We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare treatment effectiveness and adverse effects in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with palonosetron to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) modulates platinum-based chemotherapeutic efficacy by removing drug-produced DNA damage. To summarize published data on the association between polymorphisms of NER genes (ERCC1 and ERCC2) and responses to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapies, we carried out a meta-analysis of gastric and colorectal cancer for commonly studied polymorphisms ERCC1 rs11615C>T and ERCC2 rs13181T>G.

One of the most important adverse effects of anthracyclines is cardiotoxicity. A well-informed decision on the use of anthracyclines in the treatment of childhood cancers should be based on evidence regarding both antitumour efficacy and cardiotoxicity.

Quality-of-life (QOL) measurement is often incorporated into randomized clinical trials in breast cancer. The objectives of this systematic review were to assess the incremental effect of QOL measurement in addition to traditional endpoints (such as disease-free survival or toxic effects) on clinical decision making and to describe the extent of QOL reporting in randomized clinical trials of breast cancer.

To assess the risk/benefit profiles of EGFR TKIs monotherapy using erlotinib or gefitinib in comparison with single-agent chemotherapy using third-generation cytotoxics (gemcitabine, vinorelbine, taxanes) as the first-line treatment for chemonaÏve patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (ANSCLC) and poor performance status (PS).

Supportive care interventions can have a substantial impact on side effects of chemotherapy. Consequently, accurate reporting of such interventions is essential when interpreting clinical trial results. This study determined the prevalence and quality of reporting of supportive care treatment for common chemotherapy-induced toxicities in phase III, breast cancer chemotherapy trials.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) remains the principal dose-limiting toxicity of many agents. This systematic review evaluates available CIPN measures and provides rationale for selection of measures in this field. Searches of Medline (1966-2010), CINAHL (1966-2010), Embase (1966-2010), and Cochrane (1988-2010) databases were performed. To be selected, studies had to include (1) subjects receiving peripheral neurotoxic chemotherapy for cancer and (2) a primary purpose of psychometric evaluation of CIPN measures. A modified Quality of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) tool coded psychometric study quality, with 0-7 score overall possible (higher score indicating better quality). A total of 15 studies qualified for evaluation. Overall studies were of moderate quality, with 10 of 15 receiving a 4-5 QUADAS score. Averaged quality scores for two repeatedly studied measures, Total Neuropathy Score (TNS) versions and Functional Assessment of Cancer-Gynecologic Oncology Group, neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx), were 5.4 and 4.5, respectively. Two measures emerged as potentially useful for clinical trials and patient care. The FACT/GOG-Ntx is a subjective measure of CIPN-related quality of life (QoL). TNS clinical versions incorporate both subjective measures and objective examinations of nerve function. However, to improve QUADAS scoring, additional research is needed focusing on other psychometric aspects such as responsiveness of CIPN outcome measures.

Vandetanib, an oral inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling, has attracted wide interest in treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to assess its efficacy and safety via a systematic review and meta-analysis.

In 1997, the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (MAb) rituximab became the first MAb approved for clinical use in oncology, and ushered in a new era of rationally designed targeted agents in cancer therapeutics. It is currently approved for use in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rituximab is non-mutagenic, associated with low treatment-related toxicity, and few, if any, long term adverse events, making it an attractive agent to be tried in off-label settings like Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). HL consists of two distinct subtypes - classic HL (cHL) and lymphocyte predominant HL (LPHL). CD20 is present in virtually all patients with LPHL, and in a significant minority of patients with cHL. In this CD20 positive sub-population, the use of rituximab is a rational intervention strategy. Rituximab has been used in patients with cHL as well as LPHL with good efficacy. In this article, we provide a clinically-oriented overview of the use of rituximab in the different sub-types of HL, and report updated results of our series of 8 LPHL patients treated with rituximab. A systematic review of the literature is also presented.

To systematically review randomized, controlled clinical trials for managing osteoporosis, cancer treatment-induced bone loss, and bone metastases from breast cancer using zoledronic acid (ZOL).

This systematic review explores studies using biomechanical analysis of hyoid bone displacement in videofluoroscopy of swallowing as a spatial outcome parameter to evaluate intervention effects. Two authors independently carried out the literature search using the electronic databases Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. Differences in their search findings were settled by discussion. The search was limited to publications in the English, German, French, Spanish, or Dutch language. MeSH terms were used, supplemented by free-text words to identify the most recent publications. In addition, reference lists were searched by hand. Only studies using videofluoroscopy to evaluate the biomechanical effects of swallowing interventions in dysphagic subjects were included in the review. While the body of literature on measuring hyoid bone displacement in videofluoroscopy has grown, only 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. Several of the 12 studies had methodological shortcomings. In general, the conclusions could not be compared across the studies because of their heterogeneous designs and outcome measures. Overall, several intervention effect studies reported significant results. In particular, bolus modification and swallowing maneuvers showed a greater range of hyoid bone displacement. In light of this review, further research on hyoid bone displacement as a spatial variable in well-defined patient populations using well-defined videofluoroscopic protocols to measure intervention effects is recommended.

Preclinical models and data from clinical trials suggest that cancer is a preventable disease. However, demonstration of a preventive effect requires large phase III clinical trials of long duration and involves many thousands of participants. The decision to proceed with phase III studies therefore must be informed by robust efficacy and safety data. This requires a systematic review of all available preclinical, epidemiological, and clinical data, along with a mechanistic understanding of the biology of the disease under study. In this review we identify the issues that are critical to decision-making prior to embarking on late phase prevention clinical trials and provide a framework for making such decisions.

Treatment of cancer is increasingly more effective but is associated with short and long term side effects. Oral side effects remain a major source of illness despite the use of a variety of agents to prevent them. One of these side effects is oral mucositis (mouth ulcers).

Bevacizumab, an anti vascular endothelial growth factor antibody is licensed in several tumours and widely used in colorectal cancer. However, bevacizumab has several adverse effects which may appear unexpectedly and differ according to the tumour.

To determine whether gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog cotreatment with chemotherapy provides better reproductive outcomes for women at risk of premature ovarian failure (POF) as a side-effect of gonadotoxic chemotherapy.

Among glucocorticoids, dexamethasone is most widely used for treatment of cerebral edema because of its long biological half-life and its low mineralocorticoid activity (sodium retaining).

Dose-dense chemotherapy has become a mainstay regimen in the adjuvant setting for women with high-risk breast cancer. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing data from randomized controlled trials regarding the efficacy and toxicity of the dose-dense chemotherapy approach in nonmetastatic breast cancer.

The role of the widely-used angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab in the development of serious hemorrhage is not well defined in cancer patients. This study was conducted to determine the overall risk of hemorrhage with bevacizumab by a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT).

The initial appearance of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) skin lesions in conjunction with Ro/SS-A autoantibodies occurring as an adverse reaction to hydrochlorothiazide [i.e. drug-induced SCLE (DI-SCLE)] was first reported in 1985. Over the past decade an increasing number of drugs in different classes has been implicated as triggers for DI-SCLE. The management of DI-SCLE can be especially challenging in patients taking multiple medications capable of triggering DI-SCLE. Our objectives were to review the published English language literature on DI-SCLE and use the resulting summary data pool to address questions surrounding drug-induced SCLE and to develop guidelines that might be of value to clinicians in the diagnosis and management of DI-SCLE. A systematic review of the Medline/PubMed-cited literature on DI-SCLE up to August 2009 was performed. Our data collection and analysis strategies were prospectively designed to answer a series of questions related to the clinical, prognostic and pathogenetic significance of DI-SCLE. One hundred and seventeen cases of DI-SCLE were identified and reviewed. White women made up the large majority of cases, and the mean overall age was 58·0 years. Triggering drugs fell into a number of different classes, highlighted by antihypertensives and antifungals. Time intervals ('incubation period') between drug exposure and appearance of DI-SCLE varied greatly and were drug class dependent. Most cases of DI-SCLE spontaneously resolved within weeks of drug withdrawal. Ro/SS-A autoantibodies were present in 80% of the cases in which such data were reported and most remained positive after resolution of SCLE skin disease activity. No significant differences in the clinical, histopathological or immunopathological features between DI-SCLE and idiopathic SCLE were detected. There is now adequate published experience to suggest that DI-SCLE does not differ clinically, histopathologically or immunologically from idiopathic SCLE. It should be recognized as a distinct clinical constellation differing clinically and immunologically from the classical form of drug-induced systemic lupus erythematosus.

• To estimate the benefits and harms of 5-α-reductase inhibitors (5-α-RIs) in preventing prostate cancer.