Contemporary outcomes for resected type 1-3 gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: a single-center experience.

Background: Surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment for tumors of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). However, contemporary analyses of the Western experience for GEJ adenocarcinoma are sparsely reported.

Methods: Patients with GEJ adenocarcinoma undergoing resection between 2012 and 2022 at a single institution were grouped based on Siewert subtype and analyzed.

Phosphohistidine signaling promotes FAK-RB1 interaction and growth factor-independent proliferation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Current clinical therapies targeting receptor tyrosine kinases including focal adhesion kinase (FAK) have had limited or no effect on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Unlike esophageal adenocarcinomas, ESCC acquire glucose in excess of their anabolic need. We recently reported that glucose-induced growth factor-independent proliferation requires the phosphorylation of FAK.

Small cell lung cancer: past, present, and future.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for about 10% to 15% of all lung cancers. It is characterized by its rapid doubling time, high rate of dissemination, and increased sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiation. Although the incidence of SCLC has been steadily decreasing over time, it remains a serious public health problem given its aggressive clinical behavior and the lack of effective therapies.

Phase II trial of combined modality therapy with myeloid growth factor support in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of myeloid growth factors in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with combined modality therapy (CMT).

Methods: Patients with stage IIIA/B non-small cell lung cancer, performance status 0 to 1, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second > or =1.5, received cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) on day 1 + etoposide 80 mg/m(2) on days 1 to 3 every 3 weeks for 2 cycles concurrent with thoracic radiotherapy to 61 Gy.

Randomized phase II trial of docetaxel plus cetuximab or docetaxel plus bortezomib in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer and a performance status of 2: CALGB 30402.

Purpose: A randomized phase II trial of two novel treatment strategies in the first-line management of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients with performance status (PS) 2.

Patients And Methods: Patients were assigned to docetaxel 30 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days in combination with either cetuximab 400 mg/m(2) loading dose followed by 250 mg/m(2) weekly (D + C) or bortezomib 1.6 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days (D + B) for up to 4 cycles.

Single-agent versus combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and a performance status of 2: prognostic factors and treatment selection based on two large randomized clinical trials.

Purpose: Data from two randomized phase III trials were analyzed to evaluate prognostic factors and treatment selection in the first-line management of advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with performance status (PS) 2.

Patients And Methods: Patients randomized to combination chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel) in one trial and single-agent therapy (gemcitabine or vinorelbine) in the second were included in these analyses. Both studies had identical eligibility criteria and were conducted simultaneously.

New treatment strategies in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer and performance status 2.

Patients with performance status (PS) 2 represent approximately 30%-40% of all patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) seen in clinical practice. Although these patients have been historically excluded from randomized clinical trials, recent studies have suggested a benefit from systemic chemotherapy. The development of biologic agents offers a new promise for the treatment of PS 2 patients as a result of the perceived improved therapeutic index of these agents.

New horizons in chemotherapy: platforms for combinations in first-line advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

The treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer has evolved substantially during the last decade. Chemotherapy with a platinum-based doublet prolongs survival and improves quality of life in patients with good performance status. Recently, the addition of bevacizumab and the use of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors in appropriately selected patients have further improved the outcome of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Prevalence of poor performance status in lung cancer patients: implications for research.

Introduction: Performance status (PS) is a standard functional classification in oncology research and practice. However, despite its widespread use, little is known about the prevalence of poor PS in lung cancer patients, in relation to other cancers, based on the assessments of health care providers and patients.

Methods: Data from two quality of life studies were pooled for analysis.

Randomized phase II trial of erlotinib or standard chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer and a performance status of 2.

Purpose: A multicenter randomized phase II trial to evaluate two treatment strategies in the first-line management of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with a performance status (PS) of 2.

Patients And Methods: Patients were assigned to erlotinib 150 mg orally daily until progression or to carboplatin (area under the curve [AUC] 6) and paclitaxel (200 mg/m(2) day 1 every 3 weeks) for up to four cycles. Patients who experienced progression or did not tolerate or refused further chemotherapy were allowed to cross over to erlotinib.

A randomized phase II trial of two schedules of docetaxel in elderly or poor performance status patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: We conducted a multicenter randomized phase II trial to evaluate two schedules of single-agent docetaxel in the first-line treatment of elderly and performance status (PS) 2 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Patients 70 years of age and older with a PS 0-1 or patients of any age and PS 2 were randomly assigned to docetaxel 75 mg/m2 on day 1 every 3 weeks or 30 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days. The primary end point was frequency of grade 3/4 toxicities.

Randomized phase II trial of docetaxel/irinotecan and gemcitabine/irinotecan with or without celecoxib in the second-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Trials combining irinotecan/docetaxel and irinotecan/gemcitabine in second-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have yielded promising results. Preliminary data suggested that the selective cyclooxygenase -2 inhibitor celecoxib (CBX) might enhance efficacy of chemotherapeutic regimens. This multicenter, phase II, randomized trial investigated efficacy and safety of irinotecan and docetaxel and irinotecan and gemcitabine, with or without CBX, in second-line treatment of NSCLC.

The evolving role of cetuximab in non-small cell lung cancer.

Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody directed against the ligand binding site in the extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Cetuximab is currently approved for the treatment of patients with refractory colorectal cancer. In locally advanced head and neck carcinoma, cetuximab in combination with radiotherapy significantly improved survival compared with radiotherapy alone, and this treatment awaits Food and Drug Administration approval.

New developments in chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose Of Review: The treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer has changed considerably in the past decade. This paper reviews the most significant changes seen in chemotherapy and the most promising new agents in development for this disease.

Recent Findings: Chemotherapy prolongs survival and improves quality of life in patients with a good performance status and appears to alleviate disease-related symptoms in patients with a lower performance status.

Mitoxantrone, vincristine, and dexamethasone in patients with refractory lymphoma.

Twenty-seven patients with failed malignant lymphomas (19 with intermediate grade, 4 with low-grade, 3 with high-grade lymphomas, and 1 with Hodgkin's disease) who had failed a median of 3 prior multidrug regimens, all previously exposed to anthracyclines (median prior doxorubicin 360 mg/m2), were treated with a combination of mitoxantrone (M), vincristine (V), and dexamethasone (D) every 4 weeks. Mitoxantrone was given in a 3 times daily schedule (days 1-3), at doses between 5 and 10 mg/m2/day; vincristine, 2-mg total dose, was given on day 1 and day 8; dexamethasone, 20 mg/m2, was given on days 1-5. A total of 71 courses was administered; there were 4 complete responses (CR) and 14 partial responses (PR) (response rate 66%).

Recombinant interleukin-2 by continuous infusion and adoptive transfer of recombinant interleukin-2-activated cells in patients with advanced cancer.

Twenty-five patients with disseminated cancer (nine with renal cell carcinoma, five with melanoma, three with Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic myelocytic leukemia [CML], two with soft tissue sarcoma, one each with large-cell lymphoma, breast cancer, and colon cancer), 13 males and 12 females, aged 25 to 68, were treated with recombinant human interleukin-2 (rIL2) by continuous infusion and adoptive transfer of autologous lymphocytes activated in vitro with IL2. Patients underwent leukapheresis on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 of the treatment. Cells, bulk activated for 20 hours in serum-free culture medium with 1,000 U IL2/mL in transfusion transfer packs as culture vessels, were transfused the following day.

Pinocchio cells: morphologically atypical immunologically heterogeneous lymphocytes induced by treatment with interleukin 2.

We describe a novel cell type, the Pinocchio cell, that appears in the peripheral blood of all patients receiving treatment with interleukin 2, up to 20,000 cells/microliter. This cell is characterized by a prominent and granular proboscis with which it attaches to tumor cells and mediates tumor cell lysis. Pinocchio cells are immunologically heterogeneous and express antigens of both T and NK cells; Pinocchio cells are adherent in culture and are more cytolytic than non-adherent cells against NK-sensitive and resistant tumor cells.