The New England journal of medicine
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Historical Article
FDA regulation of tobacco--pitfalls and possibilities.
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The effects of lung transplantation on the survival and quality of life in children with cystic fibrosis are uncertain. ⋯ Our analyses estimated clearly improved survival for only 5 of 514 patients on the waiting list for lung transplantation. Prolongation of life by means of lung transplantation should not be expected in children with cystic fibrosis. A prospective, randomized trial is needed to clarify whether and when patients derive a survival and quality-of-life benefit from lung transplantation.
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Comparative Study
Detection of mutations in EGFR in circulating lung-cancer cells.
The use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors to target the epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer is effective but limited by the emergence of drug-resistance mutations. Molecular characterization of circulating tumor cells may provide a strategy for noninvasive serial monitoring of tumor genotypes during treatment. ⋯ Molecular analysis of circulating tumor cells from the blood of patients with lung cancer offers the possibility of monitoring changes in epithelial tumor genotypes during the course of treatment.