Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0242379 (lung cancer)
 71,905 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In a phase III trial, 191 patients aged over 70 with stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer were randomized to receive best supportive care (BSC) alone or BSC plus vinorelbine on days 1 and 8, q 21 days for up to six cycles. Increasing difficulties in recruitment meant that the investigators, blinded to the results, stopped the trial early. Data from 161 patients have been analyzed. The vinorelbine regimen was well tolerated. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 10% of patients and grade 2/3 anemia in 16%. The principle nonhematological toxicities were constipation and fatigue. An objective response rate was recorded in 19.7% of the 76 patients treated with vinorelbine. The survival experience of these patients was significantly superior to that among control patients. The median duration of survival was longer (28 versus 21 weeks) and patients receiving vinorelbine were significantly more likely to survive to one year (32% versus 14%). The relative risk of death in the vinorelbine group was 0.65 (95% confidence interval: 0.45-0.93). Quality of life was extensively investigated using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer scales. While aspects of quality-of-life issues that were directly related to drug toxicity (such as nausea and constipation) were lower in the vinorelbine group, patients who received vinorelbine fared better than controls on measures related to lung cancer symptoms and pain and on social, cognitive, and physical functioning.
 ...
PMID:The ELVIS trial: a phase III study of single-agent vinorelbine as first-line treatment in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Elderly Lung Cancer Vinorelbine Italian Study. 1118 97

Dyspnea is a common problem among patients with interstitial fibrosis, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The slow but steady progression of such diseases, often punctuated by acute exacerbations or secondary illnesses, can lead to decision-making dilemmas among patients and their caregivers, such as when to accept mechanical ventilation, when to forgoe aggressive therapies, and when to make formal end-of-life care plans. Two cases, a 74-year-old woman with dyspnea secondary to emphysema and a 65-year-old woman with recurrent lung cancer and severe exertional fatigue and dyspnea, illustrate how dyspneic patients approaching the end of life can be evaluated and treated. Four management strategies for dyspnea are discussed: reducing ventilatory impedance, reducing ventilatory demand, improving respiratory muscle function, and altering central perception. Physicians should encourage end-stage lung disease patients and their families to discuss issues such as hospitalization and mechanical ventilation, to prepare advance directives, and to participate in a plan to manage their dyspnea.
 ...
PMID:Perspectives on care at the close of life. Management of dyspnea in patients with far-advanced lung disease: "once I lose it, it's kind of hard to catch it... ". 1198 May 26

Many clinical trials involve parallel collection of quality of life (QoL) and economic data, requiring patients to complete similar questionnaires at regular intervals. This additional burden often leads to disappointing response rates and inconclusive results. Data obtained in the LU-16 trial with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (EORTC-QLQ-C30)/LC-13 QoL instrument for lung cancer were re-analysed, using multivariate techniques. The analysis demonstrated the inherent non-linearity of QoL data, with resulting interpretational problems. A new integrated linear QoL measure was developed which maximises the use of the information collected and can serve as a proxy utility measure for economic evaluation. It was successfully validated with data from another lung cancer trial with encouraging results. For individual patients, trends in QoL are revealed more clearly with narrower confidence intervals. This approach yields relative weightings and rankings for the main issues affecting QoL ratings in lung cancer patients, most importantly fatigue, breathlessness, poor concentration and disruption to family and social life.
 ...
PMID:Deriving a compound quality of life measure from the EORTC-QLQ-C30/LC13 instrument for use in economic evaluations of lung cancer clinical trials. 1137 37

Best Supportive Care (BSC) is the treatment of choice when cure is not achievable with anticancer treatments and involves management of disease-related symptoms. In the palliative treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) radiation therapy has for a long time been the cornerstone of symptom management, although the best schedule is still to be defined. Chemotherapy, on the other hand, has been excluded from classical definitions of BSC and has been reserved only for selected patient populations in which a survival benefit was demonstrated using cisplatin-based regimens. We reviewed randomized trials on both palliative radiotherapy and chemotherapy in order to assess the impact of anticancer treatments on quality of life in advanced NSCLC patients. While no randomized trials compared radiation therapy with a control arm not including it, several randomized trials assessed the use of different schedules. Hypofractionated schedules seem to have comparable palliative activity when compared with the standard fractionated regimens, at least in metastatic, poor-prognosis patients. In locally advanced, inoperable NSCLC higher radiation doses administered with conventional fractionation achieve better results in terms of local control and survival. The rate of palliation of local symptoms is high, being 60-80% for chest pain and hemoptysis, while breathlessness and cough are controlled at a somewhat lower rate (50-70%). General symptoms (fatigue, anorexia, and depression) are affected in a minority of patients. Chemotherapy was compared with BSC in several randomized trials, in some of which an analysis of the quality of life was included. Results are consistent in favor of its palliative role and, when local symptom control is assessed, rates of palliation seem similar to those achieved by radiation. Benefits apply to metastatic NSCLC patients with good performance status, low body weight loss, age below 70-75. However, some studies support the use of chemotherapy also in patients with poor prognostic features. A comparison in terms of quality of life and symptom palliation between different chemotherapy regimens is the object of few trials. Both chemotherapy and radiation have an important role in the palliative treatment of advanced NSCLC patients and should be included in BSC programs. Future randomized trials should assess the best way of combining these two approaches.
Lung Cancer 2001 Jun
PMID:Best supportive care in non-small cell lung cancer: is there a role for radiotherapy and chemotherapy? 1139 3

