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Background: There is increasing evidence that paclitaxel and carboplatin are clinically active in the treatment of metastatic melanoma (MM). ABI-007 is an albumin-bound formulation of paclitaxel that has demonstrated single-agent activity against metastatic melanoma.Methods: A parallel phase II trial was conducted in patients with unresectable stage IV melanoma who were either chemotherapy naive (CN) or previously treated (PT). The treatment regimen consisted of ABI-007 (100 mg/m(2) ) and carboplatin area under the curve (AUC2) administered on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days. The primary aim of this study was objective response rate (RECIST).Results: Seventy-six patients (41 CN and 35 PT) were enrolled between November 2006 and July 2007. Three patients withdrew consent prior to starting treatment. The median number of treatment cycles was 4. There were 10 (25.6%) responses (1 complete response [CR] and 9 partial responses [PRs]) in the CN cohort (90% CI, 16.7%-42.3%) and 3 (8.8%) responses (3 PRs) in the PT cohort (90% CI, 2.5%-21.3%). Median progression-free survival was 4.5 months in the CN cohort and 4.1 months in the PT cohort. Median overall survival (OS) was 11.1 months in the CN group and 10.9 months in the PT group. Severe toxicities in both groups (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Effects v.3.0 ≥grade 3) included neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, neurosensory problems, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.Conclusions: The weekly combination of ABI-007 and carboplatin appears to be moderately well tolerated, with promising clinical activity as therapy in patients who are chemotherapy naive and with modest antitumor activity in those previously treated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research on the effect of paclitaxel and carboplatin in the treatment of unresectable stage IV melanoma. A parallel phase II was conducted to 41 chemotherapy naive patients and 35 previously treated patients via a treatment regimen that consists of nab-paclitaxel and carboplatin. The results of the study showed that the weekly combination of nab-paclitaxel and carboplatin has appeared to be quite tolerated and are clinically active in the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NCR) prior to resection of extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) has been studied, but data are limited. We present outcomes with NCR using a variety of chemotherapy regimens compared to neoadjuvant radiation without chemotherapy (NR) and surgery alone (SA).Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 112 cases.Results: Treatments included SA (36 patients), NCR (39 patients), and NR (37 patients). NCR did not improve the rate of margin-negative resections over SA or NR. Loco-regional relapse-free survival, distant metastases-free survival, and overall survival (OS) were not different among the treatment groups. Patients with relapsed disease (OR 11.6; p = 0.01), and tumor size greater than 5 cm (OR 9.4; p = 0.01) were more likely to have a loco-regional recurrence on logistic regression analysis. Significantly increased OS was found among NCR-treated patients with tumors greater than 5 cm compared to SA (3 year OS 69 vs. 40%; p = 0.03). Wound complication rates were higher after NCR compared to SA (50 vs. 11%; p = 0.003) but not compared to NR (p = 0.36). Wet desquamation was the most common adverse event of NCR.Conclusions: NCR and NR are acceptable strategies for patients with STS. NCR is well-tolerated, but not clearly superior to NR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topotecan pharmacokinetics at higher infusion rates (4 mg/m² over 30 minutes) have not been studied. The authors report a pharmacokinetics and safety study of this dose in advanced cancer patients. Sixteen patients were given a 4-mg/m² topotecan infusion intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes weekly for 3 weeks, repeated every 28 days. Pharmacokinetics were determined after the first dose. Plasma concentrations of total topotecan were measured to derive CL, Vss, Cmax, tmax t½, AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞. Plasma total topotecan concentrations decreased biexpo-nentially, with a mean CL value of 20.6 L/h, Vss value of 101 L, and ½2 value of 5.0 h. Nine significant adverse events (all hematologic) were topotecan related. Grade 3 or less adverse events included anemia, thrombocytope-nia, leukopenia, and fatigue. Pharmacokinetics of the 4-mg/m² infusion of topotecan over 30 minutes are comparable to findings from studies of lower and higher doses. Toxicities are similar to previous reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a single-arm phase 2 clinical trial on the combination of paclitaxel, carboplatin and bevacizumab for the medication of metastatic melanoma. The study delves into the antitumor activity and the toxicity profile on the combination of the three agents with chemotherapy in patients with metastatic melanoma. Details of the study are included, citing the moderate tolerance and significance in patients with metastatic melanoma being treated with a combination of the agents.

This article discusses findings of a study, which determined whether etanercept could palliate the cancer anorexia/weight loss syndrome. This syndrome is mediated by tumor necrosis factor-α. For this study, the parameters used to stratify the patients include primary malignancy, severity of weight loss within the preceding 2 months, planned chemotherapy, patient age, male versus female, treating oncologist plans to use megestrol acetate or other progestational agent and prognostic index.

Background: While newer antidepressants, such as venlafaxine and paroxetine, substantially decrease hot flashes, there is no published information with regards to whether a different antidepressant will be effective when one antidepressant does not adequately relieve hot flashes. Objective: The objective of this trial was to provide pilot information with regards to whether citalopram would effectively reduce hot flashes in patients who did not receive adequate enough hot flash reduction with venlafaxine. Design: This was a prospective pilot trial Measurements: Validated patient-completed hot flash diary questionnaires were utilized for measuring hot flashes. Subjects: Thirty patients were recruited to this trial, 22 of whom were fully evaluable. Results: Compared to a baseline week, hot flash scores were reduced by 53% 4 weeks later. The citalopram appeared to be well tolerated with many quality-of-life and potential toxicity symptoms much improved compared to the baseline week. At the end of the 4-week treatment, 19 patients (63% of patients entering the study and 86% of the patient completing the study treatment) chose to continue to use citalopram. Conclusion: This pilot information supports the hypothesis that citalopram will reduce hot flashes in patients with inadequate hot flash relief while taking venlafaxine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A phase II multi-institutional clinical trial conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of docetaxel and carboplatin as first-line therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer. Methods: Patients had histologically confirmed metastatic breast cancer with at least one measurable lesion. Prior adjuvant chemotherapy was permitted, provided that at least 12 months had elapsed between any prior taxane and platinum therapy. Patients received docetaxel 75 mg/m2 with carboplatin AUC 6 mg/ml·min every 21 days until disease progression or prohibitive toxicity. Results: All 53 patients enrolled were evaluable for response and toxicity. Median number of cycles delivered was 6. Overall response rate was 60%, with 3 complete responses (6%) and 29 partial responses (54%). Median time to disease progression was 9.6 months. Median survival time was 20.4 months. Myelosuppression was the predominant toxicity, with grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurring in 94% of patients and 15% of patients experiencing febrile neutropenia. The overall incidence (grades 1–3) of neurosensory toxicity was 57% and neuromotor toxicity was 25%, respectively, with grade 3 toxicity occurring in 4% of patients each. Conclusions: The combination of docetaxel and carboplatin is highly active in metastatic breast cancer. Prophylactic growth factor support is recommended in any further evaluation of this combination in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]