Second-Line Paclitaxel Effective in Advanced NSCLC
October 1st 2000TOKYO-Weekly paclitaxel (Tax-ol) and carboplatin (Paraplatin) is an effective and well-tolerated second-line therapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who failed first-line therapy with the same agents, Mark A. Socinski, MD, said at the 9th World Conference on Lung Cancer. Dr. Socinski is director of the Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Program, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Commentary (Greco)-Limited Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Potentially Curable Disease
October 1st 2000Patients with limited-stage small-cell carcinoma of the lung are treated with combined-modality therapy with the intent to cure. Standard therapy consists of platinum-based combination chemotherapy, thoracic irradiation, and
Irinotecan and Radiotherapy Active in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
September 1st 2000NASHVILLE, Tennessee-Irinotecan (Camptosar) combined with radiation therapy is active in non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is most effective when the chemotherapy and radiation therapy are given concurrently, Hak Choy, MD, reported at a clinical investigators’ workshop sponsored by the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and Pharmacia Oncology. Dr. Choy is Professor and Vice Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Vanderbilt Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Irinotecan/Cisplatin Produces Better Survival Than Etoposide/Cisplatin in Extensive SCLC
September 1st 2000OSAKA, Japan-Irinotecan/cisplatin combination therapy improved survival compared to etoposide/cisplatin in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), Masahiro Fukuoka, MD, reported at an investigators’ workshop sponsored by the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and Pharmacia Oncology. Two-year survival in the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG)-9511 study was 19% with irinotecan/cisplatin vs 9% with etoposide/cisplatin, according to Dr. Fukuoka, who is professor of the 4th Department of Internal Medicine at Kinki University School of Medicine in Osaka, Japan.
We previously reported the efficacy of concurrent cisplatin (Platinol)/etoposide (PE) and radiotherapy in stage IIIB non–small-cell lung cancer in which biopsy confirmation of T4 (noneffusion) or N3 status was required (S9019). In view of the activity of docetaxel (Taxotere) as second-line therapy and potential molecular mechanisms of action favoring taxane sequencing, we designed the present study to maintain a core of concurrent PE/radiotherapy, but to substitute docetaxel consolidation for the two additional cycles of PE.
Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Single-Agent Therapy
August 2nd 2000One hundred centers from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America participated in a non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) study with broad inclusion criteria (first and second line) to establish the toxicity and efficacy profile of docetaxel (Taxotere) at 100 mg/m² in worldwide clinical practice.
High Toxic Death Rate Closes Paclitaxel Plus EP Study Early
August 1st 2000HERAKLION, Greece-A multicenter randomized phase III study comparing paclitaxel (Taxol)/etoposide/cisplatin (Platinol) (TEP) with standard-therapy etoposide/cisplatin (EP) in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) was stopped prematurely due to a 13% toxic death rate, according to a report given at the 36th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
IL-2 Appears to Enhance Effects of Antiretroviral Therapy
August 1st 2000BETHESDA, Md-The addition of interleukin-2 (IL-2) to standard anti-retroviral therapy significantly improved CD4 cell response in HIV-infected patients, reported Richard T. Davey Jr, MD, of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Advanced Age Usually Not a Factor in Platinum-Based Therapy for NSCLC
August 1st 2000PHILADELPHIA-Fit, elderly patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can handle platinum-based therapy as well as younger patients, according to a secondary analysis of data from Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) study 5592. Corey Langer, MD, of Fox Chase Cancer Center, presented the analysis at the ASCO annual meeting.
Evolution of Combined Modality Therapy for Stage III Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
A number of randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses now support the conclusion that combined modality regimens that include cisplatin (Platinol)-based chemotherapy improve survival in stage III non–small-cell lung
Nephrectomy Ups Survival in Advanced Kidney Cancer
July 1st 2000ASCO-Cytoreductive nephrectomy prior to interferon-alfa-2b (Intron A) therapy increased survival by 50% in patients with previously untreated metastatic renal cell cancer, compared with interferon alone, Robert Flanigan, MD, reported at the plenary session of the 36th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in New Orleans.
Paclitaxel/Carboplatin and Radiation May Double Survival in NSCLC Patients
July 1st 2000CHAPEL HILL, NC-In the treatment of non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel (Taxol) and carboplatin (Paraplatin) given before and during radiation therapy may double survival time over that seen with radiation alone.
