Raltitrexed: optimism and reality.

Background: Raltitrexed was developed as a direct and specific inhibitor of thymidylate synthase. Early clinical trials showed similar activity to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), mainly in metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC).

Methods: Pharmacokinetics are summarized and Phase III adjuvant and MCRC trials of raltitrexed are reviewed.

Adjuvant therapy with raltitrexed in patients with colorectal cancer intolerant of 5-fluorouracil: British Columbia Cancer Agency experience.

Background: Severe 5-FU toxicity in adjuvant therapy of colorectal cancer may require change of therapy. We retrospectively explored the safety and efficacy of adjuvant raltitrexed in patients intolerant of 5-FU.

Methods: Over a 5 year period, patients who received 5-FU and subsequent raltitrexed therapy were identified.

CHOP-R therapy overcomes the adverse prognostic influence of BCL-2 expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

BCL-2 protein expression correlates with shorter survival in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are treated with CHOP chemotherapy. We report a retrospective analysis of the prognostic significance of BCL-2 status in patients who received CHOP with the addition of rituximab (CHOP-R) for DLBCL. Patients over 15 years of age with de novo, HIV negative DLBCL, without CNS involvement, and known BCL-2 protein status were identified from the BCCA Lymphoid Cancer Database.

Clinical activity of celecoxib in metastatic malignant melanoma.

Cyclo-oxygenase-2 has been demonstrated in primary and metastatic melanoma suggesting that it may have a functional role and be a potential therapeutic target. Celecoxib, which was approved by Health Canada for familial adenomatous polyposis coli, was offered to 27 patients with surgically incurable recurrent melanoma, 87 percent of whom had stage M1c disease. In this case series, 6 patients had received prior systemic therapy and one had prior CancerVax.

Introduction of combined CHOP plus rituximab therapy dramatically improved outcome of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in British Columbia.

Purpose: For more than two decades, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) has been the standard therapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The addition of rituximab to CHOP has been shown to improve outcome in elderly patients with DLBCL. We conducted a population-based analysis to assess the impact of this combination therapy on adult patients with DLBCL in the province of British Columbia (BC).

Locoregional radiation therapy in patients with high-risk breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy: 20-year results of the British Columbia randomized trial.

Background: The British Columbia randomized radiation trial was designed to determine the survival impact of locoregional radiation therapy in premenopausal patients with lymph node-positive breast cancer treated by modified radical mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Three hundred eighteen patients were assigned to receive no further therapy or radiation therapy (37.5 Gy in 16 fractions).

Curative treatment for esophageal cancer: Vancouver Island Cancer Centre experience from 1993 to 1998.

Objectives: To review outcomes after curative treatment for esophageal cancer in the Vancouver Island Cancer Centre from 1993 to 1998. Curative treatments included esophagectomy alone, and chemoradiotherapy with "selective surgery" for patients with post-treatment-positive endoscopic biopsy or less than 75% regression on computed axial tomography scan, or with resectable local recurrence.

Methods: Patients undergoing esophagectomy alone, or primary chemoradiotherapy and "selective surgery" were reviewed.