In a nutshell The authors aimed to identify the impact of trastuzumab on cardiac (heart) function when treatment was not specifically restricted to those with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer. Some background Trastuzumab is a type of targeted drug used to treat breast cancer. Specifically, it targets...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the long-term outcomes of conservative management of localized prostate cancer in men aged 65 and over. Some background Increased levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA; a protein elevated in prostate cancer) screening is allowing the detection of prostate cancer when it has not yet spread to other parts of...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effect of early and delayed radiation treatment on patient outcome following prostate surgery. Some background Prostate surgery involves surgically removing the prostate gland in patients with prostate cancer. Radiation therapy involves directing a beam of radiation at the tumor site in order...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to assess the results of a specific pre-operative chemotherapy. Some background Pre-operative chemotherapy is used to shrink the tumor before surgery. Abraxane and cyclophosphamide (Endoxan) are used as combined chemotherapy and referred to as ABC. 5-fluorouracil (Adrucil), epirubicin (Pharmorubicin) and...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to study the best course of surgical treatment for women with low-risk early breast cancer. Some background Breast-conserving therapy (the removal of the tumor and some surrounding breast tissue) is often recommended for women with early breast cancer. It is generally followed by radiation therapy (using radiation...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to evaluate if the outcomes of surgery following chemotherapy are different based on the focality of breast cancer tumors. Some background Breast cancer can be characterised as 'unifocal', 'multifocal and 'multicentric'. This refers to the number of areas in which the cancer can be found...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effect of orteronel in patients resistant to hormone treatment. Some background Hormone therapy is commonly used in prostate cancer treatment and involves targeting the male sex hormones active in prostate cancer, such as testosterone. In some cases patients receiving hormone therapy may become...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors on cancer recurrence in patients after prostate surgery. Some background Prostate surgery is a form of treatment that involves surgically removing the prostate gland in patients with prostate cancer. Some patients may experience erectile dysfunction...
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In a nutshell This study investigated whether treatment for colorectal cancer (stage II and stage III) can affect female patients’ periods. Some background Stage II/III colorectal cancer indicates that the cancer has spread through the initial layers of the bowel or has invaded the lymph nodes or nearby organs, but has not spread to distant...
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In a nutshell This paper studied whether levels of antimullerian hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and inhibin B could predict when the ovaries regain function after chemotherapy. Some background Chemotherapy is used to treat breast cancer. However, it can cause damage to the ovaries and affect fertility. Thus, it would be useful for...
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In a nutshell This paper studied the effect of adjuvant therapy (treatment given after surgery) in patients who had a complete response to therapy with trastuzumab (Herceptin) before surgery. Some background Neoadjuvant systemic therapy is treatment used to decrease the size of the tumour before surgery. An example of treatment...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine whether specific proteins can predict bone tumors and death in patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer. Some background In advanced prostate cancer, tumors can spread out from the initial site of cancer to other parts of the body and bones, making treatment difficult. Hormone therapy...
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