Measurement of mid-arm muscle circumference and prognosis in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Overall survival (OS) varies widely in patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Strong prognostic factors are still needed to improve decision-making regarding standard treatment options, to stratify patients for inclusion in innovative therapeutic trials and to identify patients who would be best treated with palliative care rather than with systemic chemotherapy. Mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) is a bedside anthropometric measurement that estimates somatic protein reserve, an early indicator of nutritional depletion.

TWIST1 promoter methylation in primary colorectal carcinoma.

TWIST1 gene, a transcription factor that belongs to the family of basic helix-loop-helix proteins, has been related to tumor progression and metastasis in different cancers. The aim of our study was to investigate TWIST1 promoter methylation in patients with primary colorectal carcinoma and determine its correlation with prognostic factors and disease outcome. Seventy-three patients with primary colorectal adenocarcinoma were studied.

3-year results of docetaxel-based sequential and combination regimens in the adjuvant therapy of node-positive breast cancer: a pilot study.

Background: Docetaxel has proven efficacy in metastatic breast cancer. In this pilot study, we explored the efficacy/feasibility of docetaxel-based sequential and combination regimens as adjuvant therapy of node-positive breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: From March 1996 till March 1998, four consecutive groups of patients with stages II and III breast cancer, aged < or = 70 years, received one of the following regimens: a) sequential Doxorubicin (A) --> Docetaxel (T) --> CMF (Cyclophosphamide+Methotrexate+5-Fluorouracil): A 75 mg/m q 3 wks x 3, followed by T100 mg/m2 q 3 wks x 3, followed by i.