A multi-center phase II study of S-1 plus paclitaxel as first-line therapy for patients with advanced or recurrent unresectable gastric cancer.

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of S-1 and paclitaxel combination therapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Methods: Eligible patients had previously untreated advanced or relapsed gastric cancer with measurable lesion(s) and an ECOG PS of 0-2. Treatment consisted of S-1 35 mg/m(2) p.

Phase II study of oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin in relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer as second line therapy.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of biweekly oxaliplatin in combination with leucovorin (LV)-modulated bolus plus infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) as a second line therapy.

Materials And Methods: Between November 2002 and October 2005, 26 patients with histologically confirmed relapsed or metastatic CRC were enrolled. All patients were previously treated with irinotecan-based combination chemotherapy.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated Hodgkin's disease following renal transplantation.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) have been recognized as a complication of immunosuppression and occur with a reported incidence of 1 to 8% of recipients receiving solid organ transplantation. PTLD are classified into two major categories, polymorphic and monomorphic PTLD. The majority of the monomorphic PTLD cases are non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of B-cell origin.

Comparison of WHO and RECIST criteria for response in metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

Purpose: This study compared the WHO criteria with the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) in the same patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in order to determine the significance of the RECIST. In addition, this study compared the estimations of medical oncologists with those of a radiologist.

Materials And Methods: Between 2002 and 2005, a total of 48 patients (male: female ratio, 29:19; median age, 58 years) with measurable lesions receiving chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal carcinoma were enrolled in this study.

A case of erythema nodosum and serositis associated with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogenous group of stem cell disorders usually characterized by progressive refractory cytopenias, which could progress to acute myeloid leukemia. MDS may be associated with a wide spectrum of skin lesions, including neoplastic cell infiltration, Sweet's syndrome, pyoderma gangrenosum, erythema elevatum diutinum, vasculitis, and panniculitis. However, erythema nodosum is rarely associated with MDS.

Clinical aspects of pregnancy and delivery in patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Background: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a condition that often develops in young women and, consequently, physicians should frequently manage and monitor pregnant patients with this disorder.

Methods: We reviewed the charts of 30 women with chronic ITP delivered in 31 pregnancies from January 1995 to December 2003.

Results: Fifteen patients were diagnosed with ITP before pregnancy and sixteen patients were diagnosed during pregnancy.

Thymidylate synthase, thymidine phosphorylase, VEGF and p53 protein expression in primary colorectal cancer for predicting response to 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.

Purpose: In the treatment of advanced metastatic colorectal cancer, several new agents, such as irinotecan and oxaliplatin, have been developed, which have improved both disease free and overall survivals. Among these agents, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) still remains one of the most active agents, and the selection of patients who can benefit from 5-FU-based chemotherapy is still important, as those unlikely to benefit could be spared the harmful side effects. The expression levels of thymidylate synthase (TS), thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and p53 have been known to be associated with the clinical response to 5-FU-based therapy as well as the prognosis, and that of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is associated with poor survival.

Phase II study of irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin in relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer as first-line therapy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of biweekly irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil (FU) and leucovorin (LV) in patients with relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Between March 2002 and May 2004, 24 patients with histologically confirmed relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer were enrolled in this study. One chemotherapy cycle consisted of irinotecan 180 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 15; 5-FU 400 mg/m(2) bolus IV with 600 mg/m(2) by a 22 hour intravenous infusion on days 1, 2, 15 and 16; and leucovorin 20 mg/m(2) on days 1, 2, 15 and 16, every 4 weeks.

Combination chemotherapy of heptaplatin, paclitaxel and 5-fluorouracil in patients with advanced gastric cancer: a pilot study.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of heptaplatin, paclitaxel, and 5-fluorouracil combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: Between July 2002 and September 2003, nineteen patients were enrolled in this study. Paclitaxel 135 mg/m(2) iv on day 1, heptaplatin 400 mg/m(2) iv on day 2 and 5-fluorouracil 800 mg/m(2) on day 2 approximately 4 were administered and the regimen was repeated every 3 weeks.

Radiofrequency ablation for metastatic hepatic tumor in colorectal carcinoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to treat hepatic metastasis in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Between May 1999 and July 2002, a total of 45 tumors in 24 patients with colorectal cancer were treated with RFA. Thirteen patients received systemic chemotherapy after the RFA procedure.

Combination Chemotherapy of Oxaliplatin and Capecitabine in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: a Pilot Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of oxaliplatin and capecitabine in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Between December 2001 and April 2003, fourteen patients were enrolled in this study. Oxaliplatin, 80 mg/m(2), was administered intravenously on day 1, and capecitabine, 1, 250 mg/m(2) bid po (total daily dose 2, 500 mg/m(2)), was given on days 1~14 of 3 week cycles.

Outcome of adult severe or very severe aplastic anemia treated with immunosuppressive therapy compared with bone marrow transplantation: multicenter trial.

To compare survival rates and long-term complications after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or treatment with immunosuppressive agents (ISA) in the management of adult aplastic anemia (AA) and to identify prognostic factors associated with improved survival, we evaluated 229 adult AA patients treated with ISA from 1990 to 2001 and compared the results with those for 64 BMT recipients. Of 156 patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) or very severe AA treated with ISA (antithymocyte globulin [ATG] or ATG plus cyclosporine), 46.8% showed complete or partial response and 7.

Gemcitabine and Infusional 5-Fluorouracil in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Clinical Benefit Response-Oriented Phase II Study.

Purpose: Gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are two compounds with reproducible activity against advanced pancreatic carcinomas. To evaluate the activity and feasibility of this combination chemotherapy, a multi-institutional phase II study was performed.

Materials And Methods: Twenty patients (male: female 15: 5, median age: 60.