Management of brain metastases

Advances in neurosurgery and the development of stereotactic radiosurgery have expanded treatment options available for patients with brain metastases. However, despite several randomized clinical trials and multiple uncontrolled studies, there is not a uniform consensus on the best treatment strategy for all patients with brain metastases. The heterogeneity of this patient population in terms of     

Management of laryngotracheal stenosis — our experience

Objective

To describe our experience in the management of laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS).

Study design

Prospective study.

Materials and methods

This study was carried out from 2001 to 2004 on 30 cases. All cases were investigated by spiral computerized tomography and endoscopic examination.

Results

There were 21 males and 9 females treated for LTS resulting from trauma (19), intubation (9) and congenital (2). Patients were divided into four groups based on surgical procedures they underwent: group I, endoscopy dilatation group (7 cases); group II, laryngotracheoplasty with Montgomery tube insertion (12 cases); group III, laryngotracheoplasty with Montgomery laryngeal stent insertion (5 cases) and group IV, cricotracheal resection with M-tube insertion (6 cases); The number of patients decannulated in group I, group II, group III and group IV were 4, 10, 0 and 5, respectively. We found statistically significant difference between decannulated and nondecannulated group for site and length of stenosis.

Conclusion

Patients undergoing dilatation for LTS require multiple procedures. Open surgical exploration with stent has a better outcome than those with repeated dilatation.     

Management of aromatase inhibitor–induced arthralgia

Aromatase inhibitors (ais) are commonly used as adjuvant treatment in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive early breast cancer. With both steroidal and nonsteroidal ais, ai-induced arthralgia is frequently observed. The mechanism of ai-induced arthralgia remains unknown, and the data available from clinical trails using ais are limited. We review the pertinent information from a clinical perspective, including an algorithm to treat ai-induced arthralgia.     

Management of Bcr–Abl-positive leukemias with dasatinib

Dasatinib is a novel, potent, multi-targeted kinase inhibitor that is approved in Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia following imatinib failure. Clinical trials have demonstrated its activity across all phases of CML. Dasatinib was superior to high-dose imatinib in a randomized, Phase II study of patients with chronic-phase CML who were resistant or intolerant to imatinib. Preliminary data from a Phase II trial in patients with previously untreated CML suggests that dasatinib compares favorably with imatinib in first-line use. Adverse events experienced with dasatinib include myelosuppression and fluid retention (e.g., pleural effusions), which were manageable with dose adjustment or treatment.     

Management of egfr tki–induced dermatologic adverse events

Targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (egfr) pathway has become standard practice for the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Compared with chemotherapy, egfr tyrosine kinase inhibitors (tkis) have been associated with improved efficacy in patients with an EGFR mutation. Together with the increase in efficacy comes an adverse event (ae) profile different from that of chemotherapy. That profile includes three of the most commonly occurring dermatologic aes: acneiform rash, stomatitis, and paronychia. Currently, no randomized clinical trials have evaluated the treatments for the dermatologic aes that patients experience when taking egfr tkis. Based on the expert opinion of the authors, some basic strategies have been developed to manage those key dermatologic aes. Those strategies have the potential to improve patient quality of life and compliance and to prevent inappropriate dose reductions.     

Patterns of Distant Metastases After Surgical Management of Non–Small-cell Lung Cancer

Background

Patients with limited metastases, oligometastases (OMs), might have improved outcomes compared with patients with widespread distant metastases (DMs). The incidence and behavior of OMs from non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) need further characterization.

Management of oligometastatic rectal cancer: is liver first?

Twenty percent of patients with rectal cancer present with synchronous liver metastases at the time of initial diagnosis. These patients can be treated with a curative intent, although the choice and sequence of treatment modalities are not well established and are commonly debated in multi-disciplinary tumor boards. In this article we review clinical evidence for various treatment approaches and attempt to formulate a pathway for clinicians to use in evaluating and managing these patients.     

Multidisciplinary Management of Mycosis Fungoides/Sézary Syndrome

Purpose of Review

Diagnosis and management of mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome (MF/SS) require accurate clinicopathological correlation and a multidisciplinary approach. We reviewed major advances in the field regarding diagnostic and prognostic tools as well as skin-directed therapies (SDTs) and systemic agents for MF/SS published in the past 2 years.

