Medical oncology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The palliative treatment with intrapleural streptokinase in patients with multiloculated malignant pleural effusion: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study.
Expansion of the lung is necessary for successful pleurodesis therapy in patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE). However, this is often impossible in multiloculated MPEs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the fibrinolytic agent, streptokinase, on pleurodesis therapy used in the management of multiloculated MPE. ⋯ The dyspnea symptoms disappeared in 90 % of the patients in the fibrinolytic group and in 55 % of the patients in the control group (P = 0.03). Recurrence rate was 11 % in fibrinolytic group and 45 % in control group (P = 0.07). Streptokinase is a reliable treatment option in obtaining effective pleural drainage and increasing lung expansion in patients with multiloculated MPE.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
An open-label, randomized, multicenter dose-finding study of once-per-cycle pegfilgrastim versus daily filgrastim in Chinese breast cancer patients receiving TAC chemotherapy.
A chemotherapy regimen of docetaxel, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (TAC) has been accepted as a standard care because of their superior clinical benefit in early-stage breast cancer patients, but with a higher risk of neutropenia. Pegfilgrastim is a once-per-cycle therapy for prophylactic neutrophil support and neutropenia prevention. There was still a lack of direct evidences for finding an optimal fixed dose of pegfilgrastim in Chinese breast cancer patients receiving TAC regimen. ⋯ The results for febrile neutropenia, time to neutrophil recovery and neutrophil profile were also not significantly different between arms. The safety profiles of pegfilgrastim and filgrastim were similar. A single dose of 100 µg/kg once-per-cycle administration of pegfilgrastim provided neutrophil support and a safety profile comparable to daily subcutaneous injections of filgrastim in Chinese breast cancer patients receiving TAC chemotherapy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Intravenous iron alone resolves anemia in patients with functional iron deficiency and lymphoid malignancies undergoing chemotherapy.
This randomized trial evaluated ferric carboxymaltose without erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) for correction of anemia in cancer patients with functional iron deficiency. Patients on treatment for indolent lymphoid malignancies, who had anemia [hemoglobin (Hb) 8.5-10.5 g/dL] and functional iron deficiency [transferrin saturation (TSAT) ≤ 20%, ferritin >30 ng/mL (women) or >40 ng/mL (men)], were randomized to ferric carboxymaltose (1,000 mg iron) or control. Primary end point was the mean change in Hb from baseline to weeks 4, 6 and 8 without transfusions or ESA. ⋯ All ferric carboxymaltose-treated patients achieved an Hb increase >1 g/dL (control 6/9; p = 0.087), and mean TSAT was >20% from week 2 onwards. No treatment-related adverse events were reported. In conclusion, ferric carboxymaltose without ESA effectively increased Hb and iron status in this small patient population.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Transfusion risk in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia when initiating darbepoetin alfa therapy at a baseline hemoglobin level of <9 g/dL versus 9 to <10 g/dL versus ≥ 10 g/dL: an exploratory analysis of a phase 3 trial.
Darbepoetin alfa (DA) is an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) approved for treating chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA). Safety concerns have prompted changes to the ESA-product information, which now recommends initiating ESAs at hemoglobin (Hb) levels < 10 g/dL (US) or ≤ 10 g/dL (EU). The present exploratory analysis of a DA trial examined how baseline-Hb levels at ESA initiation affect transfusion rates, Hb response, and safety outcomes in CIA patients. ⋯ Overall, transfusion risk increased and Hb response decreased at lower baseline-Hb levels in this exploratory analysis. When following ESA-product information to initiate ESAs at Hb ≤ 10 g/dL, the greatest benefit may be achieved when initiating close to 10 g/dL. Prospective studies are needed to further examine this hypothesis.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Palonosetron for prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting in non-small-cell lung carcinoma patients.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death for both men and women worldwide, and lung cancer also has the highest morbidity and mortality rate among all cancers in China. Chemotherapy (CT) is the most effective and most widely used treatment for lung cancer. Nausea and vomiting are still among the most unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy, especially during highly emetogenic chemotherapy. ⋯ The complete responses during the acute phase were 95.4 and 93.3%, respectively. The main side effects were headache 4.5%, constipation 15.7%, anxiety 2.3%. Palonosetron is a very active antiemetic drug for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in NSCLC patients received chemotherapy.