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- Hjorth, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Thalidomide and dexamethasone vs. bortezomib and dexamethasone for melphalan refractory myeloma: a randomized study.
- 2012
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Ingår i: European journal of haematology. - : Wiley. - 0902-4441 .- 1600-0609. ; 88:6, s. 485-496
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Objectives: Thalidomide and bortezomib have been frequently used for second-line therapy in patients with myeloma relapsing after or refractory to initial melphalan-based treatment, but no randomized trials have been published comparing these two treatment alternatives. Methods: Thalidomide- and bortezomib-naïve patients with melphalan refractory myeloma were randomly assigned to low-dose thalidomide + dexamethasone (Thal-Dex) or bortezomib + dexamethasone (Bort-Dex). At progression on either therapy, the patients were offered crossover to the alternative drug combination. An estimated 300 patients would be needed for the trial to detect a 50% difference in median PFS between the treatment arms. Results: After inclusion of 131 patients, the trial was prematurely closed because of low accrual. Sixty-seven patients were randomized to Thal-Dex and 64 to Bort-Dex. Progression-free survival was similar (median, 9.0 months for Thal-Dex and 7.2 for Bort-Dex). Response rate was similar (55% for Thal-Dex and 63% for Bort-Dex), but time to response was shorter (P < 0.05) and the VGPR rate higher (P < 0.01) for Bort-Dex. Time-to-other treatment after crossover was similar (median, 13.2 months for Thal-Dex and 11.2 months for Bort-Dex), as was overall survival (22.8 months for Thal-Dex and 19.0 for Bort-Dex). Venous thromboembolism was seen in seven patients and cerebrovascular events in four patients in the Thal-Dex group. Severe neuropathy, reactivation of herpes virus infections, and mental depression were more frequently observed in the Bort-Dex group. In the quality-of-life analysis, no difference was noted for physical function, pain, and global quality of life. Fatigue and sleep disturbances were significantly more prevalent in the Bort-Dex group. Conclusions: Thalidomide (50–100 mg daily) in combination with dexamethasone seems to have an efficacy comparable with that of bortezomib and dexamethasone in melphalan refractory myeloma. However, the statistical strength of the results in this study is limited by the low number of included patients.
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| 2. |
- Linderholm, Barbro, 1959, et al.
(författare)
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Identification of intermediate risk breast cancer patients with1-3 positive lymph nodes and excellent survival after tamoxifen as only systemic adjuvant therapy by use of markers of proliferation and apoptosis
- 2013
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Ingår i: Breast. - : Elsevier. - 0960-9776 .- 1532-3080. ; 22:5, s. 643-649
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: According to current guidelines, patients with primary breast cancer and 1-3 lymph node metastases will in general be offered adjuvant chemotherapy. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanAim: Our objective was to investigate the relationship between markers of proliferation and apoptosis with survival for patients subjected to adjuvant tamoxifen solely. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMaterial and methods: Tumour cytosol samples from 409 consecutive patients with operable oestrogen receptor positive BC, stage I-III and treated with tamoxifen for 2 or 5 years were assessed for levels of caspase-cleaved cytokeratin-18 (ccCK18), an indicator of apoptosis, by use of an ELISA assay. Data on S-phase fraction (SPF) were available for 370 patients. Survival analyses were performed according to levels of ccCK18 and SPF separately, as well as combined. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults: A wide range of ccCK18 protein levels was found, median 9.97, range 0.0-87.3 pg/mu gDNA. Increasing SPFs were significantly associated with a lower distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS) (p = 0.025) and breast cancer survival (BCS) (p = 0.046). In the group with low SPF (below mean), low amounts of ccCK/18 correlated with a shorter DRFS (p = 0.0028) and BCS (p = 0.0027). A Proliferation Index (PI); a quotient of ccCK18/SPF was constructed. Low PI (high ccCK18/SPF ratios) were significantly correlated with an improved survival both when analysed as continuous variables; DRFS (p = 0.021), BCS (p = 0.038) and when divided into quartiles; DRFS (p andlt; 0.001) and BCS (p = 0.0012). A similar correlation was found in patients with 1-3 lymph node metastases; DRFS (p = 0.089) and BCS (p = 0.019). A Coxs proportional hazard model including age, tumour size, lymph node status, PgR and ccCK18/SPF was used for multivariate analysis. High ccCK18/SPF ratios correlated with improved survival; DRFS (HR = 0.47 (0.22-0.98), p = 0.043), and BCS (HR = 0.39 (0.16-1.00), p = 0.049), respectively. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusion: By use of a proliferation index based on markers of proliferation and apoptosis, a group of patients with 1-3 lymph node metastases with good outcome following adjuvant tamoxifen was identified; this group could possibly be spared adjuvant chemotherapy.
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