Authors
Latest:
Docetaxel/Doxorubicin/Cyclophosphamide in the Treatment of Metastatic Breast CancerPreliminary results from phase I trials suggest that the use of docetaxel (Taxotere) and doxorubicin (Adriamycin) is a well tolerated and highly active combination regimen for
Latest:
Other Fluorinated Pyrimidines in the Treatment of Solid TumorsResearchers, primarily in Japan, Europe, and the United States, have evaluated several new fluorinated pyrimidines in recent years. Most of these drugs are orally active prodrugs of fluorouracil (5-FU), and some also
Latest:
Treatment of Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: Past, Present, and FutureBruce Culliney and colleagues have provided a thorough and well written summary of the literature regarding multimodality treatment of patients with locoregionally advanced or unresectable head and neck malignancies. In particular, they offer a detailed outline of recent insights into radiation dosing and fractionation and their optimal use in the combined-modality setting.
Latest:
Current Clinical Trials of Molecularly Targeted Agents in Children With Cancer, Part 2A number of molecularly targeted agents directed at critical cell survival and cell proliferation pathways have recently entered clinical evaluation in children with cancer. These agents offer the potential for more effective anticancer therapy while simultaneously diminishing acute and long-term toxic effects. Systematic evaluations of targeted agents are essential to achieving continued improvements in outcome for children with cancer. Brief summaries of the rationale for conducting studies of several agents in children are provided below. Following these summaries is a listing of phase I, phase I/II, phase II, and pilot studies of these and other agents in pediatric populations.
Latest:
Provocative Pearls in Diagnosing and Treating Acute Promyelocytic LeukemiaThe treatment of APL in the modern era is a success of modern hematology. In this review we have attempted to plant the seeds of understanding regarding how diagnosis and treatment of APL will be pursued over the next decade.
Latest:
Promising First-Line Therapeutic Approaches for Adult Patients With AMLEytan Stein, MD, considers promising, new therapeutic options for adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
Latest:
The Health Economics of Palliative CareOften, Congressional financing of programs can be secured only with indirect arguments. In the 1950s, the Eisenhower administration convinced Congress to fund the interstate highway system by claiming it was essential to enable Americans to evacuate cities in case of a nuclear attack by the Soviet Union. In the 1970s, advocates trying to persuade Congress to pay for dialysis argued that the procedure would be inexpensive, and that people would return to work and pay for themselves. Similarly, in the early 1980s, proponents of hospice advocated Medicare coverage because it was cheaper and better care for the dying.
Latest:
Commentary (Cohen/Vokes): Gene Therapy for Head and Neck CancersThis issue of Oncology features an excellent review of gene therapy for head and neck cancers. Lamont and colleagues have highlighted the principles of genetic intervention, the current state of available therapies, and the results of human trials in an organized and coherent manner.
Latest:
The Impact of Molecular Testing on Treatment of Cancer of Unknown Primary OriginThe preponderance of data support the accuracy of molecular assay diagnoses in about 80% to 90% of patients with known advanced primary cancers and in patients with cancer of unknown primary origin.
Latest:
Efficiency of In Vivo Purging With Rituximab Followed by High-Dose Therapy With Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation in B-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas: A Single-Institution StudyHigh-dose therapy (HDT) with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation is a treatment option for patients with advanced follicular, marginal, and mantle cell lymphoma. In this setting, frequent contamination of peripheral blood stem cell harvests by
Latest:
Radiotherapy Versis Chemotherapy as ConsolidativeTreatment for Stage IIIB-IV Hodgkin’s Disease in First Complete Remission or Good Partial Response: A Study of 559 Patients (H89 Protocol)The role of radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy in advanced-stage Hodgkin’s disease remains controversial.
Latest:
2 Cycles of ABVD Plus Radiotherapy Is More Effective Than Radiotherapy Alone in Early Stage HD-Interim Ahan Radiotherapy Alone in Early Stage HD-Interim Analysis of the HD7 Trial of the GHSG Clinic of Internal Medicine I University of Cologne/GermanyBACKGROUND: Extended-field radiotherapy is effective in patients with early-stage Hodgkin’s disease, and more than
Latest:
Thyroid and Parathyroid CancersThis management guide of endocrine malignancies covers the risk factors, diagnosis, screening, and treatment of both thyroid and parathyroid cancers.
Latest:
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Non-Hodgkin’s LymphomaHigh-dose myeloablative therapy with autologous or allogeneicstem cell rescue is an effective treatment strategy for non-Hodgkin’slymphoma (NHL), but NHL is much less likely to stay in remission afteran autologous transplant than after an allogeneic transplant. Thebenefit of undergoing an autologous transplant earlier in the course ofthe disease, especially for patients who present with intermediate orhigh scores on the International Prognostic Index of risk factors, is stillunclear. The addition of immunotherapy, biologic modifiers, andantibody therapy such as rituximab (Rituxan) or radiolabeled antibodyto the autologous transplant are approaches undergoing evaluation.Historically, there has been a high regimen-related mortality rateassociated with myeloablative allogeneic transplant that has made thisapproach a less appealing option for therapy. The use of nonmyeloablativeallogeneic transplants as treatment for NHL is less well studiedand remains to be defined.
