British journal of cancer
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British journal of cancer · Oct 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialAdjuvant chemoradiotherapy of advanced resectable rectal cancer: results of a randomised trial comparing modulation of 5-fluorouracil with folinic acid or with interferon-α.
Standard adjuvant chemoradiotherapy of rectal cancer still consists of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) only. Its cytotoxicity is enhanced by folinic acid (FA) and interferon-α (INFα). In this trial, the effects of FA and IFNα on adjuvant 5-FU chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer were investigated. ⋯ Interferon-α cannot be recommended for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy of rectal cancer. In UICC stage II disease, the addition of FA tended to lower LR and increased survival. The addition of FA to 5-FU may be an effective option for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy of UICC stage II rectal cancer.
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British journal of cancer · Sep 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA randomised phase III trial comparing gemcitabine with surgery-only in patients with resected pancreatic cancer: Japanese Study Group of Adjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer.
This multicentre randomised phase III trial was designed to determine whether adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine improves the outcomes of patients with resected pancreatic cancer. ⋯ The current results suggest that adjuvant gemcitabine contributes to prolonged DFS in patients undergoing macroscopically curative resection of pancreatic cancer.
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British journal of cancer · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialNurse-led follow-up of patients after oesophageal or gastric cardia cancer surgery: a randomised trial.
Between January 2004 and February 2006, 109 patients after intentionally curative surgery for oesophageal or gastric cardia cancer were randomised to standard follow-up of surgeons at the outpatient clinic (standard follow-up; n=55) or by regular home visits of a specialist nurse (nurse-led follow-up; n=54). Longitudinal data on generic (EuroQuol-5D, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30) and disease-specific quality of life (EORTC QLQ-OES18), patient satisfaction and costs were collected at baseline and at 6 weeks and 4, 7 and 13 months afterwards. We found largely similar quality-of-life scores in the two follow-up groups over time. ⋯ A cost effectiveness acceptability curve showed that the probability of being cost effective for costs per one point gain in general quality-of-life exceeded 90 and 75% after 4 and 13 months of follow-up, respectively. Nurse-led follow-up at home does not adversely affect quality of life or satisfaction of patients compared with standard follow-up by clinicians at the outpatient clinic. This type of care is very likely to be more cost effective than physician-led follow-up.
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British journal of cancer · Oct 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyA prospective randomised phase III trial of adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with stage II colon cancer.
The purpose of this trial was to investigate the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) in stage II colon cancer. Patients with stage II colon cancer were randomised to either adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-FU/LV (100 mg m(-2) LV+450 mg m(-2) 5-FU weekly, weeks 1-6, in 8 weeks cycles x 7) or surveillance only. Five hundred patients were evaluable for analyses. ⋯ Consequently, disease-free survival (DFS) was not significantly different between the two trial arms. In conclusion, results of this trial demonstrate a trend to a lower risk for relapse in patients treated with adjuvant 5-FU/LV for stage II colon cancer. However, in this study with limited power to detect small differences between the study arms, adjuvant chemotherapy failed to significantly improve DFS and OS.
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British journal of cancer · Sep 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialCognitive behaviour therapy for fatigued cancer survivors: long-term follow-up.
An earlier randomised-controlled trial demonstrated the positive effects of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), especially designed for fatigued cancer survivors in reducing fatigue, functional impairments and psychological distress. In the current prospective study, we were able to examine the long-term effect of CBT in patients who completed the therapy. Predictors of fatigue severity at follow-up were exploratory investigated. ⋯ The explorative regression analysis showed that fatigue severity, psychological distress and somatic attributions at pretreatment contributed to persistent fatigue severity at follow-up. Cognitive behaviour therapy, especially designed for post-cancer fatigue, is successful in reducing fatigue and functional impairment in cancer survivors. Moreover, these positive effects were maintained at about 2 years after finishing CBT.