Docetaxel as salvage chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer after failure of cytotoxic agents and gefitinib treatment

Objective： We conducted a prospective phase II trial of single-agent salvage chemotherapy with docetaxel in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） after failure of chemotherapy and gefitinib to assess the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel in this setting. Methods： Patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC who were failure of chemotherapy and gefitinib were given docetaxel 75 mg/m^2 intravenously for 30 rain every 3 weeks until the toxicity was unacceptable or disease progressed. The response evaluation criteria in solid tumors （RECIST） guidelines were used for the evaluation of an- titumor activity. Toxicity was graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria version 2.0. Results： In total, 31 patients were enrolled in this phase II trial between February 2004 and December 2006, and 84 cycles （average 2.7 cycles） were given. We observed 4 partial responses （PRs） and 10 stable disease （SD） states in 31 eligible patients. The objective response rate was 12.9%, and the disease control rate was 45.2%. The median survival time （MST） was 10 months （95% CI, 5.05-15.08 months）. The 1-year survival rate was 40.6%. The most common toxicities were neutropenia, anemia, and peripheral neuropathy that occurred as follows： 45% of the patients experienced grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, 29% experienced grade 3 anemia, and 25.8% had grade 3 peripheral neuropathy. No patient terminated docetaxel chemotherapy due to toxicity. Conclusion： Docetaxel is beneficial as salvage chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC after failure of cytotoxic agents and gefitinib.

Analysis of risk factors for the interval time, number and pattern of hepatic metastases from gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy

AIM: To analyze the risk factors for interval time, number and pattern of hepatic metastases from gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy, and provide evidence for predicting and preventing hepatic metastasis from gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy. METHODS: A retrospective study of 87 patients with hepatic metastasis who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer from 1996 to 2001. The data was analyzed to evaluate significant risk factors for interval time, number and pattern of hepatic metastases originating from gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy. RESULTS: The size of gastric cancer and lymph node metastases were independently correlated with the interval time of hepatic metastases; the depth of invasion was independently correlated with the number of hepatic metastases; while the depth of invasion and Lauren classification were independently correlated with the pattern of hepatic metastases. CONCLUSION: We evaluated the interval time of hepatic metastases with the size of gastric cancer and lymph node metastases. The depth of invasion could be used to evaluate the number of hepatic metastases, while the depth of invasion and the Lauren classification could be used to evaluate the pattern of hepatic metastases in patients who underwent radical gastrectomy.

Clinical features and treatment modalities of rare choroid metastasis from lung malignancy

To the Editor:The incidence of intraocular metastases is approximately 8%to 10%,[1]of which choroidal metastasis(CM)is the most painful metastatic lesion.CM is a growing problem in the context of an aging population and improved survival among stage IV cancer patients.Lung cancer is the second most common primary malignancy associated with CM.Clinical symptoms vary greatly depending on the location of the lesion or the degree of invasion.Acute clinical symptoms will significantly impair quality of life among surviving patients.The main therapeutic modalities include systemic and local treatments,while observation is also a treatment option.Currently,the feasibility and effectiveness of various treatment options are controversial around the world.Given the rarity of this condition,it is almost impossible to conduct large-scale clinical trials to validate optimal treatment modalities,rather,clues and insights may derive from a series of small sample reports.Herein,we reviewed the related literature from 2009 to 2019,from which relevant information was extracted to elucidate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of CM and to provide suggestions for the treatment of this condition.

Clinical outcomes of serolimus-eluting stents versus bare metal stents in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients： a meta-analysis

Background The benefits and safety of sirolimus-eluting stent （SES） have not been systematically quantified in different trials in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction （STEMI） patients with primary or rescue percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）. A meta-analysis of randomised trials comparing SES and bare-metal stent （BMS） was performed. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted to identify all randomized clinical trials. The primary outcome was the rate of major adverse cardiac events （MACEs）. The secondary outcomes included death, recurrent myocardial infarction, recurrent revascularization, and stent thrombosis.Results Totally, 1973 STEMI patients were enrolled in seven eligible randomized trials comparing SES with BMS. The pooled rate of major adverse cardiac events was significantly lower in the SES group than in the BMS group （9.7% vs 20.3%, OR 2.45, 95% Cl 1.88-3.19, P 〈 0.00001）. No significant difference in all causes of death was found between the SES and BMS groups, as well as in the pooled recurrent myocardial infarction rates. The pooled recurrent revascularization rate was significantly lower in the SES group than in the BMS group （5.1% vs 14.8%, OR 3.30, 95%CI 2.37-4.60, P 〈 0.00001）. No significant difference was found between the pooled rates of stent thrombosis （1.2% in the SES group and 2.0% in the BMS group, OR 1.61, 95%CI 0.79-3.26, P = 0.19）.Conclusions SES is associated with a decreased risk of major adverse cardiac events compared with BMS by the greater reduction in repeat revascularization in STEMI patients. Larger trials with longer follow up are warranted to better define the role of SES in STEMI.