Neal J Meropol

..The objective of the current study was to describe cancer patient values regarding QOL and LOL and explore associations with communication preferences...

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..We concluded that characterizing oncologist and patient perceived barriers can help improve communication and decision making about clinical trials, such that participation may be optimized...

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..Our overall goal is to frame debate about health policy concerns that influence the clinical practice of oncology...

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..We evaluated the role of the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody bevacizumab as second-line treatment for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer...

..This paper highlights the development of a theory-guided, web-based communication aid (CONNECT), designed to facilitate treatment decision-making among patients with advanced cancer...

..We sought to characterize barriers to prevention trial participation among medical oncologists and first-degree relatives of their patients...

..Tailored interventions may increase participation in appropriate colorectal cancer screening...

..Thus, we performed this phase I study to document the safety and obtain preliminary efficacy data for the combination of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and bortezomib...

..This study was conducted to determine the effect of bevacizumab (at 10 mg/kg) on survival duration for oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer...

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..Exploratory analyses of the impact of variability in uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1A (UGT1A) genes on irinotecan metabolism and toxicity were conducted...

..The incorporation of taxanes into induction strategies for esophageal cancer seems promising, but the optimal schedule remains undefined...

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..Although retrospective,this series suggests an improvement in survival in patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy...

..To describe and compare the perceptions of cancer patients and their physicians regarding phase I clinical trials...

..Results provide an empirical typology for understanding motivations for CRCS among at-risk family members and may lead to the development of more effective interventions to improve screening uptake...

..We tested the hypothesis that circulating tumor cells (CTCs) could predict clinical outcome in patients with mCRC...

..This article reviews these recent advances in the systemic treatment of colorectal cancer, including discussion of promising agents in clinical development...

..As survival improves for this patient population, clinicians should be aware of the potential for metastases at previously uncommon sites...

..To determine the safety and efficacy of preoperative hypofractionated radiotherapy using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and an incorporated boost with concurrent capecitabine in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer...

..Doing so will require a clear understanding of the factors that drive these costs, as well as potential modifications to the current cancer care system to ensure that all Americans have access to high-quality, cost-effective care...

..To develop such immunotherapeutic strategies for cancer patients, one must identify chemokines and their receptors involved in T-cell migration toward tumor cells...

..We therefore developed measures to assess patient communication preferences and established feasibility of an Internet-based intervention to improve communication...

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..The aim of this study was to determine if a qualitative and quantitative assessment of pre- and post-chemoradiotherapy (CRT) F18-FDG PET scans of esophageal cancer patients could predict for residual disease in esophagectomy specimens...

..The influence of cost on the treatment choices of patients with life-threatening illness, such as cancer, is unknown...

..The objective of the current study was to measure the cost implications of treatment with sequential regimens that include chemotherapy and/or monoclonal antibodies...

..Because response to preoperative treatment predicts clinical outcome, the utility of midtreatment PET scans to guide treatment decisions should be further explored in larger clinical studies...

..To evaluate the impact of a CD-ROM intervention in the education of patients with suspected Lynch syndrome (LS) about microsatellite instability (MSI) and immunohisochemistry (IHC) testing...

..This study was undertaken to describe cancer risk assessment practices among primary care providers (PCPs)...

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..The results suggest that measures designed to reduce survey order effects might have unintended consequences. We present a data example that demonstrates the problem of survey order effects...

..More distressed patients, patients who perceive themselves at higher risk for cancer recurrence, and patients with metastatic disease might be less motivated to have the MSI test...

..We found similarly frequent activation of telomerase in tumors with and without MMR mutation, suggesting that human tumors with MMR mutation may respond favorably to treatment with telomerase inhibitors...

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..To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of raltitrexed when given with irinotecan and to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of these two agents when given in combination...

..CONCLUSION: Although treatment with R115777 resulted in partial inhibition of FTase activity in mononuclear cells, it did not exhibit single-agent antitumor activity in patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer...

..Ornithine decarboxylase is a key enzyme in the regulation of polyamine metabolism. The aim of this study is to analyze MTAP and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) expression in primary pancreatic tumor specimens...

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..Proteomic analyses were performed to explore pancreatic cyst fluids to yield effective diagnostic biomarkers...

..Physician and family recommendation were also strong correlates. A similar set of factors was associated with stage of adoption of CRC screening...

..Currently, there is a renewed optimism that the clinical application of biologic understanding will lead to an improved outcome for patients with pancreatic cancer...

..The clinical impact of FAP inhibition was tested using Val-boroPro (Talabostat), the first clinical inhibitor of FAP enzymatic activity, in a phase II study of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer...

..This review covers the different techniques available for isolation of CTCs, the clinical utility of CTCs in breast, prostate, and colon cancer, and future directions in this field...

..This phase II study tested the efficacy and safety of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and cetuximab with or without bevacizumab as first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer patients...

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..In the current study, we examined the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of multiple behavioral risk factors for colorectal cancer according to colorectal cancer screening status (adherent versus not adherent)...

..To evaluate the safety of recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) when administered with fluorouracil (FU) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer...

..In this poor-prognostic subset of patients with pancreatic cancer preoperative chemoradiation followed by an aggressive surgical approach was associated with resectability and long-term survival of a significant minority of patients...

..MED1 defects (much like MMR defects) may impair cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by DNA damage...

..Evaluation of once-daily dosing of S-1 in malignancies for which fluoropyrimidines have known antitumor activity is warranted...

..Identifying predictive biomarkers is important to optimally treat patients. This analysis evaluated the association of K-ras, BRAF, and PIK3CA gene mutations with tumor resistance to panitumumab alone...

..There are few data on sequelae of breast cancer treatments in older women. We evaluated posttreatment quality of life and satisfaction in a national population...

..We evaluated the efficacy of sunitinib in a two-cohort, phase II study of advanced carcinoid and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor patients...

..The authors sought to characterize a special form of numeracy among patients with advanced cancer who were offered participation in Phase I oncology clinical trials...

..Specifically, they estimated the effect of relative health stock on advanced cancer patients' decisions to participate in phase I clinical trials...

..To evaluate the antitumor activity and toxicity of single-agent cetuximab in patients with chemotherapy-refractory colorectal cancer whose tumors express the epidermal growth factor receptor...

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..The primary endpoint of the study was to determine the objective response rate, and a secondary endpoint was to measure the time to disease progression...

..The authors examined a range of patient characteristics to determine which factors were associated with greater expectations of benefit from Phase I trials...

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..The purpose of this study was to determine the toxicity of escalating doses of trastuzumab when combined with a fixed dose regimen of interleukin (IL)-2...

..Genes such as AGR2, S100A14, S100A16, FABP1, and others were found useful for detection of CTCs in peripheral blood of advanced cancer patients...

..This phase I study was undertaken to determine the maximally tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicities of a combination of these drugs given in an ambulatory setting using a bolus schedule of 5-FU...

..The safety and efficacy of the fully human antibody panitumumab was evaluated in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to available therapies...

..This study was conducted to identify markers that are associated with disease control in patients treated with cetuximab...

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..The purpose of this phase II study was to prospectively determine the efficacy of preoperative chemoradiation with a hyperfractionated (Hfx) RT boost to 61.8 Gy in locally advanced rectal cancer...

..This study assesses the decision-making process of patients enrolling in phase I oncology studies...

..There are few data on the long-term sequelae of axillary dissection among older breast carcinoma patients. We describe the impact of axillary dissection in a cohort of older women...