Liquid biopsies in lung cancer: The new ambrosia of researchers

Abstract: In the last decades the approach to cancer patient management has been deeply revolutionized. We are moving from a "one-fits-all" strategy to the "personalized medicine" based on the molecular characterization of the tumor. In this new era it is becoming more and more clear that the monitoring of the disease is fundamental for the success of the treatment, thus there is the need of new biomarker discovery. More precisely in the last years the scientific community has started to use the term "liquid biopsy". A liquid biopsy is a liquid biomarker that can be easily isolated from many body fluids (blood, saliva, urine, ascites, pleural effusion, etc.) and, as well as a tissue biopsy,…

Capecitabine (XEL) + Oxaliplatin (OX) in elderly people (EP) with Colorectal Cancer (CRC): Comparison of safety (S) and feasibility (F) of two different schedules. Preliminary findings

Capecitabine (XEL) and oxaliplatin (OX) in combination with bevacizumab (BEV) in the management of elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer (ACRC): Preliminary outcomes on safety and efficacy.

Background: Older individuals always experience enhanced susceptibility to the side effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy. The aim of the study was to evaluate impact of BEV in combination with OX and XEL in ACRC elderly patients. Methods: 56 (29 male, 27 female) elderly patients with ACRC (median age: 71; range: 66-80) were enrolled. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) was performed to assess eligibility for chemotherapy. The dose of IRI and XEL was adjusted according to Kintzel-Dorr formula. Primary endpoint: clinical response rates (RR) according to WHO criteria. Secondary endpoints: toxicity profile using NCI-CTC v2.0 and quality of life (QoL) score measured through EORTC QLQ-C30 quest…