Recent Findings

Improved technology (T-cell receptor high-throughput sequencing) and increased multicenter collaboration (Cutaneous Lymphoma International Consortium) have led to diagnostic/prognostic advances. Concurrently, numerous genomic studies have enhanced understanding of disease pathogenesis. Advances in SDTs include topical resiquimod, a novel potent Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist; consensus CTCL phototherapy guidelines; and use of low-dose radiation therapy. Novel systemic therapies for advanced disease of note include targeted antibody drug conjugates (brentuximab vedotin), immune checkpoint inhibitors, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Summary

Our “toolbox” to diagnose and treat the spectrum of MF/SS continues to expand. Further characterization of genomic data going forward will enable a rational approach to selecting and combining therapies to improve patient care.

     

Progress in the Management of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in 2017

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an uncommon, almost universally fatal, asbestos-induced malignancy. New and effective strategies for diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment are urgently needed. Herein we review the advances in MPM achieved in 2017. Whereas recent epidemiological data demonstrated that the incidence of MPM-related death continued to increase in United States between 2009 and 2015, new insight into the molecular pathogenesis and the immunological tumor microenvironment of MPM, for example, regarding the role of BRCA1 associated protein 1 and the expression programmed death receptor ligand 1, are highlighting new potential therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, there continues to be an ever-expanding number of clinical studies investigating systemic therapies for MPM. These trials are primarily focused on immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors alone or in combination with other immunotherapies and nonimmunotherapies. In addition, other promising targeted therapies, including pegylated adenosine deiminase (ADI-PEG20), which focuses on argininosuccinate synthase 1–deficient tumors, and tazemetostat, an enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit inhibitor of BRCA1 associated protein 1 gene (BAP1)-deficient tumors, are currently being explored.     

Management of fatigue in patients with cancer – A practical overview

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a serious clinical problem and is one of the most common symptoms experienced by cancer patients. CRF has deleterious effects on many aspects of patient quality of life including their physical, psychological and social well-being. It can also limit their ability to function, socialise and participate in previously enjoyable activities. The aetiology of CRF is complex and multidimensional, involving many potentially contributing elements. These include tumour-related factors and comorbid medical/psychological conditions and also side effects associated with anti-cancer therapies or other medications. Barriers to the effective management of CRF exist both on the side of physicians and patients, and as a result CRF often remains unrecognised and undiscussed in clinical practice. A change of approach is required, where fatigue is treated as central to patient management during and after systemic anti-cancer treatment. In this review we summarise factors involved in the aetiology of CRF and the barriers to its effective management, as well as factors involved in the screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients experiencing fatigue. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to its management are also reviewed. We suggest an algorithm for the process of managing CRF, guided by our experiences in The Netherlands, which we hope may provide a useful tool to healthcare professionals dealing with cancer patients in their daily practice. Although CRF is a serious and complex clinical problem, if it is worked through in a structured and comprehensive way, effective management has the potential to much improve patient quality of life.     

Management of hepatic epithelioid haemangio-endothelioma in children: what option?

Hepatic epithelioid haemangio-endothelioma (HEHE) is an endothelium-derived tumour of low-to-medium grade malignancy. It is predominantly seen in adults and is unresponsive to chemotherapy. Liver transplantation is an accepted indication when the tumour is unresectable. Hepatic epithelioid haemangio-endothelioma is very rare in children and results after transplantation are not reported. The aim of this study is to review the experience of three European centres in the management of HEHE in children. A retrospective review of all paediatric patients with HEHE managed in three European centres is presented. Five children were identified. Four had unresectable tumours. The first had successful resection followed by chemotherapy and is alive, without disease 3 years after diagnosis. One child died of sepsis and one of tumour recurrence in the graft and lungs 2 and 5 months, respectively, after transplant. Two children who had progressive disease with ifosfamide-based chemotherapy have had a reduction in clinical symptoms and stabilisation of disease up to 18 and 24 months after the use of platinum-based chemotherapy. HEHE seems more aggressive in children than reported in adults and the curative role of transplantation must be questioned. Ifosfamide-based chemotherapy was not effective. Further studies are necessary to confirm if HEHE progression in children may be influenced by platinum-based chemotherapy.     

