Long-term endometrial effects in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer participating in the Intergroup Exemestane Study (IES)--a randomised controlled trial of exemestane versus continued tamoxifen after 2-3 years tamoxifen.

Background: The antiestrogen tamoxifen may have partial estrogen-like effects on the postmenopausal uterus. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are increasingly used after initial tamoxifen in the adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal early breast cancer due to their mechanism of action: a potential benefit being a reduction of uterine abnormalities caused by tamoxifen.

Patients And Methods: Sonographic uterine effects of the steroidal AI exemestane were studied in 219 women participating in the Intergroup Exemestane Study: a large trial in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive (or unknown) early breast cancer, disease free after 2-3 years of tamoxifen, randomly assigned to continue tamoxifen or switch to exemestane to complete 5 years adjuvant treatment.

A retrospective comparative study of surgery followed by chemotherapy vs. non-surgical management in limited-disease small cell lung cancer.

Objective: The role of surgery in limited SCLC is still a matter of controversy. Even though the response rates to chemotherapy are very high, prognosis of SCLC patients has remained poor with a median survival of only 12-14 months for limited disease. High incidence of local relapses after chemotherapy in limited-stage SCLC led to reassessment of the role of local treatment in the multimodality management of this tumor.

Standard versus intensified chemotherapy with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support in small-cell lung cancer: a prospective European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Lung Cancer Group Phase III Trial-08923.

Purpose: To assess the impact on survival of increasing dose-intensity (DI) of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide (CDE) in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Patients And Methods: Previously untreated SCLC patients were randomized to standard CDE (cyclophosphamide 1,000 mg/m(2) and doxorubicin 45 mg/m(2) on day 1, and etoposide 100 mg/m(2) on days 1 to 3 every 3 weeks, for five cycles) or intensified CDE (cyclophosphamide 1,250 mg/m(2) and doxorubicin 55 mg/m(2) on day 1, and etoposide 125 mg/m(2) on days 1 to 3 with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF] 5 micro g/kg/d on days 4 to 13 every 2 weeks, for four cycles). Projected cumulative dose was almost identical on the two arms, whereas projected DI was nearly 90% higher on the intensified arm.

A multicenter randomized phase II study of oral vs. intravenous vinorelbine in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Purpose: A randomized phase II trial of oral vs. intravenous (i.v.

Does chemotherapy-induced leukopenia predict a response in small-cell lung cancer?

The correlation between chemotherapy-induced toxicity and treatment outcome in cancer patients has not been studied thoroughly. Our aim was to evaluate whether there is any relationship between chemotherapy-induced leukopenia and response to treatment in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Data derived from records of 228 patients treated within two prospective multicentre phase II studies were analysed.

Autopsy findings in small cell lung cancer.

The objective of this study was to assess the pattern of autopsy findings in 174 small cell lung cancer patients treated between 1971 and 1991 at seven Polish medical centres. Eighty nine autopsied patients were previously treated with different chemotherapy regimens including 32 patients who also received chest irradiation, 74 received only supportive care and for 11 patients the data on treatment were not available. The age range at diagnosis was 28-81 years (median 57); there were 39 females (22%) and 135 males (78%).

Combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, epirubicin and etoposide in small cell lung cancer.

From March 1987 to February 1991, 136 patients with untreated small cell lung cancer (64 patients with limited disease and 72 with extensive disease), were treated as part of a prospective multi-center study, with a combination of cyclophosphamide 1000 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1, epirubicin 70 mg/m2 i.

[Analysis of prognostic factors for long term survival in patients with small cell lung cancer].

Prognostic factors for long term survival were analyzed in a group of 719 patients with small cell lung carcinoma treated within 4 consecutive prospective multicenter trials between 1981 and 1990. 74 patients (10.3%) survived more than 2 years; 30 of them (4.

Neurological and cognitive impairment in long-term survivors of small cell lung cancer.

Despite its effectiveness in reducing the rate of brain metastases, the role of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in the management of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains controversial because of concern about radiation-induced neurological morbidity. In order to evaluate morbidity and its impact on quality of life 64 patients surviving > or = 2 years in remission were recalled for assessment. 52 had received PCI.

