Capecitabine as third-line treatment in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma after failing immunotherapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of capecitabine as third-line treatment in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma for whom immunotherapy had failed. Twenty-one patients with metastatic clear renal cell carcinoma were enrolled. Capecitabine was administered orally twice daily at a dosage of 2500 mg/m(2) for 14 days, followed by 7 days of rest.

Weekly high-dose calcitriol and docetaxel in patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer previously exposed to docetaxel.

Objective: To evaluate the activity and tolerability of weekly high-dose calcitriol and docetaxel in patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) previously exposed to docetaxel, as patients who progress after docetaxel treatment might be considered for second-line chemotherapy, but with no standard salvage therapy available we hypothesised that high-dose calcitriol might restore sensitivity to chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: The study comprised 26 patients who had progressed after first-line treatment with docetaxel-based chemotherapy had failed. Treatment cycles consisted of calcitriol (32 microg orally as 0.

Weekly docetaxel and epirubicin in treatment of advanced hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new regimen that combines weekly docetaxel and weekly epirubicin for the treatment of advanced hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Methods: Docetaxel 30 mg/m2 and epirubicin 30 mg/m2 were intravenously administered on a weekly basis, for a maximum of 24 cycles. The therapy was discontinued after the first 12 cycles in the patients who responded or had stable disease and was resumed as soon as any signs of progression were noted.

Analysis of biochemical bone markers as prognostic factors for survival in patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer and bone metastases.

Objectives: To investigate the prognostic value of some conventional bone markers and a number of other factors in terms of the survival of patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer and bone metastases treated with chemotherapy.

Methods: The data of 141 patients were analyzed to verify the influence of the following factors on survival: bone-alkaline phosphatase, type I collagen propeptide, the carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen, the urinary calcium/creatinine ratio, patient age, Karnofsky performance status, pathologic grade, duration of response to primary hormonal therapy, prostate-specific antigen, hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, and extent of bone disease.

Results: When all the variables were simultaneously analyzed using the multivariate proportional hazard model, only Karnofsky performance status (P <0.

Weekly low-dose docetaxel in advanced hormone-resistant prostate cancer patients previously exposed to chemotherapy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and tolerability of docetaxel in patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer previously exposed to chemotherapy.

Methods: We enrolled 27 patients with hormone-resistant prostatic cancer that had progressed during first-line chemotherapy. The primary end-point was palliative response defined as a 2-point reduction in the 6-point present pain intensity scale, and an improvement in Karnofsky performance status of one 10-point category.

Hypospadias: incidence and effects on psychosexual development as evaluated with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory test in a sample of 11,649 young Italian men.

Purpose: We evaluated the incidence of hypospadias and its effects on psychosexual development in a sample of 11,649 young Italian males. Over the last 30 years only about 30 major publications have addressed these issues and the results of many studies have been contrasting. Some defects in methodology, such as low response rates, heterogeneity of age ranges and the choice of controls, have been the main limitations.