Gemcitabine/Cisplatin as Induction Therapy for Stage IIIA N2 Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
July 1st 2000Because the majority of patients with stage IIIA N2 non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) ultimately die of distant metastases, recent efforts to improve their intermediate- and long-term survival have focused on neoadjuvant
‘Unprecedented’ Survival Times Result From Adding Docetaxel to Treatment Regimen for NSCLC
July 1st 2000DAVIS, Calif-“Unprecedented” survival times for patients with stage IIIB non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have resulted from adding taxane sequencing to combined-modality therapy with radiotherapy plus cisplatin (Platinol) and etoposide. These results from the Southwestern Oncology Group (SWOG) 9504 trial were presented at the ASCO meeting by David R. Gandara, MD, of the University of California Cancer Center, Davis.
FDA, NIH Increase Oversight of Gene Therapy Trials
May 1st 2000ROCKVILLE, Md-Stung by the failure of several researchers to fully comply with federal gene therapy rules and reporting procedures, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have taken a series of steps to tighten the control and monitoring of such trials.
Encouraging Results for Gene Therapy in CLL
April 1st 2000NEW ORLEANS-Encouraging results have emerged for a gene therapy approach that stimulates a T cell response in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). William G. Wierda, MD, of the Human Gene Therapy Program at the University of San Diego School of Medicine, presented the results at the 41st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH).
Ultrasound Guides Delivery of Interstitial Gene Therapy Gene Therapy for Prostate Cancer
March 1st 2000CHICAGO-A preliminary study of interstitial gene therapy for recurrent prostate cancer shows that transrectal ultrasound can be used effectively for planning delivery of the agent and assessing its initial effects.
Rituximab/CHOP Induction Therapy in Newly Diagnosed Patients With Mantle Cell Lymphoma
March 1st 2000Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a recently identified, aggressive, B-cell neoplasm that is incurable with current combination chemotherapy regimens. Novel therapeutic strategies are needed. MCLs express high levels of cell-surface CD20 and are
RT/Two-Drug Chemo Ups NSCLC Survival
February 1st 2000NEW YORK-An improved 2-year survival rate was achieved in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with a combination of paclitaxel (Taxol) and carboplatin (Paraplatin) given concurrently with radiation therapy, according to a report at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XVII.
Rituximab/CHOP Yields High Initial Response in Mantle Cell Lymphoma
February 1st 2000BOSTON-Adding rituximab (Rituxan) to cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (CHOP) induction therapy may provide a cleaner source of autologous stem cells for use following high-dose therapy in mantle cell lymphoma, Orion Howard, MD, reported at the ASH meeting.
Durable Complete Remissions Possible ‘Prelude to Cure’ in Multiple Myeloma
February 1st 2000LITTLE ROCK-Durable complete remissions “as a prelude to cure” can be obtained in more than half of good-risk multiple myeloma patients who are optimally treated. This conclusion was based on findings from 1,000 consecutive multiple myeloma patients enrolled from 1988 to 1998 in tandem melphalan-based high-dose therapy (HDT) trials with autologous hematopoetic stem cell support. The study was conducted by Bart Barlogie, MD, and colleagues from the Myeloma and Transplantation Research Center, University of Arkansas for Medicine Sciences, and reported at the ASH meeting.
For High-Grade NHL, High-Dose Chemotherapy With Stem Cell Transplant Beats CHOP
February 1st 2000NANTES, France-High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) leads to better event-free survival and freedom from progression in people with intermediate and high-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) than does the standard therapy. That was conclusion of a randomized trial comparing autologous PBSCT with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, Oncovin, prednisone) and reported by Noël Milpied, MD, of the Centre Hospitalier Regional et Universitaire de Nantes, at the ASH meeting.
Interim Results of Trials of Chemotherapy Plus Electric Pulses
January 1st 2000Genetronics Biomedical Ltd announced interim dataand results of phase II clinical trials evaluating the company’s electroporation therapy (EPT) system, which combines an intratumoral injection of a chemotherapeutic agent with a pulsed electric field, in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Data from the trials, which were conducted in the United States and Canada, were presented at the 35th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Genetronics also announced preliminary data and results from a similar study conducted in Europe.