Anticancer research
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Anticancer research · Nov 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialProspective study of chemotherapy in combination with cytokine-induced killer cells in patients suffering from advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
The present study evaluated the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy in combination with cytokine-induced killer (CIK) biotherapy compared to the chemotherapy alone. Fifty-nine advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were randomly divided into two groups, group A (chemotherapy alone, including docetaxel 75 mg/m2, day 1; cisplatin, 25 mg/m2, days 1-4, tri-weekly) and group B (chemotherapy plus CIK cell transfusion). Autologous CIK cells were induced from the patients'peripheral mononuclear cells in vitro and separated by cytometry and then transfused back the patients. ⋯ Compared to patients in group A, the patients in group B had significantly longer progression-free survival (p = 0.042) and overall survival (p = 0.029). No severe side-effects occurred in the CIK cell transfusion patients. It was concluded that chemotherapy plus CIK cells has potential benefits compared to chemotherapy alone in patients suffering from advanced NSCLC and autologous CIK cell transfusion has no obvious side-effects.
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Anticancer research · Mar 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialA randomized study to assess the effectiveness of orally administered pilocarpine during and after radiotherapy of head and neck cancer.
This prospective randomized study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of oral pilocarpine chloratum (Salagen) during and after radiotherapy. ⋯ The results suggest that stimulated salivary glands suffer less decrease in saliva production during radiotherapy. The stimulated saliva flow reduced the side-effects of irradiation.
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Anticancer research · Nov 2005
Randomized Controlled TrialPerioperative application of the Viscum album extract Isorel in digestive tract cancer patients.
It is assumed that perioperative immunomodulation of cancer patients can attenuate cellular and humoral deficiencies thus improving their overall health status. Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) anticancer drugs are likely candidates for such adjuvant therapy, because they do not have major adverse side-effects but have dual desirable activities; immune-modulating effects and relatively selective cytotoxicity for cancer cells. ⋯ The results of this study indicate that perioperative use of the mistletoe drug Isorel can improve immune competence and the overall health status of cancer patients undergoing surgery.
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Anticancer research · Sep 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialEvaluation of epoetin supplemented with oral iron in patients with solid malignancies and chronic anemia not receiving anticancer treatment.
To evaluate the effectiveness and improvement in quality of life (QOL) of epoetin alfa administration supplemented with oral iron as a therapeutic regimen for patients with solid malignancies and anemia of chronic disease (ACD), not receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. ⋯ Our results suggest that weekly epoetin alfa therapy supplemented with daily oral iron increases Hb levels and improves QOL in patients with solid malignancies and ACD who are not receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. This regimen offers optimal therapy in this population taking into consideration physician's convenience and patient's compliance.
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Anticancer research · Jan 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialImpact of complementary mistletoe extract treatment on quality of life in breast, ovarian and non-small cell lung cancer patients. A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.
Standardized aqueous mistletoe extracts have been applied to cancer patients for several decades as complementary medicine. A multicentric, randomized, open, prospective clinical trial was conducted in three oncological centers in the People's Republic of China in Bejing, Shenyang and Tianjin. Following the guidelines of "Good Clinical Practice" (GCP) this study was performed to get information on efficacy safety and side-effects of the standardized mistletoe extract (sME). ⋯ Only one serious AE was allocated to complementary treatment in each group (1 angioedema in sME group). All other side-effects of the sME (7 harmless local inflammatory reactions at subcutaneous injection site, 4 cases with fever) were self-limiting and did not demand therapeutic intervention. This study showed that complementary treatment with sME can beneficially reduce the side-effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients and thus improve quality of life.