European journal of cancer : official journal for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) [and] European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Sequential high-dose chemotherapy for children with metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma.
The RMS4.99 study was designed to explore the role of multiple sequential high-dose chemotherapy cycles administered early in the treatment of children with metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma. ⋯ Our study confirms that patients with favourable prognostic characteristics have a better survival. The use of sequential cycles of high-dose chemotherapy did not appear of benefit for patients with metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Activity of ixabepilone in oestrogen receptor-negative and oestrogen receptor-progesterone receptor-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative metastatic breast cancer.
Oestrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer, including oestrogen receptor-, progesterone receptor- and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER/PR/HER2-negative) breast cancer, is more aggressive than ER-positive disease. A major limitation in the treatment of ER-negative disease subtypes is the inherent insensitivity to hormonal agents (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors) that are widely used in the treatment of breast cancer. ⋯ Ixabepilone, a novel epothilone B analogue with low susceptibility to cellular mechanisms that confer resistance to taxanes and other chemotherapeutic agents, has demonstrated potent preclinical antitumour activity in multiple models, including those with primary or acquired drug resistance. This review summarises the results of a prospective subset analysis from a phase III clinical trial evaluating ixabepilone for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), in which efficacy and safety were evaluated in patients with ER-negative and ER/PR/HER2-negative disease.
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Review Meta Analysis
Overweight, obesity and gastric cancer risk: results from a meta-analysis of cohort studies.
The relationship between excess body weight and gastric cancer risk has not been well studied to date. We therefore carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of published cohort studies to evaluate the association between excess body weight and gastric cancer risk. An electronic search of the MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE and Academic Search Premier (EBSCO) databases, which contain articles published from 1950 onwards, was conducted in order to select studies for this meta-analysis. ⋯ Specifically, a stratified analysis showed that excess body weight was associated with an increased risk of cardia gastric cancer [overweight and obese (BMI 25), OR=1.55, 95% CIs=1.31-1.84] and gastric cancer among non-Asians (overweight and obese, OR=1.24, 95% CIs=1.14-1.36); however, the stratified analysis also showed that there was no statistically significant link between excess body weight and gastric cancer in the following subgroups: males (overweight and obese, OR=1.22, 95% CIs=0.96-1.55), females (overweight and obese, OR=1.13, 95% CIs=0.65-1.94), non-cardia gastric cancer (overweight and obese, OR=1.18, 95% CIs=0.96-1.45) and Asians (overweight and obese, OR=1.17, 95% CIs=0.88-1.56). The combined results of this meta-analysis, however, do indicate that overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. The strength of the association also increases with increasing BMI.
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Review
The importance of early symptom recognition in the context of early detection and cancer survival.
Since there is evidence that stage is an important prognostic factor in cancer, interventions aimed at 'down-staging' are part of a comprehensive cancer control approach. Besides organised screening programmes, raising awareness of detectable signs and symptoms is recommended. ⋯ Although early diagnosis is an important factor for cancer survival, other considerations such as the cancer profile of a country, the characteristics of cancer types and the availability of devices for diagnosis should be taken into account in promoting early cancer detection. There is a clear need for research to categorize cancer types according to early symptoms in order to increase comparability of studies in this field and to provide guidance for health personnel in primary care settings in low income regions.
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Multicenter Study
Cardiac or cardiopulmonary transplantation in childhood cancer survivors: an increasing need?
Childhood cancer patients now have an excellent survival rate. Anthracyclines and radiation have contributed to this success, unfortunately at a cost. Both modalities are cardiotoxic and in some cases this is fatal unless treated by cardiac transplantation. ⋯ Cardiac transplantation is a realistic option for cancer survivors, with survival rates comparable with those of other cardiac recipients. This study demonstrates that, over three decades, there has been an increased requirement for cardiac transplantation among childhood cancer survivors. Future planning for long term survivors needs to take this into account.