Japanese journal of clinical oncology
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Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol. · Jan 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyRandomized controlled trial comparing docetaxel-cisplatin combination with weekly docetaxel alone in elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) 0207†.
Prospective trials specifically designed for elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer demonstrating the benefit of platinum-based therapies are still lacking. This trial was designed to clarify whether the addition of cisplatin to monotherapy could improve survival for elderly patients. ⋯ The interpretation of study results is limited due to early stopping. Further study is needed to confirm survival benefit of platinum-based chemotherapy for elderly non-small-cell lung cancer [UMIN-CTR (www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/) ID: C000000146].
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Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol. · Jan 2015
Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of trastuzumab emtansine in Japanese patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.
Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), an antibody-drug conjugate composed of the cytotoxic agent DM1 conjugated to trastuzumab via a stable thioether linker, has shown clinical activity in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients. This study evaluated the maximum tolerated dose, toxicity and pharmacokinetics of trastuzumab emtansine in Japanese breast cancer patients. ⋯ Trastuzumab emtansine up to 3.6 mg/kg was well tolerated by Japanese breast cancer patients. Although thrombocytopenia and hepatotoxicity tended to be more severe than was seen in Western patients in previous trastuzumab emtansine trials, those adverse events recovered without special supportive treatment.
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Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol. · Nov 2014
Clinical TrialShould we continue to offer extrapleural pneumonectomy to selected mesothelioma patients? A single center experience comparing surgical and non-surgical management.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma remains an incurable disease for which the optimal therapeutic approach remains an extremely debated issue. Though not yet clearly defined, a subset of patients may benefit from a surgery-based multimodal treatment plan, beyond what would be expected with non-surgical therapies only. Indeed, despite some disappointing results on the feasibility of a multimodality treatment (chemotherapy ± surgery and post-operative radiation therapy) based on a lung sacrificing surgery (extrapleural pleuropnemonectomy) have been recently reported, the question concerning the role of extrapleural pneumonectomy in selected mesothelioma patients is still unanswered. In the light of this, we have reviewed our mono-institutional retrospective experience in the mesothelioma management, discussing on the role of extrapleural pneumonectomy in the multimodality treatment.
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Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol. · Nov 2014
Dyspnea, relative youth and low daily doses of opioids predict increased opioid dosage in the last week of a terminal cancer patient's life.
Most cancer patients become increasingly anxious toward the end of their life. The objective of this study was to identify predictors of increased opioid dosage in the last week of a terminal cancer patient's life. ⋯ Dyspnea, relative youth and oral morphine equivalent dosage <50 mg on Day 7 before death were predictive of increased oral morphine equivalent dosage in the last 7 days. Our findings may help oncologists to more accurately inform patients about expected opioid requirements and thus relieve their end-of-life anxiety.
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Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol. · Nov 2014
Treatment and prognosis of breast cancer patients with brain metastases according to intrinsic subtype.
How breast cancer subtypes should affect treatment decisions for breast cancer patients with brain metastases is unclear. We analyzed local brain metastases treatments and their outcomes according to subtype in patients with breast cancer and brain metastases. ⋯ Our study showed that local brain treatments and prognosis differed by subtype in breast cancer patients with brain metastases.