A phase II study of weekly paclitaxel/estramustine/carboplatin in hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Purpose: The objective of this phase II study was to determine the response rate in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer given paclitaxel/estramustine/carboplatin for weeks 1, 2, and 3 of a 4-week cycle.

Patients And Methods: Eighty-four patients were registered into the trial. Paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 and carboplatin area under the curve of 2 were administered intravenously on days 2, 9, and 16, and oral estramustine 280 mg 3 times daily was given on days 1-3, 8-10, and 15-17 for 6 cycles.

Phase III study of fluorouracil, leucovorin, and levamisole in high-risk stage II and III colon cancer: final report of Intergroup 0089.

Purpose: In 1990, fluorouracil (FU) plus levamisole for 1 year became standard adjuvant treatment for patients with high-risk stages II and III colon cancer. Intergroup (INT) 0089 assessed the relative contributions of leucovorin and levamisole in such patients.

Patients And Methods: From 1988 to 1992, 3,794 patients were randomly assigned.

Phase II randomized trial of weekly paclitaxel with or without estramustine phosphate in progressive, metastatic, hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

This study was conducted to determine the similarity of response rates and safety produced by weekly paclitaxel with or without oral estramustine in patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Between December 1998 and December 1999, 163 patients were randomized to receive 28-day cycles of paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 on days 2, 9, and 16 plus estramustine 280 mg orally 3 times a day on days 1-3, 8-10, and 15-17, or to receive paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 alone on days 1, 8, and 15. Objective response was defined as a > oe = 50% decrease in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) maintained for 4 weeks with stable or improved performance status.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic (HAL) gastric partition with roux-en-Y intestinal bypass.

The surgical treatment of obesity with proximal gastric partition and Roux-en-Y intestinal bypass is recognized as effective in producing meaningful weight loss of excess body weight. Pure laparoscopic surgery has been perfected by a small number of surgeons in the United States. To acquire this new skill requires extensive training and supervision.