The role of carboplatin in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment of triple negative breast cancer
Triple negative breast (TNBC) cancer constitutes a heterogeneous group of disease with histologic and molecular differences. Complete pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in TNBC is associated with improved outcomes. Efforts have been made in identifying drug combinations that will increase the response rate to preoperative chemotherapy. In this review we present recent studies that have incorporated carboplatin (Cb) in the NACT of TNBC. We discuss the homologous recombination deficiency score and the somatic or germline mutation for BRCA as potential biomarkers for future selection of patients that could...
Source: Oncology Reviews - March 3, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
An updated review of cribriform carcinomas with emphasis on histopathological diagnosis and prognostic significance
Cribriform is a histopathological term used to describe a neoplastic epithelial proliferation in the form of large nests perforated by many quite rounded different-sized spaces. This growth pattern may be seen in carcinomas arising in different organs, and shows important prognostic implications. Therefore, recent data in literature suggest that cribriform carcinoma is a histologically and clinically distinctive type of tumour that should be separated from other similar tumour types. In this article, the pathology of cribriform adenocarcinoma of the prostate, lung, breast, stomach, colon, thyroid, and skin is discussed wit...
Source: Oncology Reviews - March 3, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Paradoxical role of high mobility group box 1 in glioma: a suppressor or a promoter?
Gliomas represent 60% of primary intracranial brain tumors and 80% of all malignant types, with highest morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although glioma has been extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms underlying its pathology remain poorly understood. Clarification of the molecular mechanisms involved in their development and/or treatment resistance is highly required. High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is a nuclear protein that can also act as an extracellular trigger of inflammation, proliferation and migration, through receptor for advanced glycation end products and toll like receptors in a number of ca...
Source: Oncology Reviews - March 3, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Genetics and epigenetics of myelodysplastic syndromes and response to drug therapy: new insights
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of hematologic neoplasms ocurring mostly in the elderly. The clinical outcome of MDS patients is still poor despite progress in treatment approaches. About 90% of patients harbor at least one somatic mutation. This review aimed to assess the potential of molecular abnormalities in understanding pathogenesis, prognosis, diagnosis and in guiding choice of proper therapy in MDS patients. Papers related to this topic from 2000 to 2016 in PubMed and Scopus databases were searched and studied. The most common molecular abnormalities were TET2, ASXL1 as well as molecules i...
Source: Oncology Reviews - December 14, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Hypertension and angiotensin system inhibitors in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Arterial hypertension (HTN) is a class effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies, including the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab. Data are conflicting regarding the role of the renin-angiotensin system on angiogenesis and recent data suggest that the use of angiotensin system inhibitors (ASIs; angiotensin receptor blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) is associated with improved survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), particularly when used with VEGF targeted therapies. The aim of this review is to discuss the available treatment options for mRCC and associated incidence ...
Source: Oncology Reviews - November 24, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Urinary bladder cancer: biomarkers and target therapy, new era for more attention
Currently, bladder cancer (BCa) evaluation depends mainly on traditional clinicopathological parameters encompassing tumor stage and grade, which will not reflect the behavior of the disease. Diverse molecular alterations are responsible for the heterogeneous course. The differences in molecular pathogenesis between non-invasive BCa and invasive BCa have been recognized. Molecular biomarkers are promising to predict progression and survival. The management of advanced BCa remains somewhat primitive in comparison with other more common malignancies. This topic will discuss the molecular pathways, biomarkers and potential ta...
Source: Oncology Reviews - October 10, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Breast ductal carcinoma in situ: a literature review of adjuvant hormonal therapy
This review paper analyzed publications of adjuvant tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitor use following surgery for breast ductal carcinomain situ (DCIS). Key endpoint analyses were risk of invasive and noninvasive malignancies and new contralateral breast cancers. Meta-analysis of three studies showed a relative risk of 0.69 (95% confidence interval, 0.60-0.79, P<0.05) for breast malignancies with tamoxifen treatment in a mixed radiotherapy treatment/na ïve cohort. Subgroup analysis of DCIS populations in multiple studies showed a trend to benefit with aromatase inhibitor treatment. (Source: Oncology Reviews)
Source: Oncology Reviews - October 10, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Bone marrow blood vessels: normal and neoplastic niche
This study will review the role of blood vessels in normal bone marrow hematopoiesis as well as pathological conditions like leukemia and metastasis. Relevant literature was identified by a Pubmed search (1992-2016) of English-language papers using the termsbone marrow, leukemia, metastasis, andvessel. Given that blood vessels are conduits for the transfer of nutrients, they create a favorable situation for cancer cells and cause their growth and development. On the other hand, blood vessels protect leukemia cells against chemotherapy drugs. Finally, it may be concluded that the vessels are an important factor in the devel...
