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IN JULY 29, 1968, Jeff Beck, along with a kick-around vocalist, a future Rolling Stone and a drummer with a lot of bash released Truth. The album was a miracle [...]

Introduction Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) include a spectrum of mature T-cell and natural killer (NK)-cell neoplasms. PTCLs differ from one another in clinical presentation, pathobiology, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies. [1,2] [...], The World Health Organization classification for peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) continues to evolve based on genetic and clinical distinctions of each entity. In Part 1, an overview was provided of PTCL not otherwise specified, follicular T-cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), and breast implant-associated ALCL. In Part 2, this review is extended to extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, and hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. Each NK/T-cell malignancy has its own signature, requiring knowledge of the appropriate diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic considerations when caring for afflicted individuals. Future directions will depend on discoveries that further our understanding of each disease and clinical trials that test the latest treatment options.

Introduction Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) constitute approximately 10% to 20% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. They are heterogeneous, with more than 20 subtypes, including T-cell and natural killer cell diseases, and most [...], Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) represent a heterogeneous group of diseases, with low incidence and unique epidemiology and pathobiology; they are usually clinically aggressive, with poor outcomes. There have been significant advances in our understanding of the molecular and signaling alterations seen in these malignancies. These observations have led to novel therapeutic strategies that have had a meaningful impact on outcomes. This two-part series highlights the most important aspects of PTCLs and describes current treatment options and investigative opportunities. Part 1 will cover PTCL not otherwise specified, follicular T-cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL), and breast implant--associated ALCL. Part 2 will cover extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, and hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma.

The Case An 80-year-old man presented with a disabling pruritic rash characterized by disseminated and coalescing plaques on the trunk and proximal extremities (Figure 1) and covering 40% of his [...]

Yes, politics matter; the author ('Readers Write,' LD+A November) has hit the nail on the head. And where humans are concerned, all things are political-we cannot pick and choose. A [...]

Much has been made of the Palestinian exodus of 1948. Yet during their decades of dispersal, the Palestinians have experienced no less traumatic ordeals at the hands of their Arab [...]

Led by the United States, the founders of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the institution tasked with oversight of the [...]

Having sidelined Barack Obama's peace initiative by refusing to return to the negotiations table without apriori Israeli concessions, the Palestinian leadership seeks to secure an international declaration of statehood at [...]

In the early 1980s, there was a palpable concern among staffers at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) of the looming rise of an Arab-American lobby aimed at challenging [...]

Introduction Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), an aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is considered incurable. It represents about 4% of lymphomas in the United States. [1] The median age at time of [...], Mantle cell lymphoma is an aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is often considered incurable. Different clinical and biological biomarkers can be utilized to categorize this lymphoma into various risk levels. Several randomized trials reported in 2015 shed light on the optimal induction therapy. Recent advances include: (1) identification of new pathways to target, (2) novel therapeutics to treat patients with relapsed/refractory disease, and (3) monitoring of minimal residual disease and adoption of a maintenance therapy approach to prevent relapses post induction or post stem cell transplantation. Due to the efforts of translational/clinical research, the overall survival of patients with mantle cell lymphoma has increased and should continue to improve.

It was 9pm on a Saturday night in April of 2008, and I had spent the day, as I spend so many days, at my computer, editing and retouching. My [...]

Israel and the Palestinian Refugee Issue: The Formulation of a Policy, 1948-1956. By Jacob Tovy. London: Routledge, 2014. 306 pp. $145. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This thorough and authoritative account assembles the [...]

Background Over the last several decades, the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma has been increasing. [1] It is the fifth most common cancer in the United States [2] and includes a [...], Globally, the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is increasing. Aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma are treated with curative intent in the frontline setting, but indolent diseases like chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma are not considered to be curable in general. Additionally, relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphomas have a poor overall outcome, with treatment response durations often decreasing with each relapse. Novel therapies are sought to improve outcomes in this patient population. In a two-part review, we describe the promising new biologic therapies that have emerged over the last 5 years, some approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and others undergoing active investigation. In Part 1, we discussed monoclonal antibodies. Here, in Part 2, we discuss adoptive cellular immunotherapies, small-molecule inhibitors, and immunomodulatory agents. We also mention other novel therapies on the horizon.

Background. Many studies have demonstrated synergistic interaction between hyperthermia and radiation. This study was undertaken to determine whether hyperthermia could enhance the effect of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) in the treatment of human colon adenocarcinoma xenografts in nude mice. Methods. The experiments were conducted in two parts. During the first part of the study, preliminary information was obtained regarding the effect of various temperatures 41 [degrees] C, 42 [degrees] C, and 43 [degrees] C for 45 minutes) and iodine-131-labeled anticarcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) monoclonal antibodies (RMoAb) with administered activity ranging from 130 [+ or -] 19 [Mu]Ci to 546 [+ or -] 19 [Mu]Ci on tumor regrowth delay (TRD) and volume doubling time. This information was used in Part 2 of the study, which included four groups of mice: (1) a control group, (2) a group treated with hyperthermia, (3) a group treated with RMoAb, and (4) a group treated with a combination of RMoAb and hyperthermia. Results. Maximum and significantly increased TRD was observed in the group treated with RMoAb and hyperthermia (slope, 0.057) compared with the control group (slope, 0.322), the hyperthermia-treated group (slope, 0.302), and the group treated with RMoAb alone (slope, 0.098). The ratio of the slopes between the groups treated with RMoAb and those treated with RMoAb and hyperthermia was 1.72. No correlation was detected between the percent of antibody uptake in the tumor and tumor regression in the groups treated with heat and RMoAb and those treated with RMoAb alone. Conclusions. The results of these experiments show that hyperthermia increased the effectiveness of iodine-131-labeled anti-CEA monoclonal antibodies against human colon carcinoma xenografts in nude mice. This study offers a rationale for combining hyperthermia and low-dose radiation produced from RIT in clinical practice. Cancer 1992; 70:2785-91.

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR'S SOMEWHAT DEMURE image stands in stark contrast to her bold and aggressive singing and guitar playing. Hailing from Birmingham, England--the steel town that spawned the likes of [...]

Understanding of the malignant transformation of cells has been greatly advanced in recent years by the recognition that the cancer-causing genes of some viruses have counterparts in normal cells. A number of such oncogenes have been described, and it is believed that at least in some cases the transformation of a normal cell into a malignant cell results from a mutation in one of these oncogenes. One such oncogene is the ras gene, which encodes a 21,000 molecular weight protein. Antibodies to this protein, designated ras p21, may be used to histochemically stain tissue sections, and thereby identify the precise location of this protein within healthy or cancerous tissue. Two such antibodies were used to stain different types of colonic tumors to observe the patterns of distribution of this protein. Tumors examined included 6 villoglandular adenomas, 5 carcinomas in situ, 24 differentiated adenocarcinomas, 53 poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas, 6 carcinoids, and 2 neuroendocrine carcinomas. There were no significant differences in staining between malignant and benign tumors, and there was no difference among tumors of different stages. Superficial and deeply invasive tumors also had comparable staining patterns. The staining of the villoglandular polyps and carcinomas in situ is interpreted to suggest that the expression of p21 occurs even in the early stages of tumor development. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Background The incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma has been increasing over the last few decades. [1] It is the fifth most common cancer in the United States [2] and includes a [...], The incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphomas is on the rise worldwide. The aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas can potentially be cured with frontline therapy, but indolent ones, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, cannot. Relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphomas have a poor overall outcome, typically with shorter responses after each relapse. Novel therapies are sought to improve outcomes in this patient population. This review discusses the promising new biologic therapies that have emerged over the last 5 years. Some have already achieved US Food and Drug Administration approval, while others are undergoing active investigation in order to ultimately gain approval. Here, in Part 1, we discuss monoclonal antibodies. In Part 2, we will discuss adoptive cellular immunotherapies, small-molecule inhibitors, and immunomodulatory agents.

Introduction Cardiovascular safety has been one of the most challenging aspects of drug development. The uncertainty of the reversibility and long-term safety of anticancer agents has complicated decision making with [...], There has been significant progress in the development of new anticancer therapies over the last decade. Targeted therapies, including anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 agents, vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, have been important components of current treatment strategies. However, many of these therapies have been associated with chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction. While newer targeted agents provide "on-target" anticancer activity, their "off-target" drug effects encompass a wide range of cardiovascular toxicities. Many of these toxicities are reversible, but they may limit the use and length of treatment and compromise its efficacy. Oncologists are often the first to diagnose chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction, although patients with advanced cardiotoxicity are referred to cardiologists for further care. The field of cardio-oncology has emerged as a necessary discipline to address these disabling complications. In order to prevent late-stage cardiotoxicity, an early collaborative effort between oncologists and cardiologists is warranted to risk-stratify patients prior to therapy and to treat at the earliest signs of cardiotoxicity. It is therefore of utmost importance for oncologists to be aware of the cardiotoxicities of anticancer therapies, and to be familiar with modifiable risk factors and early interventions that can prevent long-term cardiac damage.

Where is the European Union headed in its policy toward Israel? Its recent decisions seem to be building momentum in opposite directions at the same time. One path is marked [...]

Introduction Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a diagnostic category that encompasses a broad range of diverse but rare mature lymphomas of T-cell origin. [1] By convention, these are often divided [...], Between 2006 and 2011, four new agents gained regulatory approval for the treatment of relapsed/refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). These new approvals, together with recent advances in both combination chemotherapy and transplant strategies, have made the landscape for treatment of these patients immensely complex. Multiple clinical trials are now underway, evaluating the role of combining new agents with existing drugs and regimens, both for untreated and relapsed/ refractory CTCL and PTCL. Pending results of such trials, clinicians are generally left with incomplete data and competing therapies when tasked with the treatment of these patients. In this article, we will briefly review the labeled indications for new agents for CTCL and PTCL, but will focus on data from the last 1 to 2 years, and on data from ongoing clinical trials, with the hope that in doing so we can help elucidate difficult treatment decisions.

Even if you are not partial to the strains of 'Auld lang syne,' the end of another year calls for some level of reflection. Oncology News International would like to [...]

Dear Colleagues: Survivors have been celebrated in songs, movies, and even the ubiquitous reality show. Cancer survivors often contend with the late-term effects of their disease and treatment long after [...]

There is no shortage of oncology-related information available to us, but how much of it can truly change the way you practice? In this issue of Oncology News International, we [...]