Bulletin du cancer
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The molecular classification of Perou and Sørlie breast tumors has to streamline, systematize and make effective use of targeted therapies against specific molecular subtypes, including breast HER2 positive. Trastuzumab and lapatinib are currently the two therapies targeting HER2, which have demonstrated their effectiveness in clinical practice. This literature review aims to make the data points on pertinent and useful data for physicians in daily.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
PCA analgesia for children with chemotherapy-related mucositis: a double-blind randomized comparison of morphine and pethidine.
This study aimed to compare pethidine and morphine on efficacy and toxicity in children with severe mucositis following chemotherapies. ⋯ PCA with pethidine appears not inferior to morphine, with less constipation requiring specific treatment, but a larger study is warranted to confirm this.
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HER2 protein overexpression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or erB2 gene amplification by in situ hybridization (ISH) was detected in 4-28% of gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ) cancers. Most studies have shown that HER2-overexpressing gastric cancers were worse prognosis. Trastuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against HER2 with known efficacy in patients with HER2+ early or metastatic breast cancer. ⋯ The standardized immunohistochemical scoring system differs from that recommended for breast cancer given the heterogeneity of HER2 expression and the frequency of incomplete membranous staining in gastric cancers. Equivocal IHC2+ tumours should be tested by ISH with two tools: fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or bright field in situ hybridization (SISH). The perspectives are the assessment of trastuzumab in the perioperative and adjuvant setting, the development of novel anti-HER2 drugs and research into mechanisms of resistance and predictive molecular markers.
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While no real improvement in the long term survival has been obtained in lung cancer, during this decade a significant improvement in cancer control has been obtained by biology driven targeted therapy as with anti EGFR tyrosine kinase. Two phases can be described in the knowledge of lung cancer biology: a first phase open in the 1980s describing the main molecular anomalies and impaired cell control mechanisms, and a second phase starting in the 2004-2005 giving rise to the therapeutic applications of this knowledge. A new molecular classification of lung cancer, particularly adenocarcinomas will soon be proposed for therapeutic application.
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Rare cancers are defined by an incidence less than 5/100,000, which means in France less than 3,000 new cases a year. They are difficult to diagnose, their physiopathology has led to new knowledge in cancer medicine. There is no large experience for their management, and they are not generally the subject of randomized trials to establish treatment strategy. ⋯ Even individually rare cancers do not concern large populations, the number of patients suffering of rare cancer is important. This is the reason why the "Bulletin du cancer" will open a new section on rare cancers. This article aims to draw the context of such a decision, based on an effort to allow these patients to receive optimal management.