Current opinion in oncology
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This article reviews the potential benefit of maintenance therapy for patients with follicular lymphoma. ⋯ A first remission is easily obtained but relapses appear unavoidable. Patients achieving a partial response have poorer outcomes compared with those achieving complete remission. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that among patients with follicular lymphoma who reach complete remission, those obtaining negative minimal residual disease, as assessed by molecular biology, have a better outcome compared with those remaining with residual disease. There is, therefore, a rationale to give additional treatment in an attempt to eradicate or to control the lymphoma cells responsible for relapse. An ideal maintenance regimen would have limited toxicity and should be easy to administer. Results of the International Primary Rituximab and Maintenance study show that 2 years of rituximab maintenance prolongs progression free survival, delays the time to next antilymphoma treatment and improves the quality of response in patients with previously untreated follicular lymphoma. Rituximab maintenance was well tolerated with a limited number of adverse events.
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Review
Hereditary ovarian cancer: recent molecular insights and their impact on screening strategies.
This review will focus on the implications of BRCA status in the patient with high-grade serous ovarian cancer, the differences between BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, and the most effective risk-reducing strategies. ⋯ Patients with BRCA-associated epithelial ovarian cancer have improved response to platinum-based chemotherapy, improved survival, and may be appropriate candidates for treatment with novel targeted therapies. RRSO remains the most effective risk-reduction strategy in women with BRCA mutations.