scout

Authors

Robert S. Mannel, MD
Latest Article

Commentary (Mannel): Modern Management of Recurrent Ovarian Carcinoma

In their article, Drs. Michener andBelinson make the case for treatingrecurrent ovarian cancer as achronic disease, with limiting morbidityand providing palliation of symptomstheir major goals. A review ofrecent literature would support their contention and management strategy.The cure rate for patients with recurrentovarian cancer is < 5%, and theaverage patient in the United Statesreceives more than five separate regimensof chemotherapy for recurrentdisease. Previous attempts at aggressivetreatment for recurrent disease haveshown, at best, very modest benefitwith significant expense and morbidity.What we are left with is a strategy oftrying to determine which patients maybenefit from aggressive salvage therapyand which are better managed witha chronic palliative attempt.

Robert S. Miller, MD, FACP
Latest Article

Bone-Modifying Agents as Adjuvant Therapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

In this review we describe the current evidence for use of bisphosphonates as part of the adjuvant treatment of patients with early-stage breast cancer.

Robert Sanders, MD
Latest Article

Pediatric Cancers in the New Millennium: Dramatic Progress, New Challenges

Over the past 50 years, great strides have been made in diagnosis, treatment, and survival of childhood cancer. In the 1960s the probability of survival for a child with cancer was less than 25%, whereas today it may exceed 80%. This dramatic change has occurred through significant and steady progress in our understanding of tumor biology, creation of specialized multidisciplinary care teams, incremental improvements in therapy, establishment of specialized centers with research infrastructure to conduct pivotal clinical studies, and the evolution of a cooperative group mechanism for clinical research. Most children with cancer in the United States, Europe, and Japan receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment, although access is limited in developing countries. The price of success, however, is the growing population of survivors who require medical and psychosocial follow-up and treatment for the late effects of therapy. Here we review the progress made in pediatric oncology over the past 3 decades and consider the new challenges that face us today.

Robert Schlossman, MD
Latest Article

New Treatments for Multiple Myeloma

In 2004, multiple myeloma was diagnosed in more than 15,000 peoplein the United States and will account for approximately 20% of deathsdue to hematologic malignancies. Although traditional therapies suchas melphalan (Alkeran)/prednisone, combination chemotherapy withVAD (vincristine, doxorubicin [Adriamycin], and dexamethasone), andhigh-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation have shownsome success, median survival remains between 3 to 5 years. Treatmentoptions for patients with multiple myeloma have increased in recentyears, with the promise of improvement in survival. New agents, suchas the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade), the antiangiogenicand immunomodulator thalidomide (Thalomid) and its analogs, suchas lenalidomide (Revlimid), together with other small molecules, includingarsenic trioxide (Trisenox), and other targeted therapies, havebeen studied alone and in combination with other antineoplastic therapies,either as induction therapy prior to stem cell transplantation or inpatients with relapsed disease. Bortezomib recently was approved inthe United States for the treatment of multiple myeloma in patientswho have received at least one prior therapy. The use of bortezomibbasedregimens as front-line therapy as well as the use of other agentsin multiple myeloma remain under investigation, and approvals forboth thalidomide and lenalidomide are hoped for soon, with the overallprospect of patient outcome continuing to be increasingly positive.

Robert Suh, MD
Latest Article

Radiofrequency Ablation in Lung Cancer: Promising Results in Safety and Efficacy

Only about 15% of patients diagnosed with lung carcinoma eachyear are surgical candidates, either due to advanced disease orcomorbidities. The past decade has seen the emergence of minimallyinvasive therapies using thermal energy sources: radiofrequency,cryoablation, focused ultrasound, laser, and microwave; radiofrequencyablation (RFA) is the best developed of these. Radiofrequency ablationis safe and technically highly successful in terms of initial ablation.Long-term local control or complete necrosis rates drop considerablywhen tumors are larger than 3 cm, although repeat ablations can beperformed. Patients with lung metastases tend to fare better with RFlung ablation than those with primary lung carcinoma in terms of localcontrol, but it is unclear if this is related to smaller tumor size at time oftreatment, lesion size uniformity, and sphericity with lung metastases,or to differences in patterns of pathologic spread of disease. The effectsof RFA on quality of life, particularly dyspnea and pain, as well aslong-term outcome studies are generally lacking. Even so, the resultsregarding RF lung ablation are comparable to other therapies currentlyavailable, particularly for the conventionally unresectable or high-risklung cancer population. With refinements in technology, patient selection,clinical applications, and methods of follow-up, RFA will continueto flourish as a potentially viable stand-alone or complementarytherapy for both primary and secondary lung malignancies in standardand high-risk populations.

Robert T. Croyle, PhD
Latest Article

Emotional and Behavioral Responses to Genetic Testing for Susceptibility to Cancer

As genetic testing for susceptibility to cancer becomes more widely available, cancer-care providers will become more involved in counseling patients about cancer risks and the meaning of genetic test results. As a result, oncologists and oncology nurses need to be aware of the unique psychological issues and challenges posed by genetic testing for cancer susceptibility. This paper first describes a psychological profile of individuals who are likely to opt for such testing, based on extrapolation from studies of people at high risk of cancer.

