Cancer investigation
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Cancer investigation · Feb 2006
A phase I study of eniluracil/5-FU in combination with radiation therapy for potentially resectable and/or unresectable cancer of the pancreas and distal biliary tract.
Eniluracil is an effective inactivator of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD). It allows for oral dosing of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which may potentially improve the antitumor activity of 5-FU when delivered concurrently with radiotherapy while avoiding the inconvenience and morbidity of continuous infusion (CI) 5-FU. We addressed the safety of oral eniluracil/5-FU combined with radiation therapy and determined the profile of dose-limiting toxicities and recommended Phase II dose (RPTD) in patients with pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers. ⋯ Preoperative chemoradiation with oral eniluracil/5-FU is feasible, well tolerated, and potentially effective in the neoadjuvant setting. Further investigation of oral fluoropyrimidines as radiosensitizers for pancreaticobiliary malignancies is warranted.
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Cancer investigation · Feb 2006
Medical confidentiality and patient privacy: the Jewish perspective.
This article presents the approach of Jewish law to the major issue of medical confidentiality and patient privacy. For an extensive discussion of Jewish medical ethics and an in-depth presentation of the Jewish view of 39 major issues in medical ethics, the reader is referred elsewhere [15]. Briefly, the Jewish view toward medical ethical subjects is predicated on the general principle of the supreme value of human life. ⋯ Physicians are obligated to heal patients from their illness, to induce remission and cure of disease whenever possible. Similarly, patients are obligated to lead healthy lifestyles, to consult physicians when they are sick and to be compliant with the physician's therapeutic recommendations. The Jewish view on medical confidentiality and patient privacy as presented in this essay flows from these general principles of Jewish medical ethics.