Advances in therapy
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Advances in therapy · Aug 2010
ReviewEverolimus in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and neuroendocrine tumors.
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are uncommon malignancies, highly resistant to chemotherapy, that have emerged as attractive platforms for evaluating novel targeted regimens. Everolimus is an oral rapamycin derivative within the mammalian target of rapamycin class of agents. Preclinical series have shown that everolimus exhibits anticancer effects in RCC and NET cell lines. ⋯ Regarding advanced NET, recently published phase 2 data support the ability of everolimus to improve disease control in patients with advanced NET as monotherapy or in combination with somatostatin analogue therapy, octreotide long-acting release (LAR). Forthcoming data from phase 3 placebo-controlled trials of everolimus, one focused on monotherapy for pancreatic NET and the other on combination use with octreotide LAR for patients with advanced NET and a history of carcinoid syndrome, will provide insight into its future place in NET therapy. The results of a number of ongoing phase 3 evaluations of everolimus will determine its broader applicability in treating breast cancer (in combination with chemotherapy and hormonal therapy), several advanced gastrointestinal cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma, and lymphoma (in the adjuvant setting), as well as the various lesions associated with the tuberous sclerosis complex tumor suppressor gene.
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Malignant pleural effusions are a common clinical problem in patients with primary thoracic malignancy and metastatic malignancy to the thorax. Symptoms can be debilitating and can impair tolerance of anticancer therapy. This article presents a comprehensive review of pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical approaches to the management of malignant pleural effusion, and a novel algorithm for management based on patients' performance status.
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Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel is a cornerstone of the management of patients with acute coronary syndromes and following percutaneous coronary intervention. Despite the proven benefits, clear limitations of clopidogrel exist. ⋯ The promising results seen with prasugrel in large, randomized trials led to its recent approval by the US Food and Drug Administration for reducing thrombotic cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndromes managed with percutaneous coronary intervention. This article will review the limitations of standard antiplatelet therapy and discuss the clinical application of prasugrel.
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Advances in therapy · Sep 2009
ReviewPhosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease characterized by vascular proliferation and remodeling, resulting in a progressive increase in pulmonary arterial resistance, right heart failure, and death. The pathogenesis of PAH is multifactorial, with endothelial cell dysfunction playing an integral role. This endothelial dysfunction is characterized by an overproduction of vasoconstrictors and proliferative factors, such as endothelin-1, and a reduction of vasodilators and antiproliferative factors, such prostacyclin and nitric oxide. ⋯ Side effects are usually mild and transient and include headache, flushing, nasal congestion, digestive disorders, and myalgia. Mild and moderate renal or hepatic failure does not significantly affect the metabolism of PDE-5 inhibitors, whereas coadministration of bosentan decreases sildenafil and tadalafil plasma levels. Due to their clinical effectiveness, tolerance profile, and their oral administration, sildenafil and tadalafil are two of the recommended first-line therapies for PAH patients in World Health Organization functional classes II or III.
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Advances in therapy · Jul 2009
ReviewCardiotoxicity associated with trastuzumab treatment of HER2+ breast cancer.
Although having high clinical efficacy in the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer, trastuzumab has been associated with cardiotoxicity, and the etiology and pathogenesis of this condition is currently under investigation. ⋯ The risk of cardiac dysfunction associated with trastuzumab can be justified given the increase in overall survival. This risk is lower when trastuzumab is given as monotherapy. The paradigm for cardiologists remains the same: treat the cancer effectively whilst preventing cardiotoxicity.