Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy
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Expert Opin Pharmacother · Sep 2010
ReviewMolecular targeted therapy of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma beyond sorafenib.
With the recent advances in the knowledge of molecular biology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there have been encouraging developments in targeted therapy for advanced HCC. ⋯ The development of sorafenib in the treatment of advanced HCC proves the concept that molecular targeted therapies, especially anti-angiogenic agents, play a pivotal role in the treatment of this otherwise chemoresistant neoplasm. Future progress depends on further unraveling more molecular mechanisms of HCC for therapeutic intervention.
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Expert Opin Pharmacother · Sep 2010
ReviewTreatment of gastric marginal zone lymphoma of MALT type.
Gastric marginal zone lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT type) represent approximately half of all cases of lymphomas arising in the stomach. They have been strongly associated with chronic Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) gastritis. Treatment aimed at eradicating this infection results in lymphoma remissions in the majority of patients (approximately 80%) and this represents a unique case of anticancer treatment based on the eradication of the causing factor. ⋯ Gastric MALT lymphoma has an indolent course and most patients can achieve durable disease control after only anti-H. pylori therapy. For patients not responding to antibiotics, randomized trials are needed to define the best treatment modality.
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Expert Opin Pharmacother · Aug 2010
ReviewChronic pain management issues in the primary care setting and the utility of long-acting opioids.
Chronic/persistent pain - a highly prevalent condition that places a substantial burden on patients in terms of personal suffering, reduced productivity and health care costs - remains inadequately treated in many patients. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview and evaluate the burden and undertreatment of chronic/persistent pain, considerations for choosing an analgesic and the utility of long-acting opioids. ⋯ Successful management of chronic/persistent pain should be individually tailored to each patient, taking into account his or her pain intensity and duration, disease state, tolerance of adverse events and risk of medication abuse or diversion. The literature supports the efficacy and safety of a number of long-acting opioids for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain, demonstrating sustained improvements in pain intensity and pain-related sleep disturbances with these agents.
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Expert Opin Pharmacother · Aug 2010
ReviewPixantrone for the treatment of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
At present there is no standard treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who progress following second-line therapy. Anthracyclines are highly active drugs, but their use in this setting is limited by cumulative cardiac toxicity. Pixantrone is a new aza-anthracenedione structurally similar to mitoxantrone and anthracyclines. This compound has been developed to minimize cardiac toxicity without reducing efficacy. ⋯ Pixantrone has been shown to be superior to other single-agent therapies for the salvage treatment of relapsed/refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The pixantrone application will be submitted to the regulatory authorities in the USA and in Europe.
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Expert Opin Pharmacother · Aug 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialEfficacy and safety of tapentadol extended release for the management of chronic low back pain: results of a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled Phase III study.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tapentadol extended release (ER) for the management of moderate to severe chronic low back pain. ⋯ Tapentadol ER (100 - 250 mg b.i.d.) effectively relieved moderate to severe chronic low back pain over 15 weeks and had better gastrointestinal tolerability than oxycodone HCl CR (20 - 50 mg b.i.d.).