Search

Treatment paradigm for metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC) has changed dramatically over the recent decades. From cytokines, interleukin-2 and interferon-α to tyrosine kinase inhibitors and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, during the last decade, combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors have taken over first-line treatment of mccRCC. These combinations are approved based on results from large phase III clinical trials, all of which used sunitinib as the comparator. These trials include CheckMate214 (ipilimumab plus nivolumab), KEYNOTE 426 (pembrolizumab plus axitinib), JAVELIN Renal 101 (avelumab plus axitinib), CheckMate 9ER (nivolumab plus cabozantinib), and the CLEAR study (lenvatinib and pembrolizumab). Results from these studies constitute milestones for newer therapeutic approaches in mccRCC. The broadening spectrum of treatment options for patients with mccRCC with multiple first-line options currently available also means that treating physicians will need to consider each option carefully, balance clinical factors, financial considerations, and weigh toxicity profiles of each drug before deciding the optimal treatment regimen for each individual patient. We describe each frontline treatment option in detail through this review to aid the decision-making process.

Retrospective case studies in various cancers have shown clinical benefit from chemotherapy following PD-1 inhibitor progression. We asked whether we see a similar clinical benefit with chemotherapy following PD-1 inhibitor progression in metastatic melanoma. We performed a retrospective study in patients with metastatic melanoma, who had received PD-1 inhibitor-based treatments, subsequently progressed, and eventually received chemotherapy. We identified 25 patients (median age 58 years; range 31–77 years; 13 females). Most patients had cutaneous melanoma (72%), were BRAFV600E-negative (75%), and received single-agent temozolomide (84%). At a median follow-up of 21.0 months (range: 4.1–154.2 months), 2 patients had durable response to chemotherapy (progression-free survival is 31.9+ and 21.6+ months, respectively), and 1 patient had a partial, short-term response. We conclude that in this poor prognosis group administration of chemotherapy has a 12% response rate that can be durable. Overall, the clinical benefit is not inferior to that of PD-1 inhibitor-based treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal cancer (EC) and gastric cancer (GC) often have an unfavorable prognosis. Therefore, research is being conducted to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying the tumorigenesis and progression of GC and EC, and to indicate novel therapeutic targets and clinically applicable biomarkers. The dysregulations and roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been widely reported, and current published literature has shown that lncRNAs play important regulatory roles in the carcinogenesis and progression of EC and GC. The lncRNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) has been investigated in a number of studies with regard to its pathogenic pathways and association with the prognosis of gastric and esophageal malignancies. As literature on the topic of MALAT1 in EC and GC continues to emerge, the present review aims to summarize all current knowledge on the association between MALAT1 expression and esophagogastric malignancies and to describe the pathogenic pathways and possible prognostic role of MALAT1 in esophagogastric cancer. As research studies on MALAT1 pathways in esophagogastric malignancies are ongoing, new possibilities for the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of GC and EC are likely to be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver malignancy with liver resection with curative intent being the mainstay of treatment related to prolonged survival. Better risk stratification models are needed to optimize patient selection and identify individuals who will benefit the most from an operative approach or alternative treatments due to high incidence of recurrence in patients undergoing resection with curative intent for ICC. Machine learning as well as markers of tumoral biology can generate reliable models that could help in identifying patients at risk of recurrence and worse outcomes. Liver transplantation might have a role in patients with small unresectable tumors.

The prevalence of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is increasing in the western world, being currently on of the leading causes of mortality. Surgical resection provides best chances of cure but, unfortunately, less than 20% of the patients are eligible for curative intent surgery at the time of diagnosis. Chemotherapeutic agents such as FOLFIRINOX have been used in patients with metastatic or locally advanced disease showing survival benefit., Methods: In this pilot study, we present an early initial experience with neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX as first line therapy for locally advanced and non resectable PDAC highlighting the toxicity and complete resection rates as well as overall survival., Results: Roughly every patient experienced toxicity according to ECOG criteria with a median recorded event up to 6, most of them grade I and grade II. One third of the patients had downsizing of tumor, however only 43.3% of them ended up having resectable disease. A R0 resection was achieved in 10 of the patients (76.9%). Median follow up for the entire study was 14 months. Fourteen patients (46.6%) had stable disease and 7 (23.3%) had tumor-related death. Approximately 30% of the patients were in remission by the end of follow up. Considering the above results patients that had good response to FOLFIRINOX and underwent R0 surgical treatment had increased their median survival to 30 months compared to those who did not have oncological tumor resection (13 months)., Conclusions: FOLFIRINOX is an effective treatment regimen that manages to convert unresectable -at diagnosis PDAC- to resectable with increased survival. However, due to high toxicity, treatment is only feasible in selected patients and requires close monitoring.

Insulinoma is the most common pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET). Insulinomas are most commonly benign, well-differentiated NETs, whereas malignant neoplasms account for approximately 5-10% of all cases. Management includes conservative treatment with drugs targeting insulin-induced hypoglycemia, non-operative invasive procedures, as well as curative open or laparoscopic tumor resection. The current review aimed to summarize the current literature evidence on insulinoma and investigate the advantages and complications of available treatments.

Appendiceal neuroendocrine neoplasms (ANENs) comprise rare tumors of the appendix, mainly affecting young populations and characterized by a rather favorable prognosis. The aim of this review was to summarize the current knowledge on these neoplasms, focusing on the management and follow-up of such patients, which still remain under debate. ANENs account for 0.16-2.3% of appendectomies and are usually diagnosed incidentally. The histopathological diagnosis includes the immunohistochemical profile of the tumor in regard to synaptophysin and chromogranin A, as well as the Ki-67 index. The surgical management of ANENs is either simple appendectomy or a more extensive oncological operation including right hemicolectomy. This depends on the stage and the presence of risk factors suggesting a more aggressive disease, such as the exact location, mesoappendiceal or lymphovascular invasion, and the proliferative rate of the tumor. Despite their indolent course, ANENs may relapse. Therefore, lifetime observation is necessary for patients with tumors >2 cm and >1 cm plus additional risk factors; however, more studies should be conducted in order to determine the optimal follow-up strategy., (Copyright© 2018, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for breast cancer, including complete or partial mastectomy and lumpectomy. Breast reconstruction has gained popularity mainly due to its tremendous impact on the psychological status of the patients. Autologous fat grafting is a well-established method used in cosmetic surgery; however, fat re-absoprtion, fat necrosis, calcifications and oil-cyst formation are some usually encountered complications limiting the efficacy of this approach. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has recently been postulated as a promising method for tissue regeneration since it contains high levels of diverse human growth factors. To date, preliminary results from clinical studies regarding the combination of PRP and fat grafting in breast reconstruction have shown ambiguous results, whereas preclinical studies are more favorable. However, concerns have been raised regarding the extent of cellular promotion induced by PRP application and the corresponding potential malignant transformation. The aim of our study was to present, analyze and critically evaluate the role of PRP in breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery in terms of efficacy and oncological safety highlighting the caution that needs to be taken in order to eliminate any chance of recurrence in patients who have theoretically undergone complete excision of the tumor burden., (Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)