Standard-Dose Osimertinib in EGFR-Mutated Non-Small-Cell Lung Adenocarcinoma With Leptomeningeal Disease.

Purpose: Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant lung adenocarcinoma is associated with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Osimertinib is a potent third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor with confirmed CNS penetration. This study reports on outcomes of patients with EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer who developed LMD and were subsequently treated with osimertinib.

Use of clinical quality indicators to improve lung cancer care in a regional/rural network of health services.

Problem: Optimal lung cancer care requires multidisciplinary team input, with access to specialised diagnostic and therapeutic services that may be limited in rural or regional areas and impact clinical outcomes. Clinical quality indicators can be used to measure the quality of care delivered to patients with lung cancer in a region and identify areas for improvement. We describe the implementation of internationally recognised clinical quality indicators for lung cancer care in the Barwon South Western region.

Development of a cognitive behavioural therapy-based guided self-help intervention for adults with intellectual disability.

Background: Despite strong evidence for cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) in treating mental health, its use, thus far, has been limited for people with intellectual disabilities. This study describes a CBT-based guided self-help (CBT-GSH) manual for individuals with intellectual disability, and focus groups explore the views of clinicians, therapists, support staff and managers.

Material And Methods: Using a qualitative methodology, an expert team adapted the manual.

Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: a meta-analysis.

Aim: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are well established in treating metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinoma, especially patients with activating EGFR mutations. EGFR mutations are rare in pulmonary squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). There are conflicting data supporting the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs in advanced lung SCC.

Machine-learning prediction of cancer survival: a retrospective study using electronic administrative records and a cancer registry.

Objectives: Using the prediction of cancer outcome as a model, we have tested the hypothesis that through analysing routinely collected digital data contained in an electronic administrative record (EAR), using machine-learning techniques, we could enhance conventional methods in predicting clinical outcomes.

Setting: A regional cancer centre in Australia.

Participants: Disease-specific data from a purpose-built cancer registry (Evaluation of Cancer Outcomes (ECO)) from 869 patients were used to predict survival at 6, 12 and 24 months.

Prevention of aromatase inhibitor-induced bone loss with alendronate in postmenopausal women: The BATMAN Trial.

Unlabelled: Postmenopausal women on aromatase inhibitors (AI) are at risk of aromatase inhibitor-associated bone loss (AIBL) and fractures. In 2005 Osteoporosis Australia proposed an algorithm for bisphosphonate intervention. Three hundred and three postmenopausal women with early breast cancer (EBC) were enrolled (osteoporotic, n=25; osteopaenic, n=146; normal bone mineral density (BMD), n=126).

Randomized phase 2 sequencing and pharmacokinetic study of gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Aim: This multicentre phase II trial examined the combination of gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The effect of sequence administration was randomized and pharmacokinetics (PK) assessed.

Methods: Eligible patients had stage IIIB or IV or recurrent NSCLC, no prior chemotherapy, World Health Organization performance status ≤2 and measurable disease.

Capecitabine, bevacizumab, and mitomycin in first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: results of the Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group Randomized Phase III MAX Study.

Purpose: To determine whether adding bevacizumab, with or without mitomycin, to capecitabine monotherapy improves progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in an open-label, three-arm randomized trial.

Patients And Methods: Overall, 471 patients in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom with previously untreated, unresectable mCRC were randomly assigned to the following: capecitabine; capecitabine plus bevacizumab (CB); or capecitabine, bevacizumab, and mitomycin (CBM). We compared CB with capecitabine and CBM with capecitabine for progression-free survival (PFS).