Late Mortality and Levamisole Adjuvant Therapy in Colorectal Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): R.T. Chlebowski, L. Lillington, J.S. Nystrom, J. Sayre
Primary Institution: Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Hypothesis
Does levamisole adjuvant therapy affect long-term survival in patients with resected colorectal cancer?
Conclusion
Levamisole treatment was associated with higher late mortality compared to placebo in colorectal cancer patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Overall survival was 68% for the placebo group compared to 38% for the levamisole group.
- Patients surviving 5 years had a subsequent survival rate of 100% in the placebo group versus 57% in the levamisole group.
- Excess late mortality was associated with levamisole group assignment.
Takeaway
This study looked at patients with colon cancer who took a medicine called levamisole. It found that those who took levamisole had more deaths later on compared to those who took a sugar pill.
Methodology
Patients were randomly assigned to receive either levamisole or placebo for 18 months, and their survival was monitored over time.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small sample size and the nature of the treatment assignment.
Limitations
The study had a smaller sample size than initially planned and was limited by early funding termination.
Participant Demographics
Patients were less than 75 years old with stage B or C colorectal carcinoma.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.03
Confidence Interval
86-49% for placebo and 51-25% for levamisole
Statistical Significance
p<0.08
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