Lung Cancer

Smoking-once a socially accepted behavior-is the leading preventable cause of death and disability in the United States. During the first decades of the 20th century, lung cancer was rare; however, as cigarette smoking became increasingly popular,

CHAPEL HILL, NC-In the treatment of non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel (Taxol) and carboplatin (Paraplatin) given before and during radiation therapy may double survival time over that seen with radiation alone.

HELSINKI, Finland-A large phase III international study has shown a survival advantage for neoadjuvant chemotherapy with single-agent docetaxel (Taxotere) in selected patients with stage III non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The analysis of the study, presented at the ASCO meeting, was, however, met with criticism from investigators outside the study.

Madison, Wis-The largest randomized clinical trial ever conducted in advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has shown that combination chemotherapy regimens extend survival in advanced disease.

HOUSTON-Improved survival with a very favorable toxicity profile resulted from using weekly single-agent paclitaxel (Taxol) 80 mg/m² in patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who failed first-line therapy with paclitaxel/carboplatin (Paraplatin).

In October 1999, 40 leading experts from Europe, the United States, and the Far East met in St. Julians, Malta, to discuss recent progress in the management of lung cancer. Emphasis was placed on novel treatment strategies for non–small-cell

Gemcitabine (Gemzar) is a novel deoxycitidine drug that has demonstrated promising single-agent activity in non–small-cell lung cancer and has been proven to be a potent radiosensitizer. Although the exact mechanism of the

Gemcitabine (Gemzar) was originally approved for use in combination with cisplatin (Platinol) for the treatment of advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Research began to focus on combining gemcitabine with newer

Because the majority of patients with stage IIIA N2 non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) ultimately die of distant metastases, recent efforts to improve their intermediate- and long-term survival have focused on neoadjuvant

The search for new combination chemotherapeutic regimens for the treatment of non–small-cell lung cancer is motivated not only by the desire to increase the objective tumor response and survival rates, but also by the desire

The Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group conducted a randomized phase III trial to compare paclitaxel (Taxol) 200 mg/m² IV 3-hour infusion on day 1 plus carboplatin (Paraplatin) at an area under the curve (AUC) of 6 (group

In our previous phase I/II studies, both the cisplatin (Platinol), gemcitabine (Gemzar), and vinorelbine (Navelbine) (PGV), and cisplatin, gemcitabine, and paclitaxel (Taxol) (PGT) regimens produced a median survival of

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combination of gemcitabine (Gemzar), paclitaxel (Taxol), and carboplatin (Paraplatin) in patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Previously untreated

AstraZeneca has announced the launch of a new website that will help keep researchers and physicians up to date on

Long known to be instrumental in fueling the growth of breast cancer, estrogen may spur the same process in lung cancer, according to the findings of a University of Pittsburgh study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for

ASCO-Treatment with chemotherapy extends the lives of patients with advanced lung cancer and should become a standard treatment option offered to these patients, according to two papers presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (New Orleans).

Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center are examining the effectiveness of bringing psychological support into the homes of women with advanced stages of lung cancer through telephone and videophone counseling programs

NEW YORK-Resection with intent to cure was possible for all but one of the lung cancers identified in a German screening program using low-dose spiral CT scans. Of the 13 cancers identified, eight were stage I, Stefan Diederich, MD, a staff radiologist at the University of Münster, said at the Second International Conference on Screening for Lung Cancer. The inoperable lesion was stage IIIB. However, it was resected after preoperative chemotherapy. One lesion was small-cell cancer, six were adenocarcinomas, and six were squamous cell carcinomas.

NEW YORK-As the Early Lung Cancer Action Project (ELCAP) continues to focus on lung cancer screening and diagnosis, a consensus has been reached on a number of points affecting the future of the research and variants of its single-arm design.

NEW YORK-The main challenges in the continuing development of low-dose spiral CT screening for lung cancer are “cost, flow, and efficiency,” Stanley H. Fox, PhD, General Electric Med Systems, Milwaukee, said at the Second International Conference on Screening for Lung Cancer.

NEW YORK-The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is designing a randomized controlled trial of low-dose spiral CT lung cancer screening that would enroll 88,000 Americans.

NEW YORK-The cost effectiveness of screening high-risk populations for lung cancer with spiral low-dose CT scans appears to be reasonable, according to two researchers who used somewhat different statistical models and data to arrive at this conclusion. Both researchers presented their results at the Second International Conference on Screening for Lung Cancer.

Although the incidence of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is similar to that of other types of cancer, the death rate tends to be higher because lung cancer often is not detected until it is the size of an orange. “There is no reason why

A national study of nearly 11,000 patients confirmed what previous regional studies have suggested: Black Americans are less likely than whites to undergo surgery for early stage non-

As a practicing physician, Dr.Ost’s perspective on the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of lung cancer is informative and helpful, particularly regarding its application in the multimodality setting. My comments represent the viewpoint of a scientist involved in the clinical use of PDT in an academic tertiary referral institution.

Many readers may find the article by Ost on photodynamic therapy (PDT) for lung cancer to be their introduction to this novel modality. If, for no other reason than this, the article is valuable. For those who address cancer as a systemic problem, first and foremost, the article may offer little to whet the appetite. On the other hand, the review may tempt the intellectual palates of those of us who focus our efforts on solving the sour problems of local cancers, their control, and the cost of aggressive therapies.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves the use of photosensitizing agents that are selectively retained within tumor cells. The agents remain inactive until exposed to light of the proper wavelength. When activated by light, these

NEW YORK-An improved 2-year survival rate was achieved in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with a combination of paclitaxel (Taxol) and carboplatin (Paraplatin) given concurrently with radiation therapy, according to a report at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XVII.

Docetaxel (Taxotere) was recently approved by the Food and and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure of prior platinum-based chemotherapy.

NEW YORK-Esophagitis was less frequent and less severe in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with standard chemotherapy and thoracic radiation when amifostine (Ethyol) was added to the regimen, according to a report at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XVII.