A Phase II Study of S-1 for Previously Untreated Elderly Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: S-1, a novel oral fluoropyrimidine, is active in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, data on S-1 for elderly patients with NSCLC are insufficient.

Methods: Eligibility criteria were no prior chemotherapy, stage IIIB or IV NSCLC, performance status 0-1, age >70 years, and adequate hematological, hepatic, and renal functions.

Phase II study of irinotecan and cisplatin with concurrent split-course radiotherapy in limited-disease small cell lung cancer.

Background: Irinotecan and cisplatin are one of active regimens for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). To determine the efficacy and toxicity of irinotecan and cisplatin with concurrent split-course thoracic radiotherapy in limited-disease (LD) SCLC, we conducted a phase II study.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-four patients fulfilling the following eligibility criteria were enrolled: chemotherapy-naïve, good performance status (PS 0-1), age ≤75, LD-SCLC, and adequate organ function.

The definition of healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) is insufficient for the medical environment in Japan: a comparison of HCAP and nursing and healthcare-associated pneumonia (NHCAP).

Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) is a new concept of pneumonia, which was proposed in the ATS/IDSA guidelines. The guidelines explain that HCAP patients should be treated with broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs directed at multidrug-resistant pathogens. However, in Japan, there are many elderly people who received in-home care service.

Phase I and II trials of vinorelbine with carboplatin for patients 75 years of age or older with previously untreated non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: The safety and efficacy of platinum-based combination chemotherapy for elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. We conducted phase I and phase II trials of a combination of vinorelbine and carboplatin for patients ≥75 years of age and with advanced NSCLC.

Patients And Methods: Previously untreated patients (≥75 years of age) with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC were enrolled.

Randomized phase II trial of irinotecan with paclitaxel or gemcitabine for non-small cell lung cancer: association of UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*27 with severe neutropenia.

Hypothesis: Irinotecan-containing regimens are known to be active and tolerable in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A randomized phase II trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of irinotecan plus paclitaxel or gemcitabine for previously untreated stage IIIB or stage IV NSCLC.

Patients And Methods: Previously untreated patients with adequate organ function who gave written informed consent were randomly assigned to receive irinotecan (50 mg/m on days 1, 8, and 15) plus paclitaxel (180 mg/m on day 1) every 4 weeks (IP group) or irinotecan (100 mg/m on days 1 and 8) plus gemcitabine (1000 mg/m on days 1 and 8) every 3 weeks (IG group).

Pharmacokinetics of gefitinib predicts antitumor activity for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: We assessed the relationship between the plasma concentration of gefitinib and its efficacy in Japanese patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Plasma trough levels of gefitinib were measured on days 3 (D3) and 8 (D8) by high-performance liquid chromatography in 44 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with 250 mg gefitinib daily. Eligibility criteria included performance status < or =3, age < or = 80 years, and stages IIIB-IV cancer.

Serum levels of surfactant protein D predict the anti-tumor activity of gefitinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Gefitinib is an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) that has dramatic effects in selective patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A simple non-invasive method for predicting the efficacy of gefitinib is preferable in clinical settings. In this study, we evaluated prospectively whether surfactant protein-A (SP-A) and -D (SP-D) may be new conventional predictors of the efficacy of gefitinib treatment.

A phase I study of amrubicin and carboplatin for previously untreated patients with extensive-disease small cell lung cancer.

Background: Amrubicin and cisplatin are active in the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and carboplatin is an analogue of cisplatin with less nonhematological toxicity. The appropriate dose of amrubicin and carboplatin combination chemotherapy for previously untreated patients with extensive-disease (ED) SCLC has not been established.

Purpose: To determine the maximum-tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of amrubicin and carboplatin in ED-SCLC.

Phase I study of vinorelbine and irinotecan in previously untreated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: Vinorelbine alone and irinotecan alone have been shown to have efficacy against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); each drug has different mechanisms of action. A phase I study using a combination of vinorelbine and irinotecan as first-line treatment for advanced NSCLC was done to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT).

Methods: Previously untreated patients ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Phase I study of irinotecan and gemcitabine in previously untreated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Irinotecan and gemcitabine are effective against non-small cell lung cancer. We conducted a phase I study of the combined use of irinotecan and gemcitabine in previously untreated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer to determine dose-limiting toxicities and maximum tolerated dose.

Methods: Patients were treated with irinotecan followed by gemcitabine on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks.

Irinotecan and cisplatin with concurrent split-course radiotherapy in locally advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer: a multiinstitutional phase 2 study.

Background: The purpose was to determine the efficacy and toxicity of irinotecan and cisplatin with concurrent split-course thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) in locally advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer.

Methods: Fifty patients fulfilling the following eligibility criteria were enrolled: chemotherapy-naive, good performance status (PS, 0-2), age <75, stage III, and adequate organ function. The patients received irinotecan 60 mg/m(2) intravenously on Days 1, 8, and 15, and cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) intravenously on Day 1 in the first group.

[A case of Heerfordt's syndrome with an elevated serum TNF alpha].

A 27-year old man who had developed uveitis, swelling of the right parotid gland, right facial nerve paralysis and fever, was admitted to our hospital. A chest X-ray film showed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy. Serum levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme and lysozyme were elevated.

[A case of multiple pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia that deteriorated during pregnancy].

A 29-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of persistent breathlessness on exertion after the delivery of her second child. Although at the age of 26 she had been given a diagnosis of multiple pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (PAVF), treatment was not done because of the absence of symptoms. An intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) due to hypoxemia occurred during the second pregnancy, and then she delivered a 1,283g baby by cesarean section in the 36th gestation week.

A phase I trial of carboplatin and etoposide for elderly (>or=75 year-old) patients with small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: The combination of carboplatin and etoposide is currently considered the most appropriate regimen for treating elderly patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Previous reports on elderly patients, 70 years or older, found that the recommended dose was close to that of younger patients. Then, we conducted a phase I study of carboplatin and etoposide in elderly patients, 75 years or older, with SCLC.

[Clinical studies of sixteen cases with pulmonary cryptococcosis mainly with respect to serum level of cryptococcal antigen].

Clinical studies of sixteen cases with pulmonary cryptococcosis, during the past six years between 1998 and 2004, were peformed mainly with respect to serum cryptococcal antigen titer. Serum cryptococcal antigen was positive in twelve of 16 cases, the other three cases were diagnosed by VATS, the other one by positive culture of cryptococcus in BALF. In these twelve cases, the serum cryptococcal antigen titer was continuously tested after treatment.

Phase II study of irinotecan combined with carboplatin in previously untreated non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Irinotecan, a topoisomerase I inhibitor, is an effective agent for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To determine the efficacy and toxicity of irinotecan and carboplatin, we conducted a phase II study in 61 patients with advanced NSCLC.

Methods: Every 4 weeks, the patients received irinotecan 50 mg/m2 (days 1, 8 and 15) and carboplatin (day 1) with a target AUC of 5 mg min/ml using the Chatelut formula.