ONCOLOGY Vol 10 No 3

Xerostomia during and following a course of head and neck irradiation profoundly impacts the quality of life of many patients. Xerostomia not only affects mucous membranes and teeth but also interferes with patient comfort,

Improved understanding of the underlying biologic mechanisms that pertain to radiation oncology is providing an explanation for the cellular and tissue responses to ionizing radiation and is leading to the potential for novel

In an attempt to improve the grave prognosis associated with the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, researchers have explored a number of novel therapies. These include hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, radiopharmaceuticals, and novel chemotherapeutic agents.

his article discusses the costs and benefits of mammographic screening in the workplace. The cost of mammography itself and of diagnostic work-up are two of the largest costs involved.

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.

The hormone somatostatin may be effective in treating some patients with pancreatic cancer, new research suggests. Studies conducted in mice and in laboratory samples found that pancreatic tumors responded to somatostatin only if the tumor cells had receptors for the hormone.