Cancer
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Clinical Trial
Paclitaxel, carboplatin, and extended schedule etoposide in the treatment of small cell lung carcinoma.
Paclitaxel is an active agent in the initial treatment of patients with small cell lung carcinoma. The authors evaluated the toxicity and efficacy of paclitaxel (1-hour infusion) added to a standard combination regimen of carboplatin and etoposide in a Phase II trial for the treatment of patients with small cell lung carcinoma. ⋯ The combination of paclitaxel, administered by 1-hour infusion, carboplatin and extended schedule etoposide is feasible and well tolerated in the doses administered in this Phase II trail. This regimen was highly active with treatment results comparable to other standard regimens. Increased doses of both paclitaxel and carboplatin could probably be tolerated and are currently being evaluated. Precise definition of the role of paclitaxel in the treatment of small cell lung carcinoma awaits the results of randomized studies.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Patterns of disease failure after trimodality therapy of nonsmall cell lung carcinoma pathologic stage IIIA (N2). Analysis of Cancer and Leukemia Group B Protocol 8935.
The impact of sequential trimodality therapy on the pattern of first site disease failure in pathologic Stage IIIA (N2) nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) was analyzed. ⋯ Overall, disease failure was just as likely to occur in local, distant, or combined sites on CALGB Protocol 8935 using sequential trimodality therapy in the treatment of pathologic Stage IIIA (N2) NSCLC: Isolated or combined local failure occurred commonly during sequential tri-modality therapy whereas isolated or combined distant relapse was prevalent among patients with resected disease. In addition, isolated local failure was rare among patients with resected disease. The pattern of disease failure on CALGB Protocol 8935 reflects the biology of locoregional NSCLC as much as the therapeutic impact of trimodality therapy.
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The goal of this investigation was to examine the relationship between, and application of, two disease specific quality of life (QL) measures currently being employed for head and neck cancer patients: the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck Scale (FACT-H&N) and the Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer Patients (PSS-HN). ⋯ The FACT-HNS was found to be reliable and valid when applied to head and neck cancer patients. It clearly adds information to that collected by the parent (core) instrument. The PSS-HN also provides unique information, independent of that provided by the Karnofsky or the FACT-H&N. This study supported the multidimensional nature of QL for head and neck cancer patients, and thus the importance of assessing disease specific concerns in addition to general health status when assessing functional and QL outcome.
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Interactive, transrectal, ultrasound-guided transperineal implantation is a new technique for performing permanent brachytherapy implants of the prostate. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) findings, biopsy results, and morbidity are examined to demonstrate its efficacy and safety in treating early stage prostate carcinoma. ⋯ Interactive, ultrasound-guided transperineal brachytherapy results in a low PSA failure rate, high negative biopsy rate, and is associated with low morbidity and preservation of erectile function.