Publications by authors named "J R Germa"
Purpose: Active surveillance (AS) and adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) with carboplatin are valid alternatives for managing stage I seminoma, and most relapses can be cured with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. However, some reports suggest that AC may modify the classical pattern of recurrences.
Methods: We analyzed all relapses observed in a series of 879 patients with stage I seminoma included in 4 consecutive studies of the Spanish Germ Cell Cancer Group.
Article Synopsis
- Researchers studied the genetic causes of cisplatin resistance in testicular germ cell tumors by transplanting human tumors into mice, which maintained key tumor characteristics and drug sensitivity.
- They found that tumors resistant to cisplatin showed specific chromosomal alterations, particularly gains in the 9q32-q33.1 region, which were associated with poorer survival rates in patients.
- The study identified several deregulated genes in the resistant tumors and suggested that inhibiting the glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) could help overcome cisplatin resistance, highlighting the potential of orthoxenografts for drug testing and identifying resistance markers.
Background The study examines two meso-strategic cancer networks, exploring to what extent collaboration can strengthen or hamper network effectiveness. Unlike macro-strategic networks, meso-strategic networks have no hierarchical governance structures nor are they institutionalised within healthcare services' delivery systems. This study aims to analyse the models of professional cooperation and the tools developed for managing clinical practice within two meso-strategic, European cancer networks.
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- The study focused on the results from Spanish patients in an international early access program for radium-223, a treatment for advanced prostate cancer.
- Ninety patients who were resistant to castration and had bone metastases received radium-223 treatment, showing a median time to disease progression of 8 months and overall survival of 14 months.
- While 34% experienced serious treatment side effects, overall, radium-223 was well tolerated and results were similar to the larger international findings.
Background: In 2011 the first payment-by-results (PbR) scheme in Catalonia was signed between the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), the Catalan Health Service, and AstraZeneca (AZ) for the introduction of gefitinib in the treatment of advanced EGFR-mutation positive non-small-cell lung cancer. The PbR scheme includes two evaluation points: at week 8, responses, stabilization and progression were evaluated, and at week 16 stabilization was confirmed. AZ was to reimburse the total treatment cost of patients that failed treatment, defined as progression at weeks 8 or 16.
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