Background: Advanced lung cancer patients exposed to breakthrough therapies like EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) may experience social inequalities in survival, partly from differences in care. This study examined survival by neighborhood-level socioeconomic and sociodemographic status, and geographical location of advanced lung cancer patients who received gefitinib, an EGFR-TKI, as first-line palliative treatment. Differences in the use and delay of EGFR-TKI treatment were also examined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are breakthrough palliative treatments for advanced lung cancer patients with tumors harboring mutations in the EGFR gene. Using healthcare administrative data, three cohorts were created to describe the use of three EGFR-TKIs that are publicly funded in Quebec for specific indications (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Environ Res Public Health
February 2020
Increasingly, targeted therapies are being developed to treat malignancies. To define targets, determine mechanisms of response and resistance, and develop biomarkers for the successful investigation of novel therapeutics, high-quality tumor biospecimens are critical. We have developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) to acquire and process serial blood and tumor biopsies from patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma enrolled in multicenter clinical trials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGreat advances in analytical technology coupled with accelerated new drug development and growing understanding of biological challenges, such as tumor heterogeneity, have required a change in the focus for biobanking. Most current banks contain samples of primary tumors, but linking molecular signatures to therapeutic questions requires serial biopsies in the setting of metastatic disease, next-generation of biobanking. Furthermore, an integration of multidimensional analysis of various molecular components, that is, RNA, DNA, methylome, microRNAome and post-translational modifications of the proteome, is necessary for a comprehensive view of a tumor's biology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Pediatr Urol
February 2007
Objective: To determine the frequency of renal parenchymal damage following percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in children.
Patients And Methods: Fifty-six children undergoing PCNL in 60 renal units between January 2000 and December 2004 were included in this prospective study, and were subjected to postoperative technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid ((99m)Tc-DMSA). Using a standard questionnaire, demographics, number, size and location of stones, procedure details, outcome as indicated by clearance with PCNL alone or additional procedures, and follow up were documented.