Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
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Comparative Study
Patients with cancer referred to hospice versus a bridge program: patient characteristics, needs for care, and survival.
The purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics and needs of patients with advanced cancer who were referred to hospice with those referred to a prehospice "bridge" program that is staffed by hospice nurses. ⋯ Patients referred to this bridge program had prognoses that are significantly better than those of patients who enter hospice, but they have needs for supportive care that are at least as great. These findings underscore the importance of initiatives to extend some of the benefits of hospice care to a wider population of patients and should encourage the analysis of similar programs' ability to meet these needs.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Prevention of cisplatin-induced emesis by the oral neurokinin-1 antagonist, MK-869, in combination with granisetron and dexamethasone or with dexamethasone alone.
The NK1-receptor antagonist MK-869 (L-754,030) has demonstrated antiemetic activity in humans receiving chemotherapy. Objectives of the present trial included the first assessment of oral MK-869 plus dexamethasone compared with a 5HT(3) antagonist plus dexamethasone for prevention of acute and delayed emesis after high-dose cisplatin. Furthermore, the study sought to confirm that addition of MK-869 to a 5HT(3) antagonist plus dexamethasone was more effective than just the 5HT(3) antagonist plus dexamethasone for prevention of acute and delayed emesis. ⋯ Once daily oral administration of MK-869 was effective in reducing delayed emesis and nausea after high-dose cisplatin. However, the combination of the 5HT3 antagonist plus dexamethasone was numerically superior to MK-869 plus dexamethasone in reducing acute emesis. Confirming and extending previous findings, the triple combination of a 5HT(3) antagonist, MK-869, and dexamethasone provided the best control of acute emesis.
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The current study was undertaken within the framework of a screening trial to compare the health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) outcomes of two primary treatment modalities for localized prostate cancer: radical prostatectomy and external-beam radiotherapy. ⋯ Prostatectomy and radiotherapy differed in the type of HRQOL impairment. Because the HRQOL effects may be valued differently at the individual level, patients should be made fully aware of the potential benefits and adverse consequences of therapies for early prostate cancer. Differences in posttreatment HRQOL were not related to the method of cancer detection.
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To report the reliability and validity of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Ovarian (FACT-O) in a consecutive series of outpatients with epithelial ovarian cancer. ⋯ Overall, the FACT-O provides a reliable and valid assessment of the quality of life of women with ovarian cancer, and is appropriate as a brief quality of life assessment in clinical trials and descriptive studies.
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Clinical Trial
Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of exatecan mesylate (DX-8951f): a novel camptothecin analog.
To determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, and recommended phase II dose of Exatecan mesylate (DX-8951f) when administered as a 24-hour continuous infusion every 3 weeks to patients with solid tumors. ⋯ The DLT of this DX-8951f schedule was granulocytopenia for minimally pretreated patients, and both granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia for heavily pretreated patients. The MTD for both minimally and heavily pretreated patients was 2.4 mg/m(2). DX-8951f seems to have a linear PK profile on the basis of single-dose administration. The recommended phase II dose with this schedule is 2.4 mg/m(2) for minimally pretreated patients. A lower dose should be used for heavily pretreated patients.