Tumori
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A meta-analysis of diagnostic test performance was conducted to compare the results of relevant studies reporting diagnostic accuracy values for mediastinal staging in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This paper deals with the two most accurate imaging techniques currently in use: positron emission tomography (PET) with FDG and computed tomography (CT). A statistical pooling method was used to perform a quantitative meta-analysis aimed at demonstrating the potential advantage of one of these two methods. ⋯ Numerical and visual results of the meta-analysis of recent relevant reports agreed that FDG-PET is more accurate than CT in identifying mediastinal lymph node metastases in non-small cell lung cancer.
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Multicenter Study
Single-agent irinotecan as second-line weekly chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
Irinotecan is a standard option for relapsed/refractory advanced colorectal cancer. Although in a recently reported, randomized trial it was found that a regimen of irinotecan once every 3 weeks was associated with a lower incidence of severe diarrhea than with weekly treatment with similar efficacy, there is no evidence in the literature that suggests the optimal dosing strategy for the drug, along with treatment efficacy and safety, following 5-fluorouracil/oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in elderly patients. A phase II study has reported significantly reduced toxicity when irinotecan was administered once a week for 2 weeks, followed by a week rest. ⋯ A weekly irinotecan administration can induce tumor control in elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer that has progressed during or shortly after 5-fluorouracil/oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. However, a careful monitoring of hematological toxicity and special instructions to prevent and manage diarrhea are mandatory in this setting of patients.