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Hematology Letters is a new blog for Cancer Network written by Mojtaba Akhtari, MD of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.

Collaborating scientists at the Department of Biological Engineering at MIT and the Center for Systems Biology at Harvard University have created an engineered biological system that senses and integrates multiple inputs and can precisely regulate the biology of a living cell. This type of approach could be useful to engineer anti-cancer therapies that are able to distinguish a cancer from a non-cancer cell, inducing apoptosis in the cancerous cells.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) is a voluntary program designed to assess and improve processes of care in oncology practices.

The diagnosis and therapy of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) have advanced dramatically in the past 25 years, with increasing diagnostic awareness spurred on by the discovery of plasma exchange as an effective therapy.

Ginkgo biloba, one of the oldest living tree species, is cultivated worldwide for its medicinal properties and aesthetic appeal. The leaves and seeds are used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory diseases, circulatory disorders, sexual dysfunction, and loss of hearing.

The article by Dr. George is of great use to the practicing clinician, not only in the hematology-oncology setting but also in general practice or emergency medicine.

Researchers have identified that “maintenance of global heterochromatin integrity” is a novel function of BRCA1 gene, and propose that this DNA-silencing function is linked to the role of BRCA1 as a tumor suppressor, in an article published in Nature.

CancerNetwork presents exclusive coverage from the American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) 2011 Breast Cancer Symposium. Follow the stories below and check back for more write-ups of the most important information to come out of this year's event.

Scientists at Jennerex, Inc. in San Francisco, and collaborators from University of Pennsylvania and the University of Ottawa in Canada have just engineered a poxvirus, JX-594, to selectively replicate in tumor cells that have an activated EGFR/ Ras pathway, but not in normal tissue.

Cabozantinib (cabo), formerly known as XL184, has recently shown unprecedented activity against bone metastases in prostate cancer patients in a phase II trial.

Janet Woodcock, the Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the FDA and her colleagues recently discussed the development of the U.S. BioSimilars Program in a perspective in the NEJM

The review of surgical management of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the gastrointestinal tract, authored by Huang, Poultsides, and Norton, is both comprehensive and accessible for readers of all backgrounds.

Tumors of neuroendocrine origin arising from the pancreas, luminal gastrointestinal tract, and other tissues differ greatly in their malignant potential.

On many occasions, I have been asked by colleagues or patients, “How do you do what you do?” when the topic of taking care of patients with a terminal illness comes up. So, is it possible to write about the topic of humor in oncology without seeming cynical and uncaring? Obviously I think it is.

Cancer service leaders must create the vision, embrace the change agenda, and drive the roadmap in order to make the strategic and clinical changeover to value.

Mangosteen is an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asian countries, including India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Its reddish to dark purple fruit, with white juicy edible pulp, is considered one of the best tasting tropical fruits. Mangosteen has a long history of medicinal use to treat skin infections, wounds, and dysentery; in ayurveda, it is used for inflammation, diarrhea, and cholera.

With the continuing increase in the utilization of smartphone applications (apps), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to jump on the bandwagon. The goal for the FDA is to provide accurate and up to date information for consumers and patients, partly to address the increasing number of ‘health’ applications that may not always be accurate or from reliable sources.

Using in vitro techniques and mouse models, scientists at the University of Chicago Department of Medicine and colleagues have demonstrated that downregulation of PTEN in epidermal keratinocytes predisposes skin to ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced tumorigenesis.

iKnowMed Electronic Health Record (EHR) System has received the federal government’s approval via a Complete EHR Certification. The 6.3 version of the software is owned by McKesson Specialty Care Solutions and US Oncology, and was developed by US Oncology.

In the majority of cases, hepatocellular carcinoma develops in the setting of cirrhosis. Treatment with curative intent is possible in only 20% to 25% of cases and consists of resection or liver transplantation.

There has been dramatic progress in the management of acute promyelocytic leukemia during the past three decades. Important insights into the pathogenesis of the disease have come to light and effective treatment has been developed.

In this article, we review the data surrounding the use of chemotherapy (CT) and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer.

Healthcare providers are long overdue for some in-depth help when it comes to talking with patients and families during times of personal tragedy.

In 2003, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report outlining key capabilities of an electronic health record.[1]

In their article “Liver Transplantation for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma," Drs. Hanish and Knechtle provide a cogent review of many of the issues surrounding the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a formidable challenge in the United States due to its increasing incidence, its advanced-stage presentation, and its association with chronic liver disease.[1-3]