Source: Oncology Reviews - October 10, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
A novel role of lamins from genetic disease to cancer biomarkers
Lamins are the key components of the nuclear lamina and by virtue of their interactions with chromatin and binding partners act as regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation. Of late, the diverse roles of lamins in cellular processes have made them the topic of intense debate for their role in cancer progression. The observations about aberrant localization or misexpression of the nuclear lamins in cancerous tissues have often led to the speculative role of lamins as a cancer risk biomarker. Here we discuss the involvement of lamins in several cancer subtypes and their potential role in predicting the tumor progr...
Source: Oncology Reviews - October 10, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Targeting hepatocellular carcinoma: what did we discover so far?
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasingly considered an issue of global importance. Its rates of incidence and mortality have been markedly increasing over the last decades. Among risk factors, some should be highlighted, namely the infections by hepatitis B and C virus, as well as clinical cases of cirrhosis. HCC is characterized as asymptomatic disease in the initial stages which most often leads to a late diagnosis. At molecular and genetic level HCC represents a highly complex tumor entity, including a wide variety of mutations, thus accounting for different mechanisms of resistance towards therapeutic approaches....
Source: Oncology Reviews - October 10, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
How grim is pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic ductal carcinoma continues to be the most lethal malignancy with rising incidence. It is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the western world due to its low treatment success rate. In addition, because of its rapid growth and silent course, diagnosis is often only established in the advanced stages. As one of the most aggressive malignancies, the treatment of this disease is a great challenge to clinicians. This paper reviewed the natural history of pancreatic cancer, the current clinical practice and the future in pancreatic cancer management. (Source: Oncology Reviews)
Source: Oncology Reviews - April 15, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Contemporary treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma
The introduction of targeted therapy has revolutionized the treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). The current standard of care focuses on the inhibition of angiogenesis through the targeting of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Over the past few years, research exploring novel targeted agents has blossomed, leading to the approval of various targeted therapies. Furthermore, results from the CheckMate025 and the METEOR trials have brought about two additional novel options: the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) checkpoint inhibitor...
Source: Oncology Reviews - April 15, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Progress in treatment of viral infections in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
In children, the most commonly encountered type of leukemia is acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). An important source of morbidity and mortality in ALL are viral infections. Even though allogeneic transplantations, which are often applied also in ALL, carry a recognized risk for viral infections, there are multiple factors that make ALL patients susceptible to viral infections. The presence of those factors has an influence in the type and severity of infections. Currently available treatment options do not guarantee a positive outcome for every case of viral infection in ALL, without significant side effects. Side effect...
Source: Oncology Reviews - April 15, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Splice variants of androgen receptor and prostate cancer
Over the last ten years, two new-generation hormonal drugs and two chemotherapeutic agents have been approved for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Unfortunately, some patients have primary resistance to them and the others eventually develop secondary resistance. It has recently been suggested that the presence of androgen receptor splice variants plays a leading role in the primary and secondary resistance to the new hormonal drugs, whereas their presence seem to have only a partial effect on the activity of the chemotherapeutic agents. The aim of this paper is to review the published data...
Source: Oncology Reviews - April 15, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Impact of non-pulmonary visceral metastases in the prognosis and practice of metastatic testicular germ cell tumors
Non-pulmonary visceral metastases, in bones, brain and liver, represent nearly the 10% of metastatic sites of advanced germ cell tumors and are associated with poor prognosis. This review article summarizes major evidences on the impact of different visceral sites on the prognosis, treatment and clinical outcome of patients with germ cell tumors. The clinic-biological mechanisms by which these metastatic sites are associated with poor clinical outcome remain unclear. The multimodality treatment showed a potential better survival, in particular in patients with relapsed disease. Patients with advanced germ cell tumors with ...
Source: Oncology Reviews - April 15, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
