The lancet oncology
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The lancet oncology · Aug 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyComprehensive side-effect profile of anastrozole and tamoxifen as adjuvant treatment for early-stage breast cancer: long-term safety analysis of the ATAC trial.
The Arimidex (anastrozole), Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination (ATAC) trial was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of anastrozole with tamoxifen as adjuvant treatment for postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer. After an extended follow-up beyond the 5 years of treatment, we aimed to assess the safety, tolerability, and risk-benefit indices of these compounds. ⋯ Anastrozole is tolerated better than tamoxifen by postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer, and results in fewer serious adverse events. Furthermore, it has a more favourable overall risk-benefit profile and lower recurrence rate than tamoxifen.
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The lancet oncology · Jul 2006
Role of radiotherapy in cancer control in low-income and middle-income countries.
More than half the cases of cancer in the world arise in people in low-income and middle-income countries. This proportion will rise to 70% by 2020. These are regions where the annual gross national income per person is less than 9386 US dollars. ⋯ Eastern Europe and Latin America showed similar shortages. Strategies for developing services need planning at a national level and substantial investment for staff training and equipment. Safe and effective development of services would benefit from: links with established facilities in other countries, particularly those within the same region; access to information, such as free online journal access; and better education of all medical staff about the roles and benefits of radiotherapy.
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The lancet oncology · Jul 2006
Should patients be able to choose physician-assisted suicide at the end of their lives? For the proposal.
On May 12, 2006, members of the UK House of Lords voted against a proposed Assisted Dying for the Terminal Ill Bill. This Bill was put forward to "enable an adult who has capacity and who is suffering as a result of a terminal illness to receive medical assistance to die at his own considered and persistent request". Under this Bill, it would be lawful for a physician, or a member of the health-care team working in conjunction with a physician, to assist a qualifying patient to die by prescribing drugs. In this Debate, Margaret Branthwaite, a retired barrister and former consultant medical practitioner, presents the case for physician-assisted suicide, whereas David Jeffrey, former chair of the ethics committee of the Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland, presents the case against.
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The lancet oncology · Jul 2006
Analysis of RNA-binding protein IMP3 to predict metastasis and prognosis of renal-cell carcinoma: a retrospective study.
Distant metastasis is the main cause of death from renal-cell carcinoma, and the metastatic potential of tumours is often unpredictable. We aimed to investigate whether IMP3, an oncofetal RNA-binding protein, can be used as a biomarker to predict metastasis and prognosis of renal-cell carcinoma. ⋯ IMP3 is an independent prognostic marker that can be used at initial diagnosis of renal-cell carcinoma to identify patients who have a high potential to develop metastasis and who might benefit from early systemic treatment.