background: cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (nsclc). many novel drugs, including gemcitabine, vinorelbine, paclitaxel and docetaxel have been used in combination with cisplatin in this setting. of these drugs, gemcitabine is reported to have a high response rate and acceptable toxicity. the aim of this study was to evaluate the effi...

BACKGROUND A phase II trial of alternating i.v. and oral vinorelbine in combination with cisplatin was designed to determine the response rate, safety profile, progression-free survival, overall survival and quality of life (QoL) in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifty-six chemotherapy-naïve patients received cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) and i.v. vinorelbine 25 mg/...

BACKGROUND This retrospective study aimed to determine the efficacy and toxicity of a combined chemotherapeutic regimen of gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) for the treatment of metastatic urothelial carcinomas (UCs) in patients 80 years of age and over. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twelve patients who were at least 80 years old and had been diagnosed with metastatic UC were treated with GC. The patient...

Polymorphisms in drug-metabolizing enzymes might not completely explain inter-individual differences in toxicity profiles of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) that receive folinic acid/5-fluorouracil/oxaliplatin (FOLFOX4). Recent data indicate that the immune system could contribute to FOLFOX4 outcomes. In light of the immune inhibitory nature of human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G), a non-cla...

BACKGROUND The aims of this multiple-institution phase II study were to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (DCF) for the therapy of patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE). PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligible patients included those with previously untreated SCCE, score of ECOG 0-2 and adequate organ function. Patients ...

BACKGROUND Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD, JNS002) is a formulation of doxorubicin encapsulated polyethylene-glycol coated liposomes with prolonged circulation time and unique toxicity profile. This phase 1 study was aimed at investigating the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), recommended dose, toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity in Japanese patients with solid tumors. METHOD...

Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the antitumor activity and toxicity profile of gemcitabine combined with epirubicin in patients with recurrent platinum refractory ovarian epithelial cancer. Patients and Methods: Patients with recurrent platinum refractory ovarian cancer and with adequate hematologic, renal and hepatic function and an Eastern Cooperative Onco...

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of ZD 1839 (Iressa(R)) as a 3rd or 4th line chemotherapy regimen in NSCLC patients who are refractory to a previous chemotherapy regimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-five patients who were refractory to previous chemotherapy were selected for this study. The eligible patients had an ECOG performance status of 0 to 2, a...

PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of oxaliplatin and capecitabine in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between December 2001 and April 2003, fourteen patients were enrolled in this study. Oxaliplatin, 80 mg/m(2), was administered intravenously on day 1, and capecitabine, 1, 250 mg/m(2) bid po (total daily dose 2, 500 mg/m(2)), was given on days 1~14...

To investigate the hematologic changes and the activities of jellyfish venoms other than hemolytic and cardiovascular toxicities, the acute toxicity of tentacle-only extract (TOE) from the jellyfish Cyanea capillata was observed in mice, and hematological indexes were examined in rats. The median lethal dose (LD(50)) of TOE was 4.25 mg/kg, and the acute toxicity involved both heart- and nervous...