Authors
Latest:
Endometrial Carcinoma and Precursors: Diagnosis and TreatmentThis clinically oriented text focuses on the diagnosis and management of endometrial adenocarcinoma and endometrial hyperplasia. Due to its clinical orientation, the book does not include information on the molecular basis of endometrial cancer.
Latest:
Is Radical Prostatectomy Appropriate for Very-High-Risk Prostate Cancer Patients? No.It is our opinion that surgery is inappropriate for very-high-risk prostate cancer and that a combination of EBRT and ADT should be the preferred treatment modality.
Latest:
Pituitary Adenomas: Current Methods of Diagnosis and TreatmentPituitary adenomas are benign neoplasms that can be effectively managed by a variety of therapeutic options. The clinician's goal in managing patients with these tumors should be to minimize the morbidity of each intervention used in diagnosis and treatment. Standard diagnostic interventions include MRI, hormonal assessment, and tissue diagnosis. Therapies include transsphenoidal surgery, external-beam radiotherapy, newer stereotactic irradiation techniques, and medical management. Appropriate treatment selection requires detailed knowledge of the expected outcomes and side effects of each option. Newer and perhaps less toxic treatment techniques are evolving and require further evaluation. [ONCOLOGY 11(6):791-796, 1997]
Latest:
Proton-beam therapy calls for unique skillsThe first proton-beam therapy center in Loma Linda, Calif., opened almost 20 years ago, and today six are operating in the U.S. Another center will open by the end of 2009 with several more planned in the next two years, including centers in continental Europe and the UK. A growing body of research affirms the efficacy of proton-beam therapy (see Table).
Latest:
Can HNPCC Be Diagnosed in Presymptomatic Patients?This special series on cancer and genetics is compiled and edited by Henry T. Lynch, MD, director of the Hereditary Cancer Institute and professor of medicine and chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public
Latest:
Lymphatic Mapping in the Treatment of Breast CancerDeveloped initially for the treatment of malignant melanoma, lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy have recently been introduced into the treatment of early breast cancer. In breast cancer patients, harvested
Latest:
Commentary (Barden/Daly): Surgery in the Older PatientThe elderly population in the United States increased by a factor of 11 in the past century, while the under age 65 population tripled in that same period.[1] Given that the majority of cancers occur in patients over 65 years old, there is an increasing need for surgical interventions in the elderly.
Latest:
Historical and Methodological Perspectives on Cancer Outcomes ResearchOutcomes research is the study of the net effects of the health care process on the health and well-being of individuals and populations. It encompasses a wide breadth of issues, including measurement of patient preferences and health status, broadly referred to as quality of life. Evaluation of health-related quality of life in research studies has been facilitated by the development of a number of measurement tools. In addition to general health tools, cancer-related tools are available, some of which include cancer site-specific or symptom-specific measures. Preference assessment, from the perspective of the patient or general population, is necessary to incorporate quality of life into economic analyses. Various techniques are available to assign preference values to outcomes; metrics such as quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) are then used to combine quality and quantity of life into a usable value for economic analyses. In the future, quality of life and economic measurements should be incorporated into phase III trials, effectiveness trials, and observational studies. [ONCOLOGY 9(Suppl):23-32, 1995]
Latest:
Is Imatinib Still an Acceptable First-Line Treatment for CML in Chronic Phase?Is it reasonable to start all new CML patients on treatment with imatinib alone and continue the drug indefinitely in those who fare well, or should one start treatment with one of the newer agents or possibly with imatinib in combination with another anti-CML agent in order to secure the best possible outcome for an individual patient?
Latest:
Commentary (Palesty et al)-Imatinib Mesylate: A Molecularly Targeted Therapy for Gastrointestinal Stromal TumorsDr. Eisenberg has produced anexcellent, concise, yet comprehensivereview of the evolutionof the KIT inhibitor imatinibmesylate (Gleevec) and the preoperativeand postoperative treatmentdilemmas surrounding mesenchymalgastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs), particularly in the face ofadvanced disease and recurrences. Thefocus of the article is on the naturalhistory of GISTs, from a molecularand pathobiologic perspective, toclarify the rationale for the use ofimatinib.
