Assessing Radiographic Response to Ra with an Automated Bone Scan Index in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Patients.

For effective clinical management of patients being treated with Ra, there is a need for radiographic response biomarkers to minimize disease progression and to stratify patients for subsequent treatment options. The objective of this study was to evaluate an automated bone scan index (aBSI) as a quantitative assessment of bone scans for radiographic response in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In a multicenter retrospective study, bone scans from patients with mCRPC treated with monthly injections of Ra were collected from 7 hospitals in Sweden.

Gemcitabine and capecitabine in combination for advanced anthracycline and taxane pre-treated breast cancer patients: A phase II study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the clinical value of gemcitabine combined with capecitabine (GC) in heavily pre-treated patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Material And Methods: All patients had failed anthracyclines and taxanes. In 14 patients (41%), more than two metastatic sites were diagnosed with bone (68%) and liver (62%) being the most prominent.

Erythropoietin treatment in metastatic breast cancer--effects on Hb, quality of life and need for transfusion.

Erythropoietin is an effective treatment for anemia in patients with various types of cancers, but few studies have evaluated the benefit of treatment in advanced breast cancer. In this multicenter study, we investigated the influence of two different doses of epoetin-beta on the level of hemoglobin, the need for blood transfusion, quality of life and safety aspects in patients with metastatic breast cancer. A total of 180 patients were randomized to receive either 1000 IE or 5000 IE epoetin-beta subcutaneously three times per week for 24 weeks.