Robert T. Heelan, MD
Latest Article

The Radiologic Appearance of Lung Cancer

The article by O'Donovan discusses the radiologic appearance of lung cancer, with particular emphasis on the radiographic appearance and work-up of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs).

Robert Talac, MD, PhD
Latest Article

Clinical Status of Laparoscopic Bowel Surgery for GI Malignancy

Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal malignancy is an important topic because of its potential advantages and its oncologic controversies. Drs. Wexner and Hwang have prepared a comprehensive review of the current status of laparoscopic colorectal surgery for malignancy. The relative merits of the new procedure are discussed from a number of perspectives, including the technical aspects of laparoscopic bowel resection, oncologic concerns, and experimental and theoretical effects on tumor growth and host immunity.

Robert Thompson, MD
Latest Article

Commentary (Thompson): Update on Radiation Therapy for Endometrial Cancer

Dr. Grigsby does an excellent job of summarizing the accepted, stage-by-stage treatment recommendations as well as the controversies surrounding the treatment of endometrial carcinoma. This review is both important and timely, as we have seen the incidence of endometrial cancer increase over the past few years to the point where it is now the most common gynecologic malignancy.

Robert Vescio, MD
Latest Article

BMT for Severe Autoimmune Diseases: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

The article by Dr. Burt provides an excellent summary of the rationale for using high-dose therapy with autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in patients with severe autoimmune diseases (SADS). The article also describes the approach to BMT adopted by Dr. Burt and colleagues at Northwestern University. Enthusiasm for this form of therapy has been contagious, and numerous US investigators have initiated similar trials, which are outlined in Table 1 of the article.

Robert W. Beart, Jr, MD
Latest Article

Role of Laparoscopy in the Staging of Gastrointestinal Cancer

Accurate staging plays a primary role in determining the appropriate treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies. Recently, laparoscopy has emerged as a staging modality that is more sensitive and specific in staging most

Robert W. Carlson, MD
Latest Article

mTOR Inhibitors in the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Efforts to identify clinical biomarkers of response or resistance to mTOR inhibitors are ongoing. This review will summarize results of preclinical and clinical studies as well as ongoing clinical trials with mTOR or dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors.

Robert W. Morgan, MD
Latest Article

Risk of Endometrial Cancer After Tamoxifen Treatment

A total of 18 studies have been published concerning the possible relationship of tamoxifen to endometrial

Robert W. Reagan, Jr, MD
Latest Article

Intravesical Therapy for Superficial Bladder Cancer

The intravesical instillation of therapeutic agents for the treatment of localized bladder cancer began in 1903 when Herring[1] summarized his experience with silver nitrate. Since then, intravesical chemotherapy and immunotherapy have emerged as

Robert W. Ross, MD
Latest Article

Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer: Choosing the Appropriate Treatment Option

Hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRCaP) is both heterogeneous and lethal. Multiple treatment options exist, including secondary hormonal manipulations, chemotherapy, experimental options, and best supportive care. Choosing the appropriate therapy for an individual patient depends on several important clinical factors such as the presence or absence of symptomatic metastatic disease, age and comorbidities, and prostate-specific antigen velocity. While only docetaxel (Taxotere)-based chemotherapy has been proven to improve survival in this setting, a wide range of therapies may be effective for any individual. Palliative maneuvers, such as external-beam radiation, bisphosphonate therapy, radiopharmaceuticals, and pain management are critical for appropriate patient management. Several promising novel therapies are in late-stage testing and will hopefully provide more treatment options for these patients.

Robert W. Veltri, PhD
Latest Article

Molecular Staging of Prostate Cancer: Dream or Reality?

The promise of using reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technology for the detection of circulating prostate cancer cells in peripheral blood, although technically feasible at the molecular level, has proven clinically impractical for routine implementation in patient management. Reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction has been successfully applied to detect and quantify (relatively speaking) genes that are differentially expressed in cells and tissues obtained from patients during various stages of malignant growth. In addition, the method has been applied to the detection of circulating cancer cells in peripheral blood using highly specific primer sets for specific molecular targets. These include epithelial cell cytokeratins for breast cancer, as well as enzymes, such as tyrosinase for melanoma and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) for prostate cancer, using either nonnested or nested methodologies.

Robert Y. Kim, MD
Latest Article

Advances in the Treatment of Gynecologic Malignancies

Over the past few decades, we have gained a better understanding of the risk factors associated with the recurrence of endometrial cancer. Adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy in an intermediate-risk group of

Robert Yarchoan, MD
Latest Article

AIDS Malignancies in the Era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

A dramatic spike in the incidence of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) in never-married men in New York and California in 1981 was one of the first indications of a new disease now known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We now appreciate a number of mechanisms by which human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection contributes to the pathogenesis of these tumors. The article by Drs. Gates and Kaplan provides an excellent review of changes in the epidemiology, presentation, and treatment of these tumors since the development of potent combination anti-HIV therapy.

