Prospective Randomized Trial of Docetaxel Versus Best Supportive Care in Patients With Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Previously Treated With Platinum-Based Chemotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate whether treatment with single-agent docetaxel would result in longer survival than would best supportive care in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who had previously been treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Secondary end points included assessment of response (docetaxel arm only), toxicity, and quality of life.

Unlabelled: PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with performance statuses of 0 to 2 and stage IIIB/IV non-small-cell lung cancer with either measurable or evaluable lesions were eligible for entry onto the study if they had undergone one or more platinum-based chemotherapy regimens and if they had adequate hematology and biochemistry parameters.

Effect of chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer on patients' quality of life. A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) do not have curative treatment options; therefore, treatments should prolong survival and improve quality of life (QoL). We compared the effect on QoL of two docetaxel-platinum regimens with vinorelbine-cisplatin.

Methods: QoL was assessed by the Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS) and the general EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D) in 926 chemotherapy-naïve patients with stages IIIB to IV NSCLC.

A randomised phase II study of the efficacy and safety of intravenous topotecan in combination with either cisplatin or etoposide in patients with untreated extensive disease small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Topotecan (Hycamtin is active in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). This phase II study investigated the efficacy and safety of topotecan in combination with either cisplatin or etoposide in untreated extensive disease SCLC (ED SCLC).

Patients And Methods: Patients with untreated ED SCLC were randomised to treatment with T/C (topotecan 1.

Differentially expressed genes in nonsmall cell lung cancer: expression profiling of cancer-related genes in squamous cell lung cancer.

The expression patterns of cancer-related genes in 13 cases of squamous cell lung cancer (SCC) were characterized and compared with those in normal lung tissue and 13 adenocarcinomas (AC), the other major type of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). cDNA array was used to screen the gene expression levels and the array results were verified using a real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Thirty-nine percent of the 25 most upregulated and the 25 most downregulated genes were common to SCC and AC.

Pretreatment serum syndecan-1 levels and outcome in small cell lung cancer patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.

Syndecan-1 is a multifunctional transmembrane heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG) that is present on a variety of cell types. The extracellular syndecan domains can be shed from the cell surface in a highly regulated process called ectodomain shedding. We studied the influence of soluble syndecan-1 on outcome in 88 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients treated within the context of two randomised clinical trials with platinum-based therapy.

Randomized, multinational, phase III study of docetaxel plus platinum combinations versus vinorelbine plus cisplatin for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: the TAX 326 study group.

Purpose: To investigate whether docetaxel plus platinum regimens improve survival and affect quality of life (QoL) in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared with vinorelbine plus cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Patients (n = 1,218) with stage IIIB to IV NSCLC were randomly assigned to receive docetaxel 75 mg/m2 and cisplatin 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks (DC); docetaxel 75 mg/m2 and carboplatin area under the curve of 6 mg/mL * min every 3 weeks (DCb); or vinorelbine 25 mg/m2/wk and cisplatin 100 mg/m2 every 4 weeks (VC).

Results: Patients treated with DC had a median survival of 11.

Adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatments for NSCLC.

In stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the use of induction chemotherapy prior to radiotherapy produces a significant increase in median survival of three to four months (from 11 to 14 months), a benefit which appears to be achieved through improved systemic control of the disease. Hyperfractionated radiotherapy, although it enhances local control, seems not to improve survival. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy has emerged as the most successful strategy.

High pretreatment serum concentration of basic fibroblast growth factor is a predictor of poor prognosis in small cell lung cancer.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a secreted multifunctional cytokine and a potent stimulator of angiogenesis. We measured bFGF concentrations from serum samples taken from 103 patients with small cell lung cancer at the time of diagnosis. Serum concentration of bFGF (S-bFGF) ranged from undetectable to 54 pg/ml (median, 6 pg/ml).

Concurrent LOH at multiple loci in human malignant mesothelioma with preferential loss of NF2 gene region.

Human malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a highly aggressive neoplasm related to occupational asbestos exposure and characterised by a long latency period between the exposure and onset of disease. Previous studies indicate that losses at different genomic regions are present in MM. We examined allele loss at three known tumour suppressor gene regions (22q/NF2 gene, 9p/p16 gene, and 3p/FHIT gene) and at two other frequently deleted areas (14q and 6q) in MM.

DNA copy number changes in lung adenocarcinoma in younger patients.

We performed a comparative genomic hybridization study on 25 lung adenocarcinoma samples from younger patients (<41 y of age) and compared the results with a previous comparative genomic hybridization analysis of lung adenocarcinoma samples from older patients (50-81 y of age). Twenty of the 25 tumor samples from younger patients had DNA copy number changes. Gains, losses, and high-level amplifications were seen more frequently in the specimens from the younger group.

Interferon trials in small cell lung cancer at one institution: a comparison of results obtained before and after initiation of systematic treatment trials using IFN-alpha in combination with other modalities.

Chemotherapy became the primary treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in the early 1970s. The standard drug combinations were first vincristine, adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide (VAC) and then, from the early 1980s, etoposide-platinum combinations. Despite a good initial objective response, however, patients usually suffer a rapid relapse.

Computed tomography screening for lung cancer in asbestos-exposed workers.

We conducted a computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer in a high-risk population. Six hundred and two workers (38-81 years, 97% smokers) with asbestos-related occupational disease were screened using spiral CT and chest radiography. The national cancer registry was checked for possible false negative cases.