Cancer investigation
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Dexamethasone and histamine antagonists have been employed commonly as premedications for prophylaxis of hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to paclitaxel. Frequent premedications for weekly administration of paclitaxel are associated with added side-effects and extra cost. We analyzed our experience of HSRs to paclitaxel administered every 3-4 weeks, and designed a treatment algorithm to eliminate premedications in a majority of patients receiving weekly paclitaxel. ⋯ We conclude that this premedication strategy is feasible and worthy of further study for patients receiving weekly paclitaxel.
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Cancer investigation · Jan 2002
Review Comparative StudyThe new bisphosphonate, Zometa (zoledronic acid), decreases skeletal complications in both osteolytic and osteoblastic lesions: a comparison to pamidronate.
Bisphosphonates are the treatment of choice for lytic bone lesions associated with breast cancer. In contrast, bone lesions associated with prostate cancer are predominately osteoblastic. Zoledonic acid (Zol) is a new-generation bisphosphonate that is approximately 2-3 orders of magnitude more potent than pamidronate (Pam) in preclinical models and has demonstrated clinical efficacy in patients with both lytic and blastic lesions. ⋯ In these studies, Zol was well tolerated with a safety profile similar to other IV bisphosphonates. In conclusion, Zol is the first bisphosphonate to demonstrate efficacy in both lytic and blastic disease. The unique properties of this novel agent should be further explored in future clinical trials.
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Cancer investigation · Jan 2002
ReviewPegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil) for metastatic breast cancer: the Cancer Research Network, Inc., experience.
Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil) was formulated to improve the safety profile of doxorubicin. The major toxicities, mucositis and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, are dose and schedule dependent, respectively. Anecdotal experience suggests that a dosage of 40 mg/m2 every 4 weeks is well tolerated. ⋯ There was no grade 4 toxicity. The only grade 3 toxicities were leukopenia in seven (18%) patients, mucositis in one (3%), and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia in one (3%). More studies are warranted to confirm our findings, which suggest that pegylated liposomal doxorubicin at a dosage of 40-45 mg/m2 every 4 weeks is clinically active in, and well tolerated by, women with metastatic breast cancer.
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Cancer investigation · Jan 2002
Comparative StudyDifferentiation of low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma and high-grade gastric MALT lymphoma: the clinical value of Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy--a pilot study.
Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy has been routinely and extensively used to evaluate non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) for more than 20 years. Gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) is by far the most common extranodal primary NHL. Gastric MALT lymphoma can be classified as low-grade (LG) or high-grade (HG). ⋯ The Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy is of good clinical value for the differentiation of the LG gastric MALT lymphoma and the HG gastric MALT lymphoma. We think that the major value of Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy will be in following the patients with HG gastric MALT lymphoma after treatment to assess response of therapy and to detect possible recurrence and perhaps in determining transformation from the LG to HG gastric MALT lymphoma. However, further investigation is needed to understand the relationship between the uptake of Ga-67 citrate in gastric MALT lymphoma and transformation.