Using data obtained from an inception cohort of 841 patients aged 65 or older newly diagnosed with breast, colon, lung, or prostate cancer, and observed at 6-8, 12-16, 24-30, and 52 weeks, three questions related to patients' experiences with pain and fatigue were posed. First, how do numbers of patients reporting neither pain nor fatigue, either symptom, or both change during the observation year? Second, did number of comorbid conditions, site and stage of cancer, treatment modalities, symptom management medication, and time affect the presence of these two symptoms? Third, do pain and fatigue predict the numbers of co-occurring other symptoms? Findings indicate that during the year patients improved with respect to their reports of pain and/or fatigue. Stage, more comorbidity, and lung cancer were related to both pain and fatigue. Chemotherapy was related to reports of fatigue, but did not have an extended effect on fatigue.
 ...
PMID:Predictors of pain and fatigue in the year following diagnosis among elderly cancer patients. 1139 3

This phase I study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and toxicity of a weekly docetaxel (TXT) and cisplatin (CDDP) combination regimen in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC who were previously untreated were eligible. Docetaxel, at a starting dose of 20 mg m(-2) per week on days 1, 8 and 15, was combined with a fixed dose of cisplatin 80 mg m(-2) on day 1. Docetaxel was increased in 5 mg m(-2) per week steps. Chemotherapy was given in a 4-weeks cycle. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were defined as grade 3-4 leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, fever with grade 4 neutropenia and more than grade 2 non-hematologic toxicity, with the exception of nausea, vomiting, and alopecia. Omission of chemotherapy on day 8 and/or 15 was also considered DLT. Eighteen patients were enrolled in this study. Leukopenia, anemia and fatigue were the DLTs. No grade 4 toxicities were seen in any patients. The overall response rate was 44.4% (95% confidence interval, 21.5-67.4%). The recommended dose of TXT to be combined with CDDP 80 mg m(-2) on day 1 is 35 mg m(-2) per week on days 1, 8 and 15. This is a promising regimen, therefore a multicenter phase II study is now under way.
Lung Cancer 2001 Jul
PMID:A phase I study of weekly docetaxel and cisplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. 1142 97

Randomized phase III studies reported this year prove that docetaxel is superior both to best supportive care (BSC) and to a standard regimen of vinorelbine or ifosfamide as second-line therapy for advanced non--small cell lung cancer. In a landmark study authored by Dr Frances Shepherd, 204 patients with stage IIIB/IV non--small cell lung cancer who had failed previous cisplatin-based chemotherapy were randomized to receive either docetaxel (100 mg/m(2) or 75 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks) or BSC. The median survival of patients assigned to docetaxel was 7.6 months, significantly longer than the median of 4.6 months in patients treated with BSC alone. The rate of febrile neutropenia was 22% in patients receiving 100 mg/m(2) docetaxel but only 1.8% when the dose was 75 mg/m(2). Patients treated with docetaxel required less additional opioid analgesia and palliative radiotherapy than those receiving BSC. Patients in the docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) arm also were significantly less likely to lose 10% or more body weight and to experience severe fatigue. In a second phase III study led by Dr Frank Fossella, 373 patients were randomized to docetaxel 100 mg/m(2), docetaxel 75 mg/m(2), or a control arm of vinorelbine 30 mg/m(2) or ifosfamide 2 g/m(2). Median survival was similar between the two groups (range, 5.5 to 5.7 months). However, the survival rate at I year was significantly higher in patients assigned to 75 mg/m(2) than in the control arm. Patients receiving docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) experienced better global quality of life (Lung Cancer Symptom Scale: patient-rated) than patients receiving vinorelbine or ifosfamide. A higher incidence of grade 4 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia was observed in the docetaxel arms of the study, but the incidence of infections was low and nonhematologic toxicities were similar across all treatment arms. These studies show docetaxel provides meaningful survival and clinical benefits in second-line non-small cell lung cancer. The dose recommended in this setting is 75 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks.
 ...
PMID:Review of two phase III randomized trials of single-agent docetaxel in previously treated advanced non--small cell lung cancer. 1144 53

