Expert review of anticancer therapy
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Malignant melanoma is increasing in incidence worldwide, and many patients remain at a significant risk of recurrence following surgical resection. Over the past 30 years, interferon-alpha has been the only agent approved for adjuvant therapy of melanoma. This review summarizes the rationale for adjuvant therapy, and discusses the roles of interferon, immunotherapy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy in the adjuvant setting. New approaches and novel combinations that appear promising for the adjuvant therapy of malignant melanoma are also outlined.
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Expert Rev Anticancer Ther · Aug 2004
ReviewCurrent clinical management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are defined as c-KIT-positive mesenchymal neoplasias located in the gastrointestinal tract and abdomen, most of which present an activating KIT mutation, a fundamental step in the development of disease. However, recent studies reported a small subgroup of KIT-negative GIST, in which platelet-derived growth factor receptor A, protein kinase C-tau, and FLJ10261 expression was detected. ⋯ However, the optimal dose and role of imatinib in an adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting have yet to be defined. Therefore, further studies investigating the mechanism of resistance to imatinib in patients with GIST are warranted.
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Brain metastases secondary to primary non-small cell and small cell lung cancer have become an important area of research. The brain is one of the most common sites of failure following treatment for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, often as the only site. Treatment strategies and the outcome for brain metastases from lung cancer may differ from brain metastases arising from other primary cancers. This article reviews the prognostic factors associated with brain metastases from lung cancer, as well as current treatment approaches with chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy.