Researchers explore impact of obesity on outcomes of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

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Jul 26 2013International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer

Researchers find superior outcomes initially, but worse overall

Obesity increases health risks for many things. Researchers wanted to know the impact of obesity on outcomes of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. In the September issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's journal, the Journal of Thoracic Oncology (JTO), researchers conclude that obese patients had superior outcomes early on in the study, but then experienced increased hazards.

During the period from 1993 to 2004, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group enrolled 2684 patients to three phase III trials of first-line systemic chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC. At a median follow-up of 64.9 months, 2585 of the patients were declared eligible and included in this research. The patients had their body mass index (BMI) calculated. Consistent with the general population, 4.6 percent of patients were underweight, 44.1 percent were normal weight, 34.3 percent of patients were classified as overweight, and 16.9 percent were obese.

The median overall survival estimated among underweight patients was 7.0 months, among normal weight patients was 8.6 months, among overweight patients was 9.3 months and among obese patients was 11.0 months.

In multivariable models, obese patients had significantly different overall survival when compared with normal-weight and overweight patients; however, their risk of death from any cause increased dramatically once they had been on study longer than 16 months.

Researchers says, "this indicates that the protective effect of obesity in lung cancer patients is for a limited time, after which the ultimate impact of obesity on survival from all causes supersedes."

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International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer

Posted in: Medical Research News | Medical Condition News

Tags: B Cell, Body Mass Index, Body Mass Index (BMI), Cancer, Cell, Chemotherapy, Lung Cancer, Lungs, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Obesity, Oncology, Research, Small Cell Lung Cancer, T-Cell

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Belviq just went on the market

Ralph Allen says:

July 26, 2013 at 12:08 PM

A new FDA approved diet pill called Belviq just went on the market. Belviq make people more likely to succeed with weight loss since they feel full more quickly and it reduces food cravings. People who take Belviq with diet and exercise were 2 times more likely to lose 5% body weight and 3 times more likely to lose 10% body weight than the people who just did diet and exercise alone. The label states that if you do not lose 5% of your body weight in 12 weeks then consider stopping. Those that do respond in 12 (about 45% of patients) weeks go on to lose over 10% of their body weight in one year. Losing 22 pounds for a 220 pound person is life changing. So for 45% of those taking Belviq lose significant amount of weight.
Belviq has a second mode of action to reduce blood sugar which may end up preventing diabetes in many cases. Diabetics and pre-diabetics who took Belviq, regardless of weight loss, saw their blood sugar numbers drop by double digit percentages. IE HbA1c -0.9 to -1.2 and fasting glucose feel -27. The cost of medications to reduce HbA1c levels exceeds the cost of Belviq. (seeArena's BloomDM phase III trial) These reductions in diabetic symptoms plus the weight loss at the same time makes Belviq a medical bargain.

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