Combination therapy of lapatinib and Capecitabine for ErbB2-positive metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer: results from the Lapatinib Expanded Access Program (LEAP) in Central and Eastern Europe.

Background: The Lapatinib Expanded Access Program (LEAP) was initiated in 45 countries to provide lapatinib in combination with capecitabine to patients with ErbB2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer already treated with anthracyclines, taxanes and trastuzumab. We report the results from 12 Central and Eastern European countries.

Patients And Methods: By 30 September 2008, 293 patients were enrolled.

First-line bevacizumab plus taxane-based chemotherapy for locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer: safety and efficacy in an open-label study in 2,251 patients.

Background: First-line bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy significantly improves efficacy versus chemotherapy alone in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer (LR/mBC). This large, open-label study further assesses first-line bevacizumab with taxane-based chemotherapy in routine oncology practice.

Patients And Methods: Patients with HER2-negative LR/mBC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of zero to two and no prior chemotherapy for LR/mBC received bevacizumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks or 15 mg/kg every 3 weeks plus taxane-based chemotherapy (or other non-anthracycline chemotherapy) until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or patient withdrawal.

Cetuximab plus FOLFOX6 or FOLFIRI in metastatic colorectal cancer: CECOG trial.

Aim: To investigate efficacy and safety of cetuximab combined with two chemotherapy regimens in patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Methods: Randomized patients received cetuximab with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), folinic acid (FA) and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) 6 (arm A, n = 74) or 5-FU, FA and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) (arm B, n = 77). KRAS mutation status was determined retrospectively in a subset of tumors (n = 117).

Gemcitabine and carboplatin treatment in patients with relapsing ovarian cancer.

Despite progress in primary treatment of patients with advanced ovarian cancer, the majority develop recurrence of the disease. A platinum salt treatment, either as monotherapy or in combination with another cytostatic agent, is indicated for patients who have relapsed 6 or more months after primary treatment and thus have platinum-sensitive relapse. Because repeated use of paclitaxel treatment may lead to substantial neurotoxicity, the combination of gemcitabine with carboplatin represents a suitable treatment option, which is widely used in common clinical practice in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Paclitaxel, bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (T-BEP) as initial treatment in patients with poor-prognosis germ cell tumors (GCT): a phase II study.

First line treatment of patients pts with poor-prognosis GCT, using BEP, is unsatisfactory. T-BEP (paclitaxel followed by BEP) demonstrated promising efficacy in the group of pts with intermediate and poor prognosis GCT. We present the results achieved with 1st line T-BEP in pts with poor-prognosis CGT.

Paclitaxel plus ifosfamide and cisplatin in second-line treatment of germ cell tumors: a phase II study.

The aim of this study was to determine efficacy and toxicity of TIP combination (paclitaxel, ifosfamid, cisplatin) as first salvage treatment in patients with relapsed germ cell tumours (GCTs). Excellent results were achieved from TIP combination with a dose 250 mg/m(2) of paclitaxel [5]. Our hypothesis was that comparable efficacy with less toxicity could be achieved even with a lower dose of 175 mg/m(2) paclitaxel in TIP.

Prevention of febrile neutropenia in cancer patients by probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium M-74. Phase II study.

Febrile neutropenia (FN) remains a potentially life-threatening complication of anticancer chemotherapy. Bacterial translocation via intestinal mucosa is a significant mechanism of FN development. Competitive inhibition of bowel colonization by pathogenic microorganisms by lactic acid bacteria could be a useful prevention of FN.

Gemcitabine plus cisplatine and paclitaxel (GCP) in second-line treatment of germ cell tumors (GCT): a phase II study.

The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine, cisplatin and paclitaxel (GCP) combination as a first salvage treatment of patients with relapsed GCT. Four courses of paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) and cisplatin 50 mg/m(2), both on day 1, and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2), on days 1 and 8, every 3 weeks, were given to 12 consecutive patients who had failed standard 1st line treatment. Six patients (50%; 95% CI 21-79%) achieved favourable response and two of them are maintained 38+ and 29+ months.

Prevention of febrile neutropenia in cancer patients by probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium M-74. Pilot study phase I.

Febrile neutropenia (FN) remains a potentially life-threatening complication of anticancer chemotherapy. Bacterial translocation via intestinal mucosa is a significant mechanism of FN development. Competitive inhibition of bowel colonization by pathogenic microorganisms by lactic acid bacteria could be a useful prevention of FN.

[Perspectives of medical therapy of solid tumours].

In the course of 55 years of its existence clinical chemotherapy succeeded in curing some types of leukaemia, aggressive lymphomas and some patients with some solid tumours. Other patients with solid tumours, due to treatment with cytostatics, hormones and immunomodulators, survive longer and have a better quality of life. Further improvement of results of medical treatment of solid tumours may be foreseen from new classical cytostatics, hormones and immunomodulators and better use of known cytostatics.

Adjuvant clodronate therapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer--long term results of a double blind randomized trial. Slovak Clodronate Collaborative Group.

Between March 1990 and May 1993 seventy three patients with previously untreated breast cancer, Stage III or IV without osseal metastases were randomized to sodium clodronate 1600 mg daily p.o.(arm A = 37 patients) or placebo (arm B = 36 patients) over 2 years, additionally to standard therapy.

Carboplatin and cyclophosphamide in the treatment of metastatic seminoma.

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is highly effective in advanced seminoma, but at the cost of a considerable toxicity. The response rate of carboplatin is comparable with cisplatin combinations but the relapse rate is higher. Our study assesses the efficacy and the toxicity of the combination of carboplatin and cyclophosphamide in patients with advanced seminoma.

Sequential intermediate high-dose therapy with etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin for patients with germ cell tumors.

Intermediate high dose VIP (etoposide, ifosfamide, cisplatin) achieved comparable efficacy and improved tolerance in comparison with high-dose chemotherapy plus PBSC in poor risk germ cell tumors. The aim of this study was to confirm the effectivity and tolerance of this regimen in clinical practice. Twenty-five consecutive patients, 9 previously untreated with poor prognosis and 16 relapsed, were treated with 1.

[Effectiveness of cisplatin with continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil in neoadjuvant chemotherapy of carcinoma of the oral cavity].

The effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen utilizing cisdiaminodichloroplatinum (CDDP) with continuous 5-day infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was analyzed during the treatment of 23 patients with histologically established epidermoid carcinoma of the oral cavity. All but four patients were in clinical stage III or IV of the disease and seven of them had an inoperable tumor. No one had been treated previously.

Candidosis, aspergillosis and zygomycosis in an oncology department.

The incidence, aetiology and treatment of fungal infections in a 60-bed department of clinical oncology over 2 years is reported. During the second year, after the moving of the department from an old to a new building with an improved epidemiologic regimen, the incidence decreased rapidly, although the mortality due to systemic disseminated mycosis did not change.

Netilmicin plus ceftriaxone versus amikacin plus ceftriaxone in the treatment of infections in granulocytopenic patients.

For the treatment of febrile episodes in granulocytopenic cancer patients, a combination of bactericidal and intravenously administered broad spectrum agents is recommended. An aminoglycoside plus a beta-lactame (piperacillin, azlocillin or IIIrd generation cephalosporins) are the drugs of first choice in an empiric approach. Because of frequent parenteral interventions (e.

Ciprofloxacin plus vancomycin versus ceftazidime plus gentamicin in the treatment of pneumonia in granulocytopenic patients with or without venous catheters. Short communication.

58 granulocytopenic patients with confirmed bronchopneumonia were divided retrospectively into two groups for this pilot study: group 1 included neutropenic patients with venous catheters who were treated with ciprofloxacin (CIP; 200-300 mg, i.v. b.

Intensive combination chemotherapy (TTL-I protocol) of large cell and immunoblastic lymphomas--long-term observation.

Fifty patients with advanced (Stage III and IV) large cell and immunoblastic lymphoma were treated with eight 4-week courses of chemotherapy. The first two identical A courses were composed of high dose cyclophosphamide, vincristine, 5-day administration of bleomycin, 2-week prednisone, and methotrexate with calcium leucovorin. The next two "B" courses were composed of vincristine, 3-day administration of doxorubicin together with bleomycin, and prednisone.

[Various antibiotics in the monotherapy and combined therapy of infections in cancer patients. Retrospective study of 290 patients].

The authors present in a retrospective study the results of treatment of infections in 290 immunodeficient patients, mostly with haematological malignancies. As compared with classical empirical combined treatment (aminoglycoside + IIIrd generation cephalosporins), combinations of quinolones and amoxycillin, amoxycillin clavulanate or vancomycin proved more satisfactory.

Fluconazole in the treatment of mycotic oropharyngeal stomatitis and esophagitis in neutropenic cancer patients.

The efficacy and safety of fluconazole, a new triazole antifungal agent, was evaluated in 24 patients with neutropenia due to cytotoxic anticancer chemotherapy with polyfactorial immunodepression. Twenty of 23 patients benefited from treatment, and except for 1 patient with mild abdominal discomfort the drug was well tolerated. Mycological eradication appeared in 17 from 23 evaluable patients, superinfection in 1 case and persistence could be evaluated in 5 cases.

Nephrotoxicity of aminoglycosides, polypeptides and cephalosporins in cancer patients.

The nephrotoxicity of various combinations of antibiotics--aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, vancomycin, amphotericin B--in 171 oncologic patients is described. The most nephrotoxic combination seems to be cefotaxime plus gentamicin, ceftriaxone plus amikacin and amphotericin B with cephalosporin, vancomycin or aminoglycoside. Less toxic was netilmicin with penicillin or cephalosporin, and vancomycin.

Determination of suramin in clinical samples using HPLC.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied for the determination of suramin levels in serum samples from cancer patients treated with this drug. Ion-pair chromatography in combination with the deproteination procedure extraction and hydrolysis of complex serum proteins-suramin were recommended. Extraction recoveries and linearity for wide concentration range were evaluated.

Comparison of two non-cross-resistant combinations (ABVP/LOPP) with COPP plus bleomycin in the treatment of advanced Hodgkin's disease.

Eighty patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease were randomized either to treatment with combination of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and prednisone (ABVP), alternating with lomustine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (LOPP)--Group A, or to combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone, and low dose of bleomycin (COPP-Bleo)--Group B. Thirty-nine out of 41 patients (95%) in Group A achieved complete remission (CR) as compared to 25 CR in 39 patients (64%) in Group B. Patients with systemic symptoms, bulky disease, and nodular sclerosis achieved significantly more CR after treatment with ABVP/LOPP regimen than with COPP-Bleo regimen.

[Peroral ciprofloxacin in the therapy of infections in oncology patients].

The authors give an account of their initial experience with oral ciprofloxacin (Ciprinol) in the treatment of various infections in 28 immunosuppressed oncological patients. A favourable effect--cure and improvement--were recorded in 72% of all treated patients. Unfavourable side-effects were observed in 4 of 28 patients, in two they were the reason for discontinuation of treatment.