In a nutshell This paper compared patients with new and patients with recurrent HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer. Some background Improvements in breast screenings is associated with decreased recurrence (return) of breast cancer. This might increase the proportion of patients who have de novo breast cancer (first occurrence of...
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In a nutshell This study examined whether combination treatment panitumumab (Vectibix) and FOLFOX4 can improve the outcome of patients. Some background Patients with mutated KRAS colorectal cancer have a genetic mutation in KRAS, an important gene in various signaling pathways. Patients with normal...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the effectiveness of degarelix (Firmagon) for advanced prostate cancer. Some background Prostate cancer requires the androgen hormone testosterone to grow, and is described as a hormone-sensitive disease. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is intended to reduce the production of androgens, or...
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In a nutshell This study examined if genetic analysis can predict when FOLFOX or FOLFIRI chemotherapy would be more useful. Some background The treatment of choice for colon cancer is surgical resection (removal of part of the intestine). However, if the cancer has spread (metastasized), chemotherapy is often the only option. Two drug...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to evaluate the addition of bevacizumab (Avastin) or cetuximab (Erbitux) to chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer. Some background Previously, the therapeutic options for patients who failed chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer have been limited. However, during the last few years, new targeted...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study attempted to examine the contribution of different components of prostate cancer on the outlook of patients diagnosed with metastatic disease despite treatment. Some background In some cases of prostate cancer, the primary treatment does not cure the disease, and metastases (cancer lesions in other body parts)...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to identify genetic indicators of severe peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) resulting from oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Some background Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)-based chemotherapy is widely used as adjuvant (used in addition to initial treatment) therapy for stage III and selected high-risk stage II...
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In a nutshell This paper evaluates whether prognostic factors(factors that predict outcome of disease) have different effect depending on hormone receptor status in metastatic breast cancer Some background Metastatic breast cancer (cancer that has spread) is generally incurable with a low survival rate. Several prognostic factors have been...
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In a nutshell The authors reviewed overall survival, progression-free survival and response rate changes with the addition of biologic drugs to chemotherapeutic regimes in metastatic colorectal cancer. Some background It is estimated that approximately 20-25% of colorectal cancer patients present with distant metastases (spread of cancer to other...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the survival benefits associated with an operation to remove the primary tumor among patients with metastatic stage IV colorectal cancer. Some background While approximately 6% of colorectal cancer patients with metastatic disease (cancer that has spread throughout the body) present with complications...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the survival benefits associated with surgical removal of the primary tumor in stage IV colorectal cancer. Some background While surgery is the primary treatment for localized colorectal cancer (cancer that has not spread), surgical removal of the primary tumor in patients with incurable metastatic disease...
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In a nutshell This early phase trial investigated the safety and effect of ceritinib, a new ALK inhibitor, for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer patients harboring mutations of the ALK gene. Some background Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is an important protein involved in cell development. It is estimated that genetic changes that...
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