Clinical Trial News

Topotecan showed significant activity in SCLC, especially in patients sensitive to prior chemotherapy, with manageable toxicity. Response rates were 6.4% in refractory and 37.8% in sensitive groups. Median survival was 5.4 months overall, 4.7 for refractory, and 6.9 for sensitive patients. Toxicity was mainly hematologic.

Psychedelics show promise in reducing anxiety and depression in cancer patients, with significant reductions noted in several trials. Benefits may extend 6-12 months post-treatment, offering a new option beyond traditional antidepressants. However, studies are limited by small sizes and methodological issues, including increased blood pressure and heart rate.

Study on 114 acute leukemia patients undergoing allo-HSCT found MRD+ status pre-transplant linked to worse survival outcomes. MRD+ group had higher relapse rates and significantly lower one-year OS and PFS. MRD+ is an independent risk factor for OS, suggesting need for better chemo regimens and GvHD management.

The PLEASE study is a double-blind, randomized trial comparing long-term antibiotic treatments (doxycycline or clarithromycin with hydroxychloroquine) to placebo in patients with borreliosis-attributed persistent symptoms. It aims to assess the efficacy of prolonged antibiotic therapy on health-related quality of life, fatigue, neuropsychological outcomes, and cost-effectiveness.

The LEAP-012 phase III trial demonstrates that combining lenvatinib, pembrolizumab, and TACE significantly improves progression-free survival in patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma, compared to placebo plus TACE.

A study comparing high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and conventional O2 therapy (OT) in pediatric cardiac surgical patients found that while HFNC did not significantly improve PaCO2 elimination post-extubation, it significantly improved PaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 ratios. The need for noninvasive respiratory support was notably lower in the HFNC group.

Tanezumab showed superior pain relief over naproxen and placebo in CLBP studies. BoNT-A injections provided better pain relief than saline in CLBP. Lidocaine patches showed no significant efficacy over placebo for CLBP. Tramadol and tapentadol were effective for CLBP, with some studies showing superiority over placebo. Muscle relaxants like carisoprodol and cyclobenzaprine offered better pain relief than placebo in CLBP. Antidepressants, including TCAs and SNRIs, were effective for CLBP pain relief. NSAIDs were superior to placebo for CLBP in several studies. Gabapentin and pregabalin showed efficacy in reducing pain intensity in CLBP and FM. Capsaicin patches provided modest pain relief in PHN. TCAs and SNRIs were effective in reducing pain intensity in PHN and PDN. Ketamine showed short-term pain relief in CRPS. IVIG and bisphosphonates were effective in CRPS pain management.

A study reveals that elevated markers of bone turnover are associated with worse survival in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients. The research also indicates that patients with the highest marker levels may benefit from the bone-targeted therapy atrasentan.

A phase 3 trial tested niraparib vs. placebo in 553 patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, stratified by gBRCA mutation status. Primary outcome was PFS, with secondary outcomes including OS and safety. The study was randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled, showing low risk of bias across assessed domains.

A pilot study found high satisfaction (87.5%) and continuation rates (87.5%) for the etonogestrel contraceptive implant when placed on the day of mifepristone administration for medical abortion, suggesting feasibility of this approach.