– March 1, 2005
March 1, 2005
View Issues
-
Inadequate Lymph Node Resections in Colorectal Cancer Surgery
Most authorities agree that the minimal number of lymph nodes resected in primary colorectal cancer surgery is 12. This allows adequate evaluation and more accurate staging. In an examination of SEER data for colorectal cancer patients without known distant metastases during the years 1988 through 2001, the median number of nodes resected was 9, and in only 37% was the standard of 12 nodes achieved. -
Weekly Paclitaxel as First-Line Chemotherapy in Elderly Advanced Breast Cancer Patients
Weekly paclitaxel is highly active in elderly advanced breast cancer patients. Data on cardiovascular complications, however, indicate the need for a careful monitoring of cardiac function before and during chemotherapy. -
Rethinking Bone Marrows: Are They Necessary in Early Stage Diffuse B-Cell Lymphomas?
In a retrospective analysis of approximately 200 patients with early stage B-cell diffuse lymphoma, bone marrow aspirate and biopsy revealed involvement in only 3.6%. A review of a number of risk factors indicated 3 (low hemoglobin, low white blood count, and bulky disease) as predictors of marrow involvement. In fact, the absence of these 3 factors gave a negative predictive value of 99.2% for marrow involvement. -
Docetaxel and Continuous-Infusion Fluorouracil vs Epirubicin, Cisplatin, and Fluorouracil for Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinoma
The combination of docetaxel and fluorouracil (DF) was compared with epirubicin, cisplatin and fluorouracil in a randomized Phase II trial in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. The combinations proved equally efficacious but the toxicity profiles favored DF, with less nausea and vomiting. DF appears to be a promising regimen for this disease. -
Secondary Surgical Cytoreduction for Advanced Ovarian Carcinoma
For patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma in whom primary cytoreductive surgery was considered to be maximal, the addition of secondary cytoreductive surgery to postoperative chemotherapy with paclitaxel plus cisplatin does not improve progression-free survival or overall survival. -
Pharmacology Watch: The Risk of Aspirin Withdrawal in ACS Patients
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Dementia, FDA Actions. -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement