In a nutshell This study investigated the cosmetic benefits of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) compared to standard radiotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer. Some background Radiation therapy is commonly used to treat breast cancer. It is often used following surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells and prevent recurrence...
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In a nutshell This review examines the evidence regarding immunotherapy in the treatment of advanced melanoma. Some background While early detection and surgical treatments have significantly reduced mortality rates for early stage melanoma patients, survival rates for advanced melanoma patients remain relatively low. Recent advances based on...
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In a nutshell This study investigated which characteristics of thin melanomas are associated with positive lymph nodes (melanoma spread to the lymph nodes) and the outcomes of these patients. Some background Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that originates in the pigmented cells of the skin (melanocytes). If these tumors are caught early, when...
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In a nutshell This study evaluated whether there are specific, high-risk periods a melanoma can return (recur) and spread to distant organs of the body (metastasize). Some background Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that originates in the melanocytes (pigment producing cells of the skin). Often, particularly in the early stages, when the melanoma...
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In a nutshell This study evaluated the use, effects and adherence of trastuzumab (herceptin) as treatment for patients with breast cancer. Some background Trastuzumab is often prescribed as adjuvant (additional) therapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer. HER2 is a protein found on the surface of some...
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In a nutshell This phase II clinical trial examined the safety and efficacy of adding a drug called rh-endostatin (Endostar) to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Some background Cancer cells need blood supply in order to grow. As cancer grows, it forms its own blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis. Therefore, anti-angiogenesis...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This article compares breast conserving therapy and mastectomy as primary treatments for breast cancer in young patients. Some background In young patients with localized (confined) breast cancer, surgical treatment which leaves as much breast tissue as possible is often preferred. This type of surgery is called breast...
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In a nutshell This study evaluated whether the Body Mass Index (BMI) influences the quality of life of breast cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. Some background The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a weight to height ratio calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms to their square of height in meters. A normal BMI ranges...
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In a nutshell This study assessed the impact of pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and trastuzumab (herceptin) on survival of HER2-positive breast cancer patients. Some background Neoadjuvant therapy refers to treatments given before surgery in order to shrink the tumor and allow for complete surgical removal of the...
Read MoreIn a nutshell In this study researchers reviewed the adverse effects of the chemotherapy drug ixabepilone for patients with metastatic breast cancer and how these can be managed by reducing the dosage. Some background Ixabepilone (Ixempra) is a chemotherapy drug approved by the U.S. FDA as treatment for metastatic breast cancer (breast cancer that...
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In a nutshell This study analyzed the efficacy and safety of ipilimumab (Yervoy) exposure in patients with advanced melanoma. It assessed the relationship between patient response and drug dosage (amount of drug administered) through the minimum steady-state concentration or Cminss (the lowest concentration that the drug reaches before the next...
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In a nutshell This study examined the impact on survival of more than 5 years of adjuvant hormonal therapy in breast cancer patients. Some background Some types of breast cancer grow in response to female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) via their receptor (a protein found on breast cells). These are called hormone receptor-positive (HR+)...
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