Prognostic value of quality of life scores for time to progression (TTP) and overall survival time (OS) in advanced breast cancer.

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether baseline quality of life (QoL) and changes in QoL scores from baseline are prognostic for time to progression (TTP) and/or overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced breast cancer receiving docetaxel (T) or sequential methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (MF). QoL was assessed at baseline and before each treatment using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30). Survival curves and probabilities were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier technique. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used for both the univariate and multivariate analyses to explore relationships between baseline QoL variables and TTP, as well as OS. In the univariate analysis, more severe pain and fatigue at baseline were predictive for a shorter OS; global QoL, physical functioning and appetite loss had a borderline significance (P=0.0130 for global QoL; P=0.0256 for physical functioning: P=0.0149 for appetite loss). World Health Organization (WHO) performance status was significantly predictive for OS. In the multivariate analysis, more severe pain at baseline was predictive for a shorter OS. In contrast, baseline QoL had no prognostic value for the duration of TTP. QoL change scores from baseline QoL predicted neither OS nor TTP. Our findings suggest that while QoL measurements are important in evaluating patients' QoL, they have no great importance in predicting primary clinical endpoints such as TTP or OS in advanced breast cancer patients.

Unsuccessful DTIC treatment of a patient with glucagonoma syndrome.

Various chemotherapeutic modalities have been tried in the treatment of patients with malignant glucagonomas. Promising results have been reported after drug treatment with dimethyltriazenoimidazole carboxamide (DTIC). We present a patient with a metastasizing pancreatic glucagonoma, in whom treatment with neither DTIC nor with the combination of streptozotocin and 5-fluorouracil resulted in any noticeable improvement.

Vincristine, Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide (VP16-213) in small-cell anaplastic carcinoma of the lung.

Twelve patients with small-cell anaplastic carcinoma of the lung were treated with vincristine 1 mg/m2 i.v. day 1, adriamycin 50 mg/M2 i.v. day 1, cyclophosphamide 1,000 mg/m2 i.v. day 1, and etoposide 80 mg/m2 i.v. day 2, 4, 6 given on an outpatient basis and repeated at 3-week intervals. As consolidation therapy seven patients received two courses of BCNU median 29 mg/m2 (range 24-73 mg/m2) short term intraarterial infusion in the bronchial artery with 2 to 3-weeks intervals. One patient with limited disease had no evidence of disease for 13+ months and one patient complete remission for 3+ months. Four of ten patients with extensive disease had complete remission for median 5 months (range 2+ to 5+ months) and four patients had partial remission for median 5 months (range 4 to 5+ months). Despite side effects the chemotherapy was well tolerated by the patients. The results correspond to those obtained with other effective regimens in small-cell anaplastic carcinoma of the lung.