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Clinical Oncology - 2014;1(04)
Content
Clinical Oncology
DECEMBER 05, 2014
[Current management of GIST]
[Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs are generally resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The understanding of pathology at molecular level promised the development of novel treatment modalities. KIT and PDGFRA gene mutations play an important role in the pathogenesis of GIST. IMutational analysis should be considered as standard practice during the diagnostic work-up, since it has a predictive value for sensitivity to molecular-targeted therapy and also has prognostic value. The aim of this review is to summarize recent knowledge about diagnosis, treatment and follow up of GIST.]
Clinical Oncology
DECEMBER 05, 2014
[Bone metastases - Current treatment strategy]
[Bone is the most common site of metastatic disease in many solid tumours, mainly in breast, prostate and lung cancer. Patients with bone metastases are at risk for skeletal-related events such as bone pain, pathological fractures requiring surgery and/or radiation to bone lesions, hypercalcemia, and spinal cord compression. Skeletal-related events are major source of morbidity for cancer patients and may be associated with negative impact on quality of life and survival. Bisphosphonates inhibit osteoclast function and are widely used in the treatment of malignant bone disease, as preventive therapy against skeletal-related events. Recently, the NF-κappa B-ligand (RANKL)-mediated osteoclast activity and this pathway in bone metabolism became a prime target for the treatment of bone metastases. The fi rst drug targeting the RANK-RANKL pathway is denosumab, a fully monoclonal human antibody which binds to RANKL and inhibits osteoclast activity. Nowadays optimal treatment of bone metastases requires multidisciplinary management of patients including the administration of bone-modifying agents such bisphosphonates or denosumab. The use of bone-targeted agents is a valuable additional treatment in the fi ght against bone metastases and multiple, randomised trials have demonstrated the effectivity of these drugs in reducing skeletal morbidity caused by advanced cancer.]
Clinical Oncology
DECEMBER 05, 2014
[Immuno(onco)therapy – road to the future]
[Our immune system fi ghts effectively against infections, but the same activity exists against invading cancer cells, as well. However, malignant tumors are able to escape from these mechanisms; therefore tumor cells become unrecognizable for the immune system. Immuno-oncology is a novel and innovative discipline, focusing on a long-term purpose: to enhance the immune-response against malignancies. The main goal is to stimulate the immune system to properly recognize and destroy malignant tumor cells. This approach is comprehensive, includes the initiation of antitumor immune-response and enhancing its controlling mechanisms, moreover, provides active, anti-tumor effector cells. Recent results of anticancer research highlighted a new era of oncology, which is based on targeted, personalized medicine over cytotoxic therapies, and mainly focusing on the rapidly evolving discipline of immuno-oncology.]
Clinical Oncology
DECEMBER 05, 2014
[Tyrosine-kinase inhibitors and bisphosphonates in the treatment of metastases from renal cell carcinoma]
[Bone metastases (BMs) are common in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and approximately in 30% of patients with metastatic RCC (mRCC) will develop. Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been pursued as a therapeutic target in the treatment of metastatic clear cell RCC (mRCC). Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as sunitinib, pazopanib, sorafenib, and axitinib, became the therapy of choice for patients with mRCC. Apart from the undisputed effi cacy of TKI in treatment of mRCC, the problem of metastatic bone disease still remains. There is evidence that the presence of BMs in m-RCC patients has a signifi cant and clinically-relevant negative impact on survival and potentially on the outcome of VEGF-targeted therapy. Also, common practice in the treatment of such patients is bonedirected therapy with BPs. Recent evidence shows a potentially synergistic effect on effi cacy but also a potential impact on increased toxicity of combining TKIs and BPs. This review highlights the importance of this subject and aims to facilitate further research and optimize the treatment of this important and common group of RCC patients.]
Clinical Oncology
DECEMBER 05, 2014
[Clinical role of multigenic prognostic tests in breast cancer therapy]
[Current clinical practice for breast cancer originates in “evidence based medicine”. In this, each tumor receives a therapy optimal for a given patient population - which might not be optimal for each individual patient. Multigenic tests determining expression of a set of genes can provide additional support in this decision process. Two such tests (MammaPrint and Prosigna) have already received FDA clearance. A number of additional test are commercially available (IHC4, Oncotype DX, EndoPredict, BCI). A common property of these assays is their utility in estrogen receptor positive early breast cancer. The main clinical problem answered by them is the necessity of adjuvant chemotherapy. To date, no reliable algorithm has been identifi ed capable to pinpoint the most effective chemotherapy combination for a given patient. Furthermore, there is no trustworthy test for triple negative breast cancer. The assays utilize different technologies (immunohistochemistry, gene chips, RT-PCR) and a discrepant list of genes - these result in discordance of the predictions for the individual patient. Despite these shortcomings, multigenic tests quickly gained foothold in breast cancer therapy decision process. Their utility is supported by the cost reduction for the health care providers by lowering the number of patients eligible for chemotherapy.]
Clinical Oncology
DECEMBER 05, 2014
Clinical Oncology
DECEMBER 05, 2014
[Emergency radiotherapy in oncology]
[Emergent radiotherapy is requested in 3-5% of all malignancys either presenting as initial manifestation of an unknown tumor or due to the progression of a malignancy under treatment/follow up. In this situation high degree of suspicion, timely diagnosis and adequate treatment for tumor-related complications are crucial, in order to prevent life-threatening or disabling conditions, such as vena cava superior syndrome, spinal cord compression or increased intracranial pressure. After prompt recognition, fast diagnostics and general management are needed to achive stable status. Radiotherapy commenced in some hours can markedly reduce morbidity and mortality and affects the outcome. There are few evidences based recommendations available, but the differential approach according to the tumor type should be considered (i.e. chemotherapy for lymphomas and SCLC causing SVCS, and sugery in certain case of spinal cord compressions). Prognosis and life expectancy should be taken into account and the goals of care have to be explored during initial evaluation. For patients with poor prognosis short course irradiation must be performed with palliative dose, meanwhile in the case of longer life expectancy the fi rst fraction of emergent radiation can be continued with selective techniques up to curative doses, which may improve the survival and quality of life.]
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Clinical Neuroscience
Alexithymia is associated with cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease
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