Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials - Volume 1, Issue 1, 2006

The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) family, including EGFR, HER2, HER3, and HER4, is implicated in the development and progression of cancer, and is expressed in many human epithelial malignancies, including Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Several molecules were synthesized to inhibit the extracellular domain of EGFR, such as cetuximab (Erbitux), the extracellular domain of HER2, such as trastuzu Read More

The purine nucleoside analog - cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine, 2-CdA) is a cytotoxic agent with high activity in lymphoid and myeloid malignancies. It is also an effective drug in some autoimmune disorders. 2-CdA is usually administered intravenously in continuous or 2-hour infusion. Recently however, new formulation of this agent has been developed for subcutaneous and oral administration. 2-CdA is widely Read More

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract, and it is characterized by the occurrence, in > 90 % of cases, of a gain of function mutation in the c-kit protooncogene. STI-571 (imatinib mesylate), a selective KIT tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has changed the natural history of this disease, since it has shown high effectiveness in metastatic GIST, and it is curren Read More

Despite of improvements in the biological and molecular characterization of glioblastoma multiforme and studies of factors associated with tumor growth and progression, this type of malignant astroglial brain tumor is still difficult to treat. The present article reviews established and emerging prognostic and predictive factors and their potential influence on future therapeutic efforts. Recent developments in standard treatment Read More

Actinic keratoses (AKs) are evolving malignant cutaneous neoplasms. They are also known as solar keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma in situ-solar keratotic type, or keratinocytic intraepidermal neoplasia. Actinic keratoses can be treated by two general methods: by physical/destructive methods and with topical therapies. This article will review current and evolving topical therapeutic options for AKs. Several topical treatment opti Read More

In reviewing the latest trials of antiemetic usage to prevent cytotoxic chemotherapy induced emesis, gaps in the literature suggest directions for future research and identify methodological approaches to be used in future investigations. The usage of molecular techniques and the identification of new receptors may allow new antiemetics to be developed and identification of the genes coding for antiemetic recepto Read More

The most accepted and least biased manner to demonstrate clinical benefit for any new treatment is to show that it conveys a survival advantage in a well-designed phase III, randomized clinical trial. However, in selected cases, an exception can be made to this sound rule. This review aims at elucidating one such example. In particular, I intend to show that when an individualized form of immunotherapy like idiotypic vaccinatio Read More

This review article discusses current research developments in functional recovery after stroke. With the institutionalization of stroke services across health care facilities, a reduction in mortality rates, length of inpatient stay and improved independence in activities of daily living has been reported. Several systematic reviews show that traditional treatment approaches induce improvements that are confined to impairment Read More

While different design features of medical studies ostensibly serve different functions, many fall under the umbrella of methods aimed at ensuring the comparability of the comparison groups. Randomization rightly occupies the top spot in the hierarchy of design types, as it eliminates some biases (that is, systematic differences in comparison groups) that no other design can claim to eliminate. It is often assumed, and somet Read More