The role of race, socioeconomic status, and distance traveled on the outcome of African-American patients with multiple myeloma.

The incidence and mortality of multiple myeloma (MM) in African-Americans is double that in whites. We questioned whether race, socioeconomic status, and distance traveled affect overall survival. In a retrospective review of the records of 292 patients with MM.

Efficacy and safety results with the combination therapy of arsenic trioxide, dexamethasone, and ascorbic acid in multiple myeloma patients: a phase 2 trial.

Background: Single-agent arsenic trioxide has shown promising results in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Because preclinical data suggested greater activity with dexamethasone and ascorbic acid, a phase 2 trial of the combination of arsenic trioxide, dexamethasone, and ascorbic acid in patients with relapsed or refractory MM was conducted.

Methods: Twenty patients in whom no more than two previous therapies had failed were enrolled.

The role of post-remission chemotherapy for older patients with acute myelogenous leukemia.

Standard practice in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is induction chemotherapy (ICT) followed by post-remission chemotherapy (PRT). We previously reported a median disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) for patients in complete remission (CR) of 7.5 and 13.

Impact of induction concurrent chemoradiotherapy on pulmonary function and postoperative acute respiratory complications in esophageal cancer.

Study Objective: To evaluate the effects of induction concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT) on pulmonary function and postoperative acute respiratory complications (PARCs).

Design: A retrospective review of our patients treated with induction cCRT to determine the impact on pulmonary function and identify predictors of PARCs. Correlations were sought between patient demographics, clinical characteristics, pre-cCRT and post-cCRT pulmonary function, radiotherapy dose, chemotherapy agents, and the development of PARCs.

Validation and extension of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering prognostic factors model for survival in patients with previously untreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To validate the Motzer et al prognostic factors model for survival in patients with previously untreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to identify additional independent prognostic factors.

Patients And Methods: Data were collected on 353 previously untreated metastatic RCC patients enrolled onto clinical trials between 1987 and 2002.

Results: Four of the five prognostic factors identified by Motzer were independent predictors of survival.

Role of aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of breast cancer.

Background: Estrogens play a pivotal role in the development of breast cancer. Endocrine therapy based on estrogen blockade is a well-established treatment in hormone-dependent breast cancer. Tamoxifen citrate has long been considered the "gold standard" due to its relative safety and efficacy.