Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
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To determine any differences in outcome for patients with anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) treated with adjuvant carmustine (BCNU) versus procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (PCV) chemotherapy. ⋯ Using this retrospective analysis, there does not seem to be any survival benefit to PCV chemotherapy. Future phase III studies for patients with AA may need to consider whether BCNU or PCV is used in the control arm.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor treatment before doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy priming in women with early-stage breast cancer.
To determine if inhibition of stem-cell activity induced by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor ([GM-CSF]; Sargramostim; Immunex Corporation, Seattle, WA) withdrawal or priming protects hematopoietic stem cells from the cytotoxic effects of adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. ⋯ GM-CSF priming from days 5 to 1 before doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy was associated with an earlier neutrophil and platelet nadir. On day 16, a higher mean neutrophil count and a lower proportion of patients with severe (< 500/microL) neutropenia were observed. Beneficial effects on the severity and duration of thrombocytopenia were also noted. These observations support the hypothesis that GM-CSF priming protects hematopoietic progenitors from the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Multicenter phase II study of bimonthly high-dose leucovorin, fluorouracil infusion, and oxaliplatin for metastatic colorectal cancer resistant to the same leucovorin and fluorouracil regimen.
To evaluate the objective tumor response rates and toxicities of leucovorin (LV) plus fluorouracil (5-FU) cancer regimen combined with oxaliplatin (85 mg/m(2)) every 2 weeks on metastatic colorectal cancer patients with documented proof of progression while on bimonthly LV and 5-FU alone. ⋯ This phase II study of oxaliplatin at 85 mg/m(2) in combination with bimonthly LV plus 5-FU in patients with colorectal cancer resistant to LV plus 5-FU alone confirms the enhanced antitumor activity of oxaliplatin in combination with 5-FU.
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The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of symptom assessments in advanced cancer patients under various conditions, including multiple raters (patients, nurses, and family caregivers), occasions, and symptoms. ⋯ The findings from this study reinforce the need for the development of an integrated symptom assessment approach that combines patient and proxy assessments. Further research is needed to explore individual differences among raters.