Journal of the National Cancer Institute
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J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Sep 2006
Meta Analysis Comparative StudySurvival with aromatase inhibitors and inactivators versus standard hormonal therapy in advanced breast cancer: meta-analysis.
Aromatase inhibitors and inactivators have been extensively tested in patients with advanced breast cancer, but it is unclear whether they offer any survival benefits compared with standard hormonal treatment with tamoxifen or progestagens. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that compared several generations of aromatase inhibitors and inactivators with standard hormonal treatment in patients with advanced breast cancer. ⋯ Inhibition of the aromatase system, in particular with third-generation aromatase inhibitors and inactivators, appears to be associated with statistically significant improved survival of patients with advanced breast cancer compared with standard hormonal treatments.
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J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Jan 2006
Meta AnalysisSurvival effects of postmastectomy adjuvant radiation therapy using biologically equivalent doses: a clinical perspective.
Postmastectomy radiation therapy reduces locoregional recurrence among women with operable breast cancer, but whether it improves survival has been controversial. We reanalyzed the results from 36 unconfounded trials (i.e., addition of radiation therapy was the sole discriminant between treatments being compared) that were identified in previous meta-analyses, which provided 38 comparisons. ⋯ Adjuvant radiation therapy with an optimal BED and target volume was statistically significantly associated with improved survival for up to 10 years.
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J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Dec 2005
Meta AnalysisProspective studies of dairy product and calcium intakes and prostate cancer risk: a meta-analysis.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommends that Americans increase their intake of dairy products. However, some studies have reported that increasing dairy product intake is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine associations between intakes of calcium and dairy products and the risk of prostate cancer. ⋯ High intake of dairy products and calcium may be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, although the increase appears to be small.
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J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Apr 2005
Review Meta AnalysisRecombinant human erythropoietin and overall survival in cancer patients: results of a comprehensive meta-analysis.
Anemia associated with cancer and cancer therapy is an important clinical and economic factor in the treatment of malignant diseases. ⋯ Erythropoietin treatment may reduce the risk for blood transfusions and improve hematologic response in cancer patients. However, our favorable survival outcome is in contrast to two large (N = 351 and 939) recently published randomized controlled trials in which erythropoietin-treated patients had statistically significantly worse survival than untreated patients. Possible reasons for the disparity with our results include differences in study population and design, higher target hemoglobin levels and higher risk of thromboembolic complications, and concerns that erythropoietin may stimulate tumor growth.
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J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Mar 2005
Meta AnalysisRisk of cardiac death after adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer.
Women with breast cancer who are treated with adjuvant radiation have a decreased risk of local recurrence but an increased risk of mortality from ischemic heart disease. Patients with left-sided breast tumors receive a higher dose of radiation to the heart than patients with right-sided tumors. Because radiation techniques have improved over time, we investigated whether the risk of death from ischemic heart disease after adjuvant breast radiotherapy decreased over time. ⋯ Risk of death from ischemic heart disease associated with radiation for breast cancer has substantially decreased over time.