Table of contents
October 2007 Volume 4 No 10
Editorial
Viewpoint
Molecular imaging can accelerate anti-angiogenic drug development and testing
556Angiogenesis is one of the fundamental processes during tumor growth and disease progression, and is regulated by numerous molecular pathways, including, but not limited to, VEGF, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), endoglin (CD105), integrin 
v
3 and E-selectin. All these pathways could serve as targets for molecular imaging, as outlined in this Viewpoint.
doi:10.1038/ncponc0929 | Full Text | PDF (135K)
Research Highlights
Cell-cycle-related kinase is involved in human glioblastoma carcinogenesis
558Computer-aided evaluation can improve discrimination of breast lesions on MRI
558Survival benefits of combined-modality treatment in elderly patients with NSCLC
558doi:10.1038/ncponc0914 | Full Text | PDF (100K)
ERCC1 expression can predict survival in patients with advanced head and neck cancer
559Resistant subclone expansion is associated with relapse in pediatric patients with ALL
559doi:10.1038/ncponc0916 | Full Text | PDF (100K)
Association between radiation-induced xerostomia and QOL in head and neck cancer
560Study identifies risk factors for progression of smoldering multiple myeloma
560doi:10.1038/ncponc0918 | Full Text | PDF (103K)
STAT3 polymorphism: a potential marker of response to IFN-
therapy in metastatic RCC
561Practice Points
Does a prompt list help patients and caregivers to ask questions about cancer prognosis and care?
562doi:10.1038/ncponc0928 | Full Text | PDF (133K)
Should oncologists measure the mRNA and protein expression levels of ERCC1 and RRM1 in non-small-cell lung cancer?
564doi:10.1038/ncponc0909 | Full Text | PDF (136K)
Does atovaquone provide effective prophylaxis for Pneumocystis pneumonia in children with leukemia?
566doi:10.1038/ncponc0927 | Full Text | PDF (142K)
Does tamoxifen prophylaxis for breast cancer provide long-term prevention?
568doi:10.1038/ncponc0933 | Full Text | PDF (137K)
Reviews
International comparisons of survival from lung cancer: pitfalls and warnings
570Population-based survival data can provide valuable comparative data on outcome but should be interpreted with caution. Ideally, data from the whole population, including clinical-only diagnoses, should be reported and the methods of case identification described. Erridge et al. highlight the need for methods of data collection and comparison to be as similar as possible, and for important factors related to the patient, tumor characteristics and treatment that might impact outcome to be reported.
doi:10.1038/ncponc0932 | Full Text | PDF (275K)
Individualized preventive and therapeutic management of hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome
578There is no standard treatment for BRCA1/2 carriers with a new diagnosis of breast cancer. Personal and family-history-based criteria do not accurately predict the probability of a positive test result and thresholds for deciding who should be tested vary considerably among countries. The authors of this Review discuss how preventive and therapeutic approaches can be tailored to individuals by integrating the latest translational and clinical research findings. They also propose an individualized management algorithm on the basis of existing evidence, and discuss the challenges related to genetic testing, prevention and treatment strategies.
doi:10.1038/ncponc0930 | Full Text | PDF (442K)
Mechanisms of Disease: signaling of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor pathway—therapeutic perspectives in cancer
591The insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling pathway is implicated in the development of cancer. IGF1R signaling has been found to correlate with resistance to anti-EGFR and HER2-based therapies in experimental systems. This Review highlights the most relevant studies in this exciting area of research, focusing in particular on the role of the IGF1R in the resistance of other receptor-targeted therapies.
doi:10.1038/ncponc0934 | Full Text | PDF (543K)
Case Studies
CNS response after erlotinib therapy in a patient with metastatic NSCLC with an EGFR mutation
603For patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and brain metastasis, effective treatment strategies are required because systemic chemotherapy is usually ineffective. Pan and colleagues present the case of a 73-year-old man who was diagnosed with NSCLC with brain metastasis, who carried an EGFR mutation and was managed with erlotinib and whole-brain irradiation. The authors discuss the treatment options for patients with metastatic NSCLC and propose erlotinib as an appropriate therapy for patients with a high probability of harboring classic EGFR mutations.
doi:10.1038/ncponc0931 | Full Text | PDF (384K)
Germline mutations in PTEN and SDHC in a woman with epithelial thyroid cancer and carotid paraganglioma
608Germline mutations in PTEN result in the uncommon Cowden Syndrome. Heterozygous mutations of SDH B, C and D are associated with the hereditary pheochromocytoma–paraganglioma syndrome. Zbuk et al. present the first-reported case of a woman with both PTEN and SDHC mutations, which resulted in multiple neoplasias. The authors highlight the need for predictive genetic tests and close clinical surveillance of patients with suspected Cowden or pheochromocytoma–paraganglioma syndromes.
doi:10.1038/ncponc0935 | Full Text | PDF (444K)