Phase II study of vinorelbine (Navelbine) in previously treated small cell lung cancer patients. EORTC Lung Cancer Cooperative Group.

26 previously treated patients with progressive recurrent small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were given vinorelbine (Navelbine), 30 mg/m2 weekly. All patients had responded to first-line chemotherapy and were off therapy for at least 3 months. Partial response was observed in 4 out of 25 eligible patients (16%; 95% confidence interval 4-36%), stable disease in 7 patients and progression in 12 patients.

Combination chemotherapy with vincristine, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide in small cell lung carcinoma. Polish Lung Cancer Cooperative Group.

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the activity of a combination of vincristine, epirubicin and cyclosphosphamide (VEC) in previously untreated patients with limited small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and to delineate the feasibility of dose escalation for epirubicin in this regimen. The chemotherapy schedule included cyclophosphamide, 1000 mg/m2, vincristine, 1 mg/m2 and escalating doses of epirubicin: 50 mg/m2, 70 mg/m2 and 90 mg/m2; respectively in three consecutive groups of patients. Drug cycles were repeated every 3 weeks.

The importance of surgery as the first step in multimodality treatment of small cell bronchial carcinoma. The ISC Lung Cancer Study Group.

For patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in their early stages (TNM I, II), surgery for cure was used to eliminate the primary tumour and its regional lymph-nodes followed by intermittent chemotherapy and radiotherapy within the first six postoperative months. After the pathohistological examination of the operation-specimen a two-arm-randomization was performed: standard chemotherapy (1000 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide, 50 mg/m2 doxorubicin, 1.4 mg/m2 vincristine) compared with sequential chemotherapy using three different drug-combinations (A: 1500 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide, 100 mg/m2 lomustine, 15 mg/m2 methotrexate; B: 1000 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide, 40 mg/m2 doxorubicin, 1 mg/m2 vincristine; C: 5 x 1.

[Long-term survival of patients with small cell lung cancer].

The analysis of clinical determinants of long-term survival in small cell lung cancer was investigated in consecutive series of 469 patients included in prospective multicenter clinical trials from 1981 to 1985. Forty eight patients (19.2%) were alive after 2 years from initiation of therapy and among them 27 (5.

[Evaluation of the second line of treatment of patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung].

Efficacy of second line therapy which included vepesid and adriamycin or vepesid, adriamycin and cis-platin, in small cell lung cancer was studied. Objective remission was seen in 35% of the once more treated patients. Analysis of survival time showed significant prolongation of it in cases treated once more in comparison with a group of patients with progression of the neoplastic process during primary therapy or patients not treated due to relapses of the process.

The role of ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide in the multi-modality treatment after surgery for cure for small-cell bronchial carcinomas (SCLC).

For the optimisation of the therapy for small cell bronchial carcinomas (SCLC), surgery is used to eliminate the primary tumor and its regional lymph nodes and chemo- and radiotherapy for the general treatment of micrometastasis. After patho-histological examination of the operation specimen, randomization for two arms is performed for a standard chemotherapy (CAV) or a sequential chemotherapy using three different drug combinations. Thereafter all disease-free patients receive prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI).

Surgery for cure followed by combined modality treatment for small cell bronchial carcinoma. ISC Lung Cancer Study Group.

For patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) at early stages (TNM I, II) surgery for cure is used to eliminate the primary tumour and its regional lymph-nodes followed by intermittent chemotherapy and radiotherapy within the first six postoperative months. After the pathohistological examination of the operation-specimen a two-arm-randomization is performed: standard chemotherapy compared with sequential chemotherapy using three different drug-combinations. Thereafter tumour-free patients only receive prophylactic cranial irradiation.

[Cobalt radioisotope teletherapy of patients with metastases to the brain].

The results are presented of palliative telecobaltotherapy in patients with metastases to the brain. The patients received a dose of 30 Gy in 10 fractions during 2 weeks. Clinical improvement was achieved in 28 out of 33 treated patients (85%).

[Radiotherapy of neoplasms of the central nervous system].

The authors present the results obtained by Co60 radiotherapy in 110 patients with the diagnosis of primary brain tumour, including 73 adults and 37 children aged up to 15 years. The follow-up time was from 2 to 8 years and it was survived by 40 patients (36.4%).