Latest:
Neuraxial Infusion in the Management of Cancer PainPain due to malignancy can be controlled through simple means in most patients. In certain refractory cases, however, the chronic delivery of analgesics to the epidural or subarachnoid space may be appropriate. This review
Latest:
Activity of Rituximab in Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphomas (MALT Type)This phase II study aimed to evaluate the tolerability and activity of the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab (Rituxan) in patients with either untreated or relapsed biopsy-proven extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type, with measurable or evaluable disease.
Latest:
Relapsed Follicular Lymphoma: Response to a Fludarabine/Mitoxantrone Regimen and the Monoclonal Anti-CD20 Antibody RituximabOur objective was to determine the efficacy of a fludarabine (Fludara)/mitoxantrone (Novantrone) regimen combined with the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab (Rituxan) to induce clinical and molecular remissions in patients with relapsed
Latest:
Relapsed Follicular Lymphoma: Response to a Fludarabine/Mitoxantrone Regimen and the Monoclonal Anti-CD20 Antibody RituximabOur objective was to determine the efficacy of a fludarabine (Fludara)/mitoxantrone (Novantrone) regimen combined with the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab (Rituxan) to induce clinical and molecular remissions in patients with relapsed
Latest:
Treatment for Advanced Melanoma: New Drugs, New Opportunities, New ChallengesRemarkably, within 2 years of the introduction of ipilimumab and vemurafenib into the clinic, major new advances have been reported in both the immune checkpoint blockade and small-molecule kinase inhibition arenas.
Latest:
Encouraging Improvement in Cytopenias of Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndromes With ThalidomideMyelodysplastic syndrome patients present with variable cytopenias even though their bone marrows are generally hypercellular. Excessive cytokine-induced apoptosis of hematopoietic cells in the marrows has been proposed as a possible
Latest:
Immunotherapeutic Approaches Have the Potential to Brighten the Future Not Only for Patients With del(17p13.1), but for All CLL PatientsMost cases the clinical management of CLL patients with del(17p13.1) poses enormous challenges, and patients should be included in clinical trials whenever possible. However, there are a number of promising novel drugs and immunotherapy strategies under investigation.
Latest:
Allogeneic Transplantation for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in the Age of Novel Treatment StrategiesThe aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on HSCT in CLL and to discuss critically its role in the age of novel treatment strategies.
Latest:
Alternatives to Oral Opioids for Cancer PainAlthough the optimal route of administration of opioids is by mouth, some patients may require alternative routes during the course of their illnesses for several reasons. These include bowel obstruction, severe emesis, or severe
Latest:
How to Address Sexual Problems in Female Cancer PatientsSexual health is an important aspect of human life, and cancer does not (and should not) change that. Data suggest that issues related to sexual function are quite common among women treated for cancer. However, clinicians often spend little to no time on the topic.
Latest:
Commentary (Giaccone/Barlesi): Perspectives on Salvage Therapy for Non–Small-Cell Lung CancerCappuzzo and colleagues havereviewed the present optionsof salvage therapy for advancednon–small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC). This issue is highly relevantnowadays, as many patients whofail palliative chemotherapy are stillin sufficiently good condition to receiveadditional therapy. It is ratherinstructive to note that 10 years agothe use of systemic chemotherapy foradvanced NSCLC was advocated butstill not standard, and today we haveseveral options for treating patients inthe second- and even third-line setting.Among these options are agents thatspecifically target molecular featuresof lung cancer, such as the epidermalgrowth factor receptor (EGFR)
Latest:
Colorectal Cancer Surgical Practice GuidelinesThe Society of Surgical Oncology surgical practice guidelines focus on the signs and symptoms of primary cancer, timely evaluation of the symptomatic patient, appropriate preoperative evaluation for extent of disease, and role of the surgeon in
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 (Tahn/Khuri): Second-Line Treatment of Small-Cell Lung CancerSmall-cell lung cancer (SCLC)poses one of the greatest managementchallenges in clinicaloncology, as the mortality rate approaches95% within 2 years afterpresentation for patients with extensivedisease, despite widespread useof combination chemotherapy.[1]Given a disease that is largely managedby the community physician andfor which recent definitive clinicaltrials are relatively scarce,[2] it isincumbent upon the clinician to becognizant of the critical factors innostudies suggesting that three-drugcombinations are indicated.
Latest:
Lung Cancer in the Elderly: What’s Age Got to Do With It?The review by Dr. Chiappori and colleagues in this issue of ONCOLOGY addresses an important challenge relating to the optimal management of elderly patients with lung cancer. The authors provide an excellent overview of the data in patients with various stages of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). They also highlight the limitations of the existing data in the management of elderly NSCLC patients.
Latest:
Does Neck Stage Predict Local Control After Irradiation for Head and Neck Cancer?The paper by Mendenhall et al addresses a very debatable issue, ie, the influence of nodal stage on local control for head and neck carcinomas treated by radiotherapy. The paper is well written and appropriately referenced, and the authors fairly conclude that, based on currently available data, nodal stage has no clear impact on the probability of primary local control after radiotherapy.
