In a nutshell This study examined the effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab and leflunomide combination therapy. Some background Methotrexate (Trexall) is a drug used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methotrexate is often combined with a biological therapy (drugs that block the immune system) such as tocilizumab (Actemra). This...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to evaluate the point at which the removal of a node in patients with breast cancer was necessary. Some background Sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) are first nodes (small bean-shaped organs located close to blood vessels) to which cancer can spread. Cancer-positive SLN’s have become increasingly prevalent in ductal...
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In a nutshell This study compared two treatments for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): surgery and a radiosurgery treatment known as SBRT (stereotactic body radiotherapy). Some background Currently, the standard treatment protocol for early-stage (has not spread beyond the lungs) non-small cell lung...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to assess the overall risks of breast cancer recurrence (return of the cancer) following two types of breast cancer surgery. Some background Breast cancer treatments may include surgery; a mastectomy is the removal of the entire breast while breast-conserving surgery is the removal of the breast cancer but not the...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the safety and efficacy of combining three different types of treatment in non-small-cell lung cancer. Some background Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority (80%) of lung cancers. Surgery is the typical treatment, however patient outcomes are typically poor without a second...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine factors associated with weight gain in patients who received hormone therapy. Some background Hormone therapy is a common treatment used in prostate cancer. It targets hormones active in prostate cancer, such as testosterone. Some patients might experience weight gain following...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to evaluate patients suffering from metastatic prostate cancer symptoms and to determine their effect on disease outcome. Some background Metastatic prostate cancer is cancer that has spread out from the initial tumor site, into other parts of the body. This type of cancer can cause a number of undesirable symptoms...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to assess the effectiveness of radiotherapy treatment (uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells by damaging their DNA) on women with breast cancer who have previously had surgery. Some background Breast- conserving surgery (removes the breast cancer but not the breast itself) is just one method of breast...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The authors compared the overall survival benefits of two chemotherapy-based combination treatments in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The combination treatments were S1 plus cisplatin (Platinol) and docetaxel (Taxotere) plus cisplatin. Some background NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer. In the...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effectiveness of surgery for the treatment of breast cancer; specifically those within the later stages of inflammatory breast cancer. Some background Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare form of breast cancer, accounting for only 2% of all breast cancers. It is termed 'inflammatory'...
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In a nutshell The aim of this study was to assess the benefits of dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist) as single as well as as combination therapy in advanced melanoma patients with a specific genetic status. Some background In the advanced stage of melanoma (stage III/IV), cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of...
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In a nutshell The objective of this study was to determine the safe surgical margin in skin melanoma (2-4 mm thickness) and provide guidelines on the management of affected adjacent lymph nodes. Some background Melanoma is a type of cancer that starts in color-producing cells of the skin. It can grow deep into the inner layers of skin and...
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