Monthly Archives: September 2012

Treating with chemotherapy before surgery for breast cancer

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy came into vogue in the seventies and eighties, spurred on by the success of organ preservation strategies in cancers such as laryngeal and rectal cancer. It used to be thought there are two potential benefits of neoadjuvant chemotherapy: downstaging a breast tumor so lesser surgery can be performed - lumpectomy instead of mastectomy, and to potentially treat early occult metastatic disease and to improve survival. The first

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Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer – pro

  Neoadjuvant chemotherapy came into vogue in the seventies and eighties, spurred on by the success of organ preservation strategies in cancers such as laryngeal and rectal cancer. It used to be thought there are two potential benefits of neoadjuvant chemotherapy: downstaging a breast tumor so lesser surgery can be performed - lumpectomy instead of mastectomy, and to potentially treat early occult metastatic disease and to improve survival. The

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Revlimid and Rituxan for lymphoma maintenance

Recent studies suggest that lenalidomide and rituxan are effective in relapsed or refractory lymphomas. Revlimid, in particular, shows effectiveness for maintenance in myeloma. Because both drugs are well tolerated, this created an interest in studying their effectiveness for maintenance. The idea behind maintenance therapy is to supress any remaining or dormant cells and to prolong time to the return of the diseae, or possibly to produce a cure.

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Revlimid and Rituxan for maintenance for lymphoma – pro

Recent studies suggest that lanalidomide and rituxan are effective in relapsed or refractory lymphomas. Revlimid, in particular, shows effectiveness for maintenance in myeloma. Because both drugs are well tolerated, this created an interest in studying their effectiveness for maintenance. Currently, maintenance is not standard for most lymphomas, including Diffuse Large B Cell lymphoma. Lenalidomide alone is still in studies, for example, Maintenance

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First line chemo for mesothelioma

For first line unresectable pleural mesothelioma, NCCN recommends: Alimta and carboplatin or cisplatin every 3 weeks as a Category 1 recommendation. In various studies, these combinations obtained overall response rate of 26.3% in 745 mesothelioma patients, and the combination of pemetrexed and carboplatin was associated with an overall response rate of 21.6%. One-year survival rate was 63 to 64%. The researchers' findings were derived from an analysis

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First line chemotherapy for mesothelioma – pro

For first line unresectable pleural mesothelioma, NCCN recommends: Alimta and carboplatin or cisplatin every 3 weeks as a Category 1 recommendation. In various studies, these combinations obtained overall response rate of 26.3% in 745 mesothelioma patients, and the combination of pemetrexed and carboplatin was associated with an overall response rate of 21.6%. One-year survival rate was 63 to 64%. The researchers' findings were derived from an analysis

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Prophylaxis with Acyclovir after stem cell transplantation

Both allogeneic(from another human) and autologous9from the self) hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients are at increased risk for a variety of infections based upon their past history and exposures, more so the allogeneic transplant recipients. The types of infections to which these hosts are most vulnerable can be roughly divided based upon their temporal relation to the transplantation: ?Preengraftment — less than three weeks ?Immediate

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Prophylactic Acyclovir after stem cell transplantation – pro

Both allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients are at increased risk for a variety of infections based upon their degree of immunosuppression and exposures, more so the allogeneic transplant recipients. The types of infections to which these hosts are most vulnerable can be roughly divided based upon their temporal relation to the transplantation: Preengraftment — less than three weeks mmediate postengraftment —

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PET for possibly recurring colon cancer

After definitive treatmetn of colon cancer, patients are followed with CEA levels. When they begin to rise, a recurrence is suspected. PET is being more frequenlty used to detect and identify recurrence in this situation. More recently NCCN has been more supportive of PET in this setting. It used to support PET only in the situation of rising CEA and no identified recurrence for localization of disease recurrence in patients with rising CEA level

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PET to detect recurrence of colon cancer with serially rising CEA levels – pro

PET is being more frequenlty used to detect and identify recurrence. More recently NCCN has been more supportive of PET in this setting. It used to support PET only in the situation of rising CEA and no identified recurrence for localization of disease recurrence in patients with rising CEA level and non-diagnostic imaging studies, such as CT scans.However,  PET scan can potentially identify occult disease in this setting that CT misses. Therefore, 

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