Oncology
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The aim of this study was to determine the maximum-tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of combination therapy with gemcitabine and S-1 in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. ⋯ Combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and S-1 was well tolerated and showed good antitumor activity in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. We recommend a gemcitabine dose of 1,000 mg/m(2)/week and an S-1 dose of 80 mg/m(2)/day in further studies with this schedule.
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Newer-generation intravenous bisphosphonates have resulted in the reduction of skeletal-related complications, i.e. skeletal-related events (SREs) such as pain, hypercalcemia, pathologic fractures and spinal cord and nerve compression, as well as improvements in the quality of life in patients with metastatic bone disease who are likely to have a prolonged clinical course. Highly potent, nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates such as zoledronic acid reduce SREs in patients with bone metastases from other solid tumors (including lung cancer). Part one of our review discussed the mechanisms of action by bisphosphonates as well as potential roles for bone markers and imaging in lung cancer. In this article, part two of our review, we examine the economic and clinical impact of bisphosphonates in lung cancer, with a focus on the potential role of newer-generation bisphosphonates in the management of advanced, metastatic bone disease of lung cancer.
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Because of its proven efficacy profile based on long-term data, tamoxifen has been the standard adjuvant endocrine therapy for hormone-sensitive early breast cancer for the past 30 years. However, there is well-established evidence that long-term use of tamoxifen is associated with serious side effects. As adjuvant endocrine therapy is generally administered for long periods of time, the safety and tolerability of agents used in this setting are of particular importance. ⋯ The AIs have differing pharmacological profiles, which may translate into dissimilar adverse event profiles in the adjuvant treatment setting, but patient follow-up in most trials is relatively short to make a valid comparison. It cannot, therefore, be assumed that all AIs will be equally well tolerated in the adjuvant setting. Further data on the long-term safety of AIs other than anastrozole are therefore required to allow overall risk:benefit assessments on these agents to be made.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
A phase II study of epirubicin, cisplatin and capecitabine combination chemotherapy in patients with metastatic or advanced gastric cancer.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antitumor activity and safety of an epirubicin, cisplatin, and capecitabine (ECX) combination in patients with metastatic or advanced gastric cancer. ⋯ ECX combination regimen showed high anti-tumor activity with a tolerable toxicity pattern as a front-line chemotherapy for patients with metastatic or advanced gastric cancer.
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Comparative Study
Study of tobacco habits and alterations in enzymatic antioxidant system in oral cancer.
Tobacco is a major etiological factor for oral cancer development, accounting 30-40% of all cancer cases in India. Tobacco consumption generates free radicals and causes oxidative damages. In order to counteract these lethal effects, normal living cells have multiple antioxidant defense systems in a cascade manner. Thus, it seems that studying biological parameters, like antioxidant enzyme system, may be helpful in risk assessment and early diagnosis of oral cancer. Therefore, we analyzed erythrocytic and tissue antioxidant enzyme activities in terms of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and plasma thiol levels. ⋯ The data revealed that evaluation of antioxidant enzyme activities and thiol levels in WHT can be helpful to identify individuals at a higher risk of oral cancer development