Clinical Characteristics and Surgical Management of Patients with Temporal Lobe Gangliogliomas

OBJECTIVE To review the clinical features and surgical treatment for patients with temporal lobe gangliogliomas. METHODS Patients with temporal lobe gangliogliomas who underwent resection of temporal lobe tumors, confirmed by surgical pathology, seen between September 1998 and November 2004 at the West China hospital, were selected. Medical records were reviewed for age at diagnosis, age at onset of seizures, delay between seizure onset and tumor diagnosis, types and frequencies of seizures, EEG results, extent of surgery, and pathologic diagnosis. The follow-up periods varied from 12 to 60 months (mean 30 months). RESULTS Eighteen patients were identified, including 14 males and 4 females. Age at operation ranged from 4 years to 34 years (mean 17.6 years). All patients underwent at least one surgical procedure. Fifteen tumors were classified as WHO Grade I lesions, and 3 as WHO Grade II lesions. None of patients experienced a tumor recurrence. Among the patients, 85% had complete and sustained seizure relief. CONCLUSION Complex partial seizures and auras were the common presenting symptom of these patients. The follow-up suggested good relief from the seizures after surgery and a low risk for tumor recurrence and malignant progression.     

What Has Changed in the Management of Uterine Serous Carcinomas? Two Decades of Experience

Uterine serous carcinoma accounts for 3–10% of endometrial cancers, but it is the most lethal histopathological subtype. The molecular characterization of endometrial carcinomas has allowed novel therapeutic approaches for these patients. We undertook a retrospective analysis of patients with uterine serous carcinomas treated in our hospital within the last two decades to identify possible changes in their management. The patients and their characteristics were evenly distributed across the two decades. Treatment modalities did not change significantly throughout this period. After adjuvant treatment, patients’ median disease-free survival was 42.07 months (95% CI: 20.28–63.85), and it did not differ significantly between the two decades (p = 0.059). The median overall survival was 47.51 months (95% Cl: 32.18–62.83), and it significantly favored the first decade’s patients (p = 0.024). In patients with de novo metastatic or recurrent disease, median progression-free survival was 7.8 months (95% Cl: 5.81–9.93), whereas both the median progression-free survival and the median overall survival of these patients did not show any significant improvement during the examined time period. Overall, the results of our study explore the minor changes in respect of uterine serous carcinoma’s treatment over the last two decades, which are reflected in the survival outcomes of these patients and consequently underline the critical need for therapeutic advances in the near future.     

Management and prognosis of esophageal cancers: Has progress been made?

The aim of this study was to investigate time trends in treatment and prognosis of esophageal cancer in a well-defined French population. Data was obtained from the Burgundy Cancer Registry (France) and three time periods were defined: 1976-90, 1991-96 and 1997-2002. A logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with an R0 resection. A multivariate survival analysis was performed using a Cox model. From 1976 to 2002, 2267 patients were included. The R0 resection rate slightly increased from 20.9% to 25.8% (P=0.019) then remained stable. Operative mortality decreased from 11.7% to 6.7% (NS). Age and subsite significantly influenced the rate of resection for cure whereas period had no effect. Chemotherapy alone was seldom used and radiotherapy alone dramatically dropped over time. Chemoradiation used as adjuvant treatment increased from 16.3% (1976-90) to 30.6% (1997-02) (P<0.001) and as sole treatment from 16.0% to 48.5% (P<0.001). The 3-year survival rates were respectively 10.1% and 9.7% (NS). Age and stage at diagnosis influenced the prognosis of esophageal cancer whereas time period and histology had no influence. This study claims that esophageal cancer remains a serious cancer problem and no improvement has been seen in the study population in France in its management over time.     

Role of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in the Management of Philadelphia Chromosome–Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The Philadelphia chromosome is the most common cytogenetic abnormality found in adult patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The result of this abnormality is the BCR-ABL protein, a constitutively active kinase involved in cell signaling and survival. When managed with multiagent chemotherapy regimens alone, patients have traditionally had an inferior outcome in terms of remission duration and overall survival when compared with patients who are Philadelphia chromosome–negative. Small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as imatinib and dasatinib, directly inhibit the BCR-ABL kinase, offering a targeted approach as a therapeutic option. As a result of several clinical trials with adequate follow-up, imatinib combined with chemotherapy represents the current standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed disease. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation has previously been the only modality to offer the potential for a cure, and it still should be considered for all patients deemed able to tolerate such an intervention. Second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as dasatinib, may further improve the outcome in these patients. The role of molecular monitoring and the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors after stem cell transplantation are areas of active investigation, and the results of ongoing trials will help to clarify the optimal management of these patients.