Gan to kagaku ryoho. Cancer & chemotherapy
-
Now, more than ever, palliative medicine has been gaining recognition for its essential role in cancer treatment. Since its beginning, it has emphasized the importance of collaboration among multidisciplinary professionals, valuing a comprehensive and holistic philosophy, addressing a wide range of hopes and suffering that patients and families experience. ⋯ Recently, accumulating research has shown the clinical benefits of the interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary approach in palliative care settings. Clarifying appropriate functions and ideal features of physicians in the health care team, and enforcing the suitable team approach will contribute to improve the quality of whole medical practice beyond the framework of "palliative medicine".
-
HER2-targeted therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer is one of the success stories in medical oncology. Trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, was the first approved HER2-targeted agent. Subsequent developments include agents with different mechanisms, such as lapatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. We describe here the results of late-phase clinical trials of two newly-available anti-HER2 agents, T-DM1 and pertuzumab.
-
Gan To Kagaku Ryoho · Jan 2013
Case Reports[Three cases of cancer-related pain for which oxycodone injection was efficacious].
The intravenous or subcutaneous route is a useful option for administering opioids when cancer patients with moderate to severe pain are unable to take oral medication. An injectable form of oxycodone is now available, and three patients with cancer-related pain were treated successfully with continuous intravenous or subcutaneous oxycodone. ⋯ The second case suggested that oxycodone may have a more favorable analgesic profile in severe neuropathic cancer pain compared with fentanyl. Finally, the third case demonstrated that oxycodone injection is relatively safe for renal-impaired patients.
-
Gan To Kagaku Ryoho · Jan 2013
[New molecular-targeted agents for colorectal cancer - regorafenib and aflibercept].
Since the approval of bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab, development of novel molecular-targeted agents for colorectal cancer has been awaited. Recent phase III trials revealed that new molecular-target agents, regorafenib and aflibercept, are useful for previously treated mCRC. ⋯ They are different in structure, but an anti-angiogenic effect is one of the main mechanisms of action they have in common. Consistent with the 18147ML study, bevacizumab beyond progression (BBP), anti-angiogenic therapies are important in any line of chemotherapy for colorectal cancer.
-
Gan To Kagaku Ryoho · Dec 2012
Case Reports[Examination and care for cancer patients with difficult-to-assess pain - feed back on patients who received consultation from our palliative care team].
The care of cancer patients whose pain is difficult to assess is examined. ⋯ Careful care according to the cause of the difficult assessment of pain and individual communication ability proved important.