ONCOLOGY Vol 14 No 6

This article details both the contribution of the purine nucleoside analogs to the current management of relapsed indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and the role of pentostatin (Nipent) in that management. Of the three

Cross-sectional imaging of the abdomen in oncology patients presents unique challenges and opportunities. A close working relationship between the oncologist and radiologist is essential for the exchange of the clinical and

AstraZeneca has announced the launch of a new website that will help keep researchers and physicians up to date on

A common blood protein test can predict which breast cancer patients are at risk for recurrence after mastectomy. The test may eventually help direct treatment decisions, speculate researchers from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at

FeRx Incorporated, a privately held development stage drug delivery company, recently reported encouraging data from its phase I/II clinical trial of doxorubicin adsorbed to magnetic targeted carriers (MTC-DOX), for the treatment of patients with

The American Cancer Society’s translation of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines

A relatively simple technique, pioneered by a North Carolina physician, can distinguish between patients who can metabolize docetaxel (Taxotere) normally and those who need to receive lower doses for safety, according to a recent study. Researchers

Pentostatin (Nipent) is a nucleoside analog that inhibits the activity of the enzyme adenosine deaminase. Inhibition of adenosine deaminase blocks the deamination of adenosine to inosine and deoxyadenosine to deoxyinosine in the purine

The results of a new study demonstrate that one-third of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who are

Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D CRT) is more effective yet costs no more than conventional radiation therapy in the long-term treatment of prostate cancer, according to a study conducted at Fox Chase Cancer Center in

Cancer treatment–related fatigue, the most prevalent and debilitating side effect of chemotherapy, has a significant impact on the economic well-being of patients and their caregivers, according to a national survey of more than 300 cancer patients. The

Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer may benefit from therapy with the oral anticancer agent capecitabine

The perception is that it is normally Democrats who support price controls; that is why Sen. Slade Gorton (R-WA), who

Weighing in unambiguously on the controversy over the National Institutes of Health (NIH) consensus statement on

Physicians have long known that male hormones fuel prostate cancer growth. That’s why therapies that block the production of androgen-or testosterone-provide some of the most effective therapies for advanced prostate cancer. Certain drugs, for

Long known to be instrumental in fueling the growth of breast cancer, estrogen may spur the same process in lung cancer, according to the findings of a University of Pittsburgh study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for

Accurate imaging of the hepatic and extrahepatic abdomen is an important component of the management of many patients with cancer. Historically, clinicians have relied on computed tomography (CT). The use of intravenous (IV) and oral contrast

This is a comprehensive 701-page volume filled with excellent illustrations, photographs, tables, and schematics. The overall structure of the book takes the reader from molecular oncology issues through pathology, diagnosis, staging, treatment, and a

Medicare has made some changes in how it will calculate payments to outpatient cancer clinics when the new

With worldwide use of cellular phones rising exponentially, a team of Swedish medical investigators is raising renewed concerns about the link between brain tumors and cell phones in a new, peer-reviewed article posted on the Medscape

Each year close to 600,000 women undergo a hysterectomy in the United States.[1] Although the number of these

In his excellent review, Dr. Mitsuyasu correctly highlights the three most important ingredients that play a role in the pathogenesis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS)-Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus/human herpesvirus type 8 (KSHV/HHV-8); altered expression and response to cytokines; and stimulation of KS growth by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 trans-activating protein, Tat. Recent studies have provided tremendous insight into the process whereby KSHV/HHV-8 creates the inflammatory-angiogenic state that characterizes KS.

Drs. Mark Singer and Eric Blom revolutionized the process of speech rehabilitation following total laryngectomy with their introduction of the tracheoesophageal puncture and insertion of a duck bill prosthesis.[1-5] The physiologic principles of the procedure are obvious, the surgical technique is simple, and the results in terms of fluent speech production are immediate and quite satisfactory. Dr. Blom is to be complimented for providing in this article, a succinct summary of the “current methods” available for speech rehabilitation for a patient facing total laryngectomy.

Heidelberger and associates[1] synthesized fluorouracil (5-FU) in 1957 after observing that rat hepatomas utilized radiolabeled uracil more avidly than malignant tissues. For the past 40 years, 5-FU has been extensively investigated in various schedules, in combination with biochemical modulators, and for a variety of malignancies.[2]

Dr. Mitsuyasu has been doing clinical research in patients with AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, and his review reflects this breadth of experience. It provides a well-rounded and up-to-date assessment of the pathophysiology, evaluation, and treatment of AIDS-related KS that should be a useful guide for practicing physicians.

In his article, Dr. Mitsuyasu concisely reviews a large body of data concerning the etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, and treatment of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) in the setting of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. As he correctly points out, effective highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), with its consequent improvements in immune function and decrease in production of viral and cytokine cofactors that promote KS growth, has been partly responsible for the decline of KS incidence in areas with ready access to HIV therapy.

Damjanov and Meropol review the status of several oral fluoropyrimidine drugs that are currently undergoing clinical testing for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Meta-analysis indicates an 8% improvement in the overall response rate and a survival advantage of 0.8 months with infusional vs bolus fluorouracil (5-FU)-arguably small differences. The incidence of grade 3-4 diarrhea, mucositis, and myelosuppression is < 10% with infusional 5-FU, although hand-foot syndrome is commonly associated with this therapy. The prevailing strategy for the development of oral 5-FU drugs employs multiple daily dosing for periods of 2 to 4 weeks followed by a 1- or 2-week break in order to mimic the protracted infusional schedule.UFT

Total laryngectomy is the surgical procedure traditionally used to treat patients with advanced-stage cancer of the larynx. The impairments resulting from removal of such a small organ are, indeed, profound. They include

Managing the infectious complications associated with pentostatin (Nipent), used alone or in combination with other agents in patients with low-grade lymphomas, poses a significant problem for clinicians. Since there is limited

Both pentostatin (Nipent) and rituximab (Rituxan) have single-agent activity in B-cell malignancies, including indolent and intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Pentostatin is also active in pretreated patients