Synchronous versus sequential chemo-radiotherapy in patients with early stage breast cancer (SECRAB): A randomised, phase III, trial.

Background: The optimal sequence of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy for breast cancer is unknown. SECRAB assesses whether local control can be improved without increased toxicity.

Methods: SECRAB was a prospective, open-label, multi-centre, phase III trial comparing synchronous to sequential chemo-radiotherapy, conducted in 48 UK centres.

Socioeconomic differences impact overall survival in advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) prior to achievement of standard therapy.

Purpose: Survival difference between socioeconomic groups with ovarian cancer has persisted in the United Kingdom despite efforts to reduce disparities in care. Our aim was to delineate critical episodes in the patient journey, where deprivation has most impact on survival.

Methods: A retrospective review of 834 patients with advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) between 16/8/07-16/2/17 at a large cancer centre serving one of the most deprived areas of the UK.

Outcomes Following Interval Debulking Surgery in Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma.

Aim: Primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC) has a poor prognosis, with a median survival of 11-24 months. Unlike ovarian cancer, there exist no published data on the effectiveness of interval debulking surgery (IDS) in PPC and it is not routine practice. Our series compared outcomes in patients with PPC treated with IDS following chemotherapy versus patients treated with chemotherapy alone.

Survival and Toxicity Following Chemoradiation for Carcinoma of the Cervix - Impact of Multiple-phase Treatment and Shielding.

Aim: We report on outcomes and significant grade 3-4 late toxicities between January 1999 and October 2006 following introduction of multi-phase treatment and effect of shielding in treatment of cervical cancer with concurrent chemoradiation.

Patients And Methods: Radiotherapy dose by phase, recurrence, survival and toxicity data was collated by a retrospective review of clinical notes. Shielding information was retrieved from original planning films.

Chemotherapy for Uterine Carcinosarcoma with Carboplatin, Ifosfamide and Mesna.

Background/aim: Uterine carcinosarcomas (UCSs) are highly aggressive, rare, biphasic tumors composed of epithelial and mesenchymal elements. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment in early-stage disease. Adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy improves locoregional control without proven overall survival (OS) benefit.

Chemotherapy for advanced endometrial cancer with carboplatin and epirubicin.

Unlabelled: Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancer in the Western world. In early-stage disease, surgery remains the mainstay of treatment. Adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy reduces the risk of pelvic recurrence, however, without improvement in overall survival.

Reversible branch retinal artery occlusion following intravenous cisplatin chemotherapy for cervical carcinoma.

Cisplatin (CDDP) is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used to treat solid tumours. We present a case of reversible CDDP-associated branch retinal artery occlusion.

Fatal Clostridium difficile infection associated with vinorelbine chemotherapy: case report and literature review.

Differentiating between chemotherapy-related diarrhoea and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (CDAD) can be extremely difficult. There is increasing evidence that CDAD can be seen in patients on chemotherapy without prior antibiotic usage. We report the first case of CDAD secondary to vinorelbine chemotherapy and review the literature.

Chemotherapy related encephalopathy in a patient with Stage IV cervical carcinoma treated with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil: a case report.

Introduction: Chemotherapy related encephalopathy is commonly reported with certain forms of chemotherapy but few reports note an association with low dose 5-Fluorouracil.

Case Presentation: A 57-year-old Caucasian lady received her first cycle of Cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil for palliative treatment of cervical carcinoma, and presented several days later with signs of encephalopathy. Several causes were eliminated, and encephalopathy related to 5-Fluorouracil was thought to be the most likely cause.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast: achieving long-term control with cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Pure primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the breast is rare and difficult to treat. Published series suggest a poor response to conventional breast chemotherapy. A 66-year-old woman with locally advanced SCC of the breast received combined-modality treatment with high-dose radiation therapy (59 Gy in 22 fractions); mastectomy; and chemotherapy with cisplatin 50 mg/m(2), mitomycin-C 6 mg/m(2), and ifosfamide 3 g/m(2) given in 21-day cycles.

Prolonged trastuzumab therapy in a patient with recurrent breast cancer and anthracycline-induced cardiac failure.

Current practice precludes patients with pre-existing cardiac dysfunction from trastuzumab therapy. A 57-year-old patient with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer and anthracycline-induced cardiac failure was safely treated with trastuzumab. At 46 months, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) did fall to 38.

Acute chemotherapy-related toxicity is not increased in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers treated for breast cancer in the United Kingdom.

Purpose: To evaluate acute toxicity induced by chemotherapy for breast cancer in a retrospective study of 62 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers matched 1:1 with women who had treatment for sporadic disease in the United Kingdom between 1983 and 2003.

Experimental Design: All participants were interviewed by one of two researchers using standardized questionnaires, and their medical records were reviewed by one research nurse. The two main regimens received were cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil and fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide.

Late toxicity is not increased in BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers undergoing breast radiotherapy in the United Kingdom.

Purpose: To undertake the first substantial clinical study of breast radiotherapy toxicity in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers in the United Kingdom.

Experimental Design: Acute and late radiation effects were evaluated in a retrospective study of 55 BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer at four centers between 1983 and 2002. Individual matching with controls who had sporadic breast cancer was undertaken for age at diagnosis, time since completion of radiation, and treatment variables.

Epirubicin and cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil as adjuvant therapy for early breast cancer.

Background: The National Epirubicin Adjuvant Trial (NEAT) and the BR9601 trial examined the efficacy of anthracyclines in the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer.

Methods: In NEAT, we compared four cycles of epirubicin followed by four cycles of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) with six cycles of CMF alone. In the BR9601 trial, we compared four cycles of epirubicin followed by four cycles of CMF, with eight cycles of CMF alone every 3 weeks.

Antibacterial prophylaxis after chemotherapy for solid tumors and lymphomas.

Background: The role of prophylactic antibacterial agents after chemotherapy remains controversial.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients who were receiving cyclic chemotherapy for solid tumors or lymphoma and who were at risk for temporary, severe neutropenia (fewer than 500 neutrophils per cubic millimeter). Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 500 mg of levofloxacin once daily or matching placebo for seven days during the expected neutropenic period.