose the cause of reflux and swallowing problems,” she noted.

For patients with heartburn, regurgitation, or noncardiac chest pain (and no other concerning symptoms), moving to an empiric trial of antisecretory therapy before endoscopy can be reasonable, Lynch said. But if symptoms persist, an endoscopy should be done before any advanced pH testing.
 

Advanced pH Testing Options

Advanced reflux testing options for persistent GERD after an endoscopy include catheter-based pH-impedance testing and wireless pH testing, said Lynch.

“Wireless pH monitoring offers improved patient comfort by eliminating the need for a nasal catheter, allowing individuals to maintain normal daily activities and diet during testing,” Lynch told GI & Hepatology News.

“It also enables extended monitoring periods of up to 96 hours, enhancing the detection of intermittent acid reflux episodes,” she said. “However, unlike pH-impedance catheter-based testing, wireless pH measures only acid exposure and cannot identify nonacid reflux events.”

In addition, the wireless capsule may detach prematurely or cause mild chest discomfort, and its endoscopic placement adds procedural complexity with the need for anesthesia, as well as additional cost, she noted.

Catheter-based pH-impedance testing involves sedation-free catheter placement while the patient is awake, followed by monitoring for 24 hours, and involves assessment of bolus movement in tandem with pH measurements, Lynch said. The catheter monitors levels of acid refluxing into the esophagus and transmits this information to the smartphone-sized computer worn by the patient over the 24-hour period.

Unlike wireless testing, impedance testing allows for adjunctive measures of mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) and post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic waves (PSPW), the latter of which is shown to predict response to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy in patients with reflux.

Logistics include a concurrent manometry for the lower esophageal sphincter to optimize location, followed by a transnasal placement. Challenges associated with the catheter-based test include potential catheter migration and patient discomfort, she added.
 

Assessing pH Testing Results

After pH testing of either type, abnormal acid exposure time (AET) when the pH in the lower esophagus is greater than 6% supports a diagnosis of GERD; AET between 4% and 6% is considered borderline GERD; and AET less than 4% is considered normal and outside the bounds of pathologic reflux, as per the Lyon Consensus, Lynch explained.

Treatment for patients meeting the GERD criteria based on AET includes not only diet and lifestyle changes but also potential pharmacologics, including acid suppressants, alginates, gamma-aminobutyric acid agonists, and prokinetics. In some cases, anti-reflux surgery may be considered, such as magnetic sphincter augmentation, transoral incisionless fundoplication, or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, Lynch said.

But not all heartburn in patients with persistent GERD is acid-related, she said. Functional heartburn and reflux hypersensitivity can be seen in these cases.

Patients not meeting the criteria for GERD on advanced pH testing and diagnosed with reflux hypersensitivity or functional heartburn may be treated with neuromodulators or nonpharmacologic therapies such as hypnosis, diaphragmatic breathing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or acupuncture, said Lynch in her presentation.

Overall, “advanced pH testing should be assessed within the framework of other investigations and the patient as a whole,” she emphasized.
 

Challenges in the Clinic

One of the biggest mistakes while diagnosing a patient with persistent GERD symptoms despite PPI therapy is always assuming their symptoms are driven by ongoing pathologic acid exposure, said Michael Kingsley, MD, a gastroenterologist specializing in gastrointestinal motility disorders and a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, in an interview.

He agreed with Lynch that patients with reflux hypersensitivity or functional heartburn are more likely to benefit from interventions other than a PPI, such as a neuromodulator.

But managing GERD in the clinic also requires making time to assess whether patients are taking PPI correctly and to counsel them on lifestyle modifications, he noted.

One of the current biggest challenges in GERD is how best to manage a patient who falls into the inconclusive range of not definitely normal or abnormal on pH testing, Kingsley told GI & Hepatology News. 

“As alluded to in this talk, MNBI and PSPW are emerging metrics, both of which require a pH-impedance study (as opposed to a wireless pH study),” he said. “Further elucidating the ideal application and cutoffs of these metrics may provide additional tools for best treating patients who fall into the “inconclusive” range with standard metrics.”

Lynch and Kingsley disclosed no financial conflicts of interest.
 

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com . 

PHOENIX – For patients who suffer from persistent symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) despite therapy, the first step is symptom evaluation, said Kristle L. Lynch, MD, in a presentation at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting.

