Identification of polymorphisms associated with hypertriglyceridemia and prolonged survival induced by bexarotene in treating non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Bexarotene was evaluated in treating advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in two phase III trials. Although a significant survival benefit was not observed for the overall bexarotene-treated population (617 patients), a third of bexarotene-treated patients who developed high-grade hypertriglyceridemia exhibited significantly longer survival.

Patients And Methods: In order to identify genomic polymorphisms that could serve as potential predictive biomarkers for response and improved survival in NSCLC patients, DNA samples extracted from plasma archived from 403 patients were genotyped using Affymetrix 500K whole genome SNP arrays and/or Sequenom iPLEX™ assays.

Randomized phase III trial comparing bexarotene (L1069-49)/cisplatin/vinorelbine with cisplatin/vinorelbine in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: SPIRIT I.

Purpose: This study evaluated whether the combination of the synthetic rexinoid bexarotene with first-line cisplatin/vinorelbine therapy provides additional survival benefit in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Patients with stage IIIB with pleural effusion or stage IV NSCLC and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 1 were randomly assigned to open-label bexarotene 400 mg/m(2)/d with cisplatin/vinorelbine or to cisplatin/vinorelbine alone. Antilipid agents were initiated on or before day 1 in the bexarotene arm.

Phase III trial comparing carboplatin, paclitaxel, and bexarotene with carboplatin and paclitaxel in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: SPIRIT II.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether addition of the synthetic rexinoid bexarotene (Targretin; Eisai Inc, Woodcliff Lake, NJ) to standard first-line carboplatin and paclitaxel therapy provides additional survival benefit in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Patients with stage IIIB disease with pleural effusion, or stage IV NSCLC and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 1, were randomly assigned to bexarotene 400 mg/m(2)/d combined with carboplatin and paclitaxel, or assigned to carboplatin and paclitaxel alone. Bexarotene patients also received lipid-lowering agents on or before day 1.

Sleep improves when patients with chronic OA pain are managed with morning dosing of once a day extended-release morphine sulfate (AVINZA): findings from a pilot study.

Study Objective: To investigate the effect of once-a-day extended release of morphine sulfate AVINZA (A-MQD) on polysomnographic measures of sleep in a population of chronic osteoarthritic pain patients with sleep difficulties.

Design: Single-center, single-blind, placebo-lead-in, 30 mg or 60 mg. Patients' sleep and neurocognition were objectively measured at a sleep laboratory, and patients self-rated their pain, sleep, and other functions.

Dichloroacetate and cerebral ischaemia therapeutics.

Brain ischaemia is a major medical problem which totally lacks meaningful therapeutic options. A drug that reduces morbidity and mortality associated with head injury and stroke would constitute a major medical breakthrough. Although many mechanistic approaches have been evaluated clinically for both stroke and head injury, none have yet to be proven successful.