Latest:
OncView™ Podcast: Immunotherapy Response Monitoring in MelanomaJohn Kirkwood, MD, PhD, discussed considerations for treating patients with melanoma using immunotherapy and how to properly monitor responses.
Latest:
Liver, Gallbladder, and Biliary Tract CancersThis management guide covers the risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, staging, and treatment of liver, gallbladder, and biliary tract cancers using radiation, surgery, and medical treatment.
Latest:
New Insights Into the Immunomodulatory Effects of Exercise and Potential Impact on TumorigenesisExercise at the right dosage could provide a potent stimulus for acute changes and long-term adaptations in numerous biological pathways that influence tumorigenesis.
Latest:
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal MarginThis paper consists of a review of the literature on carcinoma of the anal margin, as well as the authors' institutional experience with this uncommon malignancy. The authors offer recommendations for treatment based on the size of the tumor, which correlates with the T-stage from the TNM or Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC) staging systems. They recommend radiation alone or local excision for T1 lesions, radiation and elective nodal irradiation for T2 lesions, and chemoradiation, including irradiation of the primary tumor and inguinal and pelvic nodes, for T3 and T4 lesions.
Latest:
Nonmyeloablative Preparative Regimens for Allogeneic Hematopoietic TransplantationHigh-dose myeloablative therapy with allogeneic hematopoietictransplantation is an effective treatment for hematologic malignancies,but this approach is associated with a high risk of complications.The use of relatively nontoxic, nonmyeloablative, or reduced-intensitypreparative regimens still allows engraftment and the generation ofgraft-vs-malignancy effects, is potentially curative for susceptiblemalignancies, and reduces the risk of treatment-related morbidity.Two general strategies along these lines have emerged, based on theuse of (1) immunosuppressive chemotherapeutic drugs, usually apurine analog in combination with an alkylating agent, and (2) lowdosetotal body irradiation, alone or in combination with fludarabine(Fludara).
Latest:
ASCO: Recent Advances in Using a “Systems Approach” in OncologyJohn Mendelsohn, president of the MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses with ONCOLOGY the recent advances in using a “systems approach” in oncology and how he believes this will affect outcomes in the future.
Latest:
The Molecular Basis of Cancer, 2nd EditionEdited by John Mendolsohn, MD, Peter M. Howley, MD, Mark A. Israel, MD, and Lance A. Liotta, MD, PhD, The Molecular Basis of Cancer is designed for students, researchers, and physicians in a variety of disciplines. It does not provide a detailed description of the clinical manifestations of human neoplasia. There is, instead, an extensive presentation of the scientific basis of cancer development and therapy. The book includes the contributions of 61 authors, virtually all of whom are recognized experts in their respective fields, from throughout the United States and Europe. The references are comprehensive and relatively current, given the lag time in going to press. The book will certainly benefit both basic scientists and clinicians alike.
Latest:
Current Issues in the Treatment of Resistant Bloodstream InfectionsBloodstream infections cause significant morbidity and mortality for patients with hematologic malignancy. Antimicrobial drugs are the most reliable currently available treatment for infection, but several issues must be
Latest:
Prostate Cancer in the Older ManMost men diagnosed with prostate cancer are more than 65 years of age. Therefore, a discussion of the issues surrounding the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of prostate cancer in older men is, in many ways, a review of
Latest:
Live Viruses in Cancer TreatmentAlthough antitumor activity and a low toxicity profile have been demonstrated for several oncolytic viruses, the development of viral therapy in cancer treatment has been limited by a lack of definitive phase III trials. The use
Latest:
Does Radiotherapy in Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer Add Value?This video reviews the conflicting data and perspectives regarding the use of radiotherapy in unresectable pancreatic cancer.
Latest:
Key Takeaways: Optimal Use of JAK Inhibitors in MF and Future Directions in CarePanelists share key takeaways on management strategies in myelofibrosis and hope for future evolutions in the treatment paradigm.
