Bulletin du cancer
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[The Fallopian tube odyssey: from the ovary to the tube. About high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma].
Ovarian serous carcinoma is the most threatening type of gynaecological cancer because of late diagnosis at the advanced stage of peritoneal carcinomatosis stage. Identification of precancerous lesions could be essential in our understanding of ovarian carcinogenesis and might allow the development of effective screening tools. A serous carcinogenic sequence has been recently described in the Fallopian tube whereas an ovarian preinvasive lesion--ovarian epithelial dysplasia--was previously found. In light of recent and past molecular studies, we will review and discuss these two theories.
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Editorial Historical Article
[Pediatric oncology: significative advances in past decades].
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Since the introduction of the concept of immunosurveillance in 1970 by Macfarlane Burnet and Lewis Thomas, cancer immunology has known a significant revolution and an explosion of discoveries. In this regard, manipulation of the immune system in cancer pathology has been a succession of enthusiasms and failures. Thanks to the fundamental achievements during the past three decades, non-specific passive immunotherapy of cancer has shifted to active specific immunotherapy. ⋯ It became clear that the escape of immunosurveillance by tumor cells is under the control of the complex tumor microenvironment and its heterogeneity, complexity and plasticity. The future of immunotherapy lies in an integrative approach to simultaneously boost the immune system and target the tumor microenvironment or combine immunotherapy with conventional treatments. In this review, we will focus on the development of cancer immunotherapy, its realities, failure and hope it raises as the fourth modality of cancer therapy.
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Many complementary and alternatives medicines are offered to patients with cancer. Among them, herbal medicines have a substantial place. These plants are mainly used to reduce adverse effects of anticancer treatments and for specific anticancer properties. ⋯ Because the medical decision should be shared with the patient, his beliefs and preferences have to be considered. When no adverse effect or drug interaction is associated with herbal medicine, we state that their use is acceptable. This paper discuss of potential risk and benefit of the most used medicinal plants by cancer patients.
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Oncology is undergoing profound change with the development of treatments and techniques, the evolution of care taking (outpatient, overall patient care, prevention and screening), attracting more and more women. This field is also concerned by the medical demography issue. Each professional team organisation and functions are meant to be reconsidered. ⋯ A questionnaire survey of general practitioners, oncologists and directors from 19 regional cancer centers and 9 private cancer clinics, was conducted during summer 2008. The overall response rate was 51% (260/512). This study aimed to underline the general practitioner main functions, who is widely qualified, with high relational ability, a role different from family physicians and oncologists, but closely working together with them, with hardly recognized specific activities: overall patient care, continuous care with the daily management of hospitalized patients allowing a reduction in oncologists working load, the continuity of care with the family physician, the involvement in the day hospital management, in the emergency department, in outpatient palliative care consultations and follow-up consultations.