Oncology reports
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Antitumor activity of combination chemotherapy with irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) and nedaplatin was compared to that with CPT-11 and cisplatin. In vitro cytotoxicity of SN-38 (an active metabolite of CPT-11) in combination with nedaplatin or cisplatin was evaluated using three human cervical cancer cell lines (ME-180, CaSki and SiHa). IC50 values of nedaplatin against these three human cervical cancer cell lines were about 2-fold as high as those of cisplatin, indicating somewhat weak cytotoxic effects of nedaplatin. ⋯ In addition, the incidences of digestive disorder, peripheral neuropathy and auditory disorder are lower. These findings suggest that the combination chemotherapy with CPT-11 and nedaplatin for squamous cell cancer of uterine cervix is very useful in clinical practice. A dose-finding study should be conducted.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
A combined analysis of two pivotal randomized trials of a single dose of pegfilgrastim per chemotherapy cycle and daily Filgrastim in patients with stage II-IV breast cancer.
This combined, retrospective analysis compared once-per-chemotherapy-cycle pegfilgrastim with daily Filgrastim in breast cancer patients undergoing myelosuppressive chemotherapy enrolled in two similarly designed, randomized, double-blind, pivotal trials. On day 2 of each chemotherapy cycle, a single subcutaneous (SC) injection of pegfilgrastim [either 6 mg (n=77) or 100 microg/kg (n=149)] was administered, or daily Filgrastim SC injections (5 microg/kg/day; n=222) were initiated and continued until either absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > or =10 x 10(9)/l after the expected nadir or for up to 14 days, whichever occurred first. Individually, each of these trials demonstrated that a single pegfilgrastim injection per cycle is as effective at reducing the duration of severe neutropenia as daily injections of Filgrastim. ⋯ Trends towards lower risks of hospitalization and intravenous anti-infective use were also observed. These observations were consistent irrespective of risk factors, including age, disease stage, performance status and prior treatment. Pegfilgrastim may offer patients more effective protection against neutropenic complications of chemotherapy with fewer injections and less disruption to their lives.
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Review Comparative Study
External beam radiotherapy in bone metastatic prostate cancer: impact on patients' pain relief and quality of life.
Bone metastases are a severe problem in oncology, since they usually are associated with pain. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) has been, for many years, an important component of the treatment regimen to relieve pain. We have performed a clinical study to evaluate the relationship of response to EBRT in terms of pain relief and improvement in quality of life (QoL). ⋯ Forteen patients of 61 (23%) responders was alive at 12 months. Our results confirm the ability of EBRT to relieve bony pain in the majority of the cancer patients treated as measured by prospective analysis of pain scales prior to and after EBRT. Minimal side effects were experienced and QoL improved as shown by the results of the specific questionnaire.
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We recently reported the powerful antiapoptotic activity of clusterin against various apoptotic stimuli in prostate cancer model systems; however, the precise mode of clusterin action in target cells remains largely unknown. In the present study, we therefore investigated whether intracellular or extracellular action of clusterin plays a crucial role in cytotoxic chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in androgen-independent human prostate cancer PC3 cells, which express a high level of clusterin. ⋯ Moreover, the effects of clusterin mAb and AS clusterin ODN on PC3 cells were not reversed by additional treatment with exogenous recombinant clusterin protein. These findings suggest that the sensitivity of PC3 cells to paclitaxel-induced cytotoxicity may be regulated by the intracellular rather than extracellular level of clusterin.
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We conducted a phase I study to evaluate the activity and tolerability of concurrent docetaxel and cisplatinum radiosensitization with hyperfractionated irradiation, in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Nine patients (5 stage III(A) and 4 III(B)) with NSCLC, and 15 with SCCHN (10 stage III and 5 IV) were treated with a b.i.d. hyperfractionated (HF) radiotherapy schedule. The normalized total dose for alpha/beta ratio = 10 Gy was 69.6 Gy for NSCLC and 80.5 Gy for SCCHN patients. ⋯ Radiosensitization with docetaxel and cisplatin given concurrently with HF (b.i.d.) radiotherapy on a weekly basis is a promising approach and the recommended dose for further phase II studies is 10 mg/m(2)/week for both drugs. The antitumor activity shown was significant in both types of tumors. The incorporation of docetaxel in chemoradiotherapy regimens for future treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and head and neck, merits evaluation in phase II and III trials.