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PARP Inhibitors and the Challenges of Developing Ovarian Cancer TherapeuticsCancer Network interviews two prominent ovarian cancer researchers from both sides of the Atlantic on the role of PARP inhibitors and the challenges of developing ovarian cancer therapies.
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Therapeutic Implications of Molecular Subtyping for Pancreatic CancerIn this article, we review seminal articles that have evaluated the molecular architecture of pancreatic cancer. We compare the methods used and the molecular subtypes defined, and assess the predominant subgroups in order to better understand which therapies may improve patient outcomes.
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Provenge wild ride blazes trail for immunotherapyAmidst controversy, the FDA finally approved the controversial prostate cancer therapy. Hopes are high that Provenge represents the first in a long line of effective immunotherapeutics.
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Commentary (Bryan/Berek): Ovarian Cancer in Elderly WomenAs the population ages over thenext 50 years, the number ofcancer patients is expected todouble from the current 1.3 million to2.6 million, and the majority of thosepatients will be at least 75 years old.[1]Projected increases in life expectancyaccount for this change. For womenliving in industrialized countries, it isestimated that the average life span infuture decades will reach 90 years.[2]Most cancers increase in incidenceand mortality as a population ages,although the causal link between oncogenesisand senescence remainscomplex and elusive. Within the contextof an upsurge in cancer incidence,an analysis of the inequitable treatmentof older patients afflicted withcancer takes on an urgent need.
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Jonathan S. Zager, MD, on Results of Phase 3 FOCUS Trial Examining Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion in Ocular Melanoma With Hepatic MetastasesJonathan S. Zager, MD, discussed the use of percutaneous hepatic perfusion vs best alternative care for patients with hepatic-dominant ocular melanoma analyzed in the phase 3 FOCUS trial.
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Chemotherapy in Advanced Nasopharyngeal CancerChemotherapy is an integral part of treatment for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Chemotherapy can achieve long-term survival rates of up to 15% to 20%, even in patients with recurrent or metastatic disease. In
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Treatment of Midgut Neuroendocrine TumorsThis video examines current options for the treatment of midgut neuroendocrine tumors and highlights results of the NETTER-1 trial.
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Breast Cancer: New Radiation Treatment OptionsSix published randomized trials[1-6] and one meta-analysis[7] of published and unpublishedtrials have demonstrated thatbreast-conserving therapy (breast-conservingsurgery plus breast irradiation)is equivalent to mastectomy interms of survival. As a result, breastconservingtherapy is the option preferredby many women for thetreatment of early-stage breast cancer.[8] Breast irradiation followingbreast-conserving surgery is an integralpart of breast-conserving therapy.There are seven other publishedrandomized trials demonstrating thatbreast irradiation substantially reducesthe rate of local recurrence andprevents the need for subsequent mastectomy.[9-15] A recent meta-analysisalso supports the conclusion that breastcancer patients who receive breast irradiationhave improved survival.[16]
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Management of Marginal Zone LymphomaMZL comprises three different entities that require integration of clinical and pathologic features to make a diagnosis. Treatment is chosen and initiated on the basis of presentation, symptoms, and underlying subtype.
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Reassessment of Anti-CD20 Therapy in Lymphoid Malignancies: Impact, Limitations, and New DirectionsThis review will highlight the survival impact that rituximab therapy has had on major lymphoid malignancies, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. We will also discuss alternative anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies.
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Oslerian Genomics for Prostate Cancer OncologyThe great strength of the PCWG3 is the recognition that second- , third- , and fourth-line treatments offer new possibilities for extending overall survival.
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Defining the Role of Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy in Metastatic Colorectal CancerThe use of hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) chemotherapy in patientswith liver-only colorectal metastases is based on the pharmacologicprinciple that the regional administration of some drugs can lead tohigher drug concentrations at the site of the metastases and avoid systemictoxicity. Early randomized trials resulted in high response ratesbut did not lead to a survival advantage with HAI. More recent trialshave utilized improved surgical techniques and strict guidelines regardingdose reduction or cessation of HAI chemotherapy, resulting in asignificant reduction in toxicity. In patients with unresectable liver metastases,two recent European trials using HAI fluorouracil (5-FU)again failed to demonstrate an improvement in survival, but both wereplagued by a high complication rate with an associated high proportionof patients failing to receive the assigned treatment. In contrast,the preliminary results of a recent Cancer and Leukemia Group B trialdid demonstrate a survival advantage with HAI floxuridine when comparedto systemically administered 5-FU. Trials investigating the useof HAI chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting have yielded mixed results.Moreover, in light of improved response rates and overall survivalwith newer more active chemotherapeutic and novel agents, theabsolute role of HAI chemotherapy remains undefined.
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Oslerian Genomics for Prostate Cancer OncologyThe great strength of the PCWG3 is the recognition that second- , third- , and fourth-line treatments offer new possibilities for extending overall survival.
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The Role of the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in the Evaluation of the Older Cancer PatientGeriatric assessments have now been recommended as part of the standard evaluation of an older adult considering cancer therapy.
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Chemotherapy in Prostate Cancer Beyond Metastatic CRPCAlthough great therapeutic advances have been made in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, the role of systemic approaches in the management of patients outside of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer remains largely undefined.
