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 whether taking repeated tissue samples during active surveillance can reduce erectile functioning in prostate cancer patients. Some background Active surveillance is a form of prostate cancer management that involves actively monitoring tumor growth and development in a patient without...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This phase I-II trial in the US aims to determine whether hypofractionated proton beam radiation therapy can achieve the same treatment benefits as current conventional radiation therapy in prostate cancer patients. The main outcome to be investigated is whether hypofractionated radiation can successfully maintain and control prostate...
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In a nutshell This study examined whether response to tocilizumab (Actemra) is influenced by body mass index (a measure of the amount of muscle, fat and bone) in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Some background Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease affecting the joints, the connections between bones. It is an autoimmune...
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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 lapatinib (Tyverb) plus capecitabine (Xeloda) versus trastuzumab (Herceptin) plus capecitabine in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Some background Trastuzumab is used to treat HER2 positive breast...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effect of selumetinib in treating eye cancer compared to chemotherapy. Some background Uveal melanoma (eye cancer) is a rare form of cancer that occurs in the eye and has a 50% rate of metastasis (cancer spreads from the original site around the body). Selumetinib (AZD6244) is a drug that...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effect of interleukin-2 in treating in-transit skin cancer. Some background In-transit skin cancer is cancer that has progressed into the lymph nodes (sites that hold the immune cells) from the primary site of cancer. Interleukin-2 (IL-2, Proleukin, Aldesleukin) is a man-made protein...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the 10-year outcome in patients treated with brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer. Some background Localized prostate cancer is cancer that is confined within the prostate gland. It can often be treated with brachytherapy, a form of radiation that places radioactive seeds...
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In a nutshell This study investigated whether MRP8/14 protein levels can predict rheumatoid arthritis patient response to biologic drug treatment. Some background Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease affecting the joints, the connections between bones. The goal of drug therapy is remission: a time when the disease is not active and...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the differences between surgery alone or in combination with biopsy in treating skin cancer. Some background Sentinel-node biopsy (removes tissue from the lymph node (site that holds immune cells) to determine cancer progression) is the standard-of-care in skin cancer. Wide local excision is a...
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In a nutshell This paper studied the safety and effectiveness of treatment with a unique form of paclitaxel (Taxol) and trastuzumab (Herceptin) in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive breast cancer. Some background Chemotherapy is widely used before surgery in breast cancer to reduce the size of the tumour before surgical...
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