Comparing Treatments for Malignant Effusion
Author Information
Author(s): Nio Y, Nagami H, Tamura K, Tsubono M, Nio M, Sato M, Kawabata K, Hayashi H, Shiraishi T, Imai S, Tsuchitani T, Mizuta J, Nakagawa M, Fukumoto M
Primary Institution: First Department of Surgery, Shimane Medical University
Hypothesis
Is immunochemotherapy more effective than chemotherapy or immunotherapy alone for treating malignant effusion?
Conclusion
Intracavitary immunochemotherapy may be more beneficial than chemotherapy or immunotherapy alone for patients with malignant effusion.
Supporting Evidence
- 23% of patients in the chemotherapy group had tumor cells disappear.
- 36% of patients in both the immunotherapy and immunochemotherapy groups had tumor cells disappear.
- The effusion disappeared in 29% of the immunotherapy group and 43% of the immunochemotherapy group.
- The 6-month survival rate was 34% for the immunochemotherapy group.
Takeaway
This study looked at different treatments for a type of cancer fluid and found that a combination treatment worked better than just one type.
Methodology
Patients were randomly assigned to receive one of three treatment regimens: chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of both.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in patient selection and treatment assignment.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and was conducted over a limited time frame.
Participant Demographics
Patients had various types of cancer, including gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, lung, liver, and oesophageal cancers.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.048
Statistical Significance
p=0.03
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website