Prognostic value of pretreatment CD44 mRNA in peripheral blood of patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer.

This study investigates the clinical significance of CD44 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the peripheral blood of patients with head and neck cancer. Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to quantify CD44 mRNA levels in the peripheral blood of patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer. All patients were enrolled between January 2006 and December 2008 and had received chemotherapy/radiotherapy for their head and neck cancers.

Docetaxel, carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TCF) chemotherapy in patients with unresectable metastatic carcinoma of cervix.

Objectives: This retrospective study evaluates the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy with docetaxel, carboplatin and 5-FU (TCF) in patients with metastatic cervical carcinoma.

Methods: Between January 2006 and April 2007, 23 patients with metastatic cervical carcinoma were included in the study. Patients fulfilling the following criteria were enrolled: histologically confirmed metastatic cervical carcinoma; documented progressive disease (PD) after cisplatinum-based treatment if applicable; an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance scale of 0-2; not candidates for local therapy; measurable metastatic lesions as assessed by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST); and adequate hematologic, hepatic, and renal functions.