Meta-analysis examining impact of age on overall survival with pemetrexed for the treatment of advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective: In clinical practice, elderly patients are often undertreated relative to younger patients. This meta-analysis was designed to determine whether older patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) could derive an overall survival (OS) benefit from pemetrexed treatment comparable to that experienced by younger patients in the first-line, second-line, or maintenance settings.

Methods: Data from 2671 patients with non-squamous NSCLC participating in four pemetrexed phase III studies were included in a meta-analysis using a random-effects model.

Importance of baseline mini-mental state examination as a prognostic factor for patients with low-grade glioma.

Purpose: The outcome and cognitive performance data collected in a prospective, intergroup clinical trial were analyzed to assess the prognostic importance of the baseline (before radiotherapy) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score in patients with low-grade glioma.

Methods And Materials: The patients studied were 203 adults with a supratentorial low-grade glioma randomly assigned to low-dose (50.4 Gy in 28 fractions) or high-dose (64.

Adult patients with supratentorial pilocytic astrocytomas: a prospective multicenter clinical trial.

Purpose: Supratentorial pilocytic astrocytomas in adults are uncommon. A prospective clinical trial was conducted to obtain clinical and outcome data in these patients.

Methods And Materials: Between 1986 and 1994, 20 eligible adults with supratentorial pilocytic astrocytomas were enrolled in a prospective intergroup trial of radiotherapy (RT) after biopsy (3 patients) or observation after gross (11 patients) or subtotal (6 patients) resection.

Effects of radiotherapy on cognitive function in patients with low-grade glioma measured by the folstein mini-mental state examination.

Purpose: To assess the neurocognitive effects of cranial radiotherapy on patients with low-grade gliomas, we analyzed cognitive performance data collected in a prospective, intergroup clinical trial.

Methods: Patients included 203 adults with supratentorial low-grade gliomas randomly assigned to a lower dose (50.4 Gy in 28 fractions) or a higher dose (64.

Thalidomide as initial therapy for early-stage myeloma.

Patients with early-stage myeloma are typically observed without therapy until symptomatic disease occurs. However, they are at high risk of progression to symptomatic myeloma, with a median time to progression of approximately 1-2 years. We report the final results of a phase II trial of thalidomide as initial therapy for early-stage multiple myeloma in an attempt to delay progression to symptomatic disease.

A comparison of surgical resection and stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of solitary brain metastases.

Purpose: To determine whether neurosurgery (NS) or stereotactic radiosurgery (RS) provided better local tumor control and enhanced patient survival.

Methods And Materials: Retrospective review of all solitary brain metastases (SBM) patients newly diagnosed at Mayo Clinic Rochester between 1991 and 1999. Eligible patients satisfied tumor size and SBM site criteria to qualify for both NS and RS.

Response rate, durability of response, and survival after thalidomide therapy for relapsed multiple myeloma.

Objective: To assess response rate, duration of response, progression-free survival, and toxicity of thalidomide in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-two patients with relapsed multiple myeloma were entered into the study between April 29, 1999, and June 20, 2000. They were given oral thalidomide at a dosage of 200 mg/d for 2 weeks, which was then increased as tolerated to a maximum of 800 mg/d.

Combination therapy with thalidomide plus dexamethasone for newly diagnosed myeloma.

Purpose: Multiple myeloma is a malignancy of plasma cells and is characterized by increased marrow angiogenesis. Thalidomide, an agent with antiangiogenic properties, is effective in relapsed myeloma. We report the results of a study combining thalidomide and dexamethasone as initial therapy for myeloma.

Prognostic significance of an apoptotic index and apoptosis/proliferation ratio for patients with high-grade astrocytomas.

We evaluated the association of spontaneous apoptosis and an apoptosis/proliferation index with survival to determine the potential of such measures to serve as predictive markers for patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). We examined the extent of spontaneous apoptosis in tumors from newly diagnosed patients, 75 with GBM and 21 with anaplastic astrocytoma, who were entered on treatment protocols of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group. In the group of GBM patients, those with a higher apoptotic index tended to live longer ( P = 0.

PTEN mutation, EGFR amplification, and outcome in patients with anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme.

Background: Survival of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma is highly variable. Prognostic markers would thus be useful to identify clinical subsets of such patients. Because specific genetic alterations have been associated with glioblastoma, we investigated whether similar genetic alterations could be detected in patients with anaplastic astrocytoma and used to identify those with particularly aggressive disease.