In a nutshell This trial aims to test the effectiveness of a new drug called RRx-001 in patients with small cell carcinoma. The main outcome measured will be how long the patients go without cancer growing or spreading (progression-free survival). The study is being conducted in the United States, Orange City, Florida. The details...
Read MoreType of lung cancer-Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) Posts on Medivizor
Using radiotherapy on the head to prevent lung cancer spreading to the brain
In a nutshell This study wanted to see how using radiotherapy on the brain impacts patients who have surgery for lung cancer. The study found that by using radiotherapy on the brain, the patients survived longer, and were less likely to have the cancer spread to their brain. Some background Small cell lung cancer is a type of lung cancer that responds...
Read MoreIs there a link between radiation therapy and future heart problems in patients with small-cell lung cancer?
In a nutshell This study looked at the link between cardiac (heart) events in the years after radiation therapy in patients with small-cell lung cancer. The authors concluded that there is a long-term risk of cardiac events in patients treated with a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Some background There have been several reports...
Read MoreDo patients with advanced lung cancer change their exercise habits?
In a nutshell This study examined the exercise behavior and physical fitness in patients with advanced lung cancer. The authors concluded that regular exercise and therefore physical fitness is reduced after diagnosis of advanced lung cancer. Some background Cancer patients frequently have reduced physical ability and quality of life due to fatigue...
Read MoreRisk factors linked to pleural effusion after thoracic radiation
In a nutshell This study examined the incidence of pleural effusion in lung cancer patients after treatment with thoracic radiation therapy and identified risk factors associated with it. They concluded that patients treated with 5 Gy of radiation to over 41.5% of the lung were at the greatest risk of developing pleural effusion after treatment. Some...
Read MoreCombining the old and the new – Can combination therapy improve cancer treatment?
In a nutshell This study looked at combining therapies designed to stimulate the immune system with chemotherapy to treat patients with advanced lung cancer. The authors concluded that a combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy is effective and tolerable at treating these patients. Some background Many tumor cells have proteins...
Read MorePreventive radiation therapy to the head in small cell lung cancer: A review
In a nutshell In this review, the authors aimed to assess the beneficial role of preventive radiation therapy to the head in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Some background SCLC accounts for 13% of all lung cancers. It tends to grow and spread quickly to other parts of the body, often to the brain (brain metastasis). The available treatment...
Read MoreDoes radiation therapy after surgery increase survival rates?
In a nutshell This study investigated the benefit of combining post-operative radiation therapy with surgery and chemotherapy for the treatment of SCLC. Some background Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15% of all lung cancers. In 40% of patients SCLC is diagnosed at a limited stage (present in a single lung). The standard care given...
Read MoreA new protein to predict outcomes in small cell lung cancer?
In a nutshell The article evaluated the accuracy of YKL-40 levels to predict a patient’s response to chemotherapy for the treatment of SCLC and their cancer outcomes. Some background Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15% of all lung cancers and has a low 5-year survival rate of 10-26% due to relapse (cancer...
Read MoreExpected benefit from chemotherapy in the treatment of extensive disease
In a nutshell This review examined the effectiveness of chemotherapy in the treatment of extensive-disease small-cell lung cancer. Some background Small cell lung cancer is an aggressive form of lung cancer, which often progresses very quickly. In the majority of cases the cancer has already metastasized (spread) beyond the lungs by the time of...
Read MoreIpilimumab with paclitaxel and carboplatin as first-line therapy in extensive disease small cell lung cancer
In a nutshell This study investigated the effects of ipilimumab (Yervoy) in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of extensive disease small-cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC). Some background Ipilimumab is a drug used to modify the behavior of the immune system. Ipilimumab acts against regulatory immune cells (cells that inhibit the action of...
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