Latest:
Cytoreductive Surgery for Advanced Ovarian Cancer: Quo Vadis?This article focuses on the recent debate regarding when-or whether-patients with ovarian cancer should undergo aggressive surgical resection.
Latest:
Radioactive Iodine Overused in Papillary Thyroid CancerDespite well-established guidelines from the American Thyroid Association, radioactive iodine continues to be overused for some forms of thyroid cancer.
Latest:
Mutation-Derived Tumor Antigens: Novel Targets in Cancer ImmunotherapyBecause of the abundance of promising preclinical and early-phase clinical data, mutation-derived tumor antigens an exciting new class of targets in cancer immunotherapy.
Latest:
Docetaxel and Vinorelbine Plus GM-CSF in Malignant MelanomaPatients having locoregional or metastatic melanoma have a poorprognosis, with 50% to 100% of patients dying from the disease within5 years. Current chemotherapy regimens offer limited benefits to thesepatients, and more effective and less toxic treatments are needed. Wetherefore piloted a study of docetaxel (Taxotere), vinorelbine(Navelbine), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF, sargramostim [Leukine]), or the DVS regimen, in patientswith stage IV melanoma. Eight patients were treated after previousbiochemotherapy and two patients were given the regimen as an initialtreatment. The DVS regimen consisted of docetaxel at 40 mg/m2 IVover 1 hour, vinorelbine at 30 mg/m2 IV over 6 to 10 minutes every 14days, and GM-CSF at 250 mg/m2 SC on days 2 to 12. No grade 3 or 4toxicities were encountered. Of the 10 patients evaluable for response, 5were partial responders (50% response rate). Time to progression for the10 cases ranged from 2 to 26+ months (median: 8 months). The DVSregimen was active against advanced melanoma in both previously treatedand untreated patients. A larger study to confirm the activity of the DVSregimen for stage IV melanoma is currently under way.
Latest:
The Role of Mitoxantrone in Non-Hodgkin’s LymphomaDr. Armitage presents a succinct and thorough review of the role of mitoxantrone (Novantrone) in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). He begins by emphasizing the importance of accurate diagnosis as described in the World Health Organization classification which evolved from the Revised European American Lymphoma classification. Both of these present day classifications are based on the immunologic principles separating lymphomas into B- and T-cell disorders developed in the 1970s by Lennert, Lukes, and Collins.[1,2] His review addresses multiple issues in mitoxantrone therapy, including dose intensity, cardiotoxicity, combination therapy with nucleoside analogs in low-grade lymphomas, the impact of rituximab (Rituxan), therapy for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related lymphoma, and the role of high-dose mitoxantrone as part of a preparative regimen for autologous transplants.
Latest:
ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Borderline and Unresectable Pancreas CancerThese guidelines review the use of radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery in borderline and unresectable pancreas cancer. Radiation technique, dose, and targets were evaluated, as was the recommended chemotherapy, administered either alone or concurrently with radiation. This report will aid clinicians in determining guidelines for the optimal treatment of borderline and unresectable pancreatic cancer.
Latest:
Conservative Management of Rectal Cancer With Local Excision and Adjuvant TherapyThe article by Drs. Wagman and Minsky is an excellent overview of the history, indications, treatment considerations, and comparative results of local excision alone and local excision plus chemoradiotherapy for selected distal rectal cancers. Although the literature and experience with local excision have increased, use of the technique has probably diminished over the past decade, primarily due to the groundswell of publications that lionize total mesorectal excision with low colorectal or coloanal anastomosis for most rectal cancers, as well as our inability to stage and predict nodal involvement, even in T1 cancers.
Latest:
DLBCL Cell of Origin: What Role Should It Play in Care Today?In this article, we review the methods of determining cell of origin (COO); use of COO in clinical practice; clinical trials in DLBCL according to COO; and future directions of tailoring treatment, including alternate categorization of genetic subtypes or clusters in DLBCL.
