Evaluation of quality of life following placement of self-expanding plastic stents as a bridge to surgery in patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer.

Purpose: To determine whether self-expanding plastic stent (SEPS) placement significantly improves quality of life and maintains optimal nutrition while allowing full-dose neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in patients with esophageal cancer.

Patients And Methods: A prospective, dual-institution, single-arm, phase II (http://ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00727376) evaluation of esophageal cancer patients undergoing NAT prior to resection.

Health-related quality of life changes following major and minor hepatic resection: the impact of complications and postoperative anemia.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the health-related quality-of-life (QOL) changes in patients following major liver resection for malignancy.

Methods: QOL parameters were recorded prospectively at baseline (preoperative), and through 6 months of follow-up using various instruments.

Results: Major complications occurred in 10 of 41 patients.

Impact of post-operative complications on quality of life after pancreatectomy.

Context: Pancreatectomies for malignant and benign diseases are increasingly being performed worldwide. Recent studies, that have evaluated quality of life in pancreatectomy, have reported conflicting outcomes.

Objective: This study was undertaken to analyze the quality of life changes reported by patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing pancreatectomy.

Phase II comparison study of intraoperative autotransfusion for major oncologic procedures.

Background: Intraoperative autotransfusion (IOAT) has been avoided in oncologic surgery because of possible tumor cell dissemination. Through a prior Phase I study, we demonstrated that malignant cells are not present in blood filtered for IOAT. We hypothesized that autotransfusion could be safely used for patients undergoing major oncologic procedures and reduce the need for allogeneic blood.

Is selective internal radioembolization safe and effective for patients with inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma and venous thrombosis?

Background: The goal of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of selective internal radioembolization (SIR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein or caval thrombosis (VT), or both. Recent reports have demonstrated that SIR is safe for patients with HCC, but the impact on efficacy of venous thrombosis is unknown.

Study Design: Prospective single-arm study of the use of Therasphere in patients with unresectable HCC enrolled from January 2004 to June 2007.