FRAGMATIC: a randomised phase III clinical trial investigating the effect of fragmin added to standard therapy in patients with lung cancer.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) occurs when blood clots in the leg, pelvic or other deep vein (deep vein thrombosis) with or without transport of the thrombus into the pulmonary arterial circulation (pulmonary embolus). VTE is common in patients with cancer and is increased by surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and disease progression. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is routinely used to treat VTE and some evidence suggests that LMWH may also have an anticancer effect, by reduction in the incidence of metastases.

Lung cancer management in limited resource settings: guidelines for appropriate good care.

Lung cancer is a major cause of cancer death worldwide and is becoming an increasing problem in developing countries. It is important that, in countries where health care resources are limited, these resources are used most effectively and cost-effectively. The authors, with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency, drew on existing evidence-based clinical guidelines, published systematic reviews and meta-analyses, as well as recent research publications, to summarise the current evidence and to make broad recommendations on the non-surgical treatment of patients with lung cancer.

Prophylactic cranial irradiation for preventing brain metastases in patients undergoing radical treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer: a Cochrane Review.

Purpose: To investigate whether prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) has a role in the management of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with curative intent.

Methods And Materials: A search strategy was designed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing PCI with no PCI in NSCLC patients treated with curative intent. The electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, and Cancerlit were searched, along with relevant journals, books, and review articles to identify potentially eligible trials.

CT-planned accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy in the radical treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Surgery is the standard treatment for stage I, II and certain stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). A proportion of patients with technically operable NSCLC do not undergo surgery because of significant co-morbidity or refusal, and radical radiotherapy may cure some of these patients. Between April 1997 and March 2000, 135 consecutive patients with stage I-IIIB NSCLC were treated with CT-planned accelerated hypofractionated radical radiotherapy to a dose of 50-55Gy in 15-20 fractions over 3-4 weeks at a single centre.