Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Association of serum Rituximab (IDEC-C2B8) concentration and anti-tumor response in the treatment of recurrent low-grade or follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Monoclonal antibodies are being utilized for treatment of patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as well as other cancers. Results from phase I and II clinical studies has shown that the chimeric monoclonal antibody Rituximab has minimal toxicity and significant therapeutic activity in low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. ⋯ We conclude that Rituximab is therapeutically effective against B-cell lymphoma. Pharmacokinetic data suggests that certain subsets of patients may possibly benefit from increased dosing and studies to address this are currently underway.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Phase I multicenter study of combined high-dose ifosfamide and doxorubicin in the treatment of advanced sarcomas. Swiss Group for Clinical Research (SAKK).
Ifosfamide and doxorubicin are the most active agents in the treatment of sarcomas and are characterized by a marked dose-response relationship. The objective of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of both agents in combination under granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) cover. ⋯ The dose level of ifosfamide 10 g/m2 and doxorubicin 90 mg/m2 with supportive GM-CSF is manageable in a multicenter setting and should be further tested in regular phase II trials, including patients with gynecological and soft-tissue sarcomas. Transient toxicity with myelosuppression should be accepted in order to obtain a high antitumor activity of this regimen and a potential improvement in survival.
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The need to review and summarize the evidence concerning preventive treatment of cancer chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced emesis. ⋯ A 5-HT3 antagonist plus dexamethasone is the regimen of choice in the prevention of acute emesis induced by single high, and low and repeated doses of cisplatin, and of acute emesis induced by moderately-high emetogenic chemotherapy (i.e., cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, epirubicin, carboplatin, used alone or in combination) in both adults and children. In the prevention of delayed emesis induced by cisplatin the most efficacious choice is a combination of dexamethasone with either metoclopramide or a 5-HT3 antagonist, while in moderately-high emetogenic chemotherapy dexamethasone alone or a 5-HT3 antagonist alone or their combination should be used. No evidence or consensus exists regarding antiemetic treatment for patients receiving low emetogenic chemotherapy, or about the optimal rescue treatment for patients failing antiemetic prophylaxis. The best treatment for anticipatory emesis is the best possible control of acute and delayed emesis. Although 5-HT3 antagonists have some efficacy in the prevention of acute emesis induced by high-dose chemotherapy, more studies should be carried out to determine the best preventive treatment. For prevention of acute emesis induced by highly/moderately emetogenic radiotherapy (TBI, irradiation of the upper part of the abdomen or of the whole abdomen/radiotherapy of the thorax, pelvis and lower body half) a 5-HT3 antagonist is the best choice.
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There is convincing evidence from randomized clinical trials that the use of 5-HT3 antagonists has brought about a substantial improvement in the control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. However, no data exist to indicate how this new research evidence can be applied to the individual patient. ⋯ Powerful barriers exist between the evidence provided by sound research and clinical practice, and this issue hampers progress toward the optimal use of antiemetic drugs.
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A few data are available from analyses of the complications and costs of central venous access ports for chemotherapy. This prospective study deals with the complications and global costs of central venous ports connected to a Groshong catheter for deliverance of long-term chemotherapy. ⋯ This study represents the largest published series of patients with totally implantable access ports connected to a Groshong catheter. We have shown that US$2,000 are sufficient to cover six months of chemotherapy in one patient using the most expensive commercially available implantable port. According to the present study, totally implantable access ports connected to a Groshong catheter are associated with high purchase and insertion costs, a low complication rate and low maintenance costs. These data support their increasing use in current oncologic medical practice.