Premedication with 20 mg dexamethasone effectively prevents relapse of extensive skin rash associated with gemcitabine monotherapy

A phase I study of topotecan and gemcitabine in advanced solid tumors

“…Four patients developed a diffuse rash, with three experiencing disease stabilization. Although rash is common and occasionally extensive with either gemcitabine or topotecan individually [29,30], this rash has not been reported in prior studies with this combination, lending the possibility that it is schedule related. The mechanism of this relationship is unclear and should be further elucidated.…”

A pilot study of paclitaxel combined with gemcitabine followed by interleukin-2 and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor for patients with metastatic melanoma

“…It has been reported that the rate of rash and pruritus was approximately 7~30% in patients treated with gemcitabine and 27% in patients treated with IL-2 or GM-CSF. 34,35 However, rash and pruritus occurred in 72% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer undergoing docetaxel plus gemcitabine treatment followed by IL-2 and GM-CSF. 25 These side effects are most likely associated with a marked increase in the abundance of mononuclear cells, eosinophils and basophils, which is indicative of an immunological response.…”

Clinical and surgical-pathological staging in early non-small cell lung cancer

“… 28 Therefore, clinically relevant FDG-avid mediastinal lymph nodes should always be examined with the most appropriate tissue sampling technique. 4 …”

“…In addition to pathological confirmation in many patients, it also permits an evaluation of the endobronchial extension of the tumor to be made (endobronchial T stage) which can be decisive in determining the extent of resection or for planning radiotherapy. 4 WLB is usually accompanied by washing, brushing and direct biopsy of the intrabronchial lesion in an attempt to obtain further molecular information about the tumor. Autofluorescence bronchoscopy (AFB) added to WLB has a role in the routine workup of patients suspected of having operable lung cancer based on chest imaging or in patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer planned for resection.…”

“…It determines whether the patient has an early stage tumor and may proceed to direct resection. 4 The important weapons in the armamentarium of the multidisciplinary oncology team include: computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), mediastinoscopy, transthoracic, transbronchial or transesophageal fine needle aspiration (FNA) with or without ultrasound guidance, core needle biopsy, and positron emission tomography (PET) together with CT (PET-CT). The multidisciplinary oncology team employs a variety of specialists, including thoracic surgeons, oncologists and respiratory specialists.…”