1,721,187 research outputs found
Awareness of disease among italian cancer patients: should there be the need for further improuvement in patient information?
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Ondansetron versus Methoclopramide, both combined with Dexamethasone, in the preventions of Cispltin induced delayed emesis.
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Double-blind, dose-finding study of four intravenous doses of dexamethasone in the prevention of cisplatin-induced acute emesis
No full textPurpose: A 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist plus dexamethasone is the most efficacious antiemetic prophylactic treatment for the prevention of cisplatin-induced acute emesis, but the optimal intravenous (IV) dose of dexamethasone is unknown. This prompted us to perform a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, dose-finding study that compared four different doses of dexamethasone. Patients and Methods: Patients were randomized to receive dexamethasone, either 4, 8, 12, or 20 mg, administered by 15-minute IV infusion 45 minutes before cisplatin. Ondansetron 8 mg was added to dexamethasone and was administered IV 30 minutes before cisplatin. From March 1996 to July 1997, 531 patients were enrolled onto the study and 530 were assessable according to the intention-to-treat principle (133 patients received 4 mg; 136 patients, 8 mg; 130 patients, 12 mg; and 131 patients, 20 mg of dexamethasone). Results: Complete protection from acute vomiting and nausea was achieved by 69.2% and 60.9% of patients, respectively, who received 4 mg of dexamethasone, by 69.1% and 61.0% of those who received 8 mg, by 78.5% and 66.9% of those who received 12 mg, and by 83.2% and 71.0% of those who received 20 mg of dexamethasone. Complete protection from vomiting was significantly superior in patients who received 20 mg compared with those who received 4 and 8 mg of dexamethasone (P < .005) and was superior, but not significantly, compared with those who received 12 mg. Complete protection from nausea was superior, but not significantly, in patients who received 20 mg of dexamethasone. Multifactorial analysis confirmed these results. Antiemetic treatment was well tolerated, and no significant difference was found among the four groups in the incidence of adverse events. Conclusion: A 20-mg single IV dose of dexamethasone should be considered the most efficacious prophylactic dose for the prevention of cisplatin-induced acute emesis
Chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced metastatic non-small cell carcinoma of the lung
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Quality of life as a primary end point in oncology
No full textBackground: In cancer clinical trials, the standard end points include response rates, progression free and overall survival, toxicity. These evaluation criteria do not measure how the cancer and its treatment affect the quality of life of cancer patients. Design: The relevant literature was reviewed for the purposes of determining when, how and why quality of life should be measured in cancer clinical trials. The resulting clinical benefits were also reviewed. Results: Along with survival, quality of life is the main end point of comparative clinical trials. Its evaluation can provide physicians and patients with important information and help to identify a better treatment. Cancer-specific questionnaires with forms for specific tumour types sites have been developed and have proven to be more sensitive to changes than generic questionnaires. Quality-of-life evaluation before the start of treatment may be an important prognostic factor, even independent from performance status. Clinical benefit assessment presents important shortcomings and the clinical relevance of this evaluation should be interpreted with caution. Conclusions: Quality of life is a fundamental task of oncological research. More studies are necessary to overcome the difficulties in assessing and interpreting this concept and the clinical benefits based on it
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