The combination of gemcitabine and tipifarnib has an acceptable toxicity profile but does not prolong overall survival in advanced pancreatic cancer compared with single-agent gemcitabine.
Background: The pretreatment De Ritis ratio [aspartate transaminase (AST)/alanine transaminase (ALT)] has been shown to be an adverse prognostic marker in various cancer entities. However, its relevance to advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has not yet been studied. In the present study we investigated the AST/ALT ratio as a possible predictor of treatment response and disease outcome in patients with advanced PDAC treated with first-line gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel. Methods: A post hoc analysis of a prospective, multicenter, noninterventional study was performed. A total of 202 patients with advanced PDAC treated with first-line gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel for whom the AST/ALT ratio was measured were included in this analysis. Results: Median and 1-year progression-free survival estimates were 4.8 months and 5.1%, respectively in patients with an AST/ALT ratio above the 75th percentile of its distribution, and 6.0 months and 18.7%, respectively in patients with an AST/ALT ratio less than or equal to this cutoff, respectively (log-rank p = 0.004). In univariable Cox regression, a doubling of the AST/ALT ratio was associated with a 1.4-fold higher relative risk of progression or death [hazard ratio = 1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–1.80, p = 0.017]. The prognostic association was also found in multivariable analysis adjusting for Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status and lung metastases (hazard ratio per AST/ALT ratio doubling = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.00–1.75, p = 0.047). In treatment response analysis, a doubling of the AST/ALT ratio was associated with a 0.5-fold lower odds of objective response (odds ratio = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.31–0.94, p = 0.020). Conclusions: The pretreatment serum AST/ALT ratio predicts poor disease outcome and response rate in patients with advanced PDAC treated with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel and might represent a novel and inexpensive marker for individual risk assessment in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Absolute total cross sections for producing H+, H, e, N2+, and 02+ have been measured for H+ N, and H+02 collisions from 50-eV to 3-keV hydrogen-atom energy. The experimental techniques used, when combined with classical differential-scattering calculations, also allowed determinations of the absolute largeangle-scattering differential cross sections for H+ production. The experimental and theoretical procedures are reviewed, and the results are compared, where possible, with the data of other investigators.
Photoluminescence ͑PL͒ and photoluminescence excitation measurements over a temperature range 12 KϽTϽ300 K on high quality CuGaTe 2 crystals grown by the vertical Bridgman method were completed. The whole PL spectrum consists of two regions. The first region includes PL bands E 1 at 1.431 eV, E 2 at 1.426 eV, and E 3 at 1.417 eV, together with their phonon replicas while in the second region we have a PL band D 0 at 1.338 eV with its well-resolved LO-phonon replicas (ប LO ϭ26.5 meV). All these PL bands appear to be at higher energy than the lowest ͑fundamental͒ band gap energy E g A. The possible origin of observed PL bands is discussed.
Absolute photon yields for band emissions of the N2+ first‐negative and N2 second‐positive systems are predicted for proton aurorae in an N2 atmosphere. The predictions are made by using a proton auroral model based largely on collision cross‐section information, including the production of these emissions in the atmosphere by secondary electrons. The photon yields for Balmer‐alpha and Balmer‐beta emissions and the total secondary electron production during proton aurorae are also determined. The results are compared with other predictions and with a limited number of proton auroral observations.
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