Anticancer research
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Anticancer research · Nov 2007
Combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel and gemcitabine followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy in non-operable localized non-small cell lung cancer. A hellenic cooperative oncology group (HeCOG) phase II study.
Concurrent chemoradiotherapy has become a standard therapy for locoregionally advanced inoperable nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this phase II trial was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy following induction with non-platinum chemotherapy in patients with inoperable locally advanced NSCLC. ⋯ Concurrent chemoradiotherapy following induction chemotherapy in patients with stage III NSCLC is feasible with reasonable efficacy and acceptable toxicity.
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Anticancer research · Sep 2007
Gene expression profiling identifies new biological markers of neoplastic germ cells.
There is only limited knowledge about gene expression in human testicular germ cell tumors of adolescents and adults (TGCTs), and, in particular in its preinvasive stage intratubular germ cell neoplasia unclassified (IGCNU). ⋯ Our study determined the genes involved in early pathogenetic events of neoplastic germ cell formation, provided new insights into genetic pathways driving the transition of embryonal carcinoma and seminoma from IGCNU and identified new biomarkers of neoplastic germ cells such as CD9, CENPA and PODXL.
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Anticancer research · Jul 2007
Immunophenotypic profile of biomarkers related to anti-apoptotic and neural development pathways in the Ewing's family of tumors (EFT) and their therapeutic implications.
Ewing's family of tumors (EFT) comprises a broad spectrum of tumors composed of primitive committed cells with neuroectodermal capacity. The degree of neural differentiation within EFT, as measured with morphological features and expression of neural markers, delimits two members: Ewing's sarcoma (ES) and peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (pPNET). Molecules such as c-kit and its ligand (Stem cell factor, SCF), CD95 (FAS), CD95L (FASL), IGF-IR, protect EFT cells from apoptosis, whereas c-erb-B2, erythropoietin (EPO) and its receptor (EPO-R) participate in the maturation of primitive committed neuroectodermal cells and in the normal embryonal brain development. The aim of the present study was to analyse the expression of these molecules in paraffin-embedded material from a series of EFT. ⋯ C-kit/SCF and EPO/EPO-R seem to participate in the pathway of anti-apoptotic and proliferative advantage, while c-erb-B2 does not play an important role in the neuroectodermal differentiation pathway in EFT cells.
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Anticancer research · Jul 2007
Phase I study of combination therapy with S-1 and weekly docetaxel for advanced gastric cancer.
The primary objective of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), the toxicity profile and the recommended dose (RD) for phase II of a combination of S-1 and weekly administration of docetaxel. ⋯ RD was level 2 (80 mg/m2 of S-1 for 3 weeks and 20 mg/m2 of docetaxel on day 1, 8 and 15, every 5 weeks). Dose intensities of S-1 and docetaxel were 48 mg/m2/week and 12 mg/m2/week, respectively. This regimen showed promising activity for advanced gastric cancer.
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Anticancer research · Jul 2007
Performance status (PS): a simple predictor of short-term outcome of cancer patients with solid tumors admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Admission of cancer patients with serious medical complications to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the 30-day all-cause mortality in cancer patients with solid tumors admitted to the ICU and to identify factors predicting 30-day mortality. ⋯ ECOG PS 3-4 prior to hospitalization was found to be a simple negative predictor of short-term outcome of cancer patients with solid tumors admitted to the ICU.