Gan to kagaku ryoho. Cancer & chemotherapy
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Gan To Kagaku Ryoho · Sep 2002
Case Reports[Advanced breast cancer with lung and pleural metastases responsive to anastrozole--a case report].
A 63-year-old postmenopausal woman was referred to our hospital for treatment of ER positive advanced breast cancer. The patient had lung and pleural metastases with pleural effusion from breast cancer. ⋯ The patient experienced no adverse effects with this therapy. Anastrozole therapy is a useful treatment for postmenopausal women with ER positive advanced breast cancer.
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After the usefulness of ovariectomy in breast cancer patients was demonstrated, endocrine therapy has been one of the most effective treatments of breast cancer. Thereafter, it became clear that estrogen receptors (ERs) existed in the cells of breast cancer. After it was found that ERs could be used as a predictive factor of endocrine therapy for breast cancer, the validity of endocrine therapy has became more certain. ⋯ In the near future, endocrine mechanisms in the body and the molecular mechanisms of transcription by ER will be more clearly elucidated, and then new kinds of agent and combined therapies for the endocrine treatment of breast cancer will be developed. Currently, many clinical randomized trials are being conducted to examine the effectiveness of new endocrine treatment. Significant changes are occurring in the endocrine treatment of breast cancer.
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Depression in cancer patients is common and occurs throughout the course of cancer illness. The prevalence of major depression in cancer patients was reported to range from 6 to 42%. This reflects various cancer-related variables, such as pain and low performance status as well as risks for major depression. ⋯ The management of delirium includes interventions that are directed both at the underlying causes and the symptoms of the disorder. Identification and correction of the underlying causes of delirium must take place together with symptomatic and environmental-supportive therapies. Haloperidol, a neuroleptic agent (antipsychotic) that is a potent dopamine blocker, is the drug of choice for the treatment of delirium in persons with cancer because of the low incidence of related cardiovascular and anticholinergic effects.
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Gan To Kagaku Ryoho · May 2002
[Incidence of emesis in outpatients on chemotherapy for breast cancer and the clinical efficacy of ondansetron hydrochloride tablets].
The incidence of nausea and vomiting was investigated for a maximum of 7 days in 32 breast cancer patients receiving CAF (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, 5-fluorouracil) and CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) therapies. For those patients who experienced nausea and vomiting, 4 mg/day of ondansetron hydrochloride (OND) in tablet form was given in the next course of the chemotherapy, and the anti-emetic effect of the drug was examined. During the observation period, nausea was seen in 17.2-50.0% of the patients and vomiting in 3.1-15.6%. ⋯ A marked effect was seen in higher proportion of patients. In conclusion, nausea and vomiting occurred in 17.2-50.0% of the breast cancer patients on chemotherapy (CAF and CMF therapies). To improve the QOL of those patients, anti-emetic treatment using OND tablets as necessary is considered to be effective.
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Gan To Kagaku Ryoho · Apr 2002
Case Reports[A patient with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor who responded to STI571].
We report a case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) with multiple hepatic metastases that responded to tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571. A 30-year-old woman underwent total gastrectomy on July 10, 1998, with a diagnosis of submucosal tumor of the stomach. Pathological analysis of the primary lesion revealed strong expression of c-kit, and it was diagnosed as GIST. ⋯ Thus, we evaluated the response as PR. Leukocytopenia, edema, diarrhea and nausea were observed; however, all toxicities were mild and tolerable. This case suggests the efficacy of STI571 for metastatic GIST.