Palliative chemotherapy was administered to almost all patients with recurrent disease in the different response categories (84% in PR/CR patients, 88% in SD pts and 100% in PD pts), surgery for recurrence was performed in one patient in each response group and palliative care was given to two patients with recurrence in the initially responding group.
More recently, we reported, in a phase II study, the activity (68.4% PSA response and 72.7% palliative response) and tolerability of the combination of weekly D and weekly EPI in advanced CRPC patients (Petrioli et al, 2007).
Previous studies have reported poor response and survival following palliative chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer with mucinous histology (Negri et al, 2005; Catalano et al, 2009).
It would be valuable to investigate the relationship between SPHK1 expression and response to palliative chemotherapy to determine if there is any differential impact according to the stage of the disease.
Randomized controlled trials that systemically measure the beneficial impacts of treatments are needed now and in the future in order to fortify the hospice and palliative care response to these important patients' needs.
The palliative response and quality of life data were reviewed by an independent external consultant.
Some authors report it being ineffective [ 9] while others had some positive response and recommend chemotherapy as palliative treatment in advance cases of ACC [ 19].
This randomised trial was conducted to compare a four-drug chemotherapy regimen as a control vs a less intensive two-drug regimen in terms of quality of life (QL), tumour response and survival in the palliative treatment of patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and poor prognosis.
However, worldwide there is increasing recognition of the need to develop end-of-life and palliative care in response to evidence of people's needs and wishes [ 6].