Robert Zaiden, MD
Latest Article

Improving the Therapeutic Ratio in Hodgkin Lymphoma Through the Use of Proton Therapy

This review addresses the rationale and evidence for-and the challenges, cost implications, and future development of-proton therapy as an important part of the treatment strategy in Hodgkin lymphoma.

Roberta J. Shapiro, MBA
Latest Article

Economic and Quality of Life Outcomes: Managed Care Perspectives

A variety of economic factors have created a growing demand for health care reform and the rapid expansion of managed care plans. Absence of a clear, commonly accepted definition of managed care constitutes one of the

Roberta L. Buell, MBA
Latest Article

The 340b Drug Discount Program: Oncology's Optical Illusion

The historical rationale for the 340b program is a good one: indigent patients do need reliable access to prescription drugs, and entities meeting this need should be supported. However, the evolution of the 340b program has strayed widely from its original intent.

Roberto De La Peña-Lopez, MD
Latest Article

Biphenotypic Extramedullary Blast Crisis of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia With Variant Philadelphia Chromosome Translocation

A 45-year-old man with a known history of rheumatic fever and aortic valve replacement 15 years earlier presented with the chief complaint of a 1-month history of progressive, intense, nonmechanical lumbar pain.

Roberto Lewis-Fernández, MD
Latest Article

Mini Quiz: Motivational Pharmacotherapy

Learn about what motivational pharmacology is and is not in this quiz.

Roberto Pacelli, MD
Latest Article

Principles of Chemoradiation: Theoretical and Practical Considerations

Chemotherapy agents known to enhance the effects of radiation in preclinical studies have been used concurrently with radiotherapy in numerous clinical trials with the prospect of further enhancing radiation-induced

Roberto Pili, MD
Latest Article

Is This a True Renaissance for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer?

The article by Rove et al represents a comprehensive review of the recent clinical advances in the treatment of metastatic, castrate-refractory prostate cancer. The therapeutic armamentarium for the treatment of prostate cancer remains limited compared to other malignancies, such as breast cancer. It took approximately 14 years after mitoxantrone data emerged for us to see the approval of another chemotherapy agent, docetaxel. The successful outcome of recent clinical trials confirms that true advancement in prostate cancer treatment can be achieved by rational and rigorous clinical testing, but participation in prostate cancer clinical trials remains low, especially participation by African-American patients. Research study enrollment should be a high priority for those health care professionals who treat this disease.

Robin Buerki, MD, MPH
Latest Article

Management of Leptomeningeal Disease From Solid Tumors

Metastasis of solid tumors to the cerebrospinal fluid is a serious complication of cancer. Although it can occur with any type of cancer, tumors with a high propensity for CNS involvement (brain metastases) are the most likely to spread to the cerebrospinal fluid.

Robin Green, MSN, RN
Latest Article

Intraperitoneal Drug Delivery for Ovarian Cancer: Why, How, Who, What, and When?

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) spreads prominently within the peritoneal cavity. In fact, we now know that high-grade serous cancers are often of tubal origin, and their presentation as tubo-ovarian masses renders it likely that intraperitoneal spread occurs as an early event in their clinical evolution.

Robin Kate Kelley, MD
Latest Article

Mutated ras as a Predictor of Response: Is It Ready for the Clinic?

Preliminary results from two trials presented at the 44th Annual Meeting of ASCO in Chicago have consolidated the role of K-ras as a biomarker of nonresponse to cetuximab and panitumumab in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The phase III CRYSTAL and OPUS trials presented unplanned subgroup analyses of the correlation of K-ras status with response to therapy with first-line FOLFIRI or FOLFOX, respectively, with or without cetuximab in patients with mCRC. Both studies demonstrated a clear benefit with the addition of cetuximab in K-ras WT patients.

Robin L. Hornung, MD, MPH
Latest Article

School Skin Cancer Programs Evolving to Include Computers

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the United States, with approximately 1 million cases being diagnosed in 1997.[1] Of these cases, more than 40,000 will be classified as malignant melanoma, the most serious and aggressive form of skin cancer.[1] The worldwide incidence of melanoma is increasing more rapidly than any other form of cancer, and has shown an increase of about 4% per year in the United States.[1,2]

Robin Matsuyama, PhD
Latest Article

Giving Honest Information to Patients With Advanced Cancer Maintains Hope

Oncologists often do not give honest prognostic and treatment-effect information to patients with advanced disease, trying not to “take away hope.” The authors, however, find that hope is maintained when patients with advanced cancer are given truthful prognostic and treatment information, even when the news is bad.
Contact Info

259 Prospect Plains Rd, Bldg H
Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-716-7777

Brand Logo

© 2025 MJH Life Sciences®

All rights reserved.

Home
About Us
News
Contact Us