Scalp Cooling in Preventing Persistent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
I guess scalp cooling does have some objective evidence that it works. Still the expense and time constraints will need to be considered.
Paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (TIP) is an established salvage regimen for germ cell tumors (GCT) on the basis of a phase II trial, but efficacy on a large patient cohort including patients with unfavorable risk features and long-term outcomes has not been reported. Herein, we report updated treatment efficacy and long-term follow-up with TIP.
Patients with GCT who received TIP after cisplatin-based chemotherapy were eligible. Favorable response (complete response or partial response with negative tumor markers), overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates, relapse, and toxicity were determined. Disease was reclassified according to the International Prognostic Factor Study Group (IPFSG) score.
Of the 104 patients, 87 had favorable risk factors and 17 had at least one unfavorable factor by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) criteria. Ten patients were treated for a second gonadal primary GCT. With a median follow-up of 8.9 years, the 5-year PFS and OS rates were 66% (95% CI, 55 to 74) and 69% (95% CI, 59 to 77), respectively. Among 87 patients with favorable-risk disease, 69 (79%) achieved a favorable response with 5-year PFS and OS rates of 67% (95% CI, 56 to 76) and 72% (95% CI, 61 to 80), respectively. Among 17 patients with MSKCC unfavorable-risk disease, 13 (76%) achieved a favorable response with 5-year PFS and OS rates of 59% (95% CI, 33 to 78) and 56% (95% CI, 28 to 76), respectively. After IPFSG reclassification, 5-year PFS and OS rates for patients with ≤intermediate-risk disease were 75% (95% CI, 50 to 89) and 73% (95% CI, 55 to 85), respectively.
TIP is an effective second-line regimen for patients with GCT. Similar outcomes were observed in patients with favorable- and unfavorable-risk disease. The randomized TIGER trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02375204) comparing TIP with high-dose chemotherapy will determine the optimal second-line treatment approach.
I guess scalp cooling does have some objective evidence that it works. Still the expense and time constraints will need to be considered.
Stimulant therapy with methylphenidate did not improve fatigue in a well-done, prospective, placebo-controlled trial. This refutes prior practices of using ADD medications to mitigate fatigue for patients on chemotherapy. I rarely use these in my own practice given the concern for weight loss and mood disorder.
Pooled data across 10 studies of Zanubritinib show that tolerability is better with Zanubritinib compared to Ibrutinib. There is little reason to use ibrutinib in newly diagnosed patients in my opinion.
A study from Singapore showing that each COVID-19 booster protected cancer patients for approximately five months after receiving third and fourth vaccine doses. Interest in the COVID-19 booster in 2023 has waned, and although infection is not as common today, many patients will die due to COVID-19 this year.
Luspaterecpt before epoetin in low grade MDS patients.
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