Clinical Usefulness of Hydromorphone-OROS in Improving Sleep Disturbances in Korean Cancer Patients: A Multicenter, Prospective, Open-Label Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of hydromorphone-OROS (HM-OROS) in reducing sleep disturbance and relieving cancer pain.

Materials And Methods: One hundred twenty cancer patients with pain (numeric rating scale [NRS] ≥ 4) and sleep disturbance (NRS ≥ 4) were evaluated. The initial HM-OROS dosing was based on previous opioid dose (HM-OROS:oral morphine=1:5).

A prospective multicentre phase II study of cisplatin and weekly docetaxel as first-line treatment for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer (KCSG HN07-01).

Background: The purpose of this phase II study was to determine the efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin and weekly docetaxel combination chemotherapy as a first-line treatment in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer.

Patients And Methods: Recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer patients were enrolled and received a combination of weekly docetaxel (35 mg/m(2) on Day1 and Day8) and cisplatin (70 mg/m(2) D1) every 21 days, for up to a maximum of 6 cycles. The primary endpoint was objective response rate, and the secondary endpoints included toxicity of combination chemotherapy, progression-free survival, overall survival and 1-year survival rate.

A phase II trial of erlotinib in combination with gemcitabine and capecitabine in previously untreated metastatic/recurrent pancreatic cancer: combined analysis with translational research.

Background: To confirm the efficacy and toxicity of Erlotinib in combination with Gemcitabine and Capecitabine when used as a first-line therapy in metastatic/recurrent pancreatic cancer (PC).

Methods: Locally advanced PC was excluded. Erlotinib was given at a dose of 100 mg daily from D1 to D28.

Change in cancer pain management in Korea between 2001 and 2006: results of two nationwide surveys.

Context: In Korea, many health care professionals have shown increased concern about the management of cancer pain. Five years after a pain management guideline was distributed to Korean physicians, the Korean Society of Hospice and Palliative Care evaluated the change in cancer pain management. The period evaluated was between 2001 and 2006.

Randomized, multicenter, phase III trial of heptaplatin 1-hour infusion and 5-fluorouracil combination chemotherapy comparing with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Purpose: Heptaplatin (Sunpla) is a cisplatin derivative. A phase IIb trial using heptaplatin resulted in a 34% response rate with mild nephrotoxicity. We conducted a randomized phase III trial of heptaplatin plus 5-FU compared with cisplatin plus 5-FU in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Erlotinib monotherapy for stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer: a multicenter trial by the Korean Cancer Study Group.

Background: Erlotinib (Tarceva, OSI Pharmaceuticals, Melville, NY) is an oral, epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has antitumor activity and good tolerability in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In particular, higher response rates have been reported in Asian patients than in Western patients. The aim of this study conducted by the Korean Cancer Study Group was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of erlotinib monotherapy as a palliative treatment for advanced NSCLC patients in Korea.

Gemcitabine, etoposide, cisplatin, and dexamethasone in patients with refractory or relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Background/aims: To date, an effective salvage chemotherapy regimen for the treatment of refractory or relapsing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has not been discovered. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine, etoposide, cisplatin, and dexamethasone in relapsed or refractory NHL patients.

Methods: All patients had histologically proven relapsed or refractory NHL.

TP53 codon 72 polymorphism associated with prognosis in patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with paclitaxel and cisplatin.

Purpose: The present study analyzed the polymorphisms of apoptosis-related genes and their impact on the response to chemotherapy and survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-seven patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with paclitaxel and cisplatin combination chemotherapy were enrolled in the present study. The genomic DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue, and the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ten apoptosis-related genes [LTA, TP53, BCL2L11, BID, FASL, caspase 3, caspase 6, caspase 7, and caspase 9] determined using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay.

Treatment outcomes with CHOP chemotherapy in adult patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

The objective of the current study was to investigate the treatment outcomes for the use of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP) chemotherapy in adult patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Seventeen HLH patients older than 18 yr of age were treated with CHOP chemotherapy. A response evaluation was conducted for every two cycles of chemotherapy.

Are there any ethnic differences in molecular predictors of erlotinib efficacy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer?

Purpose: This study investigated possible molecular predictors of outcome in Korean patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with erlotinib.

Experimental Design: One hundred and twenty patients received erlotinib and were followed prospectively. Ninety-two tissue samples were analyzed for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations (exons 18, 19, and 21), 88 for EGFR gene amplification by real-time PCR, and 75 for EGFR protein expression by immunohistochemistry.

Alemtuzumab plus CHOP as front-line chemotherapy for patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas: a phase II study.

Purpose: The present study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of alemtuzumab plus CHOP chemotherapy for patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs).

Patients And Methods: Twenty patients with newly diagnosed PTCLs were enrolled. The treatment consisted of classical CHOP plus alemtuzumab (10 mg i.

Multicenter phase II study of weekly paclitaxel plus cisplatin combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Purpose: Since a weekly administration of paclitaxel has demonstrated a sustained efficacy and more favorable toxicity profile than a 3-weekly administration for various solid tumors, the present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combination regimen of weekly paclitaxel plus cisplatin in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Patients And Methods: Patients with previously untreated metastatic or recurrent, measurable gastric cancer received intravenous paclitaxel 100 mg/m(2) plus cisplatin 35 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 based on a 3-week cycle.

Results: Fifty-two patients were enrolled in the current study.

Induction chemotherapy of docetaxel and Cisplatin for the elderly patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Purpose: Although concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) has been considered as a standard treatment for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), this treatment is associated with increased toxicities such as mucositis and dermatitis. As a result, the dose intensity can be reduced and interruptions of radiotherapy are more common for CCRT than for sequential treatment, especially for the elderly patients. This prospective study was performed to assess the efficacy and safety profiles of the induction chemotherapy of docetaxel and cisplatin for elderly patients with locally advanced SCCHN.

CHOP plus etoposide and gemcitabine (CHOP-EG) as front-line chemotherapy for patients with peripheral T cell lymphomas.

Objective: The present study evaluated the feasibility of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) plus etoposide and gemcitabine (CHOP-EG) as front-line chemotherapy in patients with peripheral T cell lymphomas (PTCLs).

Patients And Methods: Twenty-six patients with newly diagnosed PTCLs were enrolled into the pilot study. Treatment consisted of classical CHOP plus etoposide 100 mg/m(2) intravenously (i.

Clinical Significance of p53, P-glycoprotein, and Glutathione S transferase-pi in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: A retrospective study was performed o define the clninical significance of p53, P-glycoprotein (Pgp), and Glutathione S transferase-pi (GST-pi) immunohistochemical (IHC) expression in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: We reviewed fifty seven patients with advanced NSCLC who had undergone surgical resection or bronchoscopic biopsy between March 1997 and March 1999. IHC staining for p53, GST-pi, and Pgp was performed using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of the fifty seven patients.