Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Paclitaxel versus doxorubicin as first-line single-agent chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Randomized Study with cross-over.
To compare the efficacy of paclitaxel versus doxorubicin given as single agents in first-line therapy of advanced breast cancer (primary end point, progression-free survival ¿PFS) and to explore the degree of cross-resistance between the two agents. ⋯ At the dosages and schedules used in the present study, doxorubicin achieves better disease and symptom control than paclitaxel in first-line treatment. Doxorubicin and paclitaxel are not totally cross-resistant, which supports further investigation of these drugs in combination or in sequence, both in advanced disease and in the adjuvant setting.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
High-dose sequential chemotherapy with recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and repeated stem-cell support for inflammatory breast cancer patients: does impact on quality of life jeopardize feasibility and acceptability of treatment?
This study was designed to investigate the quality of life (QOL) of patients enrolled onto the High-Dose Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer Study Group trial (PEGASE 02), a French pilot multicenter trial of the treatment of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) aimed at evaluating (1) toxicity and feasibility of sequential high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (filgrastim) and stem-cell support and (2) response to HDC in terms of pathologic response and survival. ⋯ If it is confirmed that improvements in pathologic response rates with HDC effectively translate into increased probabilities of survival for IBC patients, adoption of such treatment as PEGASE 02 will not involve crucial choices between length of life and QOL and should not be delayed for QOL arguments.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Phase II evaluation of preoperative chemoradiation and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for squamous cell and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.
This phase II trial evaluated continuous-infusion cisplatin and fluorouracil (5-FU) with radiotherapy followed by esophagectomy. The objectives of this trial were to determine the complete pathologic response rate, survival rate, toxicity, pattern of failure, and feasibility of administering adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resectable cancer of the esophagus treated with preoperative chemoradiation. ⋯ An excellent survival rate, comparable to that of our prior preoperative trial, was achieved with lower doses of preoperative cisplatin and 5-FU concurrent with radiotherapy.
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To determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), toxicities, and pharmacokinetics of oral fluorouracil (5-FU) administered twice daily in combination with oral eniluracil, an inactivator of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, administered for 28 days every 35 days. ⋯ Chronic oral administration of 5-FU with oral eniluracil is tolerable and produces 5-FU steady-state concentrations similar to those achieved with protracted intravenous administration of 5-FU on clinically relevant dose schedules. Eniluracil provides an attractive means of administering 5-FU on protracted schedules.
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To evaluate self-reported depression rates in patients with inoperable lung cancer and to explore demographic, clinical, and quality-of-life (QOL) factors associated with depression and thus identify patients at risk. ⋯ Depression is common and persistent in lung cancer patients, especially those with more severe symptoms or functional limitations. Psychologic screening and appropriate intervention is an essential part of palliative care.