Oncology
-
The aim of this study was to assess whether the reduction in the total dose of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) per cycle from 50 mg/m(2) every 4 weeks to 40 mg/m(2) every 4 weeks can effectively lower the incidence of treatment-related palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE) and mucositis. ⋯ The favorable safety profile observed in this study leads us to recommend the use of PLD 40 mg/m(2) every 4 weeks for patients with advanced breast cancer.
-
Breast tumorigenesis is a continuum from preinvasive lesions to early breast cancer and advanced disease. In this article the data supporting the use of the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole in postmenopausal women across this continuum are reviewed. In advanced disease, anastrozole has a significant survival benefit and tolerability advantage compared with megestrol acetate when used as second-line treatment. ⋯ Finally, anastrozole substantially reduces the incidence of contralateral breast cancer compared with tamoxifen in women with HR+ early breast cancer and, therefore, is a potential chemopreventive agent. Anastrozole is thus positioned to become the standard care for postmenopausal women with HR+ disease across the whole breast cancer continuum. Additional data from ongoing studies will further clarify the role of anastrozole across the continuum and answer outstanding questions regarding the optimal timing and duration of treatment.
-
Symptoms other than their primary disease can interfere in the lives of terminal cancer patients. We sought to identify which of these symptoms is most important. ⋯ Although pain was the most common and severe symptom, fatigue was the most important symptom interfering in the lives of terminal cancer patients. In treating terminal cancer patients, healthcare providers should actively intervene to reduce both fatigue and pain.
-
The combined assessment of thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP) gene expressions in metastatic colorectal cancer has been reported to be able to predict the efficacy of fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. In order to evaluate the prognostic role in the adjuvant setting, we investigated the TS, DPD and TP expression in primary tumors of colorectal cancer patients treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). ⋯ This retrospective investigation suggests that the combined assessment of TS and DPD may be useful to evaluate the prognosis of patients with Dukes' B and C colon carcinoma receiving 5-FU adjuvant chemotherapy. The role of TP as a predictor for 5-FU-based therapy needs further investigations.
-
Recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF) have been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of infections associated with antitumour chemotherapy. This report describes a single-centre experience of the efficacy of pegfilgrastim compared with filgrastim or lenograstim in reducing the incidence of febrile neutropenia in patients receiving combination chemotherapy with taxane and epirubicin in a neoadjuvant and adjuvant setting. ⋯ These data show a trend towards superiority of pegfilgrastim over filgrastim or lenograstim in reducing the frequency of febrile neutropenia in patients treated with taxane and epirubicin chemotherapy regimens for breast cancer.