Table of contents
March 2009 Volume 6 No 3
Editorial
Targeting EGFR in head and neck cancer: a decade of progress
123doi:10.1038/ncponc1328 | Full Text | PDF (436K)
Research Highlights
Gene-expression signatures predict survival in patients with DLBCL
124Mohs surgery is superior to excision for recurrent facial BCC
124Exon 11 KIT genotype improves outcome in imatinib treated GIST
124HER2 and EGFR status and correlation with response to lapatinib and chemotherapy
125COX2 and EGFR variants that predict survival in colorectal cancer
125Tumor-specific allogeneic T cells treat solid tumors in mice
126Improved quality of life after treatment with amifostine for NSCLC
126Vasomotor or joint symptoms as a marker of endocrine response in breast cancer
127Practice Points
Optimal timing of surgery after preoperative chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer
128doi:10.1038/ncponc1325 | Full Text | PDF (452K)
Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab for chronic lymphocytic leukemia: no country for old men?
130doi:10.1038/ncponc1318 | Full Text | PDF (455K)
Cetuximab therapy for patients with advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck
132doi:10.1038/ncponc1321 | Full Text | PDF (458K)
Should irinotecan or etoposide be used in combination with carboplatin for small cell lung cancer?
134doi:10.1038/ncponc1324 | Full Text | PDF (457K)
Viewpoint
Mammography in developing countries: the risks associated with globalizing the experiences of the Western world
136doi:10.1038/ncponc1282 | Full Text | PDF (457K)
Reviews
Xoft Axxent® electronic brachytherapy—a new device for delivering brachytherapy to the breast
138Balloon-based brachytherapy was developed to simplify the bracytherapy technique to make it more accessible to breast cancer patients. Balloon-based brachytherapy is associated with a more-convenient delivery of radiotherapy, improved quality of life and patient compliance. This Review discusses a new device called Xoft Axxent® electronic brachytherapy, which uses a disposable electronic radiation source and avoids the need of a high-dose-rate afterloader unit, thereby enhancing the convenience for patients.
doi:10.1038/ncponc1319 | Full Text | PDF (563K)
Treatment of advanced disease in patients with well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors
143Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are usually slow-growing cancers even when they exhibit local invasion or metastases. Surgery is curative in a minority of patients and systemic chemotherapy is minimally effective. Important cellular processes involved in the pathogenesis of NET have now been identified. In this Review, Reidy et al. discuss the data regarding therapies currently used for treating well-differentiated NETs and the strategies being used in clinical trials.
doi:10.1038/ncponc1326 | Full Text | PDF (843K)
Pharmacogenomic progress in individualized dosing of key drugs for cancer patients
153Determining the correct dosage for the majority of chemotherapeutic agents presents a challenge for clinicians because there is a fine balance between doses that cause significant drug toxicity and loss of efficacy. This Review discusses the current limitations of body surface area-based dosing, provides examples of successful pharmacogenomics investigations that have used drug-metabolizing enzymes to decrease drug toxicity or improve efficacy, and highlights promising advances in pharmacogenomic-directed pharmacotherapy.
doi:10.1038/ncponc1303 | Full Text | PDF (552K)
Effect of bisphosphonates on pain and quality of life in patients with bone metastases
163Bone is the most common organ for tumor metastasis, especially in patients with cancers of the breast or prostate. Bone metastases disrupt skeletal metabolism, resulting in considerable skeletal morbidity and chronic pain. This Review summarizes the clinical trial data of bisphosphonates for the prevention of skeletal-related events and the palliation of bone pain. The authors discuss how nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates have demonstrated great promise in patients with advanced malignancies.
doi:10.1038/ncponc1323 | Full Text | PDF (573K)
Case Study
Unintended pregnancy during radiotherapy for cancer
175Women with cancer treated with radiotherapy who become pregnant have an increased risk of poor fetal outcome. The case of a 27-year-old woman who became pregnant while receiving radiotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma and gave birth to a healthy infant is described. The authors suggest that careful evaluation of fetal exposure to radiation should be performed in each individual case to allow pregnant patients to decide on the fate of their pregnancy.
doi:10.1038/ncponc1320 | Full Text | PDF (479K)
Corrigendum
Drug Insight: gastrointestinal and hepatic adverse effects of molecular-targeted agents in cancer therapy
180doi:10.1038/ncponc1338 | Full Text | PDF (428K)
