In a nutshell This study evaluated the survival benefits of repeated removal of lung metastases in patients with colorectal cancer. Additionally, the authors aimed to identify which patients would benefit the most from this treatment. Some background Colorectal cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the colon (large intestine) or rectum...
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In a nutshell This phase II clinical trial investigated the addition of bevacizumab to two chemotherapy regimens for the first line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Some background Cancer cells need blood supply in order to grow. They do so by forming new blood vessels, thus feeding themselves. Bevacizumab (Avastin)...
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In a nutshell This study compared the effect of two chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. Survival rates and pain relief were compared with cabazitaxel (jevtana) or mitoxantrone (novantrone) therapy. Some background Testosterone, the main male sex hormone, facilitates in the growth of...
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In a nutshell This phase III clinical trial examined whether the combination of capecitabine (Xeloda) and paclitaxel (Taxol) is as effective as the combination of epirubicin (Ellence) and paclitaxel (Taxol) as a chemotherapy treatment for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Some background One of the current treatment options for...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This phase III clinical trial evaluated the effects on survival of the drug lapatinib in combination with a standard chemotherapy agent called paclitaxel in newly diagnosed HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer patients. Some background Some breast cancer cells have on their surface a protein (receptor) called human epidermal...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This trial compared the effect on disease progression and survival of different chemotherapy combinations used in the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Some background Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is cancer that has spread from the large intestine to other organs and tissues. Chemotherapy...
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In a nutshell This study examined the long-term survival rates in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with ipilimumab. Some background A melanoma that has metastasized (spread) to other areas of the body is called metastatic melanoma. Patients with metastatic melanoma have had, in general, low rates of survival. Currently, researchers are...
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In a nutshell The aim of this phase 1 clinical trial was to assess the safety and efficacy of combined therapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab (Yervoy) in patients with advanced melanoma. Some background Advanced melanoma is cancer of the pigmented (colored) cells of the skin (or "melanocytes") that has spread to distant lymph nodes or...
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In a nutshell This phase 3 clinical trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of adding pertuzumab to trastuzumab and docetaxel for the treatment of patients with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Some background Some breast cancer cells have on their surface some proteins called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) that help...
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In a nutshell This article looks at results from 8 clinical studies where patients had surgery to remove lung metastases. Using patient data from these studies, the authors identified risk factors which can predict the 5 year survival rate. Some background Oligometastasis defines the spread of a primary cancer (in this case colorectal cancer) to a...
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In a nutshell This study compared the effect of two regimens for hormone-positive, metastatic breast cancer on disease progression and survival: a combination of two drugs, namely anastrozole (Arimidex) and fulvestrant (Faslodex), versus anastrozole alone. Some background Breast cancers often require estrogen (the female sex...
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In a nutshell This study looked at the use of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a treatment for colorectal cancer which has spread to the lungs (pulmonary metastasis). Overall, the results showed that RFA treatment gives patients a better survival rate than the previous method of systemic chemotherapy which used to be the best treatment option for...
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