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
Surgery plus chemotherapy compared with surgery alone for localized squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus: a Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study--JCOG9204.
We performed a multicenter randomized controlled trial to determine whether postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy improves outcome in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing radical surgery. ⋯ Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and fluorouracil is better able to prevent relapse in patients with esophageal cancer than surgery alone.
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For the first time, a lung Patterns of Care Study was conducted to determine the national patterns of radiation (RT) practice in patients treated for nonmetastatic lung cancer in 1998 to 1999. ⋯ This study establishes the general patterns of care for lung carcinoma in RT facilities within the United States. As supported by clinical trials, patients with limited-stage SCLC and CS III NSCLC received chemotherapy plus RT more than they received RT alone. Further improvements in staging, smoking cessation, and increased accrual to clinical trials must be encouraged.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Kinase mutations and imatinib response in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor.
Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) express constitutively activated mutant isoforms of KIT or kinase platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) that are potential therapeutic targets for imatinib mesylate. The relationship between mutations in these kinases and clinical response to imatinib was examined in a group of patients with advanced GIST. ⋯ Activating mutations of KIT or PDGFRA are found in the vast majority of GISTs, and the mutational status of these oncoproteins is predictive of clinical response to imatinib. PDGFRA mutations can explain response and sensitivity to imatinib in some GISTs lacking KIT mutations.