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Background and purpose: The overall survival time of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer is not satisfactory. No chemotherapy schemes more effective than etoposide combined with cisplatin, and other optimum combinations should be under evaluation. The aim of this study was to investigate the survival advantage of IEP followed by EP chemotherapy in the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer compared with EP chemotherapy alone. Methods: From Jan 2004 to Sep 2007, 68 extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients were enrolled in this project and were randomly divided into research group and control group in the ratio of 1:1. In the research group, 34 patients accepted IEP chemotherapy at least two times followed by EP chemotherapy maintenance therapy. 34 patients as control group accepted EP chemotherapy only. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. Results: The median overall survival time of the research group was 15.32 months and the control group was 9.30 months. There were no significant differences between the two groups (P=0.0787). The median time to progression of the research group was 7.83 months and 6.92 months for the control group, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups (P=0.0164). It is suggested that IEP followed by EP chemotherapy in treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer could get a better progression free survival, but the overall survival time has not been improved. Conclusion: We conclude that those patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer could get better progression free survival by accepting IEP chemotherapy.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy is a new approach and effective for some malignant tumors. The aim of this study is to observe the efficacy and toxicity of immunotherapy with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) peptide-pulsed DCs in patients with refractory advanced lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Lung cancer patients with high CEA expression were enrolled into this project. Autologous DCs were generated from patients' plastic-adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells and loaded with CEA 5 days later. Cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK) were cultured from non-adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells. DCs and CIK were transfused to patients. Responses and toxicities were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 22 patients with lung cancer received DCs immunotherapy. DCs doses were 2.5×10⁶-9.6×10⁷ (5.03×10⁶). CIK doses were 3.4×10⁸-46×10⁸. CD3, CD8, NK and IFN-γ levels obviously increased after treatment (P < 0.05). The 1-year survival rate was 68.2% (15/22). Main toxicities were fever and rash.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>DCs-based immunotherapy is feasible and safe to patients with lung cancer.</p>
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Objective To explore the effects of fluoride with different doses on the expressions of TGF-? and Smad2/3 in fibroblast and osteoblast at different periods.Methods Fibroblasts and osteoblasts were exposed to different concentrations of fluoride(0,0.0001,0.001,0.1,1,10 and 20 mg?L~(-1)).The levels of TGF-? protein and Smad2/3 at 2,4,24,48 and 72 h after treatment were measured by using ELISA method.The expression of TGF-? mRNA was tested with RT-PCR method.Results In fibroblasts,the contents of TGF-? protein were decreased in the groups of 0.001,0.1,1,10 and 20 mg?L~(-1) F~-at the time of 2 h and in the groups of 1.0001,0.001,0.1,10 and 20 mg?L~(-1) at the time of 4 h(P
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To compare the effect and toxicity between gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP) with vinorelbine, ifosfamide and cisplatin (NIP) combined chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty patients received either gemcitabine 1 000 mg/m² on days 1, 8, or 15 plus cisplatin 70-80 mg/m² on day 1, or vinorelbine 25 mg/m² on days 1, 8, ifosfamide 1.2 g/m² on days 1-4 plus cisplatin 70-80 mg/m² on day 1, every 28 days as a cycle.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The objective response rate was 40.0% in GP goup, compared with 52.5% in NIP group (P > 0.05). Median survival time of GP and NIP groups was 13.68 and 15.34 months respectively, and 1-year survival rates were 54.29% and 59.46% respectively (P > 0.05). Leukopenia at grade III+IV was significantly lower in GP arm (27.5%) than that in NIP arm (55.0%) (P < 0.05). Non-hematological toxicities were less frequent in GP group than those in NIP group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Although the response rate tends to be higher in three-drug than in two-drug combined chemotherapy, but no significant difference is observed. Three-drug combinations often result in more toxicities. Two-drug combination GP may be the standard protocol for chemotherapy of advanced NSCLC. Three-drug combination NIP should be given to young patients with good performance status.</p>