Current opinion in oncology
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Current treatment modalities provide limited improvement in the natural course of lung cancer, and prognosis remains poor. Lung cancer is a malignancy with great molecular heterogeneity. The complexity of the signalling process leading to cancer cell proliferation and to the neoplastic phenotype supports the necessity of interfering at different stages to avoid cancer cell resistance to therapy. ⋯ Combined use of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib and the humanized vascular endothelial growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody bevacizumab in advanced, chemotherapy-refractory non-small cell lung cancer has shown promising results.
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The present review focuses on recent progress in tumour immunology and immunotherapeutic trials in malignant gliomas. ⋯ Improvements in clinical methods and large randomized trials are now needed to prove the usefulness of cancer vaccines. Indeed, comprehensive analysis of tumour immunology and new immunization protocols suggest that immunotherapy can become an efficacious treatment in the near future. Combination with radiotherapy or chemotherapy should be investigated.
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The present review will describe progress in the utilization of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors in the treatment of nonsmall-cell lung cancer and the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Recent findings regarding clinical activity as well as markers associated with sensitivity to these agents will be reviewed. ⋯ These dramatic successes have led to further clinical studies of EGFR targeted therapy in aerodigestive malignancies, making a significant impact on the clinical care of patients with nonsmall-cell lung cancer and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
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Human immunodeficiency virus infection is associated with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Even with a decrease in AIDS-defining illnesses after the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy, HIV-associated non-Hodgkin lymphoma remains an important problem. ⋯ Outcomes of HIV-non-Hodgkin lymphoma are improving with the routine use of highly active antiretroviral therapy and combination chemotherapy. For aggressive HIV-non-Hodgkin lymphoma, infusional chemotherapy regimens are well tolerated and lead to complete response in about 50-75% of cases and a 2-3 years overall survival of 40-60%. The potential benefit of adding rituximab to combination chemotherapy may be offset by infectious complications in severely immunosuppressed patients. HIV-associated Burkitt lymphoma should be treated with an intensive regimen rather than standard cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone-like chemotherapy. Autologous stem cell transplantation should be considered for selected patients with relapsed or refractory HIV-non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
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To provide an update on novel compounds in head and neck cancer (HNC) therapy, with emphasis on biologic agents. ⋯ New molecular-targeted therapies are inducing consistent, small improvements in HNC management. The major challenge regards how to better combine them with the final aim of obtaining long-term stabilization of advanced disease.