-
A 64-year-old commercial airline pilot was seen by his primary physician because of a bothersome, non-productive cough. He has a history of asthma but requires no medications other than occasional albuterol inhalation. Physical examination was unremarkable, as were the complete blood count and chest x-ray.
-
By a systematic review of observational (case-control and cohort) studies, data regarding aspirin use and cancer risk were compared to data obtained from randomized clinical trials. In general, there was very good correlation regarding reduced risk for several types of cancer and the development of metastatic disease. The analysis provides confidence that observational studies can be of value in addressing the many outstanding questions regarding aspirin and cancer prevention.
-
In a large retrospective series, 2051 men with clinically localized prostate cancer received definitive radiation therapy (RT) alone. The rates of aspirin use and statin use were 36% and 34%, respectively. The primary endpoint was IBF (interval to biochemical failure) of < 18 months.
-
Long-term follow-up of Lynch syndrome patients who completed 2 years of treatment (aspirin or placebo) on the CAPP2 colorectal cancer prevention trial revealed a significant reduction in colorectal cancer development. This was the first large-scale colon cancer prevention trial using aspirin as an intervention. Implications for the prevention of sporadic colon cancer remain conjectural, however tempting it is to extrapolate these findings to the general adult population.
-
In a prospective trial conducted from 2004-2010, 21 patients (median age 65 years) with a clinical complete response after chemoradiotherapy were followed closely per a stringent wait-and-see policy consisting of MRI, endosopies, and CT scans. These patients were compared to 20 patients prospectively who underwent surgery and were found to have a pathologic complete response.
-
-
This randomized, controlled, open-label, multicenter Phase 3 trial compared axitinib with sorafenib as second-line therapy for metastatic renal clear-cell cancer. The results showed that axitinib extended progression-free survival by 2 months more than sorafenib (6.7 months vs 4.7 months), and had a superior objective response rate (19.4% vs 9.4%).
-
An asymptomatic 78-year-old retired accountant presented to his physician with intractable hiccups. Physical examination, complete blood count, and imaging studies did not reveal a cause of the hiccups, and after several days the symptom disappeared. However, upon review of the abdominal CT scan obtained in evaluation of the hiccups, a right renal mass was defined.
-
New treatment for prostate cancer; avastin and breast cancer; new CMS disclosure rule; and FDA actions.
-
New treatment for TB; safety of dabigatran; quality of antidepressants; systolic hypertension treatment; and FDA actions.