Current opinion in oncology
-
Renal cell carcinoma remains a major challenge for urologic oncologists. Over the past year, progress has been made in understanding the molecular biology of this disease and in describing new prognostic factors for outcome following nephrectomy. ⋯ No new active chemotherapeutic agents have been identified. Prospective randomized trials suggest that autologous tumor cell vaccines as currently used offer little therapeutic benefit.
-
Important studies have been reported in the past year on the biology and management of pediatric central nervous system tumors. Pediatric low-grade gliomas and adult gliomas do not share similar molecular genetic features. ⋯ Malignant gliomas in infants appear to be distinct entities compared with adult malignant gliomas. Further investigational studies are needed in ependymoma and diffuse pontine gliomas because current therapies have not resulted in improvements in outcomes.