Seminars in oncology
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Seminars in oncology · Apr 1997
ReviewPromising new agents under development by the Division of Cancer Treatment, Diagnosis, and Centers of the National Cancer Institute.
The Division of Cancer Treatment, Diagnosis and Centers of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has a large program in clinical cancer therapeutics development. It currently holds investigational new drug applications for nearly 200 agents with which it sponsors clinical trials. In addition, it has a major preclinical development program. ⋯ Agents in development through the NCI are derived from a number of diverse sources including its own screening efforts, academia, and numerous collaborations with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. NCI works closely with collaborators to ensure complementary, non-duplicative clinical development and attempts to ensure that the full potential of promising agents is explored. A number of compounds in early clinical development or about to enter the clinic are discussed briefly in this manuscript.
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Seminars in oncology · Apr 1997
ReviewEfficacy of single-agent gemcitabine in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a review.
Within the last 5 years, gemcitabine, a new nucleoside analogue, has been evaluated in several international phase II trials in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Five trials have evaluated 438 patients. Gemcitabine was administered intravenously in four trials on days 1, 8, and 15 at a dose of 800 to 1,700 mg/m2 every 4 weeks. ⋯ The overall response rate was 21% (95% confidence limits, 16% to 25%) with a median survival of 4 weeks (range, 26 to 46 weeks). The median duration of response varied from 26 to 49 weeks. The activity of gemcitabine in NSCLC, together with its modest toxicity and distinct mode of action, suggest the need for further trials of gemcitabine in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of NSCLC.