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Bortezomib-based regimens are beneficial in the treatment of patients with symptomatic, newly diagnosed and relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Researchers who investigated the efficacy and safety of single-agent bortezomib as first-line therapy in patients with myeloma have particularly emphasized the incidence and management of peripheral neuropathy, which is the most common adverse effect of bortezomib administration.
Targeted agents directed at VEGF and EGFR have become part of the standard treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer; however, only some patients benefit from such treatment. The CAIRO2 and PACCE trials have shown a detrimental effect of adding an anti-EGFR antibody to standard chemotherapy plus bevacizumab. In this Perspective, the authors discuss issues that may explain these unexpected results.
Microarray studies have been used to unravel the molecular characteristics of breast cancer and a molecular taxonomy has been proposed. The authors of this Review discuss the origins of the diversity of breast cancer and, based on the study of histological special types of breast cancer, propose an approach for the identification of novel therapeutic targets.
Radiotherapy is one of the most important and effective therapies used to treat cancer. Particle therapy is an emerging technique and there is debate surrounding its cost-effectiveness. The authors of this Review present clinical results in the field and discuss the research questions that have arisen with this technique.
Six European randomized controlled trials that will compare human papillomavirus (HPV) testing with cytology testing for cervical screening are under way. The outcome of HPV testing versus cytology testing depends not only on the relative accuracy of the primary test but also on how radical the different triage procedures are. Two trials have shown a 50% reduction in grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia detection in subsequent screening rounds. The authors critically discuss the reasons for the different results observed in these trials and the implications for primary screening.
Gamma-delta lymphomas are rare and aggressive lymphomas with a poor prognosis. The authors of this Review discuss the clinical and biological features of the two types of such lymphomas and the diagnostic challenges associated with these still insufficiently known diseases.
Most patients with advanced colorectal cancer die from hepatic metastases. Radioembolization is a technique for administering radiotherapy internally to unresectable primary or secondary hepatic malignancies in a single procedure to improve local control of disease. This technique enables significant downsizing of liver metastases after surgical resection, and the rationale for this approach combined with cytotoxic and molecularly targeted agents is outlined.
Pooled analyses from the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer trial suggest that most patients with stage III colon cancer develop recurrence within the first 3 years following treatment. Improved disease-free survival and improved overall survival were observed for such patients who were treated with adjuvant combination therapy of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin versus those treated with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin.
The monoclonal antibody, rituximab, is used to treat lymphomas. This article discusses the results of randomized trials that suggest patients with follicular lymphoma should not receive rituximab maintenance therapy.
