Clinical lung cancer
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Clinical lung cancer · Sep 2014
Vandetanib and indwelling pleural catheter for non-small-cell lung cancer with recurrent malignant pleural effusion.
Non-small-cell lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion have a poor overall median survival (4.3 months). VEGF is a key regulator of pleural effusion production. It is unknown if pharmacological inhibition of VEGF signaling modifies the disease course of non-small-cell lung cancer patients with recurrent malignant pleural effusion. We report the final results of a single-arm phase II clinical trial of the VEGF receptor inhibitor, vandetanib, combined with intrapleural catheter placement in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and recurrent malignant pleural effusion, to determine whether vandetanib reduces time to pleurodesis. ⋯ Vandetanib therapy was well tolerated; however, it did not significantly reduce time to pleurodesis.
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Clinical lung cancer · May 2014
ReviewTreatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation or ALK gene rearrangement: results of an international expert panel meeting of the Italian Association of Thoracic Oncology.
The availability of targeted drugs has made the assessment of the EGFR mutation and ALK rearrangement critical in choosing the optimal treatment for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In May 2013, the Italian Association of Thoracic Oncology (AIOT) organized an International Experts Panel Meeting to review strengths and limitations of the available evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of advanced NSCLC with EGFR or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) alterations and to discuss implications for clinical practice and future clinical research. All patients with advanced NSCLC, with the exclusion of pure squamous cell carcinoma in former or current smokers, should be tested for EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements before decisions are made on first-line treatment. ⋯ Although solid evidence supporting the continuation of EGFR TKIs or crizotinib beyond progression is lacking, in some cases (minimal, asymptomatic progression, or oligoprogression manageable by local therapy), treatment continuation beyond progression could be justified. Experimental strategies to target tumor heterogeneity and to treat patients after failure of EGFR TKIs or crizotinib are considered high-priority areas of research. A number of relevant research priorities were identified to optimize available treatment options.
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Clinical lung cancer · May 2014
Prognostic factors in the radical nonsurgical treatment of stage IIIB non-small-cell lung cancer.
Many patients diagnosed with stage IIIB (AJCC sixth edition; T4, N3, or both; no pleural effusion) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are treated with curative intent, despite a low cure rate. Guidelines are required to help select patients for radical therapy so that the patients with little chance of cure may be spared the toxicities of aggressive treatment. A retrospective analysis was performed to investigate factors influencing outcomes in these patients. ⋯ OS was significantly longer in women, in patients with ≤ 5% weight loss, and in those without N3 disease. Good patient selection remains important in the radical treatment of stage IIIB NSCLC.
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Clinical lung cancer · Mar 2014
Association between race and survival of patients with non--small-cell lung cancer in the United States veterans affairs population.
Racial disparities in outcomes of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in the United States are well documented. A retrospective analysis of patients in the Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry was conducted to determine whether similar disparities exist in a population with a single-payer, accessible health care system. ⋯ Although African-American patients had a higher stage and grade of NSCLC, they had a better overall survival than Caucasian patients. In a single-payer system with accessible health care, previously described racial differences in lung cancer outcomes were not observed.