American journal of clinical oncology
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Am. J. Clin. Oncol. · Aug 2015
ReviewEmerging immunotherapies in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Immune checkpoint inhibition as a new treatment approach is undergoing extensive investigation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other malignancies. Unlike standard chemotherapy or targeted agents, which act directly on the tumor cells, immune checkpoint inhibitors work by restoring the immune system's capacity to eradicate tumors. ⋯ This article reviews the immune checkpoint inhibitors and the available data to date on their use in lung cancer. Clinical implications for the use of these therapies in NSCLC are discussed as they relate to their novel mechanisms of action, response patterns, and safety profiles.
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Am. J. Clin. Oncol. · Aug 2015
Dosimetric definitions of total lung volumes in calculating parameters predictive for radiation-induced pneumonitis.
The volume of normal lung receiving 20 Gy (V20) and the mean lung dose (MLD) represent dosimetric parameters used for identifying risk of radiation pneumonitis. However, the total lung volume for dosimetric analysis has been defined differently. Herein we investigate to quantify the dosimetric differences when analysis is based on either definition (ie, excluding planning target volume [PTV] vs. gross tumor volume [GTV] from the total bilateral lung volume). ⋯ A small but significant difference exists between the 2 approaches used to calculate dosimetric variables for lung dose. This difference should be taken into account when comparing dosimetric information between different institutions and when optimizing treatment plans.
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Am. J. Clin. Oncol. · Aug 2015
Predictors of locoregional outcome in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
We identified prognostic factors for locoregional recurrence (LRR) in a cohort of patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). ⋯ In a cohort with stage II to III HER2-overexpressing breast cancer treated predominantly with trastuzumab-containing NACT followed by mastectomy±RT, we identified omission of RT, negative ER status, and residual positive lymph nodes as significant predictors of LRR, with 50% of LRR having a regional component.