Outcomes by tumor subtype and treatment pattern in women with small, node-negative breast cancer: a multi-institutional study.

Purpose: Treatment decisions for patients with T1a,bN0M0 breast cancer are challenging. We studied the time trends in use of adjuvant chemotherapy and survival outcomes among these patients.

Patients And Methods: This was a prospective cohort study within the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Database that included 4,113 women with T1a,bN0M0 breast cancer treated between 2000 and 2009.

Smoking status and survival in the national comprehensive cancer network non-small cell lung cancer cohort.

Background: The objectives of this study were to evaluate survival among current smokers, former smokers, and never smokers who are diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: The study included patients who participated in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's NSCLC Database Project. Current, former, and never smokers were compared with respect to overall survival by fitting Cox regression models.

First-line systemic therapy practice patterns and concordance with NCCN guidelines for patients diagnosed with metastatic NSCLC treated at NCCN institutions.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) allow many systemic therapy options for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This analysis uses the NCCN NSCLC Outcomes Database to report on first-line therapy practice patterns and concordance with NCCN Guidelines. The analysis was limited to patients diagnosed with metastatic NSCLC between September 2006 and November 2009 at 1 of 8 participating NCCN Member Institutions.

Radiation therapy at the end of life in patients with incurable nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Background: Receipt of chemotherapy at the end of life (EOL) is considered an indicator of poor quality of care for medical oncology. The objective of this study was to characterize the use of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) during the same period.

Methods: Treatment characteristics of patients with incurable NSCLC who received RT at the EOL, defined as within 14 days of death, were analyzed from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network NSCLC Outcomes Database.

Efficacy of mediastinal lymph node dissection during lobectomy for lung cancer by thoracoscopy and thoracotomy.

Background: Mediastinal lymph node dissection (MLND) is an integral component of complete resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study analyzed the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's (NCCN) NSCLC Database to compare the efficacy of MLND during lobectomy by video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS) and thoracotomy (open).

Methods: The NCCN NSCLC Database was queried to identify patients who underwent lobectomy to analyze the adequacy of MLND by the number of LN stations.

Exposure to environmental ozone alters semen quality.

Idiopathic male infertility may be due to exposure to environmental toxicants that alter spermatogenesis or sperm function. We studied the relationship between air pollutant levels and semen quality over a 2-year period in Los Angeles, California, by analyzing repeated semen samples collected by sperm donors. Semen analysis data derived from 5,134 semen samples from a sperm donor bank were correlated with air pollutant levels (ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter < 10 microm in aerodynamic diameter) measured 0-9, 10-14, and 70-90 days before semen collection dates in Los Angeles between January 1996 and December 1998.