Table of contents
December 2005 Volume 2 No 12
Editorial
Viewpoints
The evolving role of aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer
596Substantial progress has been made using aromatase inhibitors in early-stage breast cancer. This article highlights results from recent and ongoing trials of aromatase inhibitors as adjuvant therapy and discusses options for integration of these agents with tamoxifen in various subsets of patients and clinical scenarios.
Individualization of neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer according to molecular tumor characteristics
598Development of therapies directed to specific molecular abnormalities within cancer cells, as exemplified by human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), can be a very rewarding strategy in cancer treatment. The integration of genomic and proteomic approaches into the search for therapeutic targets will be more fruitful than either approach alone and allow further individualization of breast cancer therapy.
Research Highlights
The UbcH10 gene is a novel therapeutic target in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
600Sensitivity to preoperative chemotherapy varies between breast cancer subtypes
600A novel preoperative staging technique for NSCLC could prevent unnecessary surgery
600Induction of antitumor immunity by partial resection and combination adjuvant therapy
601Prophylactic thyroidectomy: effective against medullary thyroid carcinoma in children
601Gene expression predicts chemotherapy response in advanced breast cancer
602Ovoid shields reduce radiation dose to the rectum during ICRT for cervical cancer
602Specific and sensitive detection of prostate cancer using urine sediment DNA
603Involved-field radiotherapy: a potential standard therapy for early stage LPHL
603Decreased dissemination and increased transgene expression using novel viral gene delivery
603P-glycoprotein expression predicts response to NACT in breast cancer
604Long-term use of aspirin and NSAIDs reduces the risk of colorectal cancer
604Liver transplantation or resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma?
605Practice Points
Optimizing the sequencing of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy for early breast cancer
606Is radical prostatectomy of benefit in men with localized prostate cancer?
608Can dose-dense chemotherapy improve outcome in patients with better-prognosis small-cell lung cancer?
610Do low-molecular-weight heparins improve the survival of cancer patients?
612Does radiotherapy to the head, neck or upper thorax for childhood cancer increase the risk of later thyroid cancer?
614Reviews
Evolving paradigms and perceptions of cancer
618As our understanding of cancer evolves, the perceptions and prevailing paradigms that define this disease have also changed. The molecular basis of cancer has helped to influence oncology clinical practice; however, paradigms affect both the focus and design of research and also impact upon patient care. A clear recognition of how these varying perceptions of cancer affect and limit communication among the cancer-related disciplines as well as between these disciplines is needed. Both professionals and the general public should consider cancer as a group of diseases for which cure is related to tumor type, stage and available treatment.
doi:10.1038/ncponc0377 | Full Text | PDF (116K)
Epidemiology informing clinical practice: from bills of mortality to population laboratories
625Important changes in the field of epidemiology as a result of genotyping, identification of genetic and gene-environment causes of disease, and proteomics will ultimately influence all aspects of medical practice. The necessity for good study design, and the difference between observation and experiment, is paramount in this regard. This review discusses opportunities for molecular classification of disease that will help tailor treatment to the biologic profile of the patient and disease.
doi:10.1038/ncponc0359 | Full Text | PDF (215K)
Mechanisms of Disease: prediction and prevention of breast cancer—cellular and molecular interactions
635Breast cancer is a multifactorial condition, and changes in cellular biology are affected by a large number of variables known to affect an individual's susceptibility to this malignancy. Current risk prediction models are based on combinations of risk factors and have good predictive but low discriminatory power. Risk estimation might be improved by incorporating additional factors into risk prediction models, which will allow better determination of breast cancer risk and provide new targets for preventive therapies.
doi:10.1038/ncponc0361 | Full Text | PDF (436K)
Case Study
Successful pregnancies following fertility-preserving treatment for ovarian carcinoma
647doi:10.1038/ncponc0356 | Full Text | PDF (101K)
