GeeCee

Thanks for all the replies. I've spent the last few hours on http://www.clinicaltrials.gov but couldn't find a study that just showed Dacarbazine vs a placebo, and none that gave response rates by age group. It seems crazy to me that the baseline chemo treatment hasn't been evaluated on its own for efficacy.

I did find some studies that showed Dacarbazine on its own, but as the competitor for other drugs, however no breakdown by age and gender eg:

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00110994

Anyone know how to get the detailed results or original published paper?

either way, looking at the studies, it seems that with chemo (Bacarbazine) you are still talking a life expectancy of less than a year. Whilst if there's a response, you can expect to be progression free for a few months, the likelihood of serious adverse events is about 25%, and of other adverse events is high with a broad range of likely side effects.

Is it worth extending life by a few months, only to have those months filled with more medical complications and misery? That's the key question.

Thanks for all the replies. I've spent the last few hours on http://www.clinicaltrials.gov but couldn't find a study that just showed Dacarbazine vs a placebo, and none that gave response rates by age group. It seems crazy to me that the baseline chemo treatment hasn't been evaluated on its own for efficacy.

I did find some studies that showed Dacarbazine on its own, but as the competitor for other drugs, however no breakdown by age and gender eg:

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00110994

Anyone know how to get the detailed results or original published paper?

either way, looking at the studies, it seems that with chemo (Bacarbazine) you are still talking a life expectancy of less than a year. Whilst if there's a response, you can expect to be progression free for a few months, the likelihood of serious adverse events is about 25%, and of other adverse events is high with a broad range of likely side effects.

Is it worth extending life by a few months, only to have those months filled with more medical complications and misery? That's the key question.

Thanks for all the replies. I've spent the last few hours on http://www.clinicaltrials.gov but couldn't find a study that just showed Dacarbazine vs a placebo, and none that gave response rates by age group. It seems crazy to me that the baseline chemo treatment hasn't been evaluated on its own for efficacy.

I did find some studies that showed Dacarbazine on its own, but as the competitor for other drugs, however no breakdown by age and gender eg:

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00110994

Anyone know how to get the detailed results or original published paper?

either way, looking at the studies, it seems that with chemo (Bacarbazine) you are still talking a life expectancy of less than a year. Whilst if there's a response, you can expect to be progression free for a few months, the likelihood of serious adverse events is about 25%, and of other adverse events is high with a broad range of likely side effects.

Is it worth extending life by a few months, only to have those months filled with more medical complications and misery? That's the key question.