Although it has been indicated that patients with lung cancer experience higher level of fatigue than patients with other cancers, few published studies have focused on the characteristics of this fatigue and how it interferes with daily activities. The purpose of this study was to clarify fatigue prevalence and the factors correlated with fatigue, and to develop a screening method for fatigue in patients with advanced lung cancer. One hundred fifty-seven patients completed two fatigue scales (Cancer Fatigue Scale [CFS], and Fatigue Numerical Scale [FNS]) plus other measures, along with a self-administered questionnaire asking whether fatigue had interfered with any of 7 areas of daily activities. Fifty-nine percent of patients had experienced clinical fatigue, which was defined as fatigue that interfered with any daily activities. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that symptoms of dyspnea on walking, appetite loss, and depression were significant correlated factors. Both CFS and FNS were found to have sufficient sensitivity and specificity for use as a screening tool. The results indicated that fatigue is a frequent and important symptom, which is associated with both physical and psychological distress in this population. The CFS and FNS were confirmed to have sufficient screening ability.
 ...
PMID:Fatigue in ambulatory patients with advanced lung cancer: prevalence, correlated factors, and screening. 1151 97

Platinum-based chemotherapy is considered standard treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, toxicity of most platinum-based regimens is substantial and requires close monitoring and supportive care. Over the past decade, paclitaxel, docetaxel, vinorelbine, gemcitabine, irinotecan, and topotecan have been introduced into the clinic. These newer agents have shown promising activity against NSCLC with a favorable toxicity profile as single agents. For patients with metastatic NSCLC, palliation is the main goal of therapy. Therefore, treatment should be easy to administer on an outpatient basis. We explored a novel combination therapy avoiding platinum. Patients with recurrent or metastatic NSCLC were treated with intravenous (i.v.) topotecan (0.5-1.0 mg/m(2)/day x 5) and i.v. vinorelbine (20-30 mg/m(2)/day on day 1 and day 5) in 21-day cycles. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined separately with or without the addition of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support. Twenty-nine patients have been enrolled to date. At i.v. topotecan doses of 0.75-1.0 mg/m(2)/day and i.v. vinorelbine of 25 mg/m(2)/day, neutropenia was frequent but of short duration (<7 days). The DLT of i.v. topotecan (0.85 mg/m(2)) in the absence of G-CSF support was based on myelosuppression with neutropenic fever. With the addition of G-CSF, a DLT has not been reached. Nonhematologic toxicities included mild to moderate fatigue and constipation. An overall clinical response rate of 42% was achieved, with responses noted at all dose levels. At a short median follow-up of 15 months, the median survival for all patients is 13 months. In conclusion, the combination regimen of topotecan and vinorelbine is feasible for outpatient administration and is well tolerated with less toxicity than platinum-based regimens. Preliminary response data demonstrate good tumor activity, suggesting that this regimen could make an excellent palliative treatment for advanced NSCLC.
 ...
PMID:Is cisplatin required for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer? Experience and preliminary results of a phase I/II trial with topotecan and vinorelbine. 1159 13

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy improves survival in appropriately selected patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, cisplatin-based regimens have well-known dose-related toxicities, particularly renal insufficiency and neurotoxicity. On the basis of prior preclinical and phase I studies, we initiated a phase II study of SPI-77 (STEALTH) Liposomal Cisplatin) in patients with stage IIIB and IV NSCLC who failed previous treatment with platinum. Disease in all subjects had progressed during therapy, failed to respond, or progressed within 3 months after discontinuing the platinum-based chemotherapy. Between January and June 1999, 13 patients were enrolled at our institution. Patient characteristics included: seven women, six men; median age, 61 years; median Karnofsky performance status, 80%; median number of prior chemotherapy regimens, two (range, 1-3). All patients had adequate hepatic and renal function. SPI-77 was administered at a dose of 260 mg/m(2) IV every 3 weeks. A median of two cycles (range 1-6) were given; the total number of cycles was 35. Among the 12 patients evaluable for response, two had (17%) stable disease and ten (83%) had progressive disease. The median survival was 24.3 weeks, and the median follow-up was 43.9 weeks. Toxicity could be evaluated in all subjects. Moderate anemia (46% of cycles, <or=grade 2; 3% of cycles, >or=grade 3) with minimal granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia (26% of cycles grade 1; 0% of cycles, >or=grade 2) were the most notable manifestations of myelosuppression. Grade 3 nonhematological toxicities included dyspnea (8%), fatigue (8%), and pain (8%). There were no grade 4 toxicities. These data suggest that this liposomal cisplatin formulation does not have appreciable activity in this population of patients with NSCLC who had received prior platinum-based chemotherapy. The lack of encouraging results from SPI-77 use in other phase I and II studies resulted in early closure of this trial by the manufacturer.
Lung Cancer 2001 Dec
PMID:A phase II study of STEALTH cisplatin (SPI-77) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. 1171 40


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>