Acta oncologica
-
Preoperative radiochemotherapy is a cornerstone in patients with non- resectable locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). To improve outcome (number of R0 resections and survival) high-dose radiotherapy (RT) was combined with oral UFT/l-leucovorin to allow tumour regression before radical intended surgery. ⋯ Preoperative high-dose RT and concomitant UFT produces major regression in most patients with non-resectable LARC and thus a good chance of cure.
-
To facilitate a discussion about the impact of dose heterogeneity on the risk for secondary contralateral breast (CB) cancer predicted with linear and non linear models associated with primary breast irradiation. ⋯ Optimization of breast cancer radiation therapy, where also the risk for radiation induced secondary malignancies in the contralateral breast is taken into account, requires robust and valid risk assessment. The linear dose-risk model does not account for the complexity in the mechanisms underlying the development of secondary malignancies following exposure to radiation; this is particularly important when estimating risk associated with highly heterogeneous dose distributions as is the case in the contralateral breast of women receiving breast cancer irradiation.
-
Clinical Trial
Analgesic effect of paracetamol on cancer related pain in concurrent strong opioid therapy. A prospective clinical study.
In palliative cancer care, when approaching death, swallowing difficulties and the burden of tablet intake frequently makes us reconsider each individual drug prescribed. Through the last two decades the routine of always combining a strong opioid with paracetamol has been widely spread in Sweden. Clinical experience has challenged this routine as many patients seem to manage equally well without paracetamol. To find out whether this might be of clinical importance, we wanted to perform a more systematic registration. ⋯ The results of this study indicate that a critical evaluation, in every patient, of the subjective additive analgesic effect of paracetamol in concurrent strong opioid therapy is advisable and that stopping paracetamol medication not necessarily implies increased pain. Rather in some patients the cessation of paracetamol medication is experienced as a relief as pain control is maintained with a lesser tablet burden.
-
Trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that together with chemotherapy significantly improves time to progression and overall survival for metastatic breast cancer patients with tumours overexpressing HER2. The aim of this study was to analyse the cost-effectiveness of HER2 testing and trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone from a societal perspective in a Swedish setting. ⋯ Our analysis indicate that FISH testing for all patients with trastuzumab and chemotherapy treatment for FISH positive patients is a cost-effective treatment option from a societal perspective.
-
We retrospectively evaluated the impact of percent positive axillary nodal involvement on the therapeutic outcomes in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer receiving postmastectomy radiotherapy and chemotherapy. ⋯ Percent positive nodal involvement was found to be a significant prognostic factor for survival in all end-points.