Cancer
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Clinical Trial
A phase I/II study of carboplatin combined with hyperfractionated radiotherapy for brainstem gliomas.
Brainstem gliomas often respond to radiotherapy but long term disease control is exceptional. The concomitant administration of a chemotherapy agent with radiosensitizing properties such as carboplatin may increase the efficacy of radiotherapy. ⋯ The cumulative MTD for carboplatin is 1540 mg/m(2) when administered concomitantly with involved field, hyperfractionated radiotherapy in a twice-weekly schedule for 7 weeks. Subsequent Phase II and III clinical trials can be conducted safely at this level.
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Pain control is one of the most important goals of end-of-life care, and the use of opioids for this purpose is extremely common in hospice settings. However, it is unknown how many of the patients require high dose morphine (HDM, >299 mg/day of oral morphine equivalent), what the characteristics of these patients are, and whether the use of HDM might affect their survival. ⋯ A fairly strong correlation exists between morphine dosage and some clinicodemographic data. No significant dose-limiting adverse effects were observed, suggesting a high clinical safety profile. High morphine dosage does not affect patient survival. Awareness of the dosage factors will improve our ability to treat and predict probable HDM dosage, thus shortening the period until pain relief is reached.