– February 1, 2005

February 1, 2005

• Ovarian Autotransplantation Prior to Pelvic Radiation: A Novel Strategy to Preserve Hormonal Function in Premenopausal Patients

  In a single case report of young woman with cervical cancer, an autologous transplant of one ovary to an area outside of proposed radiation therapy was demonstrated to be effective at maintaining ovarian function. The procedure was done at the time of radical hysterectomy by a second surgical team. Thus, a novel approach may ultimately be available for preserving hormonal and reproductive ovarian function and quality of life for premenopausal patients requiring pelvic radiation.

  Read more about Ovarian Autotransplantation Prior to Pelvic Radiation: A Novel Strategy to Preserve Hormonal Function in Premenopausal Patients - – February 1, 2005

• Phase II Randomized Trial of Vinorelbine and Gemcitabine vs Carboplatin and Paclitaxel in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

  This study was designed to compare overall toxicity and quality of life between the 2 regimens: vinorelbine and gemcitabine (VG) vs carboplatin and paclitaxel (CP).

  Read more about Phase II Randomized Trial of Vinorelbine and Gemcitabine vs Carboplatin and Paclitaxel in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

• Hyper-CVAD as Initial Treatment for ALL

  The chemotherapy regimen Hyper-CVAD is increasingly used for patients with hematological malignancies. In this report from the MD Anderson Cancer Center, clinical outcomes for 288 adults who received first-line treatment with this regimen for acute lymphocytic leukemia were presented. Overall complete response rate was 92%, induction mortality was 5% and the 5-year CR duration was 38%. These results warrant additional consideration of this regimen for initial therapy by comparing it with more commonly used regimens in a large, cooperative group trial.

  Read more about Hyper-CVAD as Initial Treatment for ALL - – February 1, 2005

• Initial Treatment for Non-Bulky Hodgkin’s Disease: Lack of Benefit from Combined Modality

  Effective initial treatment for early stage Hodgkins disease can include radiation or chemotherapy, or both. In a randomized study conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering, patients with stage I, II, or IIIA disease (non-bulky) were randomized to receive radiation plus chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone. There were no differences observed in remission rate or duration or overall survival.

  Read more about Initial Treatment for Non-Bulky Hodgkin’s Disease: Lack of Benefit from Combined Modality - – February 1, 2005

• Weekly Taxotere for Lung Cancer

  Weekly docetaxel was compared with the traditional every 3-week schedule in patients with advanced lung cancer after failure with a platinum-based regimen. There was no significant difference in efficacy in terms of time to progression or overall survival, but neutropenia was significantly more common for those receiving the drug at 3-week intervals. In contrast, asthenia was more common in the weekly treated patients. This may be due to the more sustained exposure to corticosteroid premedication.

  Read more about Weekly Taxotere for Lung Cancer - – February 1, 2005

• Immunotherapy for Consolidation Treatment of Ovarian Cancer — Is This the One?

  Consolidation therapy with oregovomab did not significantly improve TTR overall. A set of confirmatory phase III studies has been initiated to determine whether the successful front-line therapy population derives benefit from oregovomab treatment.

  Read more about Immunotherapy for Consolidation Treatment of Ovarian Cancer — Is This the One? - – February 1, 2005

• Pharmacology Watch: Statins and the Incidence of Rhabdomyolysis

  A Crackdown on Importation of Drugs; FDA Actions.

  Read more about Pharmacology Watch: Statins and the Incidence of Rhabdomyolysis - – February 1, 2005

• Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement

  Read more about Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement - – February 1, 2005