Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
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To report the reliability and validity of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Ovarian (FACT-O) in a consecutive series of outpatients with epithelial ovarian cancer. ⋯ Overall, the FACT-O provides a reliable and valid assessment of the quality of life of women with ovarian cancer, and is appropriate as a brief quality of life assessment in clinical trials and descriptive studies.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Prevention of cisplatin-induced emesis by the oral neurokinin-1 antagonist, MK-869, in combination with granisetron and dexamethasone or with dexamethasone alone.
The NK1-receptor antagonist MK-869 (L-754,030) has demonstrated antiemetic activity in humans receiving chemotherapy. Objectives of the present trial included the first assessment of oral MK-869 plus dexamethasone compared with a 5HT(3) antagonist plus dexamethasone for prevention of acute and delayed emesis after high-dose cisplatin. Furthermore, the study sought to confirm that addition of MK-869 to a 5HT(3) antagonist plus dexamethasone was more effective than just the 5HT(3) antagonist plus dexamethasone for prevention of acute and delayed emesis. ⋯ Once daily oral administration of MK-869 was effective in reducing delayed emesis and nausea after high-dose cisplatin. However, the combination of the 5HT3 antagonist plus dexamethasone was numerically superior to MK-869 plus dexamethasone in reducing acute emesis. Confirming and extending previous findings, the triple combination of a 5HT(3) antagonist, MK-869, and dexamethasone provided the best control of acute emesis.
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The current study was undertaken within the framework of a screening trial to compare the health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) outcomes of two primary treatment modalities for localized prostate cancer: radical prostatectomy and external-beam radiotherapy. ⋯ Prostatectomy and radiotherapy differed in the type of HRQOL impairment. Because the HRQOL effects may be valued differently at the individual level, patients should be made fully aware of the potential benefits and adverse consequences of therapies for early prostate cancer. Differences in posttreatment HRQOL were not related to the method of cancer detection.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Phase I study of paclitaxel given by seven-week continuous infusion concurrent with radiation therapy for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Paclitaxel is one of the most active agents for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and an in vitro radiosensitizer. The dose-response relationship for paclitaxel may depend more on exposure duration than on peak concentration. This National Cancer Institute-sponsored phase I trial was designed to determine the feasibility of combining continuous-infusion (CI) paclitaxel with concurrent radiation therapy (RT). ⋯ CI paclitaxel with concurrent RT is a feasible and tolerable regimen for patients with advanced SCCHN and good performance status. Preliminary response and survival data are encouraging and suggest that further study is indicated. The recommended phase II dose of paclitaxel by CI is 10.5 mg/m(2)/d with RT for SCCHN.
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The value of palliative chemotherapy in women with refractory and recurrent ovarian cancer is difficult to quantify, and little is known about patient expectations from these treatments. We evaluated in the current prospective study patient expectations, palliative outcomes of chemotherapy, and the inherent resource utilization in patients undergoing second- or third-line chemotherapy for recurrent or refractory advanced ovarian cancer. ⋯ Patient expectations from these treatments are often unrealistic. Although objective responses are low, active palliation with chemotherapy is associated with substantive improvement in patients' emotional function and global QL, with overall costs that seem relatively modest.