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Oral UFT and Leucovorin in Patients With Advanced Gastric CarcinomaThirty-nine patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric carcinoma received oral UFT (tegafur and uracil) plus leucovorin. Treatment consisted of UFT 360 mg/m2/day plus leucovorin 25 mg/m2/day, given orally in divided
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Treatment of Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A ReviewGemcitabine monotherapy has been the standard of care for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer for several decades. Despite recent advances in various chemotherapeutic regimens and in the development of targeted therapies, metastatic pancreatic cancer remains highly resistant to chemotherapy.
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Commentary (Hankins)-Integrated PET-CT: Evidence-Based Review of Oncology IndicationsRecent technical advances leadingto the development of integratedpositron-emissiontomography (PET)–computed tomography(CT) have been a boon for oncologicimaging. Combining these twoimaging modalities into the same imagingunit has greatly simplified visualfusion of function (PET) andanatomic (CT) data. The popularityof this modality has resulted in over60% of all PET sales currently beingPET-CT units.
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Quality of life deficits offset benefits of preoperative rectal radiation therapyAlthough preoperative radiotherapy has been shown to improve recurrence and mortality rates in patients with rectal cancer, a quality-of-life analysis by the same researchers suggests that male sexual dysfunction and fecal incontinence may be the trade-offs for those improved outcomes
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Future Directions of Monoclonal Antibody Use in Personalized Lung Cancer TherapyWith the new direction in research and clinical trials, treating patients who most benefit from treatment with minimal toxicity will continue to be the mainstay of personalized cancer therapy.
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UFT/Leucovorin Plus Weekly Paclitaxel in the Treatment of Solid TumorsThe palliation of symptoms and improvement of quality of life are important aspects of therapy in patients with incurable metastatic cancer. This article describes the preliminary results of a phase I study of uracil and tegafur, an orally available fluorouracil (5-FU) derivative combined with oral leucovorin plus weekly intravenous paclitaxel.
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Urothelial and Kidney CancersThis management guide covers the treatment of urothelial cancers (carcinomas of the bladder, ureters, and renal pelvis) and kidney cancers (renal tumors).
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Therapeutic Radiation in Patients With a Rising Post-Prostatectomy PSA LevelI agree with Drs. Forman and Velasco that the optimal management of patients with an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level after prostatectomy remains to be determined. The broader issue, however, is optimizing the management of post-prostatectomy patients who are at risk for recurrence. Hence, the dilemma: Should we wait for a chemically apparent recurrence before instituting treatment? Or, should we, on the basis of available information, quantify the risk of recurrence and the possible side effects of therapy and determine whether or not adjuvant radiotherapy is warranted based on the risk/benefit ratio?
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Advancing CML Management Towards an Ideal Patient JourneyThe panel concludes its discussion with insights on challenges and unmet needs in the CML treatment landscape, highlighting ways to better support patients and caregivers.
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Overview of Phase I/II Pemetrexed StudiesPemetrexed (Alimta) is an antifolate that is effective in the inhibitionof multiple enzyme targets including thymidylate synthase,dihydrofolate reductase, and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyl transferase.The compound has been evaluated in several phase I trials, bothas single agent and in combination with other cytotoxic agents. Theinitial schedule selected for further investigation in phase II trials waspemetrexed 600 mg/m2 as a 10-minute infusion on day 1 every 21 days.During the subsequent phase II development, the dose of pemetrexedwas adjusted to 500 mg/m2 due to bone marrow and gastrointestinaltoxicities. The adjusted dose of pemetrexed was well tolerated throughoutthe late-phase drug development program. Preclinical evidencesuggests that pemetrexed has additive or synergistic activity when combinedwith many other clinically important anticancer agents, includinggemcitabine (Gemzar), fluorouracil, carboplatin (Paraplatin),oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), paclitaxel, and vinorelbine (Navelbine). Doselimitingtoxicities in these studies were primarily hematologic, and therewas no evidence of cumulative hematologic toxicity. During the drugdevelopment program it was discovered that supplementation with folicacid and vitamin B12 profoundly increased the tolerability ofpemetrexed. The studies discussed in this review demonstrate thatpemetrexed is well tolerated as a single agent and will be an importantcontribution to combination chemotherapy regimens.
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PARP Inhibitors in Breast Cancer: BRCA and BeyondThe aim of this article is to review the preclinical data and rationale for PARP inhibitor use in the aforementioned settings, as well as the current status of the clinical development of these agents in the treatment of breast cancer, along with future directions for research in this field.
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Irinotecan in Relapsed or Refractory Non-Hodgkin’s LymphomasBecause irinotecan (CPT-11, Camptosar) is a topoisomerase I inhibitor with a broad spectrum of antitumor clinical activity, we investigated its activity in relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHLs). Irinotecan at 300 mg/m² IV was administered every 21 days with intensive loperamide management of diarrhea.
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Is Surgery Always Necessary in Rectal Cancer?In this article, we review risks and benefits of the standard treatment approach for rectal cancer and compare standard treatment with alternative methods aimed at rectal preservation.
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UFT in Combination as Adjuvant Therapy for Breast CancerBetween 1989 and 1993, 409 evaluable patients with breast cancer have been treated with tegafur and uracil (UFT) in an adjuvant setting in two different trials. Data from both trials were reviewed in December 1995 after a
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UFT in Combination as Adjuvant Therapy for Breast CancerBetween 1989 and 1993, 409 evaluable patients with breast cancer have been treated with tegafur and uracil (UFT) in an adjuvant setting in two different trials. Data from both trials were reviewed in December 1995 after a
