Background
Cisplatin‐based chemoradiotherapy is standard of care for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. This systemic review compared efficacy and safety of weekly vs triweekly cisplatin in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Methods
Among 1500 prospective studies published from 1970 to 2015, 39 (18 weekly, 21 triweekly) including 3668 patients qualified for inclusion. Clinical outcomes were analyzed using weighted estimates and 2‐tailed t test for comparisons; significance level was 0.05.
Results
Locoregional control was 58% (CI 53%‐63%) vs 61% (CI 56%‐65%; P = .7). The 2‐year overall survival (OS) was 74% (CI 66%‐80%) for weekly vs 67% (64%‐69%) triweekly groups (P = .67). The 2‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) was 69% (CI 59%‐77%) for weekly vs 62% (CI 58%‐65%) triweekly groups (P = .9). Grade 3 to 5 toxicities were 36% vs 40% (P = .37) in weekly vs triweekly groups.
Conclusions
Weekly cisplatin was comparable in efficacy and safety to the triweekly regimen. Our analysis supports the use of weekly or triweekly cisplatin in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, with tolerability being a key factor in selection.
Objectives: To describe the baseline characteristics and evaluate the risk factors for in-hospital mortality in patients admitted to hospitals with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Kuwait.
Subjects and Methods: This retrospective cohort analysed data of patients admitted to two hospitals in Kuwait with COVID-19. The outcome was assessed by using multivariable analysis of factors affecting survival and mortality.
Results: In the 962 patients, the case fatality ratio in this study was 9.04%. The mean age of non-survivors was 63.5 ± 14.8 years, and most deaths occurred in males (80.5%). For the whole sample, source of transmission was significantly related to mortality and the median duration of in-hospital stay was 15 (interquartile range: 2–52) days. In patients with high oxygen requirements, the case fatality rate was 96.6%. Multivariable analysis identified age, hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and dyspnoea on presentation as independent risk factors for COVID-19 mortality.
Conclusions: The mortality rate was higher in older patients with comorbidities such as hypertension and CVD. Early recognition of high-risk patients may help to improve care and reduce mortality.
This analysis suggests that patients with mCRC and either PI3K or BRAF mutation may have a lower response and worse outcome when treated with anti-EGFR in the first line. Given their worse outcome, routine testing for BRAF and PI3K mutational status should be considered. Novel therapeutic approaches are needed for patients with mutations in BRAF or PI3K.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.