Erlotinib-induced rash spares previously irradiated skin.

Background: Erlotinib is an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor prescribed to patients with locally advanced or metastasized non-small cell lung carcinoma after failure of at least one earlier chemotherapy treatment. Approximately 75% of the patients treated with erlotinib develop acneiform skin rashes.

Case Report: A patient treated with erlotinib 3 months after finishing concomitant treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer is presented.

Regional radiotherapy versus an axillary lymph node dissection after lumpectomy: a safe alternative for an axillary lymph node dissection in a clinically uninvolved axilla in breast cancer. A case control study with 10 years follow up.

Background: The standard treatment of the axilla in breast cancer used to be an axillary lymph node dissection. An axillary lymph node dissection is known to give substantial risks of morbidity. In recent years the sentinel node biopsy has become common practice.

Results of the Dutch National study of the palliative effect of irradiation using two different treatment schemes for non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: A national multicenter randomized study compared the efficacy of 2 x 8 Gy versus our standard 10 x 3 Gy in patients with inoperable stage IIIA/B (with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score of 3 to 4 and/or substantial weight loss) and stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer.

Patients And Methods: Between January 1999 and June 2002, 297 patients were eligible and randomized to receive either 10 x 3 Gy or 2 x 8 Gy by external-beam irradiation. The primary end point was a patient-assessed score of treatment effect on seven thoracic symptoms using an adapted Rotterdam Symptom Checklist.

Prediction of survival in patients with metastases in the spinal column: results based on a randomized trial of radiotherapy.

Background: Adequate prediction of survival is important in deciding on treatment for patients with symptomatic spinal metastases. The authors reviewed 342 patients with painful spinal metastases without neurologic impairment who were treated conservatively within a large, prospectively randomized radiotherapy trial. Response to radiotherapy and prognostic factors for survival were studied.