Patients with persistent GERD who have cough and asthma, as well as those with hoarseness, globus, or other ear, nose, and throat concerns, may first undergo workup by other clinicians, said Lynch, who is a professor of clinical medicine and director of the Physiology and Motility Laboratory at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

With these patients, “given the low pretest probability of an acid reflux source, it makes sense to bypass a trial of acid-suppressing medication if symptoms persist and instead move on to consideration of upper endoscopy,” she said.

“If negative for damage or sequelae of reflux, this test is often followed by advanced reflux testing and high-resolution manometry, to help diagnose the cause of reflux and swallowing problems,” she noted.

For patients with heartburn, regurgitation, or noncardiac chest pain (and no other concerning symptoms), moving to an empiric trial of antisecretory therapy before endoscopy can be reasonable, Lynch said. But if symptoms persist, an endoscopy should be done before any advanced pH testing.
 

Advanced pH Testing Options

Advanced reflux testing options for persistent GERD after an endoscopy include catheter-based pH-impedance testing and wireless pH testing, said Lynch.

“Wireless pH monitoring offers improved patient comfort by eliminating the need for a nasal catheter, allowing individuals to maintain normal daily activities and diet during testing,” Lynch told GI & Hepatology News.

“It also enables extended monitoring periods of up to 96 hours, enhancing the detection of intermittent acid reflux episodes,” she said. “However, unlike pH-impedance catheter-based testing, wireless pH measures only acid exposure and cannot identify nonacid reflux events.”

In addition, the wireless capsule may detach prematurely or cause mild chest discomfort, and its endoscopic placement adds procedural complexity with the need for anesthesia, as well as additional cost, she noted.

Catheter-based pH-impedance testing involves sedation-free catheter placement while the patient is awake, followed by monitoring for 24 hours, and involves assessment of bolus movement in tandem with pH measurements, Lynch said. The catheter monitors levels of acid refluxing into the esophagus and transmits this information to the smartphone-sized computer worn by the patient over the 24-hour period.

Unlike wireless testing, impedance testing allows for adjunctive measures of mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) and post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic waves (PSPW), the latter of which is shown to predict response to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy in patients with reflux.

Logistics include a concurrent manometry for the lower esophageal sphincter to optimize location, followed by a transnasal placement. Challenges associated with the catheter-based test include potential catheter migration and patient discomfort, she added.
 

Assessing pH Testing Results

After pH testing of either type, abnormal acid exposure time (AET) when the pH in the lower esophagus is greater than 6% supports a diagnosis of GERD; AET between 4% and 6% is considered borderline GERD; and AET less than 4% is considered normal and outside the bounds of pathologic reflux, as per the Lyon Consensus, Lynch explained.

Treatment for patients meeting the GERD criteria based on AET includes not only diet and lifestyle changes but also potential pharmacologics, including acid suppressants, alginates, gamma-aminobutyric acid agonists, and prokinetics. In some cases, anti-reflux surgery may be considered, such as magnetic sphincter augmentation, transoral incisionless fundoplication, or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, Lynch said.

But not all heartburn in patients with persistent GERD is acid-related, she said. Functional heartburn and reflux hypersensitivity can be seen in these cases.

Patients not meeting the criteria for GERD on advanced pH testing and diagnosed with reflux hypersensitivity or functional heartburn may be treated with neuromodulators or nonpharmacologic therapies such as hypnosis, diaphragmatic breathing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or acupuncture, said Lynch in her presentation.

Overall, “advanced pH testing should be assessed within the framework of other investigations and the patient as a whole,” she emphasized.
 

Challenges in the Clinic

One of the biggest mistakes while diagnosing a patient with persistent GERD symptoms despite PPI therapy is always assuming their symptoms are driven by ongoing pathologic acid exposure, said Michael Kingsley, MD, a gastroenterologist specializing in gastrointestinal motility disorders and a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, in an interview.

He agreed with Lynch that patients with reflux hypersensitivity or functional heartburn are more likely to benefit from interventions other than a PPI, such as a neuromodulator.

But managing GERD in the clinic also requires making time to assess whether patients are taking PPI correctly and to counsel them on lifestyle modifications, he noted.

One of the current biggest challenges in GERD is how best to manage a patient who falls into the inconclusive range of not definitely normal or abnormal on pH testing, Kingsley told GI & Hepatology News. 

“As alluded to in this talk, MNBI and PSPW are emerging metrics, both of which require a pH-impedance study (as opposed to a wireless pH study),” he said. “Further elucidating the ideal application and cutoffs of these metrics may provide additional tools for best treating patients who fall into the “inconclusive” range with standard metrics.”

Lynch and Kingsley disclosed no financial conflicts of interest.
 

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com .