Chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer: four systematic meta-analyses of individual patient data from 37 randomized trials. Advanced Ovarian Cancer Trialists' Group.

The purpose of this systematic study was to provide an up to date and reliable quantitative summary of the relative benefits of various types of chemotherapy (non-platinum vs platinum, single-agent vs combination and carboplatin vs cisplatin) in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. Also, to investigate whether well-defined patient subgroups benefit more or less from cisplatin- or carboplatin-based therapy. Meta-analyses were based on updated individual patient data from all available randomized controlled trials (published and unpublished), including 37 trials, 5667 patients and 4664 deaths.

Elapsed radiation therapy treatment time as a predictor of survival in patients with advanced head and neck cancer who receive chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Purpose: To determine whether elapsed radiation therapy treatment time relates to survival in patients with head and neck cancer treated sequentially with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Materials And Methods: From 1981 to 1988, 76 adult patients with bulky stage II-IV head and neck cancer received induction chemotherapy (fluorouracil and cisplatin). Those with a complete or partial response (n = 46) received full-dose definitive radiation therapy (range, 64.

Pericardial angiosarcoma after mediastinal irradiation for seminoma. A case report and a review of the literature.

Background: Second malignancies are a well recognized complication of radiation therapy.

Methods: We performed a computer search of the literature using the Medline Database for Pericardial Tumors and Post-Irradiation Sarcomas.

Results: The case history of a patient who developed a radiation-induced pericardial angiosarcoma is described.

Downstaging of advanced rectal cancer following combined preoperative chemotherapy and high dose radiation.

Purpose: To assess the potential downstaging of advanced rectal cancer with combined preoperative chemoradiation.

Methods And Materials: Thirty-one patients with fixed rectal cancers (stage > or = cT3) were treated with concomitant preoperative chemotherapy and high-dose radiation in an effort to improve resectability. Three (10%) patients had partially fixed low rectal cancers, 24 (77%) patients had fixed tumors, and 4 (13%) had advanced fixation with pelvic sidewall invasion.