Clinical lung cancer
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Clinical lung cancer · Sep 2012
ReviewPersonalized medicine for non-small-cell lung cancer: implications of recent advances in tissue acquisition for molecular and histologic testing.
In light of recent advances in individualized therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), molecular and histologic profiling is essential for guiding therapeutic decisions. Results of these analyses may have implications for both response (eg, molecular testing for EGFR [epidermal growth factor receptor] mutations) and safety (eg, contraindications for squamous histology) in NSCLC. ⋯ Due to the need for increasing histologic and molecular information and increasingly smaller tissue sample sizes, efforts must be focused on optimizing tissue acquisition and the development of more sensitive molecular assays. Recent advances in tissue acquisition techniques and specimen preservation may help to address this challenge and lead to enhanced personalized treatment in NSCLC.
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Clinical lung cancer · Mar 2012
Meta AnalysisNegative predictive value of positron emission tomography and computed tomography for stage T1-2N0 non-small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis.
Nodal staging of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is crucial in evaluation of prognosis and determination of therapeutic strategy. This study aimed to determine the negative predictive value (NPV) of combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) in patients with stage I (T1-2N0) NSCLC and to investigate the possible risk factors for occult nodal disease. ⋯ Although overall occult nodal metastases in clinical stage T1-2N0 NSCLC is not infrequent, combined PET and CT provide a favorable NPV for mediastinal metastases in T1N0 NSCLC, suggesting a low yield from routine invasive staging procedures for this subgroup of patients.
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Clinical lung cancer · Mar 2012
Comparative StudyThe relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer in African American patients.
Airflow obstruction and/or emphysema have been associated with lung cancer risk; however, this relationship and the joint occurrence of these conditions are not well studied in the African American population ⋯ There is a high incidence of COPD, emphysema in particular, in a selected group of African American patients with lung cancer. A significant number of these patients were not aware that they had COPD. There was no significant difference in the outcome of lung cancer in relation to the presence or absence of COPD.
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Advanced lung cancer is often symptomatic; thus the goals of treatment include maintenance of function and palliation of symptoms. Symptom management requires accurate systematic symptom assessment. This study, which focused on lung cancer, is part of a larger study to obtain patient input that, in combination with previously obtained physician and nurse input, was used to develop symptom indexes for 11 advanced cancers. ⋯ The NFLSI-17 reflects the most important patient- and clinician-rated targets of chemotherapy for advanced lung cancer; further validation will follow.
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Clinical lung cancer · Nov 2011
Gefitinib as first-line treatment in elderly epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma: results of a Nagano Lung Cancer Research Group study.
Efficacy of first-line gefitinib for elderly epidermal growth factor receptor mutated patients with lung adenocarcinoma is uncertain. This study was aimed to investigate efficacy of gefitinib for such population. The primary endpoint was response rate (RR) and at least 12 cases were needed. Overall RR was 59% (95% confidence interval, 33%-81%) and first-line gefitinib was effective for elderly patients. ⋯ First-line treatment with gefitinib was effective and well-tolerated in elderly patients with EGFR mutations.