Increased quality of life in patients with breakthrough cancer pain after individualized therapy: the CAVIDIOM study.

To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in patients with breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) in Spanish medical oncology departments. In a prospective, observational, multicenter study, we assessed QoL using the EQ-5D-5L instrument at baseline and after 15 and 30 days of individualized BTcP therapy, as well as BTcP characteristics and treatment. Patients (n = 118) were mainly women, over 64 years old and with advanced cancer.

Association of Performance Status and Pain in Metastatic Bone Pain Management in the Spanish Clinical Setting.

Introduction: Bone metastasis is the most common cause of cancer-related pain, and metastatic bone pain (MBP) is not only severe but also progressive in many patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between pain management and performance status in patients with metastatic bone cancer in the Spanish clinical setting.

Methods: A 3-month follow-up prospective, epidemiologic, multicenter study was conducted in 579 patients to assess the evolution of their performance, the impact of pain control on sleep and functionality, and the degree of pain control according to analgesic treatment.

[Current status of EGFR/ErbB inhibitors in non-small cell lung carcinoma].

In the last 10 years, there has been a major change in the treatment of lung cancer (LC). The discovery of activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in some histological subtypes of LC and its sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) has represented a substantial advance in the treatment of this entity. Until then, the only available option to treat this type of tumour was based on chemotherapy, with a small but significant benefit in terms of survival and quality of life.

Efficacy of the MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapeutic as adjuvant therapy in patients with resected MAGE-A3-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (MAGRIT): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.

Background: Fewer than half of the patients with completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are cured. Since the introduction of adjuvant chemotherapy in 2004, no substantial progress has been made in adjuvant treatment. We aimed to assess the efficacy of the MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapeutic in surgically resected NSCLC.

Reduced folate carrier (RFC) as a predictive marker for response to pemetrexed in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Introduction: RFC is the major transport system in mammalian cells for folate cofactors and antifolate therapeutics. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of RFC expression in patients receiving pemetrexed for advanced NSCLC.

Methods: The study was carried out in a population of 48 patients with advanced NSCLC which have received pemetrexed monotherapy in second and third line.

Efficacy and safety of erlotinib versus chemotherapy in second-line treatment of patients with advanced, non-small-cell lung cancer with poor prognosis (TITAN): a randomised multicentre, open-label, phase 3 study.

Background: Erlotinib, docetaxel, and pemetrexed are approved for the second-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but no head-to-head data from large clinical trials are available. We undertook the Tarceva In Treatment of Advanced NSCLC (TITAN) study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of second-line erlotinib versus chemotherapy in patients with refractory NSCLC.

Methods: TITAN was an international, randomised multicentre, open-label, phase 3 study that was done at 77 sites in 24 countries.

Activity of topotecan given intravenously for 5 days every three weeks in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer pretreated with platinum and taxanes: a phase II study.

Topotecan, a semi-synthetic camptothecin analogue with topoisomerase I interaction, has shown to be an active agent in the treatment of advanced refractory lung cancer. This paper describes the authors' experience with this drug when used as a single agent in patients (pts) with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) refractory to platinum- and taxane-containing chemotherapy regimens. Thirty-five patients with NSCLC refractory to previous chemotherapy and KI ≥ 60% were included in the study.

Oral vinorelbine: role in the management of metastatic breast cancer.

The treatment of advanced breast cancer is continually evolving, with the aim of improving the quality and duration of remission and, in some instances, survival. In this setting, the importance of quality of life cannot be underestimated, and growing attention is being paid to treatment convenience and compliance. New anticancer agents have improved efficacy, but for many of them, toxicity often remains a problem.

Retrospective review in patients with pulmonary metastases of renal cell carcinoma receiving inhaled recombinant interleukin-2.

Pulmonary metastases of renal cell carcinoma are associated with poor prognosis. Systemic interleukin-2 is used to treat pulmonary metastases of renal cell carcinoma; however, its toxicity limits its use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of inhaled interleukin-2 in pulmonary metastases of renal cell carcinoma patients.

Activity of carboplatin in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer pre-treated with a non-platinum combination.

To assess the efficacy of carboplatin when used as a single agent in patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and who are refractory to chemotherapy with a non-platinum combination, we recruited patients (n=40) NSCLC patients, 36 of whom were males, with an overall median age of 59 years (range 39-79) and Karnofsky Performance Status of 70% (range 60-90%). At baseline, the patients had a median of one disease site (range 1-3) and had received a median of one prior regimen (range 1-2). Carboplatin was administered (i.