Current treatment options in oncology
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The 5q- syndrome is a myelodsyplastic syndrome (MDS) characterized by symptomatic anemia and an indolent natural history with low transformation potential. Our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of this disease has advanced considerably, paralleled by the delineation of the relevant targets underlying selective lenalidomide sensitivity. ⋯ In the 5q- syndrome, lenalidomide is the treatment of choice for patients with symptomatic anemia as it relieves the burden of transfusion dependence and iron overload in the majority of cases. We discuss herein the current understanding of the biology of the 5q- syndrome, actions of efficacy of lenalidomide and strategies for clinical management.
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There is growing interest in mind-body therapies as adjuncts to mainstream cancer treatment, and an increasing number of patients turn to these interventions for the control of emotional stress associated with cancer. Increased research funding has enabled many such interventions to be evaluated for their efficacy, including studies of mind-body interventions to reduce pain, anxiety, insomnia, anticipatory, and treatment-related nauseas, hot flashes, and improved mood. ⋯ Although studies are not always methodologically sound and results mixed, a growing number of well-designed studies provide convincing evidence that mind-body techniques are beneficial adjuncts to cancer treatment. The evidence is sufficient to recommend further investigation and adoption of these techniques in mainstream oncology care.
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Curr Treat Options Oncol · Jun 2010
ReviewAlternatives to surgery for early stage non-small cell lung cancer-ready for prime time?
Surgery is the standard of care for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with lobectomy being the most oncologically sound resection. Medically inoperable patients and high-risk surgical candidates require effective alternatives to surgery; even operable patients may opt for less invasive options if they are proven to achieve similar outcomes to surgery. Minimally invasive local treatment modalities including dose-intensified conformal radiation therapy, most notably stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR; also known as stereotactic body radiation therapy), and thermal ablation methods such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) are emerging as promising treatment options whose roles in the treatment of early stage lung cancer are being defined. ⋯ Given the very poor prognosis of the medically inoperable patient population, these alternatives to surgery, particularly SABR, are starting to be considered appropriate first-line therapy in properly selected patients, and prospective cooperative group trials to evaluate and optimize RFA and SABR in specific patient subsets are being conducted. For operable patients, prospective multi-center and cooperative groups trials of SABR are ongoing or completed, and international randomized trials of SABR vs. surgery have been initiated. Thus, promising alternatives to surgery for early stage NSCLC are ready for prime time evaluation in the setting of clinical trials, and participation in ongoing trials for both operable and medically inoperable patients is strongly encouraged.
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Low-grade gliomas (LGG) are uncommon central nervous system (CNS) tumors which often present with seizures and few other neurologic signs or symptoms. Multimodality therapy encompassing surgical resection, radiation therapy (RT), and chemotherapy may provide the best disease-free and overall survival (OS). Each of these treatment modalities plays an important role in the treatment of these tumors. ⋯ The studies seek to evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy and either temozolomide or a combination of procarbazine, vincristine, and lomustine in high-risk LGG patients. Ongoing investigative efforts seek to confirm the predictive value of a number of molecular markers including the loss of chromosomes 1p and 19q and the epigenetic silencing of the methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene. Additional smaller clinical trials seek to establish the role of newer targeted therapies including small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent LGG.
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Regular and vigorous physical exercise has been scientifically established as providing strong preventative medicine against cancer with the potential to reduce incidence by 40%. The effect is strongest for breast and colorectal cancer; however, evidence is accumulating for the protective influence on prostate cancer, although predominantly for more advanced disease and in older men. Following cancer diagnosis, exercise prescription can have very positive benefits for improving surgical outcomes, reducing symptom experience, managing side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, improving psychological health, maintaining physical function, and reducing fat gain and muscle and bone loss. ⋯ While managing many hundreds of cancer patients over the last 6 years, our clinic has not experienced any instances of the exercise hindering patient recovery or treatment purpose, nor have any significant injuries occurred. However, it is critical that the exercise prescription and management be tailored to the individual patient and that they are monitored by appropriately trained and professionally accredited exercise specialists. For those patients at low exercise risk and without significant musculoskeletal issues, community-based physical activity is of excellent benefit where the emphasis should be on adherence, affordability, convenience, and enjoyment.