Publications by authors named "Volker Rethwisch"

Background: Docetaxel-based chemotherapy is effective in metastatic gastric and gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. This study reports on the safety and efficacy of the docetaxel-based triplet FLOT (fluorouracil plus leucovorin, oxaliplatin and docetaxel) as a perioperative therapy for patients with locally advanced, resectable tumours.

Methods: In this controlled, open-label, phase 2/3 trial, we randomly assigned 716 patients with histologically-confirmed advanced clinical stage cT2 or higher or nodal positive stage (cN+), or both, resectable tumours, with no evidence of distant metastases, via central interactive web-based-response system, to receive either three pre-operative and three postoperative 3-week cycles of 50 mg/m epirubicin and 60 mg/m cisplatin on day 1 plus either 200 mg/m fluorouracil as continuous intravenous infusion or 1250 mg/m capecitabine orally on days 1 to 21 (ECF/ECX; control group) or four preoperative and four postoperative 2-week cycles of 50 mg/m docetaxel, 85 mg/m oxaliplatin, 200 mg/m leucovorin and 2600 mg/m fluorouracil as 24-h infusion on day 1 (FLOT; experimental group).

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Background: We evaluated the feasibility and tolerability of triple- versus double-drug chemotherapy in elderly patients with oesophagogastric cancer.

Methods: Patients aged 65 years or older with locally advanced or metastatic oesophagogastric cancer were stratified and randomised to infusional 5-FU, leucovorin and oxaliplatin without (FLO) or with docetaxel 50 mg/m(2) (FLOT) every 2 weeks. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study explores the effectiveness of decitabine, a hypomethylating agent, in treating older patients (over 60) with untreated acute myeloid leukemia, especially those unfit for standard chemotherapy.
  • Out of 227 patients treated, there was a 26% rate of complete or partial remission, with similar outcomes regardless of genetic abnormalities, and a median overall survival of 5.5 months.
  • The treatment was generally well tolerated, though it caused significant myelosuppression, which is a major form of toxicity, highlighting both its potential and the risks in this patient population.
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Purpose: This study was designed to compare fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin with fluorouracil, leucovorin, and cisplatin in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Patients And Methods: Patients with previously untreated advanced adenocarcinoma of the stomach or esophagogastric junction were randomly assigned to receive either fluorouracil 2,600 mg/m(2) via 24-hour infusion, leucovorin 200 mg/m(2), and oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) (FLO) every 2 weeks or fluorouracil 2,000 mg/m(2) via 24-hour infusion, leucovorin 200 mg/m(2) weekly, and cisplatin 50 mg/m(2) every 2 weeks (FLP). The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS).

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