Intensified Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Patients with Potentially Resectable Esophageal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Neoadjuvant treatment consisting of five cycles of carboplatin and paclitaxel with concurrent radiotherapy (41.4 Gy), followed by esophagectomy, is the standard treatment for resectable esophageal cancer in The Netherlands. It remains unclear whether intensification of neoadjuvant therapy leads to better outcomes.

Tolerability of Capecitabine Monotherapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Real-World Study.

Background: Capecitabine monotherapy is a treatment option for selected patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and is administered to up to 17% of patients. Data are limited with regard to adverse events and dosing practices associated with capecitabine monotherapy in real-world situations.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to provide real-world data on adverse event rates and dose adjustments/discontinuations associated with capecitabine monotherapy in patients with mCRC.

Use of trastuzumab for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer in daily practice: a population-based study focusing on the elderly.

The addition of trastuzumab to chemotherapy in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) prolongs overall survival (OS) in clinical trials. However, treatment patterns and survival in daily practice are unknown. This study aims to compare trastuzumab use and outcome in HER2-positive MBC patients in a population-based cohort with clinical trial cohorts, with a special focus on elderly patients.

Classification and occurrence of clinically significant drug interactions with irinotecan and oxaliplatin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug interactions with cytotoxic drugs may significantly influence the efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify drug interactions with irinotecan and oxaliplatin reported in the literature, to assess their clinical significance, and to examine the occurrence of these interactions in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with either irinotecan or oxaliplatin or both.

Methods: To obtain data on drug-drug interactions with irinotecan and oxaliplatin, a literature search of PubMed and EMBASE was conducted using the search terms irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and interactions (English-language studies only published between 1980 and August 2004).

Relationship between pharmacokinetics of 5-FU in plasma and in saliva, and toxicity of 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid.

Background: Dose adaptation based on pharmacokinetic parameters has been shown to decrease toxicity of some 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)-based continuous infusion regimens.

Patients And Methods: In the present study the relationship between 5-FU pharmacokinetics in plasma and in saliva, and toxicity was investigated in 40 patients receiving the combination of 5-FU 425 mg/m2 and folinic acid 20 mg/m2 daily during 5 consecutive days according to the Mayo-regimen.

Results: The overall non-hematological and hematological toxicity, as well as mucositis only, were not statistically significant related to the area-under-the-curve in plasma (AUCp) or in saliva (AUCs), nor to the maximum concentration measured in plasma (Cmaxp) or in saliva (Cmaxs).