ABSTRACT
Timely and important studies are reviewed and commentaries provided by leading palliative care clinicians. Symptoms, interventions, and treatment-related adverse events addressed in this issue are: the effect of sorafenib on sarcopenia; defining, classifying, and assessing cancer breakthrough pain; treatment of opioid-dependent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients (clinic-based versus referred treatment); the predictors and course of depression in metastatic cancer patients; and the effectiveness of treatment agreements and urine analysis for reducing opioid misuse in outpatients with chronic noncancer pain.