Pharmacogenetic Approach to Toxicity in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Taxanes.

Background: Taxanes are widely used to treat breast cancer patients. Taxanes are metabolized in human liver by the cytochrome CYP3A and are substrate of ATP-binding cassette multidrug transporters ABCB1. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in taxanes' metabolism could affect the inter-individual variability in reported toxicities.

Continuous, low-dose capecitabine for patients with recurrent colorectal cancer.

The aim of the study was to retrospectively assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose metronomic oral capecitabine in pretreated or frail patients with recurrent colorectal cancer. Patients with recurrent colorectal cancer and prior treatment with fluoropyrimidines, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan or unable to receive standard chemotherapy because of toxicity concerns were included. Treatment consisted of oral capecitabine 1,500 mg daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Circulating tumor cells count predicts survival in colorectal cancer patients.

Background And Aims: Data on the potential of circulating tumor cells (CTC) count in predicting overall survival (OS) in patients with colorectal cancer are timely and worthy of interest. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic role of CTC count in both localized and metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

Methods: Consecutive patients with histological diagnosis of colorectal cancer were enrolled.

Chemotherapy for the biliary tract cancers: moving toward improved survival time.

Background: The biliary tract carcinomas rank fifth in incidence among all gastrointestinal tumours. This group of tumours includes both cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma. Although surgery represents the main therapeutic option for these patients, both radiotherapy and chemotherapy could be used in a multidisciplinary approach.