Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation: Phase II Study of Lenalidomide and Rituximab as Salvage Therapy for Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Phase II Study of Lenalidomide and Rituximab As Salvage Therapy for Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

J Clin Oncol. 2012 Dec 26;
Badoux XC, Keating MJ, Wen S, Wierda WG, O’Brien SM, Faderl S, Sargent R, Burger JA, Ferrajoli A

PURPOSELenalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug active as salvage therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We combined lenalidomide with rituximab to improve response rates in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL. PATIENTS AND METHODSFifty-nine adult patients (age 42 to 82 years) with relapsed or refractory CLL were enrolled onto a phase II study of lenalidomide and rituximab. Patients had received prior fludarabine-based therapy or chemoimmunotherapy. Rituximab (375 mg/m(2) intravenously) was administered weekly during cycle one and on day 1 of cycles three to 12. Lenalidomide was started on day 9 of cycle one at 10 mg orally and administered daily continuously. Each cycle was 28 days. Rituximab was administered for 12 cycles; lenalidomide could continue indefinitely if patients benefitted clinically.ResultsThe overall response rate was 66%, including 12% complete responses and 12% nodular partial remissions. Time to treatment failure was 17.4 months. Median overall survival has not been reached; estimated survival at 36 months is 71%. The most common grade 3 or 4 toxicity was neutropenia (73% of patients). Fourteen patients (24%) experienced a grade 3 to 4 infection or febrile episode. There was one episode of grade 3 tumor lysis; one patient experienced renal failure during the first cycle of therapy, and one venous thromboembolic event occurred during the study. CONCLUSIONThe combination of lenalidomide and rituximab is active in patients with recurrent CLL and warrants further investigation.
HubMed – drug

 

Influence of Comorbidity on Racial Differences in Receipt of Surgery Among US Veterans With Early-Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

J Clin Oncol. 2012 Dec 26;
Williams CD, Stechuchak KM, Zullig LL, Provenzale D, Kelley MJ

PURPOSEIt is unclear why racial differences exist in the frequency of surgery for lung cancer treatment. Comorbidity is an important consideration in selection of patients for lung cancer treatment, including surgery. To assess whether comorbidity contributes to the observed racial differences, we evaluated racial differences in the prevalence of comorbidity and their impact on receipt of surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODSA total of 1,314 patients (1,135 white, 179 black) in the Veterans Health Administration diagnosed with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer in 2007 were included. The effect of comorbidity on surgery was determined by using generalized linear models with a logit link accounting for patient clustering within Veterans Administration Medical Centers.ResultsCompared with whites, blacks had greater prevalence of hypertension, liver disease, renal disease, illicit drug abuse, and poor performance status, but lower prevalence of respiratory disease. The impact of most individual comorbidities on receipt of surgery was similar between blacks and whites, and comorbidity did not influence the race-surgery association in a multivariable analysis. The proportion of blacks not receiving surgery as well as refusing surgery was greater than that among whites. CONCLUSIONBlacks had a greater prevalence of several comorbid conditions and poor performance status; however, the overall comorbidity score did not differ by race. In general, the effect of comorbidity on receipt of surgery was similar in blacks and whites. Racial differences in comorbidity do not fully explain why blacks undergo lung cancer surgery less often than whites.
HubMed – drug

 

A Novel Base-Promoted Cyclization: Synthesis of Substituted Benzo[b]furans.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

RSC Adv. 2012 Oct 21; 2(25): 9403-9405
Damera K, Ke B, Wang K, Dai C, Wang L, Wang B

A new base-promoted cyclization for the synthesis of substituted benzo[b]furans is described. This method is simple and inexpensive and gives good yields.
HubMed – drug

 

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