In the setting of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), anti-EGFR antibodies are not currently recommended for individuals with KRAS mutant tumours. This is based on subgroup analyses of individual clinical trials rather than a formal synthesis of evidence for KRAS status as a predictive biomarker, while newer trials report no benefit for anti-EGFR antibodies irrespective of KRAS status. This study systematically reviewed the evidence for KRAS mutation status as a treatment effect modifier of response to anti-EGFR antibodies and the influence of partner chemotherapy.

The prognosis for unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is poor with most patients succumbing to their disease within 2 to 3 years. Clinical management at this stage of the disease is palliative with systemic chemotherapy the main treatment of choice. A number of cytotoxic agents have shown activity in metastatic disease including cisplatin, methotrexate, doxorubicin and vinblastine. However, response rates still need improving and toxicities may sometimes be severe, and so the search for newer agents with improved benefit-to-risk ratios is constantly being pursued. One such agent that shows promise is gemcitabine.

Vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is a pre-malignant condition of the vulval skin; its incidence is increasing in women under 50 years. VIN is graded histologically as low grade or high grade. High grade VIN is associated with infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and may progress to invasive disease. There is no consensus on the optimal management of high grade VIN. The high morbidity and high relapse rate associated with surgical interventions call for a formal appraisal of the evidence available for less invasive but effective interventions for high grade VIN.

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).

The addition of Rituximab (R) to standard chemotherapy (C) has been reported to improve the end of treatment outcome in patients affected by CD-20 positive malignant lymphomas (CD20+ ML). Nevertheless, given the profound and prolonged immunosuppression produced by R there are concerns that severe infections may arise. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to determine whether or not the addition of R to C may increase the risk of severe infections in adults undergoing induction therapy for CD20+ ML.

Cyclophosphamide plus total body irradiation (CYTBI) and oral busulfan plus cyclophosphamide (BUCY) are commonly used conditioning regimens prior to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with leukemia. However, there is conflicting data on the superiority of one regimen over the other. Our aim was to critically appraise and synthesize available evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of CYTBI compared to BUCY as a conditioning regimen.

Bone mineral density (BMD)-based guidelines for bone-directed therapy in women with early breast cancer (EBC) appear inadequate for averting fractures, particularly during aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy. Therefore, an algorithm was developed to better assess risk and direct treatment (Hadji P, Body JJ, Aapro MS et al. Practical guidance for the management of aromatase inhibitor-associated bone loss. Ann Oncol 2008; 19: 1407-1416). Here, we provide updated guidance on pharmacologic interventions to prevent/treat aromatase inhibitor-associated bone loss (AIBL).

Acupuncture is increasingly popular for the treatment of many medical complaints, including gynaecologic conditions. The aim of this study was to summarise the evidence from systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses assessing the efficacy of acupuncture in treating common gynaecologic conditions. Six electronic databases, including two major English-language databases (PubMed and the Cochrane Library) and four Korean databases, were systematically searched for SRs and meta-analyses concerned with acupuncture and common gynaecologic diseases. The following English search terms were used: (gynaecologic disease in MeSH terms) AND (acupuncture or acup*) AND (systematic review OR meta-analysis). In addition, three Korean traditional medicine journals (The Journal of the Korean Acupuncture and Moxibustion Society, The Journal of Korean Oriental Medicine and The Journal of Oriental Obstetrics and Gynaecology) were searched. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire. Of the 55 potentially relevant studies that were found, 16 SRs were included in this report. These reviews evaluated the efficacy of acupuncture for treating the side effects of breast cancer chemotherapy, menstrual disturbances, menopausal symptoms, female infertility, uterine fibroids and polycystic ovary syndrome. Acupuncture was clearly beneficial in the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. In addition, current evidence suggests that acupuncture administered close to embryo transfer during in vitro fertilisation treatment improves the rates of pregnancy and live birth. In conclusion, there is no convincing evidence of the efficacy of acupuncture except for specific conditions, which include acupuncture administered with embryo transfer to improve the outcome of in vitro fertilisation and acupuncture for the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. More well-designed trials using rigorous methodology are required to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in treating gynaecologic conditions.

To evaluate the effectiveness and toxicity of sorafenib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cisplatin and several related antineoplastic agents used to treat many types of solid tumors are neurotoxic, and most patients completing a full course of cisplatin chemotherapy develop a clinically detectable sensory neuropathy. Effective neuroprotective therapies have been sought.

The lymphomas (Hodgkin's lymphoma [HL] and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL]) are among the most common cancers affecting men under 45 years. Survival rates are now excellent, but treatment is associated with a number of side effects including sexual dysfunction with potential implications for compromised quality of life (QoL).

Fatal adverse events (FAEs) have been reported in cancer patients treated with the widely used angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy. Currently, the role of bevacizumab in treatment-related mortality is not clear.

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.