Oncology
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The aim of this study was to validate the Korean version of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-K), a pain assessment tool that has been validated in several languages. ⋯ The BPI-K is a valid and useful instrument for assessing cancer pain and pain impact in Korea.
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Clinical Trial
A phase II study of three-weekly docetaxel and weekly trastuzumab in HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer.
To test safety and activity of 3-weekly doses of docetaxel and a weekly dose of trastuzumab in women with HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer. ⋯ Three-weekly doses of docetaxel and a weekly dose of trastuzumab is an active and safe combination in patients with HER2-overexpressing advanced breast cancer.
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Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) has shown promising activity in the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer but skin toxicity remains the dose-limiting toxicity of the drug. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a different treatment schedule may improve the toxicity profile, especially in terms of dermatological and mucosal toxicity. ⋯ PLD at the dose of 35 mg/m2 q21 seems to translate into an acceptable skin toxicity profile with a response rate comparable to others obtained with a standard schedule.
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Ifosfamide is relatively well tolerated but it can be associated occasionally with life-threatening complications such as arrhythmias and heart failure, severe encephalopathy and hemorrhagic cystitis. Mesna administration can control the urothelial toxicity of ifosfamide, but it is without effect on the other complications. Other preventive measures, such as amifostine or methylene blue administration, have not yet been adequately evaluated in a sufficient number of patients. Clinicians prescribing ifosfamide, especially in high doses, should be watchful for early signs of toxicity in order to discontinue ifosfamide administration soon enough to avoid development of major toxicity.
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Adjuvant hormone treatment with radiotherapy has been demonstrated in two studies (Bolla and RTOG 8531) to be beneficial in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. However, the vast majority of patients with early prostate cancer can be cured with radiotherapy alone. Subset analysis combining RTOG 8610 and RTOG 8531 has demonstrated a survival benefit only for patients with a biopsy Gleason score < or =6 after short-term neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. The results of ongoing research will further clarify the use of hormone treatment with radiotherapy in patients with low and intermediate risk.