– February 1, 2010
February 1, 2010
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Detection and Significance of Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer
In this review of 195 patients with metastatic breast cancer, detection of 5 or more circulating cancer cells in 7.5 mL of whole blood correlated with reduced overall survival. Furthermore, the presence of extensive bone metastases, as detected by PET/CT, was shown to be associated with increased circulating tumor cells (CTC).Illustrative Case Series: Colon Cancer in a Piano Instructor
A 68-year-old white female presented to her internist complaining of fatigue for the past month. The patient is a piano teacher who traveled to her students' houses for their lessons, which had become a significant effort for her.Combination Oral Chemotherapy for Second-line SCLC
In a retrospective review of 71 patients treated in either a second- or third-line setting for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) at a single institution, three orally administered drugs (lomustine, etoposide, and cyclophosphamide) were shown to be effective in producing responses (overall response rate 38%) but had little effect on overall survival (median survival 19 weeks).Lymphoma/Leukemia Risk among Morticians
Among funeral workers, the duration of embalming practice and related formaldehyde exposure were significantly associated with an increased risk for mortality from myeloid leukemia.Clinical Briefs in Primary Care Supplement
Pharmacology Watch
Results from a Phase 3 study of dabigatran, intensive lipid-lowering in CVD, H1N1 vaccine dosing and efficacy, and FDA Actions