In a nutshell This study assessed the outcome of a reverse treatment strategy for rectal cancer patients with cancer that has spread to the liver (liver metastases). Some background The best treatment approach for patients with rectal cancer that has spread to the liver is not clear. In some cases the rectal cancer is treated first, followed...
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Maintenance therapy does not impair subsequent treatment with pemetrexed in metastatic lung cancer
In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine whether previous maintenance therapy with gemcitabine or erlotinib impaired pemetrexed treatment. Some background Maintenance therapy is the ongoing use of chemotherapy or another treatment given to help the primary treatment succeed and prevent cancer recurrence. Two drugs have been...
Read MoreImmunotherapy after chemotherapy shows promising results in advanced melanoma
In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine survival and response rates of patients treated with immunotherapy following regional chemotherapy. Some background Regional chemotherapy is chemotherapy that targets a specific area in the body. It is carried out using isolated limb infusion (isolates blood flow to the limb to allow for a more...
Read MoreComparing outcomes for patients with EGFR mutations: New drug (afatinib) vs standard therapy
In a nutshell This study compared the outcomes between the standard chemotherapy treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer and a new drug, afatinib (Gilotrif, Giotrif) in Asian populations. Some background Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common type of lung cancer but can be difficult to treat. Standard treatment involves...
Read MoreWhat treatment is suitable for HER2 positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain?
In a nutshell This paper studied methods of treatment in breast cancer brain metastasis. Some background Breast cancer brain metastasis is cancer that has spread from the breast to the brain and is associated with poor prognosis (outlook). The overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2, a protein on cells)...
Read MoreLong-term outcomes following surgery for retroperitoneal recurrence of colorectal cancer
In a nutshell The authors evaluated the long-term outcomes of patients undergoing surgical resection for retroperitoneal recurrence of colorectal cancer. Some background Patients who undergo curative resection (surgical removal of the cancer) for primary colorectal cancer have a 30–50% chance of disease recurrence (return of the disease)....
Read MoreDo circulating tumor cell markers of have both prognostic and predictive values?
In a nutshell This study evaluated markers of circulating tumor cells as prognostic factors and predictive factors in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Some background Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is cancer whereby tumor cells have spread from the colon or rectum to other organs and tissues. The cells that escape from...
Read MoreSurgical treatment for abdominal melanoma metastases
In a nutshell This study evaluated the effectiveness of surgery to remove abdominal melanoma metastatic lesions. In addition, the study proposes a new method of predicting surgery outcomes. Some background Melanoma is a type of malignant skin cancer which has a high tendency to metastasize (spread into distant organs). While patients with...
Read MoreTargeted melanoma therapy; patterns of progression and response
In a nutshell This study examined the patterns of disease response and progression among patients with metastatic melanoma treated with a combination of MAPK inhibitors. Some background BRAF is an important gene regulating cell division and growth through a process mediated by an enzyme known as mitogen-activated protein kinase or MAPK....
Read MoreTargeted immunotherapy in the treatment of melanoma lung metastasis
In a nutshell This study assessed the efficiency of inhaled interleukin-2 (IL-2) for the treatment of melanoma lung metastases. Some background Metastatic melanoma (cancer that has spread to other organs of the body) is often treated with systemic therapies (treatments that reach and affect the entire body), such as chemotherapy or injected...
Read MoreTreating unresectable liver metastasis
In a nutshell This study investigated the combination of hepatic artery infusion (HAI) and systemic chemotherapy for the treatment of unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM). Some background The liver is the most common site of metastasis (cancer spread) in colorectal cancer patients. Surgical treatments that remove all liver tumors...
Read MoreObesity does not influence outcomes in patients treated for appendix and colon cancer that has spread to the abdominal cavity
In a nutshell This study evaluated whether obesity has any influence on survival in patients with peritoneal surface disease from colon or appendix cancers undergoing hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy after cytoreductive surgery. Some background Peritoneal surface disease (PSD) is a condition where cancer has spread to many spots on the...
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