Subject(s)
Medical Oncology , Societies, Medical , Data Collection , Europe , European Union , Humans , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To present a comprehensive analysis of early and late results of adjuvant treatment in colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC) patients treated at the Emergency County hospital Alba Iulia during a 54-month period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our analysis included all records of CRC patients who had received adjuvant chemotherapy between 1 January 2001 and 30 June 2005. The Kaplan- Meier methodology was used in the analysis of survival data, while the regression Cox model and log-rank test were used in the analysis of prognostic factors. RESULTS: 68 patients were included with a median follow-up time of almost 3 years. Overall survival (OS) at 3 years was 67%, and at 5 years 42.4%, while disease-free survival (DFS) was 52% and 39%, at 3 and 5 years, respectively. These inferior results compared with those reported in western Europe and USA for patients with similar major prognostic factors and similar adjuvant chemotherapy regimens is extensively discussed. The impact of the main prognostic factors on survival data is also reported. CONCLUSION: Our hospital's experience is highly representative for the present status of adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer patients in Romania. Results of our analysis can be used to design a strategy for improving quality of adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy , Adenocarcinoma/radiotherapy , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy , Colorectal Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Adenocarcinoma/secondary , Adult , Aged , Capecitabine , Chemotherapy, Adjuvant , Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology , Deoxycytidine/administration & dosage , Deoxycytidine/analogs & derivatives , Female , Fluorouracil/administration & dosage , Fluorouracil/analogs & derivatives , Humans , Leucovorin/administration & dosage , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging , Prognosis , Radiotherapy, Adjuvant , Retrospective Studies , Romania , Survival Rate , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Topotecan has recently shown activity in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. The aim of the present phase II study was to assess the antitumor activity and toxicity of the combination of topotecan plus etoposide in chemotherapynaive patients with advanced SCLC on an outpatient basis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From December 1998 to February 2001 24 previously untreated patients with histologically proven advanced (stage IIIB and IV) SCLC received topotecan 1.2 mg/m(2), days 1-5, followed by etoposide 100 mg/m(2), days 8-10, every 3 weeks, up to 6 cycles (less if progressive disease). RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were males and 2 females. Their median age was 54 years (range 37-67 years). World Health Organization (WHO) performance status (PS) was 0-1 in 12 patients and 2 in 12. AJCC stage IIIB was found in 6 patients and IV in 18. TOXICITY: 76 cycles (median 3.5 cycles) were given with no toxic deaths. Grade 4 toxicity was registered in 10 (13%) cycles for neutropenia, 4 (5%) cycles for anaemia, 1 (1.3%) cycle for thrombocytopenia and 1 (1.3%) cycle for diarrhea. Activity: among 23 evaluable patients, 8 had an objective response to chemotherapy (response rate - RR- 34.7%, 95% confidence interval -CI- 14-55%) with 4 (17.4%) complete remissions (CRs) and 4 (17.4%) partial remissions (PRs). Survival: with a median follow-up of 8 months (range 1.5-25 months), one-year actuarial survival was 48% (95% CI 28-69%) and median survival was 47.8 weeks. CONCLUSION: Although the combination of topotecan and etoposide proved easy to administer on an outpatient basis with moderate and manageable toxicity, it showed only moderate activity as first-line chemotherapy in advanced SCLC.
