Vittoria Gebbia

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..EXPERT OPINION: Adherence and persistence to new oral biologic agents, which are linked to several side effects and whose use is constantly widening, should represent a main endpoint of clinical research in the nearest future...

..Its mechanism of action probably involves antiangiogenetic effect rather than a classical antiproliferative effect like standard maximally tolerated dose-based regimens...

..Due to the paucity of published phase I data on the 3-weekly experimental schedule used, an early safety analysis was planned...

..This level of activity overlaps with the 95% CL of the activity of cisplatin alone; however, it does encourage future trials of the combination...

..rhEpo also caused a positive effect on quality of life (QoL) parameters...

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..The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the raltitrexed/5-fluorouracil/levofolinic acid combination regimen as first-line chemotherapy for elderly patients with advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer...

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..In daily clinical practice second-line chemotherapy (SLCT) is frequently given to patients with advanced pancreatic cancer failing gemcitabine-based first-line chemotherapy without solid scientific support...

..In this paper, we report a review of the major studies dealing with the use of cetuximab in advanced head and neck cancer...

..The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and analysis of toxicity, while secondary endpoints included response rates, time-to-progression (TTP) and quality of life (QoL)...

..A growing percentage of patients affected by advanced non-small cell lung cancer who progressed after first-line chemotherapy still have a good performance status and require second-line treatment...

..The impact of these regimens on patients' QoL as well as symptoms control and type and grading chemo-related side-effects has been compared prospectically...

..The results of new biologic agents are also reported as are the promising data on pharmacogenomic-guided treatment...

..A phase I-II trial was carried out to test the feasibility and the activity of a new bimonthly schedule of DCT...

..The primary endpoint was survival parameters, while secondary endpoints included analysis of response rates and toxicity...

..The main aims of the study included analysis of objective response rates, toxicity, and time to progression...

..Moreover, the combination of VNR and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin is active against metastatic breast carcinoma and is associated with a good toxicity profile. Further studies with this combination regimen are warranted...

..The main endpoits were analysis of objective response rates, toxicity, time to progression, and overall survival...

..The employed regimens have been generally well tolerated. These data confirm that NPC is a neoplasm highly responsive to chemotherapy. However, duration of objective response and survival are still largely unsatisfactory...

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..The recommended doses for a phase II study are cisplatin 20 mg/m2/week, 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2/week, and citrovorum factor 500 mg/m2/week...

..This randomized, multicenter, phase III trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of the combination of epirubicin, leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil and etoposide (ELFE regimen) as adjuvant therapy for radically resected gastric cancer patients...

..These measures are unlikely to have an effect in irreversible and progressive bleeding states...

..To evaluate the clinical benefits of switching from morphine to oral methadone in patients who experience poor analgesia or adverse effects from morphine...

..In our opinion the CDDP plus VNR regimen is good enough to be compared to the anthracycline-based regimens and may represent the basis for future development of newer active polychemotherapeutic schedules...

..Similar results were achieved for fungal infections. Tolerance to thymopentin was excellent, while less than 9% of patients on G-CSF treatment complained of mild nausea and generalized bone pain...

..Despite the use of epidoxorubicin 75 mg/m2, the 26.4% (95% confidence limits 16-36%) objective response rate is not satisfactory. Evaluation of more aggressive protocols is strongly recommended within the limits of controlled trials...

..Results of the present and similar studies may, however, be useful for planning of neoadjuvant or adjuvant trials with curative intent...

..The dosage of raIFN-2a could not be further escalated above 12 x 10(6) IU. At this dose level all patients required dose reduction due to fatigue, fever, myalgia and severe reduction of performance status...

..c. days 6 to 15) administered every 3 weeks for 4 cycles and subsequent chest irradiation (50 Gy) + daily carboplatin (25 mg/m2) in the first-line treatment of adults affected by limited small cell lung cancer (SCLC)...

..Further studies are required to establish if the increase in dose-intensity allowed by G-CSF treatment may positively influence the outcome of cancer patients...

..Data on body weight suggest that after 2 weeks' therapy MA could be stopped or its dosage tailored to patients' needs since the majority of patients respond after only 15 days of MA...

..This report stresses the importance of a correct follow-up and an accurate clinical staging in order to identifying clinical signs highly suspicious for neoplastic perineural infiltration...

..In conclusion, these data suggest that bryostatin-1 is a potent antileukemic agent in vitro that may be potentially useful for clinical studies...