Treatment of malignant, non-resectable, epithelial origin esophageal tumours with the humanized anti-epidermal growth factor antibody nimotuzumab combined with radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Background: Over-expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in esophageal cancer is associated with poor prognosis. The present study was conducted to evaluate safety and preliminary efficacy of nimotuzumab, a humanized anti-EGFR antibody in combination with radiation and chemotherapy in advanced esophageal tumours.

Patients And Methods: A Phase II clinical trial was conducted, where patients received cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and radiotherapy, either alone or combined with six weekly infusions of nimotuzumab at the dose of 200 mg.

Predictors of positive axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer patients with metastatic sentinel lymph node.

Introduction: Breast cancer with metastatic sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) may have clinico-pathologic factors associated with the presence of positive non-sentinel axillary nodes (NSLN). The aim of the present study was to determine factors that predict involvement of NSLN in breast cancer patients with positive SLN.

Material And Methods: A prospective database search identified 80 patients who underwent SLN biopsy for invasive breast cancer between January 1999 and August 2002.