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Background: Population-based assessment of long-term survival prospects of cancer patients in Germany have, so far, been mainly based on estimating relative 5-or 10-year survival rates. Alternatively, parametric cure models allow for determining the proportion of patients who although being affected by cancer do not exhibit higher mortality rates compared to the general population. These patients are thus considered as cured from cancer. Internationally, cure models are highly established in the monitoring of longterm survival of cancer patients. Methods: For the present analysis, population-based cancer registry data from patients aged 15 to 79 years (N=453,666) in Germany were used. In order to obtain up-to-date estimates on cure proportions of cancer patients, period analyses with a period window from 2013 to 2014 and a maximal follow-up time of 10 years were conducted. Based on parametric modelling of survival times, sex-specific estimates on cured proportions of cancer patients were calculated for all cancers as well as for the three most common cancer sites among women (breast, colon, lung) and among men (prostate, lung, colon) were calculated. In additional analyses, the extent to which the cured proportion of all cancer patients might have been overestimated due to the exclusion of DCO (Death Certificate Only) cases were quantified. Results: Overall, 64.0%(95°/crconfidence interval; 63.4-64.6) of women and 56.8% (56.3-57.4) of men were considered as statistically cured of their cancer in the sense that their mortality did not differ significantly from that of the general population. Parametric cured models also converged in all site-specific analyses except breast cancer among women. The cure proportions for colon and lung cancer were higher in women than in men (62.3%vs. 56.2%and 18.5%vs. 14.9%). Moreover, the estimated cure proportion of prostate cancer among men was 94.5%. After correctingthe cure fraction of all cancers for the proportion of DCO cases, a maximal drop of 3% was observed among both genders. Conclusions: Based on nation-wide data for the period window 2013-2014, significant sex difference in long-term cancer survival for common cancers can be observed in Germany. Parametric cured models can provide additional insights on remainingor new challenges of cancer care in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis of unclear soft tissue tumors represents a common problem in everyday clinical practice. Magnetic resonance imaging often reveals some first information about soft tissue tumors; however, clarification of the dignity can only be achieved by histopathological examination. Most of the lesions are benign but should be treated as a malignant tumor until this can be excluded as unnecessary surgery or biopsies can complicate treatment and worsen the prognosis. These aspects in particular are summarized and discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until two years ago, there was no systemic therapy that prolonged overall survival in patients with malignant melanoma. In the meantime, two new therapeutic approaches have improved the prognosis of this disease. Ipilimumab is an activator of cytotoxic Tcells. It induces an immune response which results in prolonged remission in 15-20% of patients. Vemurafenib is a specific BRAF inhibitor and induces quick and sometimes complete remissions in patients with BRAF V600E mutated melanomas. Thus, there are two new treatments with proven survival benefit in patients with metastatic melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal tumors are classified according to their location in extradural, intradural-extramedullary, and intradural-intramedullary tumors. The most frequent extradural tumors are metastases. Primary spinal tumors are rare and predominantly benign. Independent of their origin, spinal tumors manifest themselves with progressive local or radicular pain and neurological deficits. A preferably early diagnosis and subsequent therapy is important to improve the prognosis. The treatment of choice for most of these tumors is the complete surgical resection. In particular with the occurence of neurological deficits a fast surgical intervention is indicated, since the prognosis depends on duration and severity of the preoperative existing deficits. Below, clinical presentation and relevant treatment options of spinal extradural tumors are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]