In a nutshell This paper studied the safety and effectiveness of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Some background Chemotherapy can lead to side effects such as anemia (low red blood cell levels). Anemia causes fatigue and shortness of breath. Treatment for anemia includes red blood cell...
Read MoreIn 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 MoreIn a nutshell The authors studied the efficacy of taxanes (class of drugs including paclitaxel [Taxol] and docetaxel [Taxotere]) plus bevacizumab (Avastin) with or without capecitabine (Xeloda) in treating metastatic breast cancer. Some background Bevacizumab has been studied for the treatment of breast cancer that is metastatic (that...
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In a nutshell This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab (Avastin) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer aged 70 and above versus younger patients. Some background Bevacizumab is a new biologic therapy (a medicine extracted from biological sources e.g. produced by cell lines) for cancer treatment. It works by blocking the...
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In a nutshell This paper compared the effect of combination chemotherapy with single drug chemotherapy in women with metastatic breast cancer. Some background Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Treatment can help to improve survival and quality of life of patients. Treatment can be given in different...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine whether dacarbazine was better as a single or combination therapy when treating malignant melanoma. Some background Dacarbazine (DTIC) has been the most used and effective treatment option in malignant melanoma, however it has a low response rate (reduction in the signs or symptoms of cancer) of...
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In a nutshell This study summarized current data on the optimal interval between chemoradiation therapy and surgery for rectal cancer patients. Some background Locally advanced rectal cancer indicates that the cancer has spread beyond the lining of the rectum or has spread to the nearby lymph nodes. The standard treatment for low-lying locally...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study examined whether chemotherapy improves the chance of survival for patients with stage II or stage III colon cancer. Some background Patients with stage III colon cancer have evidence of cancer spread to the lymph nodes but not to any distant organs. For patients with stage III cancer there is evidence that chemotherapy...
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In a nutshell This small study investigated the effect of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on whole-body physical fitness. Some background Locally advanced rectal cancer indicates that the cancer has spread beyond the lining of the rectum or has spread to the nearby lymph nodes. Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer routinely receive...
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In a nutshell This study examined whether isolated limb infusion affected health-related quality of life for in-transit extremity melanoma (melanoma found on the arms or legs). Some background Health-related quality of life (measures of how a disease and treatment are affecting a patient psychologically, financially, functionally) has been...
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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 This paper evaluates whether adding bevacizumab (Avastin) to docetaxel (Taxotere)-containing chemotherapy treatment is safe in patients with breast cancer. Some background For early stage breast cancer, docetaxel (a drug that interferes with cell division)-containing chemotherapy improves...
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