Impact of thoracic radiotherapy timing in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer: usefulness of the individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: Chemotherapy (CT) combined with radiotherapy is the standard treatment of 'limited-stage' small-cell lung cancer. However, controversy persists over the optimal timing of thoracic radiotherapy and CT.

Materials And Methods: We carried out a meta-analysis of individual patient data in randomized trials comparing earlier versus later radiotherapy, or shorter versus longer radiotherapy duration, as defined in each trial.

Fc-γ Receptor Polymorphisms, Cetuximab Therapy, and Survival in the NCIC CTG CO.17 Trial of Colorectal Cancer.

Purpose: Two germline Fc-γ receptor (FCGR) polymorphisms, rs1801274 [FCGR2A;His(H)131Arg(R)] and rs396991 [FCGR3A;Phe(F)158Val(V)] produce altered proteins through amino acid substitutions; both are reported to be associated with cetuximab-related outcomes. We performed a validation of these polymorphisms in NCIC CTG CO.17, a randomized trial of cetuximab monotherapy in refractory, metastatic colorectal cancer expressing EGFR.

Analysis of serum protein levels of angiogenic factors and their soluble receptors as markers of response to cediranib in the NCIC CTG BR.24 clinical trial.

Objectives: Prognostic and predictive ability of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), stromal derived factor (SDF)-1α and soluble VEGF receptors (sVEGFR) 2 and 3, were evaluated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients enrolled in NCIC Clinical Trials Group BR. 24 comparing chemotherapy with or without cediranib.

Materials And Methods: Biomarker levels were assessed by ELISA in serum from 149/296 enrolled patients at baseline and 146/149 patients after one treatment cycle.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme and Aldosterone Serum Levels as Prognostic and Predictive Biomarkers for Cediranib in NCIC Clinical Trials Group Study BR.24.

Unlabelled: Predictive biomarkers of benefit from angiogenesis inhibition are lacking. Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and aldosterone levels of non-small-cell lung cancer patients treated with chemotherapy with or without cediranib were evaluated. Low baseline ACE serum levels were prognostic of poor chemotherapy outcome and predictive of benefit from cediranib.

Subtype Classification of Lung Adenocarcinoma Predicts Benefit From Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients Undergoing Complete Resection.

Purpose: The classification for invasive lung adenocarcinoma by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, American Thoracic Society, European Respiratory Society, and WHO is based on the predominant histologic pattern-lepidic (LEP), papillary (PAP), acinar (ACN), micropapillary (MIP), or solid (SOL)-present in the tumor. This classification has not been tested in multi-institutional cohorts or clinical trials or tested for its predictive value regarding survival from adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT).

Patients And Methods: Of 1,766 patients in the IALT, JBR.

An individual patient-data comparison of combined modality therapy and ABVD alone for patients with limited-stage Hodgkin lymphoma.

Background: Treatment options for patients with nonbulky stage IA-IIA Hodgkin lymphoma include combined modality therapy (CMT) using doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD) plus involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT), and chemotherapy with ABVD alone. There are no mature randomized data comparing ABVD with CMT using modern radiation techniques.

Patients And Methods: Using German Hodgkin Study Group HD10/HD11 and NCIC Clinical Trials Group HD.

Randomised controlled trials in oncology closed early for benefit: trends in methodology, results, and interpretation.

Purpose: To assess methodology, results and interpretation of oncology randomised controlled trials closed early for benefit (RCTCEB).

Methods: Structured literature search (1950-2008) to identify all published oncology RCTCEB. We then searched for related follow-up articles and conference abstracts to evaluate whether study results and conclusions changed with longer follow-up.