Coping with abundance: the burden of progress in medical oncology.

The challenges facing medical oncologists in this era of information abundance and accessibility countered with health care cost issues are examined.

Phase I/II study of vinorelbine and exisulind as first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer in patients at least 70 years old: a wisconsin oncology network study.

Introduction: Exisulind is an apoptotic agent with preclinical activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Vinorelbine is safe and effective in older patients with advanced NSCLC. We assessed these agents together as palliative treatment for older patients with advanced NSCLC.

Phase II study of uracil-tegafur with leucovorin in elderly (> or = 75 years old) patients with colorectal cancer: ECOG 1299.

Purpose: To evaluate the tolerability and effectiveness of uracil-tegafur (UFT) with leucovorin (LV) in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Patients And Methods: Patients > or = 75 years of age with previously untreated colorectal cancer were eligible for this phase II, single-arm, open-label, multicenter cooperative group clinical trial. UFT 100 mg/m2 plus LV 30 mg orally every 8 hours for 28 days every 35 days was administered until progression.

An evaluation of the Rural Medical Education Program of the State University Of New York Upstate Medical University, 1990-2003.

Purpose: The Rural Medical Education Program (RMED) of the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University is a 36-week clinical experience in rural communities for medical students that began in 1989. The authors sought to assess RMED's success in providing a valuable educational experience for students that assists rural communities recruit physicians.

Method: In 2004, the authors used the Physician Masterfiles of the American Medical Association to compare practice locations of SUNY Upstate graduates who completed RMED with those who did not; surveyed former RMED students to assess their satisfaction with their practice location and the importance of RMED in helping them choose a location; interviewed hospital administrators in communities that have hosted RMED students to understand the impact of RMED on host communities; and compared United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 scores of RMED students with those of non-RMED students to evaluate educational attainment.

A phase II trial of daily perillyl alcohol in patients with advanced ovarian cancer: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study E2E96.

Objective: This was a phase II study of perillyl alcohol in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the 6-month progression-free rate of perillyl alcohol as compared with historic controls. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the objective response rate, time to progression and survival, dropout rate, and number of cycles administered; define the qualitative nature of acute and chronic toxicities; and evaluate the effect of perillyl alcohol on triglycerides and total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol levels.

Evaluation of Legs For Life National Screening and Awareness Program for Peripheral Vascular Disease: results of a follow-up survey of screening participants.

Purpose: The Legs For Life(R) National Screening and Awareness Program for Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) was launched in 1999. A critical component of the screening program was an independent evaluation to provide additional information about the results of the program. This evaluation considers the health education impacts of the screening program; participants' knowledge about appropriate providers; and some of the outcomes associated with the program.