Journal of the National Cancer Institute
-
J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Nov 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialAlpha-Tocopherol and beta-carotene supplements and lung cancer incidence in the alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene cancer prevention study: effects of base-line characteristics and study compliance.
Experimental and epidemiologic investigations suggest that alpha-tocopherol (the most prevalent chemical form of vitamin E found in vegetable oils, seeds, grains, nuts, and other foods) and beta-carotene (a plant pigment and major precursor of vitamin A found in many yellow, orange, and dark-green, leafy vegetables and some fruit) might reduce the risk of cancer, particularly lung cancer. The initial findings of the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study (ATBC Study) indicated, however, that lung cancer incidence was increased among participants who received beta-carotene as a supplement. Similar results were recently reported by the Beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET), which tested a combination of beta-carotene and vitamin A. ⋯ While the most direct way to reduce lung cancer risk is not to smoke tobacco, smokers should avoid high-dose beta-carotene supplementation.
-
J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Sep 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialCremophor pharmacokinetics in patients receiving 3-, 6-, and 24-hour infusions of paclitaxel.
Paclitaxel (Taxol) is a new drug with efficacy against a variety of malignant tumors. The clinical formulation of paclitaxel contains 50% Cremophor EL, a polyethoxylated castor oil vehicle (carrier) that can reverse multidrug resistance (MDR) mediated by P-glycoprotein. Three-hour intravenous infusions of paclitaxel can yield end-of-infusion plasma Cremophor concentrations of 1 microL/mL or more, which are sufficient to reverse MDR in vitro by at least 50%. Despite extensive clinical use, the pharmacokinetics of Cremophor have not been described. ⋯ Paclitaxel infusions of 3 and 6 hours can result in sustained plasma Cremophor concentrations sufficient for substantial reversal of P-glycoprotein-mediated MDR in vitro. These plasma Cremophor concentrations are not achieved during 24-hour infusions of paclitaxel.
-
J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Sep 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialImproved survival in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: seven-year follow-up of cancer and leukemia group B (CALGB) 8433 trial.
For many years, high dose radiation therapy was the standard treatment for patients with locally or regionally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), despite a 5-year survival rate of only 3%-10% following such therapy. From May 1984 through May 1987, the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) conducted a randomized trial that showed that induction chemotherapy before radiation therapy improved survival during the first 3 years of follow-up. ⋯ Long-term follow-up confirms that patients with stage III NSCLC who receive 5 weeks of chemotherapy with cisplatin and vinblastine before radiation therapy have a 4.1-month increase in median survival. The use of sequential chemotherapy-radiotherapy increases the projected proportion of 5-year survivors by a factor of 2.8 compared with that of radiotherapy alone. However, inasmuch as 80%-85% of such patients still die within 5 years and because treatment failure occurs both in the irradiated field and at distant sites in patients receiving either sequential chemotherapy-radiotherapy or radiotherapy alone, the need for further improvements in both the local and systemic treatment of this disease persists.
-
J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Sep 1996
Assessment of axillary lymph node involvement in breast cancer patients with positron emission tomography using radiolabeled 2-(fluorine-18)-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose.
The presence of metastatic tumor cells in the axillary lymph nodes is an important factor when deciding whether or not to treat breast cancer patients with adjuvant therapy. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with the radiolabeled glucose analogue 2-(fluorine-18)-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (F-18 FDG) has been used to visualize primary breast tumors as well as bone and soft-tissue metastases. ⋯ In clinical practice, PET imaging cannot substitute for histopathologic analysis in detecting axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer patients. PET imaging, however, improves the preoperative staging of the disease in breast cancer patients and, therefore, might alter therapeutic regimen options.
-
We and others have previously described a number of characteristics that are associated with delays in diagnosis and increased risk for inadequate treatment of older women and men with cancer. These characteristics include poor social support, limited access to transportation, and impaired cognition. However, there is little information on how these factors influence survival of older cancer patients. ⋯ Efforts to facilitate early diagnosis and receipt of definitive treatment for cancer in older individuals may improve their survival.