Hyponatremia as prognostic factor in small cell lung cancer--a retrospective single institution analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study is to present data on clinical significance of hyponatremia in an unselected contemporary patient population with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with limited disease (LD) and extensive disease (ED).

Patients And Methods: Our electronic database was searched for patients with newly diagnosed SCLC from June 2004 to December 2008. 395 cases were identified.

Efficacy and safety of bronchoscopic laser therapy in patients with tracheal and bronchial obstruction: a retrospective single institution report.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study is to present data efficacy and safety of bronchoscopic laser therapy in patients with tracheal and bronchial obstruction.

Patients And Methods: From February 2004 to April 2010, our electronic database was searched for all patients who had undergone bronchoscopic laser therapy. We collected data on age, gender, performance status, diagnosis leading to bronchoscopic laser treatment, number of procedures per patient, efficacy by means of extend of recanalisation and symptom improvement, additional interventions and procedure-related complications.

Tissue sampling in lung cancer: a review in light of the MERIT experience.

Lung cancer continues to present an enormous global burden of morbidity and mortality, despite an increasing therapeutic armamentarium of chemotherapy and targeted agents. Recent research efforts have been directed towards identifying predictors of response to treatment, in order to facilitate the selection of patients likely to obtain the greatest benefit from specific therapeutic interventions, with the ultimate goal of providing customized therapy. A strong scientific basis exists for the use of markers to identify patients who are most likely to respond to biological and targeted therapies, based on characteristics such as tumour genotype and histology.

Lactate dehydrogenase as prognostic factor in limited and extensive disease stage small cell lung cancer - a retrospective single institution analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study is to present data on clinical significance of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) serum levels in an unselected contemporary patient population with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in limited disease (LD) and extensive disease stage (ED).

Patients And Methods: From June 2004 to June 2008, our electronic database including all in-patient and out-patient contacts was searched for patients with newly diagnosed LD and ED SCLC. 397 cases were identified.

Characteristics, treatment patterns and outcomes of patients with small cell lung cancer--a retrospective single institution analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study is to present data on patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and treatment results in an unselected contemporary patient population with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in limited disease (LD) and extensive disease stage (ED).

Patients And Methods: From June 2004 to December 2008, our electronic database including all in-patient and out-patient contacts was searched for patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer. 397 patients were found having SCLC.

Irinotecan plus carboplatin versus oral etoposide plus carboplatin in extensive small-cell lung cancer: a randomized phase III trial.

Purpose: A Japanese randomized trial showed superior survival for patients with extensive-disease (ED) small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) receiving irinotecan plus cisplatin compared with etoposide plus cisplatin. The present trial evaluated the efficacy of irinotecan plus carboplatin (IC) compared with oral etoposide plus carboplatin (EC).

Patients And Methods: Patients with ED SCLC were randomly assigned to receive either IC, which consisted of carboplatin (area under the curve = 4; Chatelut formula) and irinotecan (175 mg/m2) intravenously both on day 1, or EC, which consisted of carboplatin as in IC and etoposide (120 mg/m(2)/d) orally on days 1 through 5.