Radiation Dose-Induced Carotid Artery Stenosis and Brain Necrosis in Head and Neck Cancer-A Real World Cohort Study.

This study aims to examine whether radiation therapy doses are related to incidences of carotid artery stenosis and brain necrosis in a large-scale real-world database. We identified a cohort of HNC patients from the catastrophic illness patient dataset using ICD-9 or ICD-10 to compare the incidence and risks of carotid artery stenosis (CAS) and brain necrosis (RIBN) in patients who received a radiation therapy dose of ≥5400 cGy/30 fractions (group A) with those who received a radiation therapy dose of <5400 cGy/30 fractions (group B). The incidence and hazard ratios were quantified using Cox proportional hazards models.

Comparative efficacy and safety of multimodality treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus: patient-level network meta-analysis.

Background: Portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) is a common complication and an obstacle to treatment, with a high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. There is still no global consensus or standard guidelines on the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with PVTT. Increasing evidence suggests that more aggressive treatment modalities, including transarterial chemoembolization, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and various combination therapies, may improve the prognosis and prolong the survival of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC) patients with PVTT.

Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism related to gynecologic cancers: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

The purpose of this study was to assess the risks of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism related to gynecological cancers. Population-based retrospective cohort study. We conducted a cohort study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to explore hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism associated with site-specific gynecologic cancers in women from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2018.

Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy Followed by Lipiodol Infusion for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus: A Single-Center Experience.

: To evaluate the effectiveness of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) followed by lipiodol infusion in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). : Thirty-two patients with advanced HCC and PVTT who received HAIC with regimens of cisplatin, mitomycin-C, and 5-fluorouracil followed by lipiodol infusion were enrolled. The primary efficacy endpoint was tumor response rate.

Efficacy and safety of CDK4/6 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors as second-line treatment in postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER-2-negative metastatic breast cancer: a network meta-analysis.

Background: We compared the efficacy and safety of combinations of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors and PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors as second-line treatment in postmenopausal women with HR, HER2 metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: We searched the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library electronic databases for phase II/III randomized trials evaluating CDK4/6 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors plus fulvestrant. We compared the results with a network meta-analysis.

Efficacy and safety of a combination of HER2-targeted agents as first-line treatment for metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer: a network meta-analysis.

Background: Using network meta-analysis, we assessed the efficacy and safety of a combination regimen of HER2-targeted agents as first-line treatment for metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.

Methods: We searched the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library electronic databases (through December 2016) for phase II/III randomized controlled trials that compared regimens of one or two HER2-targeted agents combined with trastuzumab or chemotherapy. A network meta-analysis including direct and indirect analyses was conducted in WinBUGS using fixed and random effects.

Cost-effectiveness of pertuzumab combined with trastuzumab and docetaxel as a first-line treatment for HER-2 positive metastatic breast cancer.

Objective: To provide perspective for the National Health Insurance Bureau (NHIB), we determined the cost-effectiveness of pertuzumab combined with trastuzumab and docetaxel (TDP) versus trastuzumab and docetaxel (TD) as a first-line treatment for HER-2 positive metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: We used a Markov model to simulate cost-effectiveness, disease progression, and survival, based on clinical data and transition probabilities extracted from the CLEOPATRA study. Direct medical costs were acquired from the NHIB claims database.

Cost-effectiveness of sorafenib versus SBRT for unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has been shown to improve overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of SBRT compared to sorafenib which is the only drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: A Markov decision-analytic model was performed to compare the cost-effectiveness of SBRT and sorafenib for unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

The real-world cost-effectiveness of adjuvant trastuzumab in HER-2/neu-positive early breast cancer in Taiwan.

Background: Trastuzumab was considered a cost-effective adjuvant treatment for HER 2-positive early breast cancer. Since 2010, the Taiwanese National Health Insurance (NHI) has started to reimburse for 1-year adjuvant treatment. This study aims to provide an updated cost-effectiveness analysis from the NHI perspective, which explores assumptions about long-term cardiac toxicity and treatment benefit of 1-year adjuvant treatment sequentially after chemotherapy.

Cost-effectiveness of Gemcitabine Plus Modern Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of gemcitabine plus modern radiotherapy versus gemcitabine alone in the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer in Taiwan.

Methods: A Markov decision-analytic model was performed to compare the cost-effectiveness of 3 treatment regimens; gemcitabine alone (gem-alone), gemcitabine plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy (gem-IMRT), and gemcitabine plus stereotactic body radiotherapy (gem-SBRT). Patients transitioned between 5 health states: stable disease, local progression, distant metastasis, local and distant metastasis, and death.

Association and prediction of severe 5-fluorouracil toxicity with dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene polymorphisms: A meta-analysis.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association and prediction of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene () polymorphisms and the risk of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) severe toxicity in cancer patients. A meta-analysis of the published literature was conducted to summarize evidence for gene polymorphisms associated with an increased risk of severe 5-FU toxicity in patients with cancer from an Asian population. Relevant literature was identified using the PubMed and Cochrane databases on April 11, 2014.

Trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity in elderly women with HER-2-positive breast cancer: a meta-analysis of real-world data.

Background: We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the overall risk of cardiac toxicity associated with trastuzumab treatment in elderly breast cancer patients.

Methods: We searched databases from PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials to identify relevant studies. Statistical analyses were conducted to calculate the incidence rate, overall hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CIs using a fixed effects model.

Long-Term Use of Antihypertensive Agents and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

Introduction: To evaluate the risk of breast cancer associated with long-term use of antihypertensive agents (AHs) in Taiwanese women with hypertension.

Methods: A search of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database identified 330,699 patients with hypertension who were treated with antihypertensive drugs between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2011. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between the use of AHs and breast cancer risk, adjusted for other types of antihypertensive drugs, statins and co-morbidities.

Exposure to sennoside-digoxin interaction and risk of digoxin toxicity: a population-based nested case-control study.

Aims: Digoxin is an important medication for heart failure (HF) patients and sennosides are widely used to treat constipation. Recently, safety concerns have been raised about a possible interaction between sennosides and digoxin, an issue that has not been studied empirically. This study therefore aimed to evaluate whether exposure to sennoside-digoxin interaction is associated with an increased risk of digoxin toxicity.

Cost effectiveness of cetuximab concurrent with radiotherapy for patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer in Taiwan: a decision-tree analysis.

Background: Concomitant chemotherapy with radiotherapy is considered to be the standard of care for patients with head and neck cancer and good performance status. However, published reports on the cost effectiveness of this therapeutic approach are extremely rare.

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the cost effectiveness of cetuximab combined with radiotherapy compared with radiotherapy alone in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Multikinase inhibitors in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: indirect comparison meta-analysis.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of multikinase inhibitors sunitinib, sorafenib, and pazopanib have reported efficacy compared with results from placebo and interferon-α (INF-α). To date, these drugs have not been compared in head-to-head trials.

Objective: To review systematically the evidence of clinical effectiveness of multikinase inhibitors in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and, via an indirect meta-analysis, to determine